So now I'm on MySpace.

Several people I work with at UPS are on MySpace, so I decided to join to continue communicating with them outside of work and to (hopefully) direct them to the teaching and resources on this blog. I was not very enthusiastic at all about having a MySpace page until I found out that I could set the page layout to represent 2 Tone SKA and I could place a Madness "One Step Beyond" video on it. (I realize that the last sentence made no sense to many people reading this.) Anyway, check out my MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/alindsey4 and don't make fun of me for only having about 2 friends so far.

I did not mean to promote a bizarre Italian DJ on my blog.

When Abby and I lived in Auburn, AL [War Eagle!], we had a friend at Grace Heritage Church named Jeff Hendrix. Jeff was [and, hopefully, is] a musician who often played guitar for the church and who I had the opportunity to hear play in a couple of other venues around Auburn as well. Jeff had a page on MySpace where people could listen to a few of his songs, and so I was happy to link him in the sidebar of this blog.

After Abby and I moved to Louisville to attend Southern Seminary, I was not able to view Jeff's page any more because the web filters at the Seminary would not allow MySpace. I was able to chat with Jeff a couple of times over GMail and to ask him (among other things) if his page was still up, though I figured if he took it down, it would simply create a broken link on my blog.

Recently I discovered that Southern is allowing MySpace to be viewed at the Seminary (hopefully, this means that the site is better censored now), so I was eager to check Jeff's page, especially as I have not spoken or chatted with him for awhile. The page was not there, however, nor was the link broken. Instead, the link was re-directed to another "Jeffrey Hendrix" on MySpace. This other Jeffrey Hendrix is an Italian DJ who uses the image below as his identifying icon:Somewhat frightened by this picture, I didn't explore this Italian DJ's page too much further.

It occurred to me, however, that I have no idea how long it has been since this link was changed. If anyone reading this blog was directed to this other page and was thereafter offended by anything on it, I sincerely apologize. I'm taking the link off now.

Biographical Sketch: William Kiffin

Overview of Kiffin’s Life

William Kiffin, the father of the Particular Baptists, was born in London in 1616. He lost both parents to the plague at age 9. In 1629, when he was 13, he was apprenticed to a glover. Two years later, he ran away from his master, but as he was leaving he stopped by St. Antholin’s Church, where he heard the Puritan Thomas Foxley preaching on “the duty of servants to masters.” Under conviction of this preaching, Kiffin returned to his master before his absence was even detected. He began attending sermons from Puritan ministers, and eventually came to saving faith in Christ upon hearing John Davenport preach on I John 1:7. As a new Christian, Kiffin both loved Christ and hated sin with such fervor that he came to have unrealistic expectations of entirely victorious Christian living. When Kiffin came to find that he felt himself more tempted than ever, he began to lose hope that he was a Christian at all. Finally, under the preaching of the Arminian John Goodwin, Kiffin came to have assurance of salvation (this is somewhat ironic as Arminians usually deny the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints).

In 1638, when Kiffin was 22, he joined the independent congregation in London pastored by John Lathrop. He engaged in the discussions on Baptism and soon joined the congregation pastored by John Spilsbury. As Cathcart’s Baptist Encyclopedia notes:

From this community a colony went forth in 1640 which formed another church. The new organization met in Devonshire Square. It elected Mr. Kiffin pastor.

Kiffin served as the pastor of Devonshire Square Church (with three other pastors assisting him at various times) for 61 years, until his death in 1701.

The First London Confession of Faith and the Nationwide Strategy

By 1644, there were seven Calvinistic Baