The Apostle Paul Walked Here!
Here I am on “main street” in the ruins of Corinth. I’m told it’s likely Paul used this road to get where he was going when he was in Corinth, but Dr. William Tolar (former dean of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and professor of Biblical or Theological History–I forget which) says he doesn’t think scholarship is on the side of Paul’s using it when he first arrived in the area. I’m not a Paul scholar, so that’s all Greek
to me!
Here’s a picture of a “bema seat” to which Paul alludes in his writings.
Sorry so sloppy. I’m still new at uploading my own photos to my blog.
Remedial Vacation Blogging Illustrated
Okay, I thought I didn’t know how to do this yet, but I just figured it out. Here’s a few pictures from my trip. And more to come.
First we visited Greece. Here’s my wife and I, with my pastor and his wife in front of the Acropolis. My pastor, Bill Weaver, says, he visited the Acropolis over 30 years ago when there was no scaffolding around it, preventing entry. If I get a copy of that shot soon, I’ll post it. Even our Greek tour guide said she’s never seen it without scaffolding.
I’ll give you a couple more soon.
Do Some Christmas Shopping From Bethlehem This Year
Yes, we’re home from our Holy Land Tour of Greece, Israel and Egypt, and we’re almost 
completely recovered . . . but not quite. But in the meantime, I thought I’d recommend an online gift shop where you could do some really unique Christmas shopping for your loved ones this year.
You may or may not be aware that the city of Bethlehem is under Palestinian control nowadays. This means that any Christians who live inside the city limits are an actively discriminated against minority, according to David Meier, founder of International Travel and Tour Consultants of Hurst, Texas, and former Children’s Education Minister at one of my pastor’s childhood churches. This goes for the Palestinian Greek Orthodox Christians who run The Herodion Store, which our tour bus visited on our tour of Bethlehem, where we viewed the Church of the Nativity.
My wife and I picked up a hand-carved Olive wood Nativity Set with a wind-up star that operates a music box which plays “Silent Night.” I expect to see it on my doorstep via UPS any day now. If you order soon, you can definitely get one shipped to you before Christmas. They have machine cut sets which cost less, but they feature less detail. I’m hoping you or someone you know will purchase a hand-carved Olive wood Nativity Set from Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine. My travel guide (on which I’ll be posting later) says that Christians have been making these in Bethlehem for hundreds of years.
I think getting one of these things is a must for any traveller to the Holy Land, and it offers the added benefit of demonstrating the sincerity of your love and your “evangelical catholicity” for Greek Orthodox believers as well as the fundamentalist church whose pastor is friends with the proprietor of the shop and who, in fact, offices inside the shop itself, from what I understand. This church is full of real heroes of the faith. I’ll be posting on them later as well.
The Captain’s Holy Land Tour
This Saturday morning, my wife and I will be departing for New York City, from which 
we’ll depart for Greece to tour Athens and Corinth, then on to Israel (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Capernaum, Bethlehem, Sea of Galillee), then to Cairo, Egypt for a boat ride on the Nile, a camel ride to a pyramid, a laser light show, and then back to New York, then home on Thanksgiving Day.
As soon as possible after Thanksgiving, I’ll begin sharing some of my experiences and photos with you. Pray for our safety.
Hybels Still Mistaken
The Christianity Today Blog, Out of Ur, posted on Willow Creek Pastor Bill Hybels’ recent remarks that his seeker-sensitive research led them to make a “mistake.”
Here’s Hybels’ newsmaking confession:
We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.
Can you see why I say Hybels is still mistaken? The answer to seeker-sensitive Christian consumerism isn’t “self-feeding.” I hear that this has already been the common advice given to attendees of the seeker-sensitive megachurches in my community. What many tell their consumers is that since we’re not going to talk a lot of doctrine from the stage (I can’t say, “from the pulpit”), you need to make sure you study on your own or among yourselves in your small groups. The star (aka, the pastor) is here to inspire us with motivational principles for living and entertain us with humorous autobiographical stories and illustration upon illustration, sandwiched between P&W sessions with the amps turned up to “11.”
