I've agrued before now that Christians should have nothing to do with Halloween because amongst other things it can:
(1) encourage us to underestimate our enemy, the devil
(2) might lead to a fascination with the occult.
However, I'm interested to see that John Frame (who says he'd rather celebrate Reformation Day) and James Jordan are against me.
Frame says:
... the word Halloween is a form of "All Hallows Eve," the evening that precedes All Saints Day in the church calender. In its missionary labors in Europe, the church substituted its own holiday for some pagan observances. In the modern West, Halloween is essentially a mockery of ancient paganism. It is not paganism, but a celebration of the gospel's victory over paganism. I see no spiritual danger in observing that celebration, as long as we, and our children, understand the difference between mocking paganism and endorsing it.
John Frame suggests the following ways that the law bears witness to Christ:
(1) The Decalogue presents the righteousness of Christ. He perfectly obeyed these laws, is a perfect example and the spotless sacrifice for sins.
(2) The Decalogue shows our need for Christ by convicting us as lawbreakers in need of a Saviour.
(3) The Decalogue shows the righteousness we have in Christ.
(4) The Decalogue shows us how God wants us to give thanks for Christ. We keep the commandments out of gratitude as God's people redeemed by grace.
(5) Christ is the substance of the law. (i) we worship Jesus as the True and Living God (ii) Jesus is the perfect image of God through whom we know and worship God (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) (iii) Jesus is the name of God to whom we bow (Phil. 2:10-11; cf. Isa. 45:23) (iv) Jesus is our Sabbath rest (Luke 10:38-42), the Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8) who makes the Sabbath his own (Rev. 1:10) (v) We honour the Father as we honour the Son who restores us to the family of God (vi) Jesus is our life (John 10:10; 14:6; Gal. 2:20; Col 3:4), the Lord of life (Acts 3:15), who gave his life that we might live (Mark 10:45) (vii) Jesus is our bridegroom who gave himself for his bride (Eph. 5:22-33) (viii) Jesus is the source of our inheritance (Eph 1:11) whom we trust to provide all we need (ix) Jesus is God's truth (John 1:17) in whom all the promises of God are Yes and Amen (2 Cor. 1:20) (x) Jesus is sufficient for all our needs (2 Cor. 3:5; 12:9) Adadpted from The Doctrine of the Christian Life pp400-401.
John Frame suggests that we might think of each of the 10 commandments perspectives on the whole law of God, each requiring love of God, such that any sin could be considered a breach of each of the commandments. Though it may be more obvious for some commandments than others and we may need to take the commandment broadly (Frame admits it may be a bit of a stretch), it seems to me a fruitful idea.
1. In the first commandment, the "other gods" include mammon (money, Matt. 6:24) and anything else that competes with God for our ultimate loyalty. Since all sin is disloyalty to God, the violation of any commandment is also violation of the first. Thus, all sin violates the first commandment; or, to put it differently, the commandment forbids all sins.
2. In the second commandment, similarly, the sin of worshiping a graven image is the sin of worshiping anything (or worshiping by means of anything) of human divising. "Worship" can be a broad ethical concept in Scripture as well as a narrowly cultic one (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). Any sin involves following our own purposes, purposes of our own devising, instead of God's, and that is false worship.
3. In the third commandment, "the name of the Lord" can refer to God's entire self-revelation, and any disobedience to that revelation can be described as "vanity." Thus, all sin violates the third commandment.
4. The Sabbath commandment demands godly use of our entire calendar - six days to carry out our own work to God's glory, and the seventh to worship and rest. So the whole week is given to us to do God's will. Any disobedient or ungodly use of time, on the six days or the seventh, may be seen as transgression of the fourth commandment.
5. "Father and mother" in the fifth commandment can be read broadly to refer to all authority and even to the authority of God himself (Mal 1:6) [who is after all our heavenly Father]. Thus, all disobedience to God violates the fifth commandment.
6. Jesus interprets the sixth commandment to prohibit unrighteous anger (Matt. 5:22) because of its disrespect for life. Genesis 9:6 relates this principle to respect for man as God's image. Since all sin manifests such disresoect for life and for God's image it violates the sixth commandment. [All sin is choosing the way of death. It shows a desire to murder God, others or perhaps self].
