Well then, what is my opinion on Dr. Martin Luther's Bondage of the Will? It is a theme on this blog, so apparently, I am in favor of it! Indeed, I am. Martin Luther uses humor, wit, and scripture through out his entire book. Who would have thought you could chuckle and grin so many times whilst reading a theological book? If you read this book, you will too.
I will now include some of his humorous words, wit, and dare I say it, sarcasm!-in which he used in his rebuttal to Erasmus's Diatribe.
"So that it seems even superfluous to reply to these your arguments, which have been indeed often refuted by me; but trodden down, and trampled underfoot, by the incontrovertible Book of Philip Melancthon 'Concerning Theological Questions:' a book, in my judgment, worthy not only of being immortalized... in comparison of which your Book is in my estimate, so mean and vile that I greatly feel for you for having defiled you most beautiful and ingenious language with such vile trash; and I feel an indignation against the matter also, that such unworthy stuff should be borne about in ornaments of eloquence so rare; which is as if rubbish, or dung, should be carried in vessels of gold and silver." Pgs. 9-10
Who else but Luther might give compliments and stinging blow upon the ego all at once, with such elegance and colorful language?
"Do you think the Diatribe could be sober or in its right sense when it wrote this? For I cannot attribute it to malice or iniquity: unless it be that it designed to effectually wear me out by perpetually wearying me, while this, ever like itself, it is continually turning aside to something in a matter so important, then I will be pleased to expose its voluntary fooleries publicly." pg. 196
*grins*
"Wonderful! Surely the Diatribe does not speak this out of its own head, but has taken it out of some paper or other, sent or received from another quarter, inserted it in its book! For it certainly can neither see nor hear the meaning of these words!" pg. 176
*chuckles*
"And thus the Diatribe explodes itself." pg. 167
Haha! Favorite!
"May I perish if the Diatribe itself knows what it is talking about." pg. 160
"Only observe, I pray you how many evasions and ways of escape a slippery mind will invent, which wold flee from the truth, and yet cannot get away from it after all." pgs. 155-156
And I ask you, dear reader, how could you resist to engage in such a book with such gems sprinkled through out? These are but a few in the latter half of the book. I started highlighting some of these grin inducing remarks alongside the thought inducing remarks made. I trust you are entirely diverted by such grand writing.
Now, as a serious thought on the book, in many ways I found it to be over my head. Which is great! How can one grow in knowledge if you only read books you fully comprehend? I can say with confidence that though I learned a great deal from reading this book, there is still room for numerous more readings of this one work in the future. Many times over.
For the heart of the matter, this is a book about the Free-will of man concerning salvation, and the refutation thereof. It is manifestly clear to Luther, proven by the scriptures, that man possesses no such will. A good quote from the book sums up why:
"We know that man was constituted lord over those things which are beneath himself; over which, he has a right and a Free-will, that those things might do, and obey as he wills and thinks. But we are now inquiring whether he has a 'Free-will' over God, that He should do and obey in those things which man wills: or rather, whether God has not a Free-will over man, that he should will and do what God wills, and should be able to do nothing but what He wills and does. The Baptist (speaking of John) here says, that he 'can receive nothing, except it be given him from above.'-Wherefore, 'Free-will' must be nothing at all!" pg 234
In essence, it is God has Free-will over man VS Man has Free-will over God, in regards to salvation. Luther is really put out by all the contradictions the Diatribe has, for in one place it declares man cannot gain salvation or do good without the grace of God, then in another place it labors to declare man has the free-will to endeavor after good. Here he says,
"that which was aimed at to be proved, that is, the PROBABLE OPINION; by which, 'Free-will' is defined to be that impotency, 'that it cannot will anything good without grace, but is compelled into the service of sin; though it has endeavour, which, nevertheless, is not to be ascribed to its own powers.'-A monster truly! which, at the same time, can do nothing by its own power, and yet has an endeavour within its own power: and thus, stands upon the basis of a most manifest contradiction!" pg. 110
Luther is asserting in diverse places, that it is a contradiction to say "free-will" can't do good, but at the same time say it can apply itself unto eternal salvation! He also brings forward this problem: If God does not foreknow and will all things immutably, not contingently, how can anyone trust his promises?
"For if you doubt, or disdain to know that God foreknows and wills all things, not contingently, but necessarily and immutably, how can you believe confidently, trust to and depend upon His promises? For when He promises, it is necessary that you should be certain that He knows, is able, and willing to perform what He promises; otherwise, you will neither hold Him true nor faithful; which is unbelief, the greatest wickedness, and a denying of the Most High God" pg. 30
Be it said, that Luther is replying to another book, and so this is not a book that just picks up the topic and explains it from scratch. For all his sarcasm and his fierce devotion the scriptures, he is not lacking grace toward Erasmus. In his closing he says,
"We must mutually pardon each other in these things; for we are but men, and there is nothing in us that is not touched with human infirmity." pg 199
I enjoyed reading this. The first half of the book has notes galore and lots of places highlighted where I liked his points, arguments, and explanations. This made for more laborious reading, and thus, I quickly got behind in my reading schedule. So I was content to ease up on my notes and to content myself with a quick highlighting of important things to note. The latter half will be filled with my thoughts via the margins the second reading, perhaps. I would make mention of the fact that this book is written in a style that is not commonly used in modern writing and makes it "harder" to read, but I recommend it none the less. Let it be a challenge. Perhaps the excerpts I shared will whet your appetite.
I'm not sure I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic of "Free-will" vs "Enslaved Will" who has never delved into the topic before, I might direct them toward someone like Dr. R.C. Sproul first. (Which, one of his books is on my reading list in this year). But I do recommend this book whole-heartedly! I appreciated this copy by Watchmaker Publishing translated by Henry Cole (1823) because of his helpful footnotes. There is some theology in it in which he contrasts what John Calvin would say on the same topic, or further clarification in the Westminster Confession of Faith. I would be interested to obtain the copy with which Packer gives the introduction. Needless to say, I liked this book and found it very informative, and appreciated Dr. Martin Luther's loyalty to the Holy Scriptures, and his being stalwart in his devotion to God's word above man's opinions and good feelings.