Yes, I submit that Bill Hybels’ mea culpa is an example of a blind leader falling into a ditch. Up on the narrow road, were God to graciously grant him reformation, lies a neglected Bible, preached from a neglected pulpit, signified and sealed by neglected sacraments. The answer to seeker-sensitive demographic polling is what the Reformed call, “The Ministry of Word and Sacrament.”
Allow me to give you an idea of what I mean by introducing to you something I wrote several years ago as I was wrestling with this concept. It’s called “The Worshipers’ Creed and Prayer.”
We believe that sinners are justified by grace alone through faith alone
by means of the proclamation of Christ’s death for our sins
and his resurrection because of our justification (Romans 4:25),
signified and sealed to us in our baptism.
Likewise, we believe saints are sanctified by grace alone through faith alone
by means of the proclamation of Christ’s death for our sins
and resurrection unto our sanctification (Romans 6:4),
signified and sealed to us in the corporate observance of the Lord’s Supper.
Therefore, we believe the gospel is the agent of spiritual birth
by which the sinner comes to faith,
and also the agent of spiritual growth
by which his faith is nourished and strengthened.
So may we confess our sin in response to the application of the Law of God;
likewise may the gospel of Christ be thus proclaimed,
signified and sealed to us for our justification
and our sanctification until our glorification;
And so may we, out of gratitude for our justification,
and in hope of the glory of God,
glorify and praise our Savior,
as we gather for worship this Lord’s Day,
being afterward mindful to love one another, and our neighbor,
in the name of him who died for our sins,
that we might live in the power of his resurrection.
AMEN.
Since you’ll probably need further clarification, you may like to consult Part III of the PCA’s Book of Church Order, entitled, “The Directory for the Worship of God” (beginning on page 143 of the PDF file).
Sean Michael Lucas’ Reformation Sunday Sermon Posted!
Go to the “Sermons” page at the website for New St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church to listen to Dr. Sean Michael Lucas, professor of Church History at Covenant Theological Seminary, preach on “The Heart of the Reformation: The Glory of God,” from the text Isaiah 6: 1-7.
Is Reformed Important? Saturday Night Outline
At long last, now that the Sean Michael Lucas conference is a week’s worth of history, here’s the outline he allowed me to publish from his presentation.
Why bother being Reformed as a way of being Christian?
- It is not possible to live a “generic” Christian life
- Historically not possible
- Logically not possible
- The Christian life must be embodied through a particular identity
- Even “Bible churches” communicate a particular identity (beliefs, practices, stories)
- Genuine conversations with others must be rooted in a real sense of knowing who we are.
During this portion of the outline, Dr. Lucas gave the example of the Cane Ridge Revival, explaining how Barton Stone desired to reduce his denominational identity to “Christian.” Out of this revival emerged the Christian denomination (Disciples of Christ), Cumberland Presbyterianism, and others I forgot before I could jot them down. Now back to the outline . . .
- The question becomes, then,
- Which beliefs and practices are most biblical?
- And which communion most closely holds to those beliefs and engages in those practices?
- In the end, the reason it is important to be Reformed (and specifically, Presbyterian) is
- Because Presbyterian beliefs and practices are the closest to the biblical material, and,
- Because they provide the most workable identity for engaging life in this postmodern world.
Presbyterian beliefs
- God is King (the sovereignty of God)
- The Priority of Grace (in salvation, sanctification, consummation)
- God’s story, promises, and reign (covenant and kingdom)
- The nature of the Church (visible/invisible)
- The nature of the sacraments (baptism and Supper)
Presbyterian practices
- Piety
- Centering on worship [corporate, family, and private], stewardship, and service
- Worship
- Centering on its biblical, covenantal, and gospel-driven nature
- Polity
- Centering on a proper balance of church authority and liberty of conscience
Presbyterian stories
- These beliefs and practices make sense to us, in part, because of the stories (positive and negative) that we tell:
- Calvin, Knox and the Westminster divines
- Scots and Scots-Irish Presbyterianism
- Early American Presbyterianism
- 19th Century Presbyterianism
- 20th Century Presbyterianism
- North (PCUSA, OPC, BP, EP, RPCES)
- South (PCUS, PCA)
- Identity
- It is out of this particularly Presbyterian way of speaking the Gospel that we must speak.
