Dockery’s Fall ’09 Reading List

Posted by Ray on 28 August 2009, 2:08 pm

My president, David Dockery, has just released his recommended reading list for this fall. He does this on a regular basis recommending new and important books. His recommendation is not of course an endorsement of everything said in these books but an acknowledgement of the importance of the book in current discussions.

The Princess and Curdie

Posted by Ray on 27 August 2009, 1:29 am

The Princess and Curdie, by George Macdonald
(J. B. Lippincott, 1908), hb., 305 pp.
Ages 8+

As I have already stated in an earlier post, I think this is an excellent book and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. It will join the ranks of our favorite books (like those by Lewis, French and Bond). I was not overly impressed with the previous book, The Princess and the Goblins, but this one was wonderful in a number of ways.

The Princess and the Goblins struck me as primarily as a book for girls. I think my daughter will enjoy it (when she is a few years older) more than my boys and I did. The Princess and Curdie, however, is a great boys’ book! Curdie is the central character in this book whereas the Princess was in the last book. There is plenty of action and good “rough and tumble.” The quote I posted previously is a good illustration of this as it directly speaks to the issue of the place of fighting in a boy’s life. The book then describes some of the battles in very matter-of-fact, straightforward terms. When wicked dogs attack Curdie and the dog the grandmother sends with him (Lina), Curdie drives the point of his mattock through one dog’s skull and Lina finishes off the other. When the two owners then advance on Curdie and Lina brandishing weapons, Curdie states, “Don’t be afraid Lina. I’ll kill one- you kill the other.” This may be too much for some, but I appreciated it as a picture of straightforward courage. Violence for its own sake is never endorsed. But when wickedness attacks, Curdie is an example of responding in a firm and measured fashion. Throughout the book, Curdie is an example of fighting wickedness.

Personal responsibility is also a key theme in the book. The chapter where Curdie and Lina first enter the King’s city struck me as a powerful commentary on contemporary society as local businessmen complain that the king (government) has not taken care of their problems. They are not willing to handle their own issues or take responsibility but expect others to care for them. The wicked servants in the palace also are lazy and sloppy. This laziness has led to dishonesty as well. When they are confronted with their sin, rather than repent they abuse the messenger. So much of the story rings true in everyday life. This- along with the lively manner of the story- made it fun to read and discuss.

There are many other great lessons illustrated in the story. Often I paused in reading to ask, “What Bible story does that remind you of?” This made for fun interaction between the story and the Bible.

Also, the language itself is wonderful. Macdonald’s English is older so some phrases would sound archaic today. Some I simply “translated” on the fly, but most of the time I read it as is because it was beautiful and gave great opportunities to ask what my boys understood and what they did not. Hopefully this has expanded their vocabulary and skills of expression as we read.

It seems that our experience with this book was similar to that of the publisher of the edition we read. In the “Publishers’ Note” at the beginning of the book this comment is made:

Few stories for children have afforded greater entertainment than “The Princess and Curdie”- moreover it has made its readers better for their acquaintance with it. Who of us is there who has had the good fortune to know it in childhood, but does not cherish its memory as one of the dearest possessions? It is one of those few perennially fresh and attractive tales that have become the classics of childhood in our language- those tales whose memories remain with us through the years.

There are numerous versions available including two online sources- Google Books and Page by Page Books. The 1908 Lippincott edition is beautiful with very nice illustrations.

Whatever form you can find it in, we heartily commend this book.

Value of Small Church

Posted by Ray on 26 August 2009, 12:08 am

While thumbing through William Lumpkin’s Baptist Confessions of Faith I came across a fascinating point in the confession of faith of one of the Baptist groups in Amsterdam. The document is titled “A Declaration of Faith of English People Remaining at Amsterdam in Holland” and is dated 1611. As this Baptist group summarized the principle tenets of their faith, emphasizing their understanding of the church, they included this statement (#16 in the list). I include it here first as originally written and then in updated language:

That the members off everie Church or Congregacion ought to knowe one another, that so they may performe all the duties off love one towards another both to soule and bodie. Mat. 18.15. 1 Thes. 5.14. 1 Cor. 12.25. And especiallie the Elders ought to knowe the whole flock, whereof the Holie Ghost hath made them overseers. Acts 20.28; 1 Pet. 5.2,3. And therefore a Church ought not to consist off such a multitude as cannot have particuler knowledg one off another.

Updated English:
That the members of every church or congregation ought to know one another, so they may perform all the duties of love to one another, both spiritually and physically. (Matt. 18:15; 1 Thes. 5:14; 1 Cor. 12:25) And especially the elders ought to know the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers. (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2-3) Therefore a church ought not to consists of such a multitude that each member cannot have individual knowledge of one another.

Ortlund Encouragement to Read the Bible

Posted by Ray on 24 August 2009, 7:17 am

Ray Ortlund has recently posted three items that are powerful encouragements in reading the Scriptures- not just today but over the decades. These thoughts have lingered with me, some over several days, challenging me deeply and encouraging me just as deeply. They have made me want to be more diligent, more consistent, more believing and hopeful, and a better parent.
Here they are:
– Reading the Greek NT over 4 decades
– Wesley on reading (Bible and other good books)
– Note in Bible given to Ray by his Dad on his 17th birthday

Africa Bible Commentary Series

Posted by Ray on 22 August 2009, 8:04 am

Just this week I received an advanced copy of the inaugural volume of the Africa Bible Commentary series, and this volume is on the Pastoral Epistles! I have not had time to read much of it yet, but I wanted to go ahead and mention this volume to others.