I forgot to add my rating. It gets the big FIVE star. 5) being, found enjoyable, challenging, useful in many ways, would highly
recommend with no holding back, over all EXCELLENT book. Need to read again!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
How To Read a Book: In Review
Month one and book one are complete. It is a nice feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment to know I am on track on completing my over all goal, by meeting this small goal.
I decided to share a few thoughts about each book after I complete them, and as a spur of the moment decision, give my own rating. What will my ratings be? A scale of 1-5 (Subject to change upon my own whim and will).
1) being, complete waste. Why did I finish it?
2) being, minimally thought provoking/entertaining. Won’t read it again.
3) being, borderline useful/wasteful. mild usefulness in instruction about the faults in it/mildly entertaining; Enough good to be challenged, grow a little in thought. Might read it again.
4) being, a really great book, useful to instruct, thought provoking/good entertainment, very challenging, growth as a reader, way more good than bad, would recommend. Worth reading again.
5) being, found enjoyable, challenging, useful in many ways, would highly recommend with no holding back, over all EXCELLENT book. Need to read again!
~~*~~**~~*~~
So, what is my rating for "How To Read a Book"? I would give it a 4. I plan to read it again sometime in the future.
One of the main points it made is if you understand a book you can some it up in one sentence (or a few if it's a long book), if you can't, you need to re-read it to understand. So my one sentence is also an attempt to be witty:
How To Read A Book, is an instructional piece of literature that is meant to be exhaustive, and applied exhaustively.
One of the main points it made is if you understand a book you can some it up in one sentence (or a few if it's a long book), if you can't, you need to re-read it to understand. So my one sentence is also an attempt to be witty:
How To Read A Book, is an instructional piece of literature that is meant to be exhaustive, and applied exhaustively.
Now, if you read the book you *might* catch the humor, or you may think my wit was not at all witty... in any event, I will explain. It instructs that you must be a demanding reader, which means a myriad of steps, but the essence is that you must be engaged in reading using only your mind to come to understand the book (which is exhausting), and to exhaust all the information you can. Exhaust the resource, and the mind. (This review sounded so much better in my head... I need to work on reviews obviously).
I felt the book was owed a demanding critique of a review due to the content, and if I didn't, then I would be forsaking this new knowledge by not applying it on it's own work. But honestly? I'm exhausted! (; Seriously. It deserves praise for it is a tutor presenting knowledge and helpful tips, tricks, and rules to educating yourself and pulling yourself up above the status quo by teaching you how to be a demanding reader. Books over your head are but a challenge to read to learn and grow as a reader and a person.
The information I obtained will be immensely helpful in reading the difficult works ahead of me. (I tremble to think of John Owen's The Death of Death... eek!) Also, I need to work on my understanding of grammar.
So yes, I do recommend reading this book, stat. Make it your next book project. The only major problem I have is that it is a secular work and the authors do not acknowledge Christ as Lord, and thus some of their worldview is vastly different. I disagree on a few points, but a mature reader will take note and look past it.
This is my rough review. Edits might come later. Until then, I am off to drink passion tea and read Luther.
The information I obtained will be immensely helpful in reading the difficult works ahead of me. (I tremble to think of John Owen's The Death of Death... eek!) Also, I need to work on my understanding of grammar.
So yes, I do recommend reading this book, stat. Make it your next book project. The only major problem I have is that it is a secular work and the authors do not acknowledge Christ as Lord, and thus some of their worldview is vastly different. I disagree on a few points, but a mature reader will take note and look past it.
This is my rough review. Edits might come later. Until then, I am off to drink passion tea and read Luther.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
What Do I Love Most?
What do I love most? I say I love God more than life itself. Easy. Simply.
I can say I would lay down my life in an instant for His kingdom’s cause because I know I will spend eternity with Him and in the midst of His perfect and endless love!- but it is wearying to think about living in this messed up broken world being a messed up broken person. Yes He has redeemed me and given me a new heart, new purpose, and new life! But it can be despairing to live in a broken place, still falling into sin.
~~ ---- ~~
This was written sometime early in 2011. And it brings tears to my eyes to even think of it, even if it was incomplete thoughts. Oh, how absolutely faithful God is!-how true He is!-How wonderful He is! It is indeed more consuming to live out loving Him better than anything in life. And let me be the first to tell you, the refining fires of God have tested this most heatedly, most acutely, and most assuredly in my life.
What a privilege it is, what an honor, blessing, and true test of grace it has been in my life to have the Creator God of the universe to test and approve me through trials and tribulations... and for me to come out sanctified and not cast aside. I love Him, more dearly than I ever have before in this life, because He showed me His love in ways I cannot describe. To know His grace when I was left destitute, to know His peace when life's storms buffeted me about, to know His love when I was otherwise forsaken, to know His kindness when others were harsh, to know His Spirit when mine seemed lost, to know His forgiveness when I felt unlovable, to know Him as Comforter when I felt I could never know comfort, to know Him as Healer when I felt forever broken and wounded, to know Him as my rock when all else seemed shaken, to know Him as my salvation when it felt I would never be saved from the pit of despair. Oh my, how wonderful our God is! I have lost, yet I have gained so much in Christ. Whatever cost He deems necessary, by His grace I will submit to His will. Come what may, He is my all in all. If He had not chosen me, what a wretch I would still be. I will love Him, for He has chosen the life I am to lead, so He will give me grace to walk in whatever He has planned for me.