- Catholicity
- In order to confess “one holy catholic church,” we must desire relationship and even partnership with other Christians.
- Our relationships with other Christians must be guided by the Gospel and must serve the Gospel.
- Humility
- The most productive partnerships come from recognizing the importance of others in imaging forth the Kingdom of God (Romans 1:11-12).
Check back periodically . . . I’ll post Dr. Lucas’ Reformation Sunday Sermon link when the church posts it.
Martin Luther, or Martin Luther King?
Every October when I start warming up for the coming of Reformation Day, I start telling friends around me about Martin Luther. I am becoming troubled, however, that the more I talk about him with more and more people, more and more people are not thinking of the German monk who posted his 95 Theses on the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, but when I say the name “Martin Luther,” they hear, “Martin Luther King”! This ought not to be so!
In the interest of raising awareness about the difference between Martin Luther and Martin Luther King, I have written the following quiz. Each question will describe something about one or the other figure, and it is your job to pick the right answer, either A) Martin Luther, B) Martin Luther King, or C) Both. Post your answers, and any comments you may have, in the comments section.
Have fun, and Happy Reformation Day!
1. Which is African-American?
2. Which is German?
3. Which belonged to a religious order that was named after an African theologian?
4. Which delivered his “I have a dream” speech?
5. Which delivered his “Here I stand” speech?
6. Which was born in the 20th Century?
7. Which was born in the 16th Century?
8. Which advocated religious reform?
9. Which advocated civil rights for African-Americans?
10. Which was assassinated?
11. Which was kidnapped?
12. Which authored “Bondage of the Will”?
13. Which likely had ancestors who were literally in bondage?
14. Which translated the New Testament into German?
15. Which was a Baptist?
16. Which founded the Lutheran denomination?
17. The birthday of which can get you a day off work?
18. Which advocated non-violent resistance?
Is Reformed Important? Friday Night Outline
Dr. Sean Michael Lucas
New St. Peters PC, Dallas, TX
October 26-27, 2007
Who Are You?: Understanding Identity
When you think about who you are, what comes to mind?
- Son, upper middle class, suburbs, two parents married 38 years, one sister
- Moved many times, mainly up an ddown the I-95 corridor between Washingong DC, and NYC.
- Husband, married nearly 14 years, four children
- Became a believer when a teenager–unusual religious journey
- Pastor with scholarly bent; historian with a pastor heart
- Writer and reader–love Mark Twain and Wendell Barry
- Gardner
- Avid sports fan–Indiana sports teams
- Springsteen, U2, country music
- Trucks, Fords, but when I follow NAsCAR, I am a Gordon fan.
Three Key Aspects to identify.
Belierfs
- the core understandings that form and motivate what and how I practice; they are also reinforced by these practices and by my stories.
Practice
- The regular activities that I engage in shape my understanding of myself and the world.
Stories
- narratives that help to make sense of what I believe and what I do.
“Identity Crisis”
- When someone is having an “identity crisis,” he/she has become disillusioned or is experiencing dissonance within her core.
- Perhaps produced through a lengthy questionaing of previously held beliefs.
- Perhaps caused through an interruption of key practices that reinforced identity.
- Perhaps result of a disillusionment with the master story
- A version of this identity crisis would be the “mid-life crisis.”
Identity Formation in “Modernity” and “Post-Modernity”
Pre- and Early Modernity
- Social relations and family connections
- Trade generally passed on through generatons.
- Church connections more by birth than over belief.
- Identity fairly stric==pre-determined by others and before birth.
Late and Post-Modernity
- Social mobility, loss of extended and nuclear family.