7. Adultery is frequently used in Scripture as a metaphor (indeed, more than a metaphor) for idolatry. Israel is pictured as the Lord's unfaithful wife. The marriage figure is a prominent biblical description of the covenant order. Breaking the covenant at any point is adultery.
8. Withholding tithes and offerings - God's due - is stealing (Mal. 3:8). Thus, to withhold any honour due to God falls under the same condemnation.
9. "Witnessing" in Scripture is something you are, more than something you do. It involves not only speech, but actions as well. It is comprehensive.
10. Coveting, like stealing, is involved in all sin. Sinful acts are the product of a selfish heart. This commandment speaks against the root of sin, and therefore against all sin.
So we have in the Decalogue ten perspectives on sin: as covenant disolyalty, as false worship, as misuse of God's revelation, as misuse of time, as disrespect for authority, and so on. And similarly, we have ten perspectives on love: covenant loyalty, true worship, and so on. To keep any one commandment, in its deepest meaning, is to keep all the others, and to love, as Scripture says, is to keep them all.
Here are some notes on a single sheet of A4 (as a Word document) about the Trinity along with some creedal statements about the Trinity (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian Creeds, Chalcedonian Definition & some of the 39 Articles).
We said the Athanasian Creed at out midweek meeting yesterday. According to the Book of Common Prayer, of course, we should say it in church 13 times a year, including on Christmas Day, Epiphany, Ascension, Whitsun, Trinity Sunday.
At least here in Eastbourne. The council get us to fill little green boxes (which have removable lids) with our recyclables to be collected from the curb side. Today the streets were scattered with plastic milk bottles and other assorted debris.
D.v. I’m going to be preaching soonish on the 4th commandment. I’m planning to say we should keep it.
Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should read or listen to on the Sabbath?
Time and money will be limited. I’m wondering about getting hold of a couple of the following:
R. T. Beckwith & J. Stott, This is the Day (Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 1978)
Don Carson (ed.), From Sabbath to Lord's Day: A Biblical, Historical and Theological Investigation (Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1999)
Walter Chantry, Call the Sabbath a Delight (Banner of Truth, 1991)
Jonathan Edwards, Perpetuity and Change of the Sabbath
Richard Gaffin, Calvin and the Sabbath: The controversy of applying the fourth commandment (Mentor, 1999)
Richard Gaffin, 'Westminster and the Sabbath' in The WC into the 21st C ed. Lingon Duncan III (Mentor, 2003) - on the eschatological argument (that our rest is wholly future in Christ)
On Heb 4, 'A Sabbath Still Awaits the People of God' in Pressing Towards the Mark ed., Dennison & Gamble (Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 1986)
John Owen, A Treatise On The Sabbath / "Exercitations Concerning a Day of Sacred Rest." (Works volume 18) Banner of Truth Edition
Joseph Pipa, The Lord's Day: How Did You Spend Last Sunday? (Christian Focus, 1997)
In Genesis 1 we find the Spirit hovering over the waters (anointing the Word?) as God speaks and creates (cf. John 1:1-3).
In Genesis 8 we have a dove flying about over the waters, followed by a fresh start for planet earth.
At the Baptism of Jesus (a watery context again), the Spirit comes down on Jesus like a dove (anointing the Word). Jesus’ work will be one of new creation.
Jotted down from Mike Reeves 3rd talk on the Trinity (Trinity in Creation and Revelation) at Theology Network.
Some biblical texts on the use of the "rod" in disciplining children:
Proverbs 13:24 – “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”
Proverbs 22:15 – “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.”
Proverbs 23:13-14 - “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol [the place of the dead].”
Proverbs 29:15 – “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
In my opinion, the biggest challenge to modern Christians, in the area of the first commandment, is that of secular schools…. Scripture makes it clear that education, like every other area of human life, must be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31) and in the name of Christ (Col. 3:17). Therefore, it must be done in accordance with the Word of God, the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Scripture not only is a standard for education, but provides the content of a godly education.... Deuteronomy 6:6-9.... "God-centred" is really too weak a term to describe this kind of education. "God-saturated" is more like it. Children are to grow up in an environment where they cannot avoid the Word of God; it is always there, searching them, admonishing them, instructing them in the truth.