And I am so thankful for the man He has given as my husband to walk this life with. A true treasure he is. (:
What a privilege it is, what an honor, blessing, and true test of grace it has been in my life to have the Creator God of the universe to test and approve me through trials and tribulations... and for me to come out sanctified and not cast aside. I love Him, more dearly than I ever have before in this life, because He showed me His love in ways I cannot describe. To know His grace when I was left destitute, to know His peace when life's storms buffeted me about, to know His love when I was otherwise forsaken, to know His kindness when others were harsh, to know His Spirit when mine seemed lost, to know His forgiveness when I felt unlovable, to know Him as Comforter when I felt I could never know comfort, to know Him as Healer when I felt forever broken and wounded, to know Him as my rock when all else seemed shaken, to know Him as my salvation when it felt I would never be saved from the pit of despair. Oh my, how wonderful our God is! I have lost, yet I have gained so much in Christ. Whatever cost He deems necessary, by His grace I will submit to His will. Come what may, He is my all in all. If He had not chosen me, what a wretch I would still be. I will love Him, for He has chosen the life I am to lead, so He will give me grace to walk in whatever He has planned for me.
And I am so thankful for the man He has given as my husband to walk this life with. A true treasure he is. (:
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
A Room Without Books...
...is like a body without a soul.
If there is something that was very marked about 2012 (other than getting married!), it would be my lack of writing and my lack of reading books. The only book I read consistently was the bible, or what I was reading with my dear Husband. Of course, there were a few I did read and finish, but far less than in times past. I started reading multiple works of literature at sundry times, but for a reason unbeknownst to me, I did not finish them. Which is almost a crime, and most definitely a travesty, in my book! I feel compelled to completion to the books I pick up.
Last night as I pondered many things about 2012, the lack of books was one of them. I wanted to remedy that with the ushering in of a new year, and it being a new day. So my goal is to read no less than 12 books. 12 books for 12 months. My plan is to consistently engage in the books that have long been on my reading list, but been far too neglected (and this includes many started but never finished). Since I plan to be realistic, for each book I plan to break down the total page number and divide it by 30/31 days and have a daily minimum of pages to be read each day. Self discipline is a weakness of mine, so I have to stretch myself OUT of my comfort zone of not being organized or planning. (; As a bonus, I plan to drink one cup of tea during each book reading session of every day. Tea and a book, what could be a more grand plan?
There are a two types of books I wish to tackle this year: ones where I learn and grow in the knowledge of liberty in the realm of politics, and my understanding of God's truth.
My dear and I are reading "The Real Lincoln" together and I am amazed at our history in this country. (I love history, by the way).
So without further ado, my list:
How to Read a Book, Adler & Doren - 346 (11 pages a day)
The Bondage of the Will, Dr. Martin Luther - 260 (9 pages a day)
Nullification, Tom Woods - 266 (8 1/2 pages a day)
Last Days Madness, Gary Demar - 442 (15 pages a day)
Dollar Noncents, Peter Allison - 155 (5 pages a day)
The Excellent Wife, Martha Peace - 249 (8 1/2 pages a day)
The Creature from Jekyll Island, G. Edward Griffin - 588 (19 pages a day)
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C. Sproul (Sr.) - 287 (9 pages a day)
The Revolution a Manifesto, Dr. Ron Paul - 167 (5 1/2 pages a day)
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, John Owen - 309 (10 pages a day)
I know this is only ten, but I'm 99.9% sure there are a couple in my church library I want to read and I can't decide which ones until I look them over. (: The order is subject to change, but I tried to collate them where it was a Christian book then political one. Also, literally half of those I have started and have yet to be finished, ha. Did you like my first pick though? I found it at a used bookstore years ago because the title caught my attention! Perhaps this will help my reading comprehension and analytical skills to be more honed, and my reading to become more efficient.
Next year perhaps I will tackle Calvin's Institutes... but since I am trying to be realistic here, I didn't include such a feat in my list! If I am really good, I might devour more than one book in a month. This is my minimum goal, after all. What books would you recommend to me?
Monday, December 31, 2012
From the Depths of My Heart
This is a post that is has been a long time coming. A farewell to 2012, and an ushering in of the new year. I thank the Lord for newness, what a blessed gift.
Long have I held the belief that my writings must be in a form of code. It is a precaution against exposing the raw feelings that are deep inside, that is, a precaution against others twisting my words or losing the explanation altogether. For too long I have been afraid of writing at all. The deep heart-wrenching pain has caused me to keep a tighter grip on letting anyone see. Pain unimaginable had pierced me to such a point, I wondered if I would ever heal at all. And words, words would not come to me, and I stopped writing and instead replaced the written word with tears. I have always expressed myself through writings, even if I never shared them with others. When I felt I did not have the courage to write, weeping was my release. The year of 2012 holds close to none of my writings, for they were not immortalized into the written word, but kept with a tight grip close to my heart.
Part of the fear that has held me back from writing has been the notion of not wanting to cause dishonor to fall upon anyone. But, I've come to realize that every single one of us are sinners and imperfect. That includes me especially. I have never tried to claim the title of perfection or the ideal Christian, but rather the more I encounter God through His word and worship, I am more and more humbled and realize how desperately I am in need of His grace evermore. But Christ's words still says we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. I am NOT perfect, but I am to strive for it, and oh how I often I fail. We all fail. The difference is, some are children of God and as the Psalmist (73) says, "My heart and flesh my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever." To the word of God I cling, for I have found how others have forsaken me.
Part of me is compelled to write now, but the other part is still hesitant. What will I say and how should I say it? I feel as if I have been too silent. But in that silence the most incredible thing has happened: I have known God as the Comforter and Healer. I am still being comforted and am still healing. Knowing His love and grace in this way has slowly given me back my joy, laughter, smiles, and I've realized more than anything, how important it is to live and enjoy what God has blessed me with, though I have lost so much. Once more in my life I have learned to say as Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Our time here on earth is but a mist, a flower that fades, here today and gone the next. What can we take from this world? What do we gain? God is absolutely sovereign, and in His good pleasure He gives and He takes away. If we bless Him when He gives, then we ought to bless Him even when He takes away. Are His gifts more precious than the Savior Himself? It is easy to say yes, but it is harder to live the yes. As His chosen child, how could I even dare to say His choosing for me is not good?-after all, He is the one who chose to save me before the foundations of the world in the first place! Why would I not also trust His choosing what might best sanctify me in this life and what will draw me nearer to Him? The precious words of Scripture have been close to my heart for these past few years, and only over a year ago did I know intimately how true they were, Phil 3:7-8 "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,".
