The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, commanded by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. So His own Word expressly declares: “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:10). Divine sovereignty means that God is on the throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).
“The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths (Psalm 135:6). Such is the imperial Monarch revealed in Holy Scripture – unrivalled in majesty, unlimited in power, undirected by anything outside Himself.
- A.W. Pink
Source: The Best of Arthur W. Pink. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978 in Steve Halliday & William Travis eds. How Great Thou Art, Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, 1999.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Reality Check
I attended a liberal Anglican church close to campus during my first semester of university. The church was a typical Anglican church in Canada at the start of the 21st century. The sermons were short and unbiblical, the music was tepid and the pews were mostly empty. I walked by a Wesleyan church (which was the first church I attended when I moved to Ottawa) that was so well attended that the parked cars of attendees lined the street for blocks.
I’ve always thought it was such a wonderful juxtaposition of two churches just streets apart, but worlds apart in theology and vibrancy.
So much has been written about the decline of liberal Protestantism, including, a good article in The National Post last week, that the narrative is now familiar. Denominations seeking to ‘modernize’ themselves have become irrelevant in their quest to detach themselves from the traditional understanding of Christianity. I hope to address the issue further later this year.
But I was so struck by a recent editorial in The Anglican Journal that I wanted to write something right away. The newspaper asked readers to submit stories of ‘hope, or resurrection, in the church’ in November. Readers responded, but not in the way the (liberal) editor of the paper was anticipating.
“What surprised me, though, (but perhaps should not have) was the number of letters indicating no hope whatsoever for the future of the Canadian church,” wrote Leanne Larmondin.[i]
The editor is correct: the unhappy outlook shouldn’t have surprised her. The Anglican Church of Canada is a shell of its former self.
She added that while she disagrees with those who have little hope in the future of Anglicanism in Canada, she will “also try harder to listen to the other voices”.[ii]
Contemplating the views of those with (realistic) views of the church’s future is a good start, and an incredibly Anglican thing to do. But until denominational leaders and members repent, forsake their universalism which they masquerade as Christianity and turn to Christ, the future of the Anglican Church in Canada will remain bleak.
[i] Leanne Larmondin, “If you can’t say anything nice, we’ll listen anyway.” The Anglican Journal. 1 Jan. 2007. Accessed 5 Jan. 2007. Available:
[ii] Ibid.
I’ve always thought it was such a wonderful juxtaposition of two churches just streets apart, but worlds apart in theology and vibrancy.
So much has been written about the decline of liberal Protestantism, including, a good article in The National Post last week, that the narrative is now familiar. Denominations seeking to ‘modernize’ themselves have become irrelevant in their quest to detach themselves from the traditional understanding of Christianity. I hope to address the issue further later this year.
But I was so struck by a recent editorial in The Anglican Journal that I wanted to write something right away. The newspaper asked readers to submit stories of ‘hope, or resurrection, in the church’ in November. Readers responded, but not in the way the (liberal) editor of the paper was anticipating.
“What surprised me, though, (but perhaps should not have) was the number of letters indicating no hope whatsoever for the future of the Canadian church,” wrote Leanne Larmondin.[i]
The editor is correct: the unhappy outlook shouldn’t have surprised her. The Anglican Church of Canada is a shell of its former self.
She added that while she disagrees with those who have little hope in the future of Anglicanism in Canada, she will “also try harder to listen to the other voices”.[ii]
Contemplating the views of those with (realistic) views of the church’s future is a good start, and an incredibly Anglican thing to do. But until denominational leaders and members repent, forsake their universalism which they masquerade as Christianity and turn to Christ, the future of the Anglican Church in Canada will remain bleak.
[i] Leanne Larmondin, “If you can’t say anything nice, we’ll listen anyway.” The Anglican Journal. 1 Jan. 2007. Accessed 5 Jan. 2007. Available:
[ii] Ibid.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Quote of the Day
"Having Toronto as the location of the film's worldwide opening is a source of pride for Indo-Canadians and will help to correct misconceptions, said Bollywood fan Samina Talib, an accounting analyst from Mumbai.