It follows that everything the child learns about the world should be related to God's Word. And, in a way, Scripture speaks about everything. It doesn't give us detailed instructions about plumbing, or British history, or auto repair, but it does teach us how to relate all things to God, how to study them, and how to implement our studies in practical life, so that God is pleased. We cannot, for example, study history while ignoring divine providence, let alone (as in many secular curricula) ignoring the substantial role of religion in forming the culture and politics of nations. We cannot teach science without emphasizing that this world is created and directed by God. It is God's providence that makes the world an orderly place that we can understand and dominate (Gen. 1:28-30). So, historically, Christian theism has given great encouragement to the development of science, and children need to be taught about that. We cannot teach modern music and film without teaching children how to evaluate them from God's perspective.
The Doctrine of the Christian Life, P&R, 2008, p438f
Yesterday I started preaching a new sermon series on the 10 commandments. Here are some jottings to go with the sermon that should appear on our church sermon page in due course.
I've particularly enjoyed reading some of John Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life (P&R, 2008), which includes an exposition of the 10 commandments, in preparation. Very stimulating stuff and lots of good things along the way. I might get round to blogging one or two maybe.
The 10 Commandments (1): Exodus 20:1-3
You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me
The special status of the 10 words (Ex 31:18; 40:20) as the Constitution of Israel
V1: God’s authoritative words not 10 helpful suggestions
V2: In the context of personal covenant relationship
They are already God’s redeemed people they do not become God’s people by keeping the commandments. Obedience is a grateful response to the grace of salvation.
3 uses / purposes / functions of the commandments:
(1) The commandments reveal God’s standards
“Before me”, lit., “before my face”, beside me – all life lived in the presence of God, accountable to him
These negative commands imply their positive counterparts: covenant loyalty, let God be God, decider, obedience, love (Mk 12:30), seek first his kingdom (Mt 6:33)
The purpose of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was that she might serve and worship God (Ex 4:22-23; 5:1-3)
Yahweh, not some force or higher being (Jn 14:6; Acts 12:14)
The laws reflect the character of the law-giver: God’s own covenant faithfulness
(2) The commandments reveal our sin (Romans 7:7)
Calvin: The human heart an idol factory
Our idols may be metal or mental (Col 3:5; Phil 3:18-19)
Anything we put before God / make ultimate / trust has become our god (Mt 6:4)
(3) The commandments reveal our Saviour (Gal 3:23)
Jesus always pleased his Father (Jn 8:29) – a perfect example, the perfect sacrifice for sin
The commandments as promise: “you shall not” rather than “you must not” – the prospect of a fully obedient heart in glory
In his sermon on Daniel 6 yesterday the Rev'd Tony Baker suggested we might think of it as the curious incident of the lion in the night-time, alluding to the Sherlock Holmes story 'Silver Blaze', which contains the following exchange:
"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
"To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
"The dog did nothing in the night-time."
"That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes.
I guess we may think of the angel of v22 whom God sent to shut the mouth of the lion as a type of Christ who defends us from our enemy the devil (cf. 1 Peter 5:8). Perhaps some even suggest that the angel was Christ himself?
Since I started writing the homegroup notes for our church, we've almost always worked sequentially through books of the Bible. Next term we're going to try something different. D.v. we'll have Bible studies which use the clauses of the Apostles' Creed as a launching off point.
The following might be helpful resources:
Tim Chester, I Believe: The Apostle's Creed 10 studies for individuals or groups Good Book Guide (2007)
Michael Horton, We Believe: Rediscovering the Essentials of the Apostles' Creed (Nashville, Word Publishing, 1998)
Alistair McGrath, I Believe: Exploring the Apostles' Creed (Downers Grove, IVP, 1991, 1997)
J. I. Packer, Affirming the Apostles' Creed (Wheaton, Crossways, 2008) - formerly part of Growing In Christ originally published as I Want To Be A Christian
George M. Philip, The Apostles' Creed: What Christians Should Always Believe (Fearn, Christian Focus, 1990, 1994)
I guess it would also be helpful for leaders to look up the relevant doctrines in something like Bruce Milne's Know The Truth or an evangelical Systematic Theology such as Wayne Grudem's.