What did "all" mean for me? My family. I love my family more than anything else in this world. They were the ones I poured my heart in prayer over, the ones who's prayerful tears were spilled for. I wanted nothing more than to share the love of Christ with them every chance I had. Yes, I often failed. But God gave me that grace to continue to love them even when I failed... and by His grace, I grew and matured as the years passed, and as the years passed, my love was more selfless. "All" was also the comfort of the familiar. And yes, for the surpassing value of knowing my beautiful and precious Savior Jesus Christ, my Lord, I suffered the loss of many things. Even my name as His child that He redeemed. That is the worst of all, to have people that you love, and even people you don't know... to believe the worst about you and to either merely doubt you are a Christian, or to not believe you are at all. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:8b-9 "that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead" Yes, to even despair of life, but it is trusting in the Lord, not ourselves that brings us through. When I was so broken-hearted and felt as if it were impossible to live a normal life ever again, when I sobbed so deeply and felt my pain so acutely I thought it would never end, even when I felt I could not hold on in my own strength, I was comforted by the truth of God's word once again, as David says in Psalm 63:8 "My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. Still, was I ever resolved to follow my Lord and Savior, and by His grace I could, for HE was the one holding me in His right hand. All also meant my character, my image, who people saw me as, perceived me as, took me as. All was the life I lived. And it was a process, realizing that this "all" was loss. It began years ago, and it felt like it lead up to one devastating loss of last year. But even so, these alls were loss in view of the surpassing value of my blessed Redeemer.
Above all, even my dear husband, I love and treasure my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am learning to live the abundant life he promised as He continue to heal the wounds of my heart. After all, Christ says in His word in John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Stripping me of all was/is a work of Christ, and in return He is showing and continues to show me more of His love, life and truth; piecing this broken heart back together one day at a time and giving me more abundant life. What a wonderful Savior, what a wonderful God!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Spiders!
I must recount the horrors of the past couple of weeks. It all began
with one Sunday a friend from church named Laura began to talk about
spiders. *Shudders*. That word in and of itself makes my skin crawl,
literally! I must swipe at every thing that feels remotely like a
creepy crawly. So Laura instigated a long conversation at lunch after
church on this horrendous topic. Of course, her sister pulls out her
iPhone and finds images of these disgusting creatures as if it were show
and tell story time! She promised to bring her spider book the
following Sunday.
Fast forward to this past Lord's day, and my brother in law caught a LARGE and I mean gigantic spider. He then had the nerve to present the spider to my face, as in a foot away (way to close for comfort). This was at their house for lunch, not in church, mind you. It had an eggsac on the back, which was absolutely petrifying when you think of the implications! For example, this is not merely a squishable spider, for if you stop on it or whack a book on it... you release thousands of its tiny minions! Which is enough to make my heart stop. So it is not easy to kill. So she remained alive the whole Sunday, and he thought it funny to bring it up numerous times. After weeks of talking of spiders... all I wanted was the safety of my own home.
Though, the irony is, my home is not safe from spiders. I can handle small squishable ones, the ones that crawl on the porch and I can step on or whack with my shoe, but those large and detestable ones... they literally scare me still! So yesterday I decided to act on some of the money saving tips my husband encourages me in, such as utilizing the clothes line he put up for me in the backyard. I proudly did the laundry and hung them to try... when I had a wasp encounter! Which, by the way, we are battling a few wasps nests around our house, not quite as horrifying as spiders, but still scary. I reached to grab a clothespin and lo and behold a red winged devil snuggled its body next to my finger, out of pure shock and terror, I shook my hand violently and jumped to the side and quickly ran to the back door steps. When all was clear I finished hanging my assorted clothing and ran inside. I left shortly after to run errands... and when I came back, the real fear struck. I went out to put my naughty dog out in her doghouse. I looked to the sky, admiring the beauty of God's creation, when a paralyzing sight caught my eye causing me to literally run. A spider. Not just any spider, but one with a web spanning 2 feet in diameter and a body more terrifying than even the one I saw on Sunday.
I couldn't face my backyard after that. My plan was to wait til my husband got home and ask him to get his ladder and catch it. It was so big it was not squishable, but needed a well thought out death, such as death by drowning, or dousing it in a pool of poison. Anything but allow it to live! Spiders receive an automatic death sentence around me, and mercy is not an option. I am the judge, jury, and executioner all rolled up in one when it comes to these wretched beings. Unfortunately, he got home late so it was dark by the time we finished dinner.
Which brings me to this day. I mustered all the courage I could and went and let the dog off her leash. (The spider built its nest just above her dog house). I then ran inside and got the camera to document the horrors of the day. Upon further investigation I found it had orange and black legs with a yellow and black spotted back. I then turned to google images. The horrors have subsided, and I have found something miraculous!
It is a Black and Yellow Argiope. It turns out they catch and eat things such as wasps. I am left with the decision, do I spare my wrath and allow a one time mercy toward the much loathed spider in order to naturally rid our home of the wasps? Or do I turn to the death of the spider and spray the fumes of poisonous death upon the wasps?
This is a true account of my nightmarish reality of spiders haunting me in the form of conversation, pictures, and real life spiders.