- Trades determined through interest,
- Church connections determined by belief less than birt; challenge to lay on any type of denominationalism
- Identity radically dynamic-self-created through choices
Forging Christian identity
The transition from “non-religious” [non-Christian] to “religious” (Christian] identity.
- New Beliefs–from Idolatry to faith in Father, Sond, Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
- New Practices–from non-observent to observant (Ephesians 4:17-24)
- New Stories—from “self-determined” to divinely determined within the story of Israel and the Church as found in the Bible.
- The forging of Christian Identity is varied and common
- Varied:
- No two transitions are exactly the same
- No two experiences of sin, grace, faith, repentance are exactly the same
- Common:
- The need experience by all human beings is the same
- The Gospel embraced by all believers is the same
- The grace granted to believers is the same
- Varied:
- The means for forging Christian identity (Acts 2:42-47)
- Word
- Sacraments
- Prayer
- Fellowship
Tomorrow, I’ll post Saturday night’s outline.
Is Reformed Important?
A friend of mine (actually, my old boss), is a member of New St. Peter’s (NsP) 
Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. Over this past “Reformation Weekend,” as I call it, NsP hosted a conference by Dr. Sean Michael Lucas of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. The topic of the conference, “Is Reformed Important?” was a Power Point presentation summarizing the material from Dr. Lucas’ book, On Being Presbyterian, which I have not read. I found the conference very interesting, for his approach does not start with a defense of all of the Reformed and Presbyterian controversial, distinctive doctrines. The approach Dr. Lucas took was to deal with what it means to be Presbyterian as a facet of one’s personal identity. In this I think he’s attempting to appeal to, or at least converse with a postmodern worldview, which seems, by and large, skeptical of evangelical theologizing.
The sum of the conference was that a person’s identity is the result of one’s beliefs, practices and stories (bps), which colors his perspective on life, the universe and everything (to borrow from the British theologian, Douglas Adams). Therefore, the basic outline of “Is Reformed Important?” is a look at the beliefs, practices and stories of confessional, Reformed Presbyterianism in particular, rather than merely Reformed in general.One benefit of the format of the two day conference, followed by a Reformation Sunday sermon at NsP (which I did not attend, but the link to which I’ll post if and when it becomes available) lies in the fact that the first night really helps a non-Reformed, non-Presbyterian (like my beloved wife) not have to immediately endure all the stuff he disagrees with, but gently points out that one’s beliefs andpractices are worth taking a critical look at. Dr. Lucas did this by sharing much of his own bps in a rather disarming manner. This is definitely user-friendly material, not fodder for theology geeks, but down-to-earth and practical stuff.
At one point during the second lecture, Dr. Lucas brought up the prospect of what he’d do were he to notice that someone had published a book with the same title as his, On Being Presbyterian, yet noticed that the table of contents seems an awful lot like the one in his own work, and not only that, but that the other author happens to mention that he comes from the same hometown as Dr. Lucas. He said the first thing he’d probably do is punch the guy in the nose. This compelled me to approach him after the lecture to request permission to post his outline on my blog, which permission, Christian man that he is, he graciously granted. Thus, in my next post, I’ll give you Lecture Number One of “Is Reformed Important?”
Hope you all had a pleasant Reformation Sunday!
Reformata Semper Reformanda (”Reformed, Always Reforming”)
update
I just took a look at http://www.newstpeters.org/ and noticed that they give their members something called “Rooster Tracks” which provides short, weekday theological and devotional items to think through and/or study. The one for this week, naturally, introduces us to the Reformers and asks its readers to think through a topic related to the contribution of each individual Reformer which is treated, namely, Luther, Melancthon, Zwingli, Calvin, and Knox.
