Reggie Weems

Sunday morning I mentioned the new biography of William Carey (1761-1843), “I can plod.”  Carey is the father of modern missions.  His unswerving ability to remain stedfast in India (1793-until his death) at a single project is what made him singularly successful amongst early missionaries. 

He worte to his nephew, “Eustace, if after my removal anyone should think it worth his while to write my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge its correctness.  If he gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly.”  Anything beyond this will be too much.  I can pld.  I can persever in any pursuit.  To this I own everything.” 

Yet Carey was also fully aware of his own limitations.  He wrote to fellow Baptist Missionary Society friend, and the man who, “held the ropes” for him, Andrew Fuller, that, “I have hitherto had much experience of the daily supports of a gracious God, but am conscious that if those supports were intermitted but for a little time, my sinful dispositions would predominate.  At present, I am kept, but am not one of those who are strong and do exploits.” 

In this, Carey’s humility far underestimated his work.  His famed message “EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD. ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD”  (May 30, 1792) and the ensuing Enquiry Into the Obligations of the Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathen, launched the Baptist Missionary Society (October 2, 1972) and the modern world-wide missions movement.  Before he died, he translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit and forty other languages.  At least four colleges are named after him, one of them, William and Carey in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where my cousin teaches nursing.    

Yet before he died, he wrote to another Baptist friend, Dr. John Ryland, “Should you outlive me and have any influence to prevent it, I must earnestly request that no epithets of praise may ever accompany my name, such as ‘the faithful servant of God’ etc.  All such expressions would convey a falsehood.  May I but be accepted at last, I am sure all teh glory must be given to divine grace from first to last.  To me belongeth shame and confusion of face.”  

Faithful to that sentiment, on his deathbed he said to a missionary friend, “Dr. Duff! You have been speaking about Dr. Carey; when I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey — speak about Dr. Carey’s God.”      

William Carey did more than plod but was happy to be a plodder for Jesus!  Let us plod along!           

This Sunday I’ll finish a 2-part series on “A Christian Vision Statement.”  In a world where mankind sees no further than its own self-interest, a Christian world-view should begin with Christ Who is all in all.  What can we say about Christ?  He is He is the door to God.  Any light we possess concerning God and a relationship to Him comes through the light shed on/in/through Jesus’ face as He turned His face from God and toward mankind (John 1:1 & 14) in the incarnation. 

No one can know God apart from Jesus Christ.  Eternal life is in Jesus Christ (John 17:3).  The unknowable is made visible in Jesus.  John wrote, “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known” (1:18) and then repeats, “No one has ever seen God” (4:12).  So, any study of God must begin with Jesus Christ. 

Further, apart from Him, we are in darkness, not simply about salvation but everything.  If life is not interpreted through the lens of Christ, then all of life is misinterpreted for, “all things were made by, through and for Him” (Col 1:16).  The study of Christ (Christology) is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, not simply of Christian thought, but of all thought. Nothing makes sense apart from Christ.  God shone light into our hearts for the express purose of giving “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor 4:6).  This is why we were created.  This is why we are saved.  Jesus Christ is certainly the subject of theology but He is also the foundation of all knowledge.  Any knowledge that denies His existence or deviates from His supremacy will ultimately lead people first to foolishnes and then to destruction.  But…the knowledge of Him is abundant and eternal life.   

Human beings make religion all about themselves.  They begin with their own need (salvation) and from that point forward, religion is turned toward satisfying thier lives, their needs, their desires, etc.  Christianity however, is all about Christ.  This is because Christ is our truest need.  For this reason, God the Father has made all creation through and for Christ.  He has centered salvation in Christ.  All human history pivots on the person of Christ.  ”Christ”ianity is truly nothing less, more or else than, “Christ.” 

As Christians contemplate creating a vision statement for an individual life, a couple, a family, a business, a church; it must, to appropriately reflect godliness, center upon Christ.  All of this leads Heritage to Revelation 1:12-16 this Sunday and the vision of Christ that God presents to the church.     

Back from Greece, I received a call today from a publisher with whom I had contracted two years ago to print Thomas Manton’s entire preaching series. 

 I ordered the books at the prepublication price and he is offering that same price ($235.00) to anyone who orders the 22 volume set before this Saturday.  Spurgeon once said, “If you’re not quoting Manton, it’s no wonder no one quotes you.” 

So, if you would like this set of books at this great price ($399.00 after publication) write me at reggie@hbcjc.org and I’ll give you the publisher’s info.

One of our members sent me this quote early this week.  It has been my meditation ever since.  May it also be my heart! 

“If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven - take alarm.”   - Thomas Guthrie

Well, I was going to post again about humanity’s faux independence but someone asked by today how I related to the world apologetically.  So, here’s a quick overview.  

I  appreciate a quote from J. Machen Greshem who wrote, ”because the intellectual labor is insufficient, (regeneration requires the Holy Spirit’s work) it does nto follow that it is unnecessary.”  In fact, Christianity is very reasonable and there is every reason to believe it.

So this is how I relate “biblically” to the world around me. 