I'm thinking the study series might go something like this:
(1) I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
(2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
(3) suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
(4) On the third day he rose again;
(5) he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
(6) and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
(7) I believe in the Holy Spirit,
(8) the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
(9) the forgiveness of sins,
(10) the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Here's Tim Chester's outline (with suggested Bible passages) taken from the Good Book Company website:
1. Believing in God
'I believe in God' Romans 1 v 18-25 and John 14 v 1-11
2. The Triune God
'the Father...his only Son...the Holy Spirit' John 17 v 20-26
3. The Sovereign God
'the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth' Psalm 33
4. The identity of Jesus Christ
'I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord' Hebrews 1-2
5. The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
'who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead' Matthew 27 v 11-54
6. The reign of Jesus Christ
'On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead' 1 Corinthians 15 v 1-34
7. The life of the Spirit
'I believe in the Holy Spirit' Romans 8 v 1-17
8. The community of the Spirit
'the holy catholic church, the communion of saints' Ephesians 1-4
9. The work of the Spirit
'the forgiveness of sins' Matthew 9 v 1-13 and Titus 3 v 3-8
10. The hope of the Spirit
'the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting' Romans 8 v 18-39
On 21st January I might speak in our midweek meeting on "I believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: The Apostles' Creed and the Trinity".
I'm having a problem with a wisdom tooth that is proving rather distracting.
I've got a vague memory of hearing some terrible statistic about the proportion of people in the Middle Ages who suffered from tooth ache. Its amazing they ever got anything done. Though perhaps there were just less wimpy and got on with it.
I wasted a bit of time looking for a striking statistic for you and it didn't pop out of Google, but I thought this was moderately interesting:
Analysis of skeletons from the post-medieval (1843-1854) catholic mission of Sts. Mary and Michael, Whitechapel, London hasrevealed high rates of dental disease. Eighty one percent of adults showed evidence of dental caries, 90.7% had calculus, 78.6% suffered from periodontal disease, 35.9% had dental abscesses, 77.8 % had lost teeth during life and 54.4% showed hypoplastic defects of the tooth enamel. The teeth of children were also affected with 33.9% presenting cavities of at least one tooth, 12.1% with calculus and 10.2% with enamel hypoplasia.
I'm pleased to discover that calculus means both (1) tortuous and impenetrable method of calculation that some people seem able to do by occult powers of guess-work that they call "by inspection" and (2) tartar.
Right, back to turning the pages of Calvin's The Sinfulness of Outward Conformity to Roman Rites / On Shunning the Unlawful Rites of the Ungodly, and preserving the purity of the Christian Religion. A Letter by John Calvin to his dear and very excellent friend N. S. (1537)
I think Calvin is a little over optimistic about how well informed people are when he says:
Who knows not that ancient Christians were wont to give the Eucharist to infants at the breast?
Calvin's Tracts, trans. Beveridge, vol 3, p322
(Wrongly, in my view, Calvin disapproves of young children receiving the Lord's Supper because he thinks 1 Corinthians 11:28 means that to receive it aright they would have to examine themselves in a way they are incapable of).
I was surprised to discover that Calvin held that the angels pray for us. To be honest, I'd never really thought about it.
With regard to the Angels a different view must be taken [than that regarding dead believers], in accordance with the different nature of their office. The care and protection of the pious has been committed to them. They must therefore, in obedience to God, be solicitous about our salvation; and they only discharge the duty assigned to them by praying for us.
'The True Method of Reforming the Church and Healing Her Divisions' (1547) in Calvin’s Tracts 3 volumes Calvin Translation Society Translated by Henry Beveridge Edinburgh 1844 (Eugene, Wipf and Stock, 2002), volume 3, p318
Although the Royal Mail website doesn't exactly trumpet the fact, this year, as an alternative to the Panto stamps, you can request the Christian ones (with images of the Lord Jesus and Mary), though in our local Post Office Mrs Lloyd wasn't offered a choice. No doubt they're carefully hidden away under the counter to avoid offense and so as not to spoil anyone's Winterval. The BBC News Story is here.
I am a Bible believing Christian, husband to Mrs Lloyd, father to four children.
I am the Rector of Warbleton, Bodle Street Green & Dallington and Rural Dean of Dallington, Diocese of Chichester. I also edit the book reviews for The Global Anglican.
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