The Delusion of Extreme KJV Onlyism
In this simple paragraph from the Massachusetts General School Law of 1647, aka “The Old Deluder Satan Law”
Yt being one cheife piect of ye ould deluder, Satan, to keepe men from the knowledge of ye Scriptures, as in formr times by keeping ym in an unknowne tongue, so in these lattr times by pswading from ye use of tongues, yt so at least ye true sense & meaning of ye originall might be clouded by false glosses of saint seeming deceivers, yt learning may not be buried in ye grave of or fathrs in ye church & comonwealth, the Lord assisting or endeavors,—
lt is therefore ordred yt evry towneship in this jurisdiction, aftr ye Lord hath increased ym to ye number of 50 householdrs, shall then forthwth appoint one wthin their towne to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write & reade, whose wages whall be paid eithr by ye parents or mastrs of such children, or by ye inhabitants in genrall, by way of supply, as ye maior pt of those yt ordr ye prudentials of ye towne shall appoint; pvided, those yt send their children be not oppressed by paying much more ytn they can have tm taught for in othr townes; & it is furthr ordered, yt where any towne shall increase to ye numbr of 100 families or househouldrs, they shall set up a gramer schoole, ye mr thereof being able to instruct youth so farr as they may be fited for ye university, pvided, yt if any towne neglect ye pformance hereof above one yeare, yt every such towne shall pay 5 Ito ye next schoole till they shall pforme this order.
Now, let me revise the above highlighted clause in order to make it easier to read.
“. . . so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and meaning of the original [Old Testament Hebrew & New Testament Greek, that is] might be clouded by false glosses of saint-seeming deceivers . . . ”
What is the moral of this story? If you simply prefer the use of the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures for your own personal study and devotional reading, or even if you believe after a considerate examination of the issues of textual criticism, that it is best to retain the Byzantine readings of the New Testament, and therefore ought to not revise the King James Version with a modern, eclectic, critical Greek text, this post does not criticize your view (even though I certainly disagree with your view). But if you believe that the King James Version of the Bible was given by the special inspiration of God, and that it’s English text is superior to the lost original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts for the simple reason that we can hold the KJV in our hands, while we cannot hold the original manuscripts in our hands, and that therefore, we need not bother burdening our congregations with recourse to the original languages to properly interpret the words of the KJV, the Massachusetts General School Law of 1647 identifies those who would undermine the need to understand the Word of God in the original languages as “saint-seeming deceivers” whose efforts would in effect, bury learning in the graves of our fathers in the church. If only you would see the error of your ways, and stop deceiving unlearned believers under your care that it’s dangerous to “correct the King James” with anything, even the sense of the original Hebrew and Greek languages.
Captain Headknowledge Goes On a Pilgrimage?
I just typed the question, “What is a pilgrimage?” into my search engine and the first thing that came up on the list of suggested sites was the American Heritage Dictionary definition of the word. That sounds like a good place to start. It has two definitions:
- A journey to a sacred place or shrine.
- A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance.
The first definition seems a little more simple and straightforward, while the second seems a little more lofty. I’m going on the first kind of pilgrimage. Or, rather, the wife and I are.
Where are we going?
It’s only the ultimate vacation for a believer in Jesus Christ.
Next month, my wife and I are accompanying a few other families from our church, including our pastor and his wife, a professor from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (whose name escapes me) and a few dozen other couples and individuals from other churches for an eleven day, whirlwind tour of Athens and Corinth, Greece, several locations in Israel, to be elaborated on below, culminating in a few sights seen in Cairo, Egypt, including pyramids, camels, the Nile River and a laser light show.
A friend of mine showed me pictures of his trip with his church to Israel, and I was finally tired of not being sure exactly what I had in store for us on our trip, so I decided to transcribe the itinerary brochure provided by the travel agency. Following is what we will be taking in:
Athens/Corinth Visit November 12-14
We arrive in Athens to change planes for our continuing flight to Tel Aviv. This stop permits us to enjoy a tour of Corinth and Athens.
Tel Aviv/Caesarea, Megiddo/Haifa November 14
We begin our day visiting Caesarea on the Mediterranean Coast. This ancient port was used by Herod the Great. It was here that the first Gentile, Cornelius the Centurion, and his household were baptized. Continue to Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon. Visit this historical military fortress that controlled the highway between Egypt and Mesopotamia. See the excavations and museum showing how this famous hill served an important function in the wars of antiquity.