Also, here is a picture. *Shudders violently*.
the work of God's hand in creation. Truly, His works are wondrous. (insert: But what a tragedy it is to live in a fallen world! This is not the intent of our gracious and marvelous Creator God, for creatures to devour one another. Oh, what misery it is to know the effects of the fall of man, for all of creation groans because of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve!) I could not imagine ridding my home of wasps other than poisonous fumes, but here (insert: is) God has given a natural solution. I must be as Job, struck by God's wonders and humbled. Job 37:14 "Listen to this, O Job, Stand and consider the wonders of God." Here is a chapter in the bible declaring God's power, majesty, and works of His hands!(Insert: I didn't even realize what an impact my whole worldview had by attributing a spider catching wasp to God's wonders. Why? Because God created the world and it was very good! When sin entered into the world, it was "fallen" and death and disease entered in. This is not of God, and to say so is to say God promotes death, but He doesn't, He is the life-giver. It is inconsistent with a Christian worldview to attribute such things to the God of the bible. I believe in a literal 6 day creation where sin entered in when Adam and Eve at the forbidden fruit and thus entered the fall and all that encompasses, prior, the wasps would not have been eaten by spiders! I hope that makes sense, but if not, check out Answers in Genesis ministries to research more. I thank the Lord for the means He has provided in killing our wasps through a natural process).
Thus ends this account of spiders in the life of Mrs. Allison. Living in the country has more interesting bugs than in my old suburb... but to be continued...
Fast forward to this past Lord's day, and my brother in law caught a LARGE and I mean gigantic spider. He then had the nerve to present the spider to my face, as in a foot away (way to close for comfort). This was at their house for lunch, not in church, mind you. It had an eggsac on the back, which was absolutely petrifying when you think of the implications! For example, this is not merely a squishable spider, for if you stop on it or whack a book on it... you release thousands of its tiny minions! Which is enough to make my heart stop. So it is not easy to kill. So she remained alive the whole Sunday, and he thought it funny to bring it up numerous times. After weeks of talking of spiders... all I wanted was the safety of my own home.
Though, the irony is, my home is not safe from spiders. I can handle small squishable ones, the ones that crawl on the porch and I can step on or whack with my shoe, but those large and detestable ones... they literally scare me still! So yesterday I decided to act on some of the money saving tips my husband encourages me in, such as utilizing the clothes line he put up for me in the backyard. I proudly did the laundry and hung them to try... when I had a wasp encounter! Which, by the way, we are battling a few wasps nests around our house, not quite as horrifying as spiders, but still scary. I reached to grab a clothespin and lo and behold a red winged devil snuggled its body next to my finger, out of pure shock and terror, I shook my hand violently and jumped to the side and quickly ran to the back door steps. When all was clear I finished hanging my assorted clothing and ran inside. I left shortly after to run errands... and when I came back, the real fear struck. I went out to put my naughty dog out in her doghouse. I looked to the sky, admiring the beauty of God's creation, when a paralyzing sight caught my eye causing me to literally run. A spider. Not just any spider, but one with a web spanning 2 feet in diameter and a body more terrifying than even the one I saw on Sunday.
I couldn't face my backyard after that. My plan was to wait til my husband got home and ask him to get his ladder and catch it. It was so big it was not squishable, but needed a well thought out death, such as death by drowning, or dousing it in a pool of poison. Anything but allow it to live! Spiders receive an automatic death sentence around me, and mercy is not an option. I am the judge, jury, and executioner all rolled up in one when it comes to these wretched beings. Unfortunately, he got home late so it was dark by the time we finished dinner.
Which brings me to this day. I mustered all the courage I could and went and let the dog off her leash. (The spider built its nest just above her dog house). I then ran inside and got the camera to document the horrors of the day. Upon further investigation I found it had orange and black legs with a yellow and black spotted back. I then turned to google images. The horrors have subsided, and I have found something miraculous!
It is a Black and Yellow Argiope. It turns out they catch and eat things such as wasps. I am left with the decision, do I spare my wrath and allow a one time mercy toward the much loathed spider in order to naturally rid our home of the wasps? Or do I turn to the death of the spider and spray the fumes of poisonous death upon the wasps?
This is a true account of my nightmarish reality of spiders haunting me in the form of conversation, pictures, and real life spiders.
Also, here is a picture. *Shudders violently*.
~~!!!~~MAJOR EDIT~!!!~~
Despite the automatic horror that wells up deeps inside me when seeing any sort of spider, I cannot help but marvel at Thus ends this account of spiders in the life of Mrs. Allison. Living in the country has more interesting bugs than in my old suburb... but to be continued...
Friday, May 4, 2012
Who Defines Modesty?
For some reason modesty seems to
be one of those topics no one wants to discuss. If they do want to
discuss it there are two mindsets that generally prevail: Legalism and
Liberty. But, of course, there is also a third option: the mindset of
humility and really wanting to understand what biblical modesty is.
“Love for the beach and the “undressed Life” is so deeply embedded in modern American culture that to question its propriety is thought to be the height of legalistic Pharisaism, a return to Puritanical kill-joyism.” Jeff Pollard, Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America Pg 50
Bishop Vincent Aslop once said that a man must have “a very hardy spirit, that shall dare cross the stream or stem the current of a prevailing luxuriancy. So that, to have a finger this ungrateful debate, must engage him in Ishmael’s fate,--to have every man’s hand lifted up against him; seeing it is unavoidable, that his hand must be set almost against every man.”
I found more of the Bishop's words to be humbling, for I had not thought of it in this light:
“[Love] will lend us one safe rule—that we impose a severer law upon ourselves, and allow a larger indulgence to others. The rule of our own conversation should be with the strictest; but that by which we censure others, a little more with the largest.” (Emphasis mine) Vincent Aslop, The Sinfulness of Strange Apparel, in Puritan Sermons 1659-1689 in Six Volumes Vol III
I don't expect everyone to dress like me. The fact of the matter is, just because stylistically someone may not dress the same, does not mean the standards change. It is not entirely about the outward apparel, but when anyone says "modesty" in Christian circles most jump to that conclusion. But what really matters?-The heart. There is a difference between two ladies in the same exact outfit; for out of the heart the mouth speaks, you will know them by their fruit; one will be chaste, pure, and humble in both her apparel and actions, the other will be modest in appearance but not in the heart/outward actions. Does that mean you throw the baby out with the bath water and forget about dressing modestly? I vehemently and boldly declare: NO. The standard is not the culture it is the word of God.