'It's really exciting. It showcases Indian culture and what we have to offer. Contrary to what some people think, India is not all about cows walking around the roads.'"
Source: Prithi Yelaja, “Bollywood to launch blockbuster in Toronto”, The Toronto Star, 5 Jan. 2007. Accessed 5 Jan. 2007. Available: http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/168156
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Conscience
The Ontario Court of Appeal has decided to give legal parental status to both the biological mother of a five-year-old boy and her female partner, as well as his biological father.[i]
People ruling according to their conscience reached this decision. It’s a decision that would have perplexed Canadians just a generation ago. But not anymore. The Appeal Court ruled that the provincial legislation dealing with issues of custody, the Children's Law Reform Act, no longer reflects current society. "There is no doubt that the legislature did not foresee for the possibility of declarations of parentage for two women, but that is a product of the social conditions and medical knowledge at the time," they wrote.[ii]
According to the editors of the Reformation Study Bible (ESV), conscience is the built-in power of our minds to pass moral judgments on ourselves, approving or disapproving our actions, thoughts, and plans, and telling us, if what we have done is wrong, that we deserve to suffer for it.
“Conscience” wrote Thomas Watson, “is God’s deputy or vicegerent.”[iii] He continues, “Natural conscience in the wicked accuses. When we go against its light they feel the worm of conscience.”[iv]
Conscience has two elements: an awareness of certain things as being right or wrong, and an ability to apply laws and rules to specific situations. The conscience of Samuel, for example, acquitted him of all charges that could brought against him, as did God and his people (1 Samuel 12:5). Conscience insists on judging us by the highest standard we know. This is why some people call it God’s voice in the soul. Paul says that God has written a certain knowledge of His law on every heart (Romans 2:14, 15)
“The exercise of a good conscience is a branch of internal religon, and is concerned with the worship of God,” wrote John Gill. “Hence nothing can bind the conscience but the law and the will of God.”[v]
However conscience can be misinformed, or conditioned to regard evil as good, or become dull through repeated sin (1 Timothy 4:2). Thomas Watson wrote that a peson “may wish there were no God, he may dispute against a Deity, but he cannot in his judgment believe there is no God, unless by accumulated sin his conscience be seared, and he has such a lethargy upon him, that he has sinned away his very sense and reason.”[vi]
The judgments of conscience are only to be received as God’s voice when they match God’s truth and law in the Bible. The conscience must be educated to judge scripturally (disernment).
Supersition may lead a person to count as sinful an action that is not sinful according to God’s word. But for such a ‘weak’ conscience (Romans 14:1, 2; 1 Cornithians 8:7,12) to go against itself and do what it judges to be wrong would be sin (Romans 14:23). People whose conscience is ‘weak’ should never be pressed to do what destroys their good conscience.
The New Testament ideal is a conscience free from guilt and able to guide us in a holy direction. The conscience can only be freed from guilt by the power of Christ’s blood. Once freed and protected in its freedom by the gift of justification, the conscience is able to grow through the teaching of Scripture and the means of grace in Christian life. And the effect of a good and pure conscience, especially when atonement for sin by the sacrifice of Christ is applied and received, is joy and peace (Romans 5:11).
[i] "Ontario court says boy can have dad, mom — and mom", CBC. 3 Jan 2007. Accessed 3 Jan 2007. Available:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/01/03/twomom-court.html
[ii] Court of Appeal for Ontario. A.A. v. B.B., 2007 ONCA 2, 20070102, Accessed 4 Jan 2007. Available:
http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/decisions/2007/january/C39998.htm
[iii] Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1692, p. 41.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] John Gill, “Of a Good Conscience” in Body of Practical Divinity, 1770. Accessed 4 Jan. 2007. Available:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/gill/practical.ii.xxiii.html
[vi] Watson, p. 39.