Tiberias/Capernaum/Sea of Galilee Boat Ride November 15
Today we visit the region where Jesus spent most of his ministry. We visit Nazareth, and the Church of the Annunciation. Visit Tiberias, Capernaum and the Mount of Beatutudes, and enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
Jerusalem/Bethlehem November 16-17
This morning we drive to the Kneset, Israel’s Parliament, visit the Hebrew University campus and its Shrine of the Book Museum, where the Dead Sea Scroll collection is exhibited. From there we drive across the Valley of Kidron to visit Gethsemane and the Mt. of Olives. Continuing our drive to Mt. Zion we visit Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper and King David’s Tomb. We drive to Bethlehem where we will visit the ancient Basilica of the Nativity. In addition we will see Shepherd’s Field of Boaz, the nearby Milk Grotto and manger Square.
Jerusalem November 17-19
This is our day to visit the Old City. We will take a walking tour visiting Mt. Moriah, the Dome of the Rock, where tradition holds that Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him. We will see Al Aksa Mosque and the Western Wall, the only remaining portion of Herod’s Temple. We will pass through picturesque native bazaars and the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross from the Fortress Antonio to Calvary. We visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the famous shrines of Christendom, and conclude by visiting the Garden Tomb.
Masada November 18
Today we see the Dead Sea, Qumran and the optional tour of Masada where the Jews committed suicide rather than surrender to the Roman Army.
Eilat/Sinai/Cairo November 19-20
today we see the Biblical promise come alive. The desert is blossoming like a rose. Cross the Suez Canal and through the Delta region as we approach Cairo. See what has happened to this region since the peace treaty.
Cairo Sightseeing November 20-21
Today we begin an unforgettable experience and visit to one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. You’ll get to admire the treasures of ancient Egypt at the Egyptian Museum; see the Mohammed Ali Mosque and the beautiful panorama of the city; see the Tomb of Sadat, the martyred President of Egypt who built a bridge for peace with Israel; Sail the Nile River aboard an authentic Egyptian Felucca; ride a camel to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, colossal monuments to the former power of Egypt. Climax your stay in Cairo by attending one of the world’s greatest Sound and Light presentations at the Pyramids on the Sahara Desert.
I keep warning our children that they’re in for nothing but Middle Eastern souvenirs for Christmas. They’re pretty bitter that they don’t get to go. But my wife keeps reminding them that a trip like this is for grownups who’ve worked for years and earned the money to make the trip. This gives them something to look forward to. I just keep reminding them that envy is a four-letter word.
I’ll be sure to post a few pictures and comments after Thanksgiving. By the way, it costs four hundred fewer dollars to fly home on Thanksgiving day than it does to fly home the day before. My wife gets the year off from Turkey prep. That’s something she’s probably thankful for.
Why Every Christian Should Build His Own Library
Al Mohler posted a great on Books, Libraries and the Ideal of Christian Scholarship, which reminds us of how Christianity is a religion of the written word, both inspired and uninspired.
He writes:
Christianity has been closely connected with the book and the written word from its inception. Books remain important to Christians–scholars and laypersons alike. We should be thankful that at this historical juncture the book is more accessible than ever. Serious Christians can and should start personal libraries of important and worthy Chrisitan books. Some will be large and some will be small, but each can serve us the way Jerome’s library served him–and blessed the church.
So how does one know which books are right to put in his own library? You’ll begin to figure that out for yourself as you read.
The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge 
Announcing the Online Literary Study Bible!
The ESV Blog has unveiled an opportunity to get free access to the online version of the
recently released ESV Literary Study Bible in a post entitled, Literary Study Bible Now Available In Print and Online.
My copy has finally arrived in the mail (it was my birthday present to myself!) so I qualified for 6 months of free access. Do you?
If you’d like to hear Leland Ryken explain the value
of studying the literary forms of Scripture, and their relevance to sound interpretation, listen to “Words of Delight: The Bible as Literature,” which is featured on his page at SermonAudio.com.
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