I recently finished the book quoted earlier called, "Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America" by Jeff Pollard. I found it quite insightful. He begins by addressing biblical modes of dress, then explains what biblical shame and nakedness meant, and even assesses the modern day dilemma of immodest apparel, and the deliberate demise of being covered up.
So, it's not a matter of pointing to a verse and God saying, Thou Shalt wear garments of this likeness. Jeff Pollard does a very good job at addressing the fact that God did indeed give the standard of dress in the Garden of Eden and by that, we can ascertain just what the typical garments were like in biblical times. It's not rocket science. But those of us who do not understand Hebrew or Greek miss some very important things, which teachers may help us to understand. (Note: I said understand. Not dictate our lives, but to teach us the word of God).
Here is an excerpt of biblical dress:
"Though we have no 'snapshots' of Adam and Eve's apparel the word coats is consistently used throughout the O.T. to mean tunic like garment. Coats in Gen 3:21 is kuttonet (Hebrew, keth-o-neth or koot-to-neth) from an unused root meaning to cover. The kuttonet was the ordinary garment worn by man and woman as seen in the tunics of skin worn by Adam and Eve (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol 2 s.v. "Dress"). This shirt-like garment usually had long sleeves, and extended down to the ankles when worn as a dress coat. 'Hard-working men, slaves, and prisoners wore them more abbreviated-- sometimes even to their knees, and without sleeves (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary s.v. "Dress"). Several well known lexicons echo that it was '[the] principal ordinary garment of man and woman, worn next to the skin (The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon)... a long shirt-like garment usually of linen (James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible)... Adam's was made of fur (Theological wordbook of the Old Testament)."
-Jeff Pollard, Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America.
For several pages his point is to show that from the neck to knees was standard dress, and even going down to the ankles. For men AND women. This was the design God gave. He even designed the Priesthood clothes (Exodus 28:1-5). God did design modest apparel.
It progresses to man's design for clothes, and how the American public slowly undressed. It is unsettling how blatant the agenda was in makings strides to more revealing swimsuits. What is striking is not that he goes about this from a legalistic "lets condemn the secular culture" standpoint, rather, he actually lets the secular culture tell the story about how they achieved more and more revealing swimsuits/clothing. So, when did the culture deem it acceptable for males and females to swim publicly together? Was it ever scandalous for a man to swim with his upper torso exposed? When did the bikini enter the scene? If you want to understand the history behind modern trends in fashion and how we got here, read this book; all of these questions are answered in this little book with reliable sources and footnotes.
Why would we want to press the limits of modesty in apparel, when God has laid it out in His word that we are to be modest? This is not limited to the outward appearance. In truth, immodesty is actually quite selfish. Modest apparel and modest behavior display humility, it is not seeking attention by its very nature. On the contrary, immodesty is self-seeking and wants self-glorification as well as attention showered upon itself. This includes so much more! I find the Westminster Larger Catechism to be very helpful in teaching the "so much more!".
What is more, the Westminster
divines gave scripture proofs to their works. If you are
interested, you might find this website helpful.
As if that is not convicting enough, the men of old, brothers in the faith who faithfully taught the word of God to their congregations, have plenty to say about modesty. I personally found, as I read through these men's words to be very humbling and convicting. It was a sobering reminder that modesty is not all dress, but so much more. I want to be a godly lady and I want to be a godly wife. I don't want to stop short of what I wear, but to submit to my Lord and Savior as He works in me to conform me to His image... to honor and glorify Him with my lips, my actions, my heart, and my apparel.
To address the notion that it is all the man's fault and women can dress however they want because of "liberty", I find Richard Baxter's words to be eye-opening.
Women sin when their clothing tends “to the ensnaring of the minds of the beholders in shameless, lustful, wanton passions, though you say, you intend it not, it is your sin, that you do that which probably will procure it, yea, that you did not your best to avoid it. And though it be their sin and vanity that is the cause, it is nevertheless your sin to be the unnecessary occasion: for you must consider that you live among diseased souls! And you must not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust, nor make your ornaments their snares; but you must walk among sinful persons, as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder; or else you may see the flame which you would not foresee, when it is too late to quench it… You should rather serve Christ with your apparel, by expressing humility, self-denial, chastity, and sobriety, to draw others to imitate you in good, than to serve the devil, and pride, and lust by it, by drawing men to imitate you in evil.”
Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory in Baxter’s Practical Works Vol 1.
Why do not more pastors teach on this subject? Why do the youth leaders seem to have their vision blurred to this topic?
“garments were given to cover nakedness and the deformity that was introduced by sin; therefore the apostle saith, ‘Let the women adorn themselves in modest apparel’… the leaving the breasts naked, in whole or in part, is a transgression of this rule; they uncover their nakedness, which they should veil and hide, especially in God’s presence… yet usually women come hither with a shameless impudence into the presence of God, men, and angels. This is a practice that neither suits with modesty nor conveniency; nothing can be alleged for it but reasons of pride and wantonness; it feeds your own pride, and provokes lust in others. You would think they were wicked women that should offer others poison to drink; they do that which is worse, [they] lay a snare for the soul; [they] uncover that which should be covered… Christians should be far from allowing sin in themselves, or provoking it in others.”