First, with the understanding that, the world, though in a fallen state, still possesses the imageo deo (though marred) and, as such, has some retention/knowledge of God.  This, Paul demonstrates in Romans 1 with his contention that God can be seen in the human conscience and in creation; creation simply, yet profoundly, backing up, supporting (okay, shouting) what the conscience affirms and what men “suppress,” ie., that God is.  So, I first relate to the world with the understanding that all men are created in God’s image, are fallen, yet possess “eternity in their hearts.”  This recognition inspires great hope in any apologetic witness.   

Secondly, however, while all men are born the same, “in sin,” that sin takes on various forms/formats in each person’s life.  By the time I meet them, that “sin,” both naturally inherent and integrated into the mind/heart by education, experiences,circumstances has made each person different.  Thus, sin’s existence is “felt” and “shown” in different ways.  Some people become intellectual, some become heart hardened, some become sensual, etc.  So, the second way I relate to the world around me is by observing.  “How has sin defaced God’s image in this particular person?”  This requires relationship, time, patience, listening, genuine empathy, etc.  As Machen wrote, “It would be a great mistake to suppose that all men are equally well-prepared to receive the gospel.”  Or, as the Puritans would say, “the mind must be civilized.”   

Thirdly, I then relate to the world around me by deconstructing what sin has built as a citadel against the knowledge of God.  Paul refers to this as “casting down” anything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.  —Here, I must confess that, for me, presuppostional apologetics wins the day.  Unless life gets out of order tomorrow, I’ll blog on basic presuppositional apologetics.  However,to continue with the third step.  Before the scriptural foundation can be laid, the rotten wood of the unbeliever’s life’s core must be exposed - to the end that, they, while not yet accepting the Christ of Christianity, recognize the frailty, failure, inconsistencies of their own worldview. (Here, I submit that evidentialist/natural theology can be employed but out of a presuppositional framework)  This requires dialogue with still more listening than speaking.  At this stage, open ended questions are best.  (Even if a relationship is not established - on a plane, on a bus - a well spoken open ended question will cause a person to reflect on the stability of what they have said or think or believe)  That “reflection” is an open door for the Holy Spirit. 

Fourthly, I then relate to this world with the evangel, the good news once told by shepherds and now received by kings and paupers alike.  “May I take some time to share…” (asking permission is vital).  And then, gently, not confrontationally, patiently, as the Lord has patience with His sheep (not intelligent creatures), kindly and with genuine sincerity that seeks, not to win an argument but to win a heart and mind, explain the reality of Jesus Christ, Who He is and how He is the “holiday by the sea” in a world of “mudpuddles.”  In other words, how His truth/reality exceeds what any worldview can offer. 

Finally,  - - And then to wait…for “no conversion was ever wrought by argument.  A change of heart is also necessary” (Machen again)  And to pray…and to wait…and to converse when possible and permissable…and to be willing to start all over again with #1 with the same person, time and again, 70 times 70 if necessary.  For what is my time, my patience, my effort, compared to the cross of Christ and what it cost Jesus Christ to save??? So, this is how I apologetically relate to the world around me.    

Teana and I were both raised in the military.  Until our dads retired from the Air Force, we and our siblings were considered “dependents,”  you know, like when you claim your children on your tax form.  If our dads had remained in the military until we were 21, only then would we have been considered independent.  But with dependence came the BX, the Commisary, the Teen Club, free medical care, every benefit afforded to our dads was ours, through them.  Dependence is a great thing!!!

That human beings are divinely created and given existence for a purpose outside of themselves is one of the major sticking points for our friends who are unwilling to accept intelligent design or worse, any concept of a Creator Who is providential over His creation.  Why this strikes a negative cord in the rebellious mind and will of an unbeliever is not difficult to fathom.  The reason is not even below the surface.  If people are created by God it implies, well, actually means, that (1) they have no independent existence apart from that Creator.  Okay, now we’ve offended someone and only the first point has been made.  But that’s right.  What human being ever willed themselves into existence?  That alone proves that a human’s existence is dependent or contingent upon something or someone else.  So, get over it.  No one is independent.  People argue the point but unsuccessfully.  This is why all the kids who want to look like their own person, be it preppie (sp) or goth or punk, etc., always end up looking like the same people they hang around, even to the extent that you can’t tell them apart.  Where’s the independence?  Adults make the same claim but do the same thing, only more subtely.  Even Alaskan fur trappers who live by themselves for most of the year are dependent on consumers to buy their products, on small grocers to stock their camps, etc.  No one is independent. Everyone’s existence is contingent on something else.  (Try living without oxygen for 10 minutes) 

So it shouldn’t be a shock that human beings really are dependent on someone/something else for their creation, and also dependent on someeone/something else for the their existence.  (Even Michael couldn’t kill himself on Lost because the island wouldn’t let him….Not that I watch Lost.)  Even if you’re not a theist or deist, you’ve got to confess, you didn’t create yourself.  You are not independent.  Come on, I love the spirit of Invictus, but it just ain’t so.  You are not the captain of your own soul.  And the ramifications of our dependence are enormous, both for now and forever!!!!       

Speaking of apologetics…watch a master apologist, Tim Keller, speaking at Google’s executive offices.