The series grew out of work on the one volume Africa Bible Commentary. The introduction for the series states:

The contributors are Anglophone or Francophone African scholars, all of whom adhere to the statement of faith of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa.

The series is aimed at pastors and sermon preparation with more technical issues handled in footnotes. It is also self-consciously aimed at the African context- illustrations are drawn from life there and the current concerns of churches in Africa are addressed. Study questions at the end of each section raise specific issue current in African churches. One of the key aims of the series is then to be more directly accessible by African readers. Of course, for those of us in North America or Europe, it offers us the opportunity to hear from the church in Africa, to see how they are wrestling with the scripture in their context. I am particularly interested to read how the issues discussed in the Pastorals are being dealt with by my African brothers and sisters. This looks like a promising series.

Trueman on Leadership and Making Difficult Decisions

Posted by Ray on 21 August 2009, 3:06 pm

Carl Trueman has another insightful article this time on leadership. Trueman discusses the tendency today to avoid any decision which will cause any offense. This, he argues, is not an option for those in real leadership positions. Pastors are leaders and we ought to know the reality of Trueman’s statements. If we are going to be faithful to our calling we are sometimes going to have to make decisions which are not all that clear, ones that perhaps later on will be shown to be unwise. We will be tempted to avoid the issue, to stall or to shift responsibility in some way. If we give in to this temptation we will be guilty of cowardice (see 2 Tim 1:7). Sure there is a place for waiting to seek wisdom, etc. But at times in real life a decision will have to be made by leaders who are willing to make a call and receive whatever consequences come. This will not require us then to maintain we were right in all such decisions. It may often require that which is even more difficult- publicly admitting we were wrong. But we must be willing to make decisions and while living semper reformanda, always reforming in light of the Scriptures.
The church needs such leaders among her pastors.

Here are some quotes to entice you to read the full article:

it is perhaps not surprising that as adolescence creeps into middle age, so does the fear of making choices and closing down options; but I wonder if most lethal of all will prove to be not the lack of commitment and stability that characterises Marks’ `cult of options’. Rather the worst of it may well be that a generation is growing up that is happy to sneer and snipe at the decisions of others, but for whom making decisions that bind is something they themselves are incapable of doing, an alien concept no less; and that means not only, as I suspect Mark Dever fears, that a generation will grow up with no real commitments other than to themselves as individuals but also with no real leadership potential.
…
Too often I suspect that aspiring statesmen in the church are driven more by a need to be liked and to avoid conflict than by a real desire to provide strong leadership; but being a statesman is not a career path; it is something that is earned over many years of making hard decisions, taking unpopular stands, and proving one’s mettle under fire.

What are Great Books?

Posted by Ray on 19 August 2009, 10:46 am

My colleague, Brad Green, sent me this quote from Serge Lancel in his book, St Augustine, on what great books are:

” . . . they are the repositories of irreplaceably personal words which achieve their deepest meaning in the setting of a closely circumscribed area of someone’s life.” (p. 204)

M. E. Dodd on Joyous Communion

Posted by Ray on 18 August 2009, 4:05 pm

In a previous post I took issue with J. M. Pendleton’s morose description of communion. It has not been heartening to find Pendleton’s sentiments echoed in various other Baptist authors of the past. However, today I was encouraged to find M. E. Dodd addressing his own church members, reminding them of their times of celebrating communion as:

“That glad, joyous occasion when our memories are refreshed and when our gratitude is enlarged as we meditate upon the things that Christ did for us as represented in this supper.” (Baptist Principles and Practices [Alexandria, LA: The Chronicle Publishing Co., 1916], 75)

Dodd gave serious time and effort to rehabilitating the practice of communion in his church (as evidenced in his intro to Christ’s Memorial). May we also be able to look back to glad, joyous occasions where we celebrated communion with our fellow church members.

Calvin on God’s Promises to Individuals

Posted by Ray on 17 August 2009, 1:00 pm

Recently I have in a number of settings felt the need to stress that God’s promises in Scripture to the church apply to each individual who is redeemed. This has at times come up in situations where God’s love for his people is mentioned, and some struggle with thinking, “I know God loves His people in general, and I even believe God loves those believers there who are more faithful etc., but really I doubt that he loves me.”

With that in mind, this quote from Calvin’s commentary on Psalm 125 (pointed out to me by my fellow pastor Lee Tankersley) is helpful:

whenever God speaks to all his people in a body, he addresses himself also to each of them in particular. As not a few of the promises are extended generally to the whole body of the Church, so many contemplate them as at a distance, as far removed from them, and will not presume to appropriate them to themselves. The rule here prescribed must therefore be observed, which is, that each apply to himself whatever God promises to his Church in common

Bunyan Poem on Valor and the Christian Life

Posted by Ray on 14 August 2009, 2:31 pm

John Bunyan is one of many historical examples of a pastor/poet. Pilgrim’s Progress contains a number of poems by Bunyan. Below is one I have appreciated for some time. In the story it comes from Mr. Valiant-for-Truth. Louis Benson, prominent hymnologist, described this song as “dramatically virile” and stated, “to Bunyan bravery is the root virtue of Christian character and the only possible equipment for the pilgrim life.” Coming from a man who was imprisoned for over 12 years, this is all the more meaningful.

This poem in a slightly modified form was set to music and included in some hymnals as “He Who Would Valiant Be.”

This though is Bunyan’s original:

Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.

In our day, when we suffer less, may we still share this resoluteness and faith.
(Quotes from Louis F. Benson, “The Hymns of John Bunyan,” Papers of the Hymn Society, 1930)

Oversight of Souls

by Ray Van Neste