Thomas Manton, Sermons upon Titus 2:11-14 in Manton’s complete works Vol 16
John Bunyan (generally known for his book Pilgrims Progress) said this:
“Why are they for going with their… naked shoulders, and paps hanging out like a cow’s bag? Why are they for painting their faces, for stretching out their neck, and for putting themselves unto all the formalities which proud fancy leads them to? Is it because they would honor God? Because they would adorn the Gospel? Because they would beautify religion, and make sinners to fall in love with their own salvation? No, no, it is rather to please their lusts… I believe also that Satan has drawn more into the sin of uncleanness by the spangling show of fine clothes, than he could possibly have drawn unto it without them. I wonder what it was that of old was called the attire of a harlot: certainly it could not be more bewitching and tempting than are the garments of many professors this day.” (Emphasis mine)
What say ye? I have not quoted scripture profusely because I believe the Larger Catechism Scripture Proofs will be immensely helpful in that process.
But again, I ask, What say ye?
I say it is humbling and convicting all over again. Is Christ my Lord? Is Christ my trajectory? Is Christ my aim in all that I say and do? With shame and a heavy heart, I cannot say that is the case in all of my actions. I sin. I do not always glorify Him with ALL my actions. But how gladdening it is to know the conviction of the Holy Spirit!-How much comfort it brings to be brought to repentance. I want to know the state of my own heart when I do sin against my God. I am learning and growing ever more. Even in this area, I have room to grow. I praise the Lord that He is refining me, that He has chosen me, and sanctifies me! I need it so desperately. I am in need of my Lord so desperately. His grace moves me. His grace sustains me. His grace alone is what took me from where I was, to bringing me to where I need to be, and not anything that is in me or of me.
So, by the grace of God, I believe He does work in His children's hearts. Those ladies redeemed by the atoning work of Christ will heed the Holy Spirit. It IS a heart issue. But instead of looking the other way, why don't we have dialog going about this? Not grace to ignore it, but grace to love. Grace to be open and sisterly about it. I would not point fingers, but I would charge (myself included) all born again ladies to examine themselves. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Fall prostrate before the Lord God of heaven and say, Not my will, by Thy will!-and do not decide to do what is easy, but do what is pleasing to the one you love most. (And really and truly, read the book... I wish everyone would read it!).
Sola gratia
“Love for the beach and the “undressed Life” is so deeply embedded in modern American culture that to question its propriety is thought to be the height of legalistic Pharisaism, a return to Puritanical kill-joyism.” Jeff Pollard, Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America Pg 50
Bishop Vincent Aslop once said that a man must have “a very hardy spirit, that shall dare cross the stream or stem the current of a prevailing luxuriancy. So that, to have a finger this ungrateful debate, must engage him in Ishmael’s fate,--to have every man’s hand lifted up against him; seeing it is unavoidable, that his hand must be set almost against every man.”
I found more of the Bishop's words to be humbling, for I had not thought of it in this light:
“[Love] will lend us one safe rule—that we impose a severer law upon ourselves, and allow a larger indulgence to others. The rule of our own conversation should be with the strictest; but that by which we censure others, a little more with the largest.” (Emphasis mine) Vincent Aslop, The Sinfulness of Strange Apparel, in Puritan Sermons 1659-1689 in Six Volumes Vol III
I don't expect everyone to dress like me. The fact of the matter is, just because stylistically someone may not dress the same, does not mean the standards change. It is not entirely about the outward apparel, but when anyone says "modesty" in Christian circles most jump to that conclusion. But what really matters?-The heart. There is a difference between two ladies in the same exact outfit; for out of the heart the mouth speaks, you will know them by their fruit; one will be chaste, pure, and humble in both her apparel and actions, the other will be modest in appearance but not in the heart/outward actions. Does that mean you throw the baby out with the bath water and forget about dressing modestly? I vehemently and boldly declare: NO. The standard is not the culture it is the word of God.
I recently finished the book quoted earlier called, "Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America" by Jeff Pollard. I found it quite insightful. He begins by addressing biblical modes of dress, then explains what biblical shame and nakedness meant, and even assesses the modern day dilemma of immodest apparel, and the deliberate demise of being covered up.
So, it's not a matter of pointing to a verse and God saying, Thou Shalt wear garments of this likeness. Jeff Pollard does a very good job at addressing the fact that God did indeed give the standard of dress in the Garden of Eden and by that, we can ascertain just what the typical garments were like in biblical times. It's not rocket science. But those of us who do not understand Hebrew or Greek miss some very important things, which teachers may help us to understand. (Note: I said understand. Not dictate our lives, but to teach us the word of God).
Here is an excerpt of biblical dress:
"Though we have no 'snapshots' of Adam and Eve's apparel the word coats is consistently used throughout the O.T. to mean tunic like garment. Coats in Gen 3:21 is kuttonet (Hebrew, keth-o-neth or koot-to-neth) from an unused root meaning to cover. The kuttonet was the ordinary garment worn by man and woman as seen in the tunics of skin worn by Adam and Eve (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol 2 s.v. "Dress"). This shirt-like garment usually had long sleeves, and extended down to the ankles when worn as a dress coat. 'Hard-working men, slaves, and prisoners wore them more abbreviated-- sometimes even to their knees, and without sleeves (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary s.v. "Dress"). Several well known lexicons echo that it was '[the] principal ordinary garment of man and woman, worn next to the skin (The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon)... a long shirt-like garment usually of linen (James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible)... Adam's was made of fur (Theological wordbook of the Old Testament)."
-Jeff Pollard, Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America.
For several pages his point is to show that from the neck to knees was standard dress, and even going down to the ankles. For men AND women. This was the design God gave. He even designed the Priesthood clothes (Exodus 28:1-5). God did design modest apparel.
It progresses to man's design for clothes, and how the American public slowly undressed. It is unsettling how blatant the agenda was in makings strides to more revealing swimsuits. What is striking is not that he goes about this from a legalistic "lets condemn the secular culture" standpoint, rather, he actually lets the secular culture tell the story about how they achieved more and more revealing swimsuits/clothing. So, when did the culture deem it acceptable for males and females to swim publicly together? Was it ever scandalous for a man to swim with his upper torso exposed? When did the bikini enter the scene? If you want to understand the history behind modern trends in fashion and how we got here, read this book; all of these questions are answered in this little book with reliable sources and footnotes.