People ruling according to their conscience reached this decision. It’s a decision that would have perplexed Canadians just a generation ago. But not anymore. The Appeal Court ruled that the provincial legislation dealing with issues of custody, the Children's Law Reform Act, no longer reflects current society. "There is no doubt that the legislature did not foresee for the possibility of declarations of parentage for two women, but that is a product of the social conditions and medical knowledge at the time," they wrote.[ii]
According to the editors of the Reformation Study Bible (ESV), conscience is the built-in power of our minds to pass moral judgments on ourselves, approving or disapproving our actions, thoughts, and plans, and telling us, if what we have done is wrong, that we deserve to suffer for it.
“Conscience” wrote Thomas Watson, “is God’s deputy or vicegerent.”[iii] He continues, “Natural conscience in the wicked accuses. When we go against its light they feel the worm of conscience.”[iv]
Conscience has two elements: an awareness of certain things as being right or wrong, and an ability to apply laws and rules to specific situations. The conscience of Samuel, for example, acquitted him of all charges that could brought against him, as did God and his people (1 Samuel 12:5). Conscience insists on judging us by the highest standard we know. This is why some people call it God’s voice in the soul. Paul says that God has written a certain knowledge of His law on every heart (Romans 2:14, 15)
“The exercise of a good conscience is a branch of internal religon, and is concerned with the worship of God,” wrote John Gill. “Hence nothing can bind the conscience but the law and the will of God.”[v]
However conscience can be misinformed, or conditioned to regard evil as good, or become dull through repeated sin (1 Timothy 4:2). Thomas Watson wrote that a peson “may wish there were no God, he may dispute against a Deity, but he cannot in his judgment believe there is no God, unless by accumulated sin his conscience be seared, and he has such a lethargy upon him, that he has sinned away his very sense and reason.”[vi]
The judgments of conscience are only to be received as God’s voice when they match God’s truth and law in the Bible. The conscience must be educated to judge scripturally (disernment).
Supersition may lead a person to count as sinful an action that is not sinful according to God’s word. But for such a ‘weak’ conscience (Romans 14:1, 2; 1 Cornithians 8:7,12) to go against itself and do what it judges to be wrong would be sin (Romans 14:23). People whose conscience is ‘weak’ should never be pressed to do what destroys their good conscience.
The New Testament ideal is a conscience free from guilt and able to guide us in a holy direction. The conscience can only be freed from guilt by the power of Christ’s blood. Once freed and protected in its freedom by the gift of justification, the conscience is able to grow through the teaching of Scripture and the means of grace in Christian life. And the effect of a good and pure conscience, especially when atonement for sin by the sacrifice of Christ is applied and received, is joy and peace (Romans 5:11).
[i] "Ontario court says boy can have dad, mom — and mom", CBC. 3 Jan 2007. Accessed 3 Jan 2007. Available:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/01/03/twomom-court.html
[ii] Court of Appeal for Ontario. A.A. v. B.B., 2007 ONCA 2, 20070102, Accessed 4 Jan 2007. Available:
http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/decisions/2007/january/C39998.htm
[iii] Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1692, p. 41.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] John Gill, “Of a Good Conscience” in Body of Practical Divinity, 1770. Accessed 4 Jan. 2007. Available:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/gill/practical.ii.xxiii.html
[vi] Watson, p. 39.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Martin Luther
On January 3, 1521 Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther after he refused to retract 41 of his 95 theses.