Why would we want to press the limits of modesty in apparel, when God has laid it out in His word that we are to be modest? This is not limited to the outward appearance. In truth, immodesty is actually quite selfish. Modest apparel and modest behavior display humility, it is not seeking attention by its very nature. On the contrary, immodesty is self-seeking and wants self-glorification as well as attention showered upon itself. This includes so much more! I find the Westminster Larger Catechism to be very helpful in teaching the "so much more!".
Q. 137:
Which is the seventh commandment?
A: The seventh
commandment is, thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q. 138: What are
the duties required in the seventh commandment?
A: The duties required in the seventh
commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections, words, and behavior; and
the preservation of it in ourselves and others; watchfulness over the eyes and
all the senses; temperance, keeping of chaste company, modesty in
apparel... shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations
thereunto.
Q. 139: What are the sins forbidden in
the seventh commandment?
A: The sins forbidden in the seventh
commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery,
fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; all unclean
imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections; all corrupt or filthy
communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks, impudent or light
behavior, immodest apparel... unchaste company; lascivious songs, books,
pictures, dancings, stage plays; and all other provocations to, or acts of
uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.
As if that is not convicting enough, the men of old, brothers in the faith who faithfully taught the word of God to their congregations, have plenty to say about modesty. I personally found, as I read through these men's words to be very humbling and convicting. It was a sobering reminder that modesty is not all dress, but so much more. I want to be a godly lady and I want to be a godly wife. I don't want to stop short of what I wear, but to submit to my Lord and Savior as He works in me to conform me to His image... to honor and glorify Him with my lips, my actions, my heart, and my apparel.
To address the notion that it is all the man's fault and women can dress however they want because of "liberty", I find Richard Baxter's words to be eye-opening.
Women sin when their clothing tends “to the ensnaring of the minds of the beholders in shameless, lustful, wanton passions, though you say, you intend it not, it is your sin, that you do that which probably will procure it, yea, that you did not your best to avoid it. And though it be their sin and vanity that is the cause, it is nevertheless your sin to be the unnecessary occasion: for you must consider that you live among diseased souls! And you must not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust, nor make your ornaments their snares; but you must walk among sinful persons, as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder; or else you may see the flame which you would not foresee, when it is too late to quench it… You should rather serve Christ with your apparel, by expressing humility, self-denial, chastity, and sobriety, to draw others to imitate you in good, than to serve the devil, and pride, and lust by it, by drawing men to imitate you in evil.”
Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory in Baxter’s Practical Works Vol 1.
Why do not more pastors teach on this subject? Why do the youth leaders seem to have their vision blurred to this topic?
“garments were given to cover nakedness and the deformity that was introduced by sin; therefore the apostle saith, ‘Let the women adorn themselves in modest apparel’… the leaving the breasts naked, in whole or in part, is a transgression of this rule; they uncover their nakedness, which they should veil and hide, especially in God’s presence… yet usually women come hither with a shameless impudence into the presence of God, men, and angels. This is a practice that neither suits with modesty nor conveniency; nothing can be alleged for it but reasons of pride and wantonness; it feeds your own pride, and provokes lust in others. You would think they were wicked women that should offer others poison to drink; they do that which is worse, [they] lay a snare for the soul; [they] uncover that which should be covered… Christians should be far from allowing sin in themselves, or provoking it in others.”
Thomas Manton, Sermons upon Titus 2:11-14 in Manton’s complete works Vol 16
John Bunyan (generally known for his book Pilgrims Progress) said this:
“Why are they for going with their… naked shoulders, and paps hanging out like a cow’s bag? Why are they for painting their faces, for stretching out their neck, and for putting themselves unto all the formalities which proud fancy leads them to? Is it because they would honor God? Because they would adorn the Gospel? Because they would beautify religion, and make sinners to fall in love with their own salvation? No, no, it is rather to please their lusts… I believe also that Satan has drawn more into the sin of uncleanness by the spangling show of fine clothes, than he could possibly have drawn unto it without them. I wonder what it was that of old was called the attire of a harlot: certainly it could not be more bewitching and tempting than are the garments of many professors this day.” (Emphasis mine)
What say ye? I have not quoted scripture profusely because I believe the Larger Catechism Scripture Proofs will be immensely helpful in that process.
But again, I ask, What say ye?
I say it is humbling and convicting all over again. Is Christ my Lord? Is Christ my trajectory? Is Christ my aim in all that I say and do? With shame and a heavy heart, I cannot say that is the case in all of my actions. I sin. I do not always glorify Him with ALL my actions. But how gladdening it is to know the conviction of the Holy Spirit!-How much comfort it brings to be brought to repentance. I want to know the state of my own heart when I do sin against my God. I am learning and growing ever more. Even in this area, I have room to grow. I praise the Lord that He is refining me, that He has chosen me, and sanctifies me! I need it so desperately. I am in need of my Lord so desperately. His grace moves me. His grace sustains me. His grace alone is what took me from where I was, to bringing me to where I need to be, and not anything that is in me or of me.
So, by the grace of God, I believe He does work in His children's hearts. Those ladies redeemed by the atoning work of Christ will heed the Holy Spirit. It IS a heart issue. But instead of looking the other way, why don't we have dialog going about this? Not grace to ignore it, but grace to love. Grace to be open and sisterly about it. I would not point fingers, but I would charge (myself included) all born again ladies to examine themselves. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Fall prostrate before the Lord God of heaven and say, Not my will, by Thy will!-and do not decide to do what is easy, but do what is pleasing to the one you love most. (And really and truly, read the book... I wish everyone would read it!).
Sola gratia
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