Luther was concerned about this:
Papal indulgences are being carried about, under your most distinguished authority, for the building of St. Peter’s. In respect of these I do not so much accuse the extravagant sayings of the preachers, which I have not heard, but I grieve at the very false ideas which the people conceive from them, and which are spread abroad in common talk on every side—namely, that unhappy souls believe that, if they buy letters of indulgences, they are sure of their salvation; also, that, as soon as they have thrown their contribution into the 4chest, souls forthwith fly out of purgatory; and furthermore, that so great is the grace thus conferred, that there is no sin so great—even, as they say, if, by an impossibility, any one had violated the Mother of God—but that it may be pardoned; and again, that by these indulgences a man is freed from all punishment and guilt.[i]
His stand was a turning point not only for God’s truth, but also for western civilization. His life is connected with the closing of the Middle Ages and the start of the Modern Era. His translation of the Bible furthered the development of a standard version of the German language and added several principles to the art of translation. His translation influenced the English King James version of the Bible. His marriage helped to reintroduce the practice of clerical marriage.
Martin Luther’s courage to stand up for what was right is inspiring.
[i] Martin Luther, 'Introductory Letter', 95 Thesis, Accessed 3 Jan 2007. Available:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/first_prin.iv.i.i.html
Luther was concerned about this:
Papal indulgences are being carried about, under your most distinguished authority, for the building of St. Peter’s. In respect of these I do not so much accuse the extravagant sayings of the preachers, which I have not heard, but I grieve at the very false ideas which the people conceive from them, and which are spread abroad in common talk on every side—namely, that unhappy souls believe that, if they buy letters of indulgences, they are sure of their salvation; also, that, as soon as they have thrown their contribution into the 4chest, souls forthwith fly out of purgatory; and furthermore, that so great is the grace thus conferred, that there is no sin so great—even, as they say, if, by an impossibility, any one had violated the Mother of God—but that it may be pardoned; and again, that by these indulgences a man is freed from all punishment and guilt.[i]
His stand was a turning point not only for God’s truth, but also for western civilization. His life is connected with the closing of the Middle Ages and the start of the Modern Era. His translation of the Bible furthered the development of a standard version of the German language and added several principles to the art of translation. His translation influenced the English King James version of the Bible. His marriage helped to reintroduce the practice of clerical marriage.
Martin Luther’s courage to stand up for what was right is inspiring.
[i] Martin Luther, 'Introductory Letter', 95 Thesis, Accessed 3 Jan 2007. Available:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/first_prin.iv.i.i.html
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Resolutions - 1700s Style
Making a resolution this time of year is common, so I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. Here are seven of them.
Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live
Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, Never wilfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions
Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
Resolved, To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,—what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also, at the end of every week, month, and year
Source:
Jonathan Edwards, “Resolutions” in Ola Elizabeth Winslow ed. Basic Writings, New York: The New American Library, 1966, pp. 68-75.
Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live
Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, Never wilfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions
Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
Resolved, To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,—what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also, at the end of every week, month, and year
Source:
Jonathan Edwards, “Resolutions” in Ola Elizabeth Winslow ed. Basic Writings, New York: The New American Library, 1966, pp. 68-75.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Chosen by God
Happy New Year! What better way to celebrate than to mediate upon the lyrics of a wonderful hymn.
MY LORD, I DID NOT CHOOSE YOU
My Lord, I did not choose You,
For that could never be;
My heart would still refuse You,
Had You not chosen me.
You took the sin that stained me,
You cleansed me, made me new;
Of old You have ordained me,
That I should live in You.
Unless Your grace had called me,
And taught my op’ning mind,
The world would have enthralled me,
To heav’nly glories blind.
My heart knows none above You;
For Your rich grace I thirst;
I know that if I love You,
You must have loved me first
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/l/mlidncyo.htm
MY LORD, I DID NOT CHOOSE YOU
My Lord, I did not choose You,
For that could never be;
My heart would still refuse You,
Had You not chosen me.
You took the sin that stained me,
You cleansed me, made me new;
Of old You have ordained me,
That I should live in You.
Unless Your grace had called me,
And taught my op’ning mind,
The world would have enthralled me,
To heav’nly glories blind.
My heart knows none above You;
For Your rich grace I thirst;
I know that if I love You,
You must have loved me first
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/l/mlidncyo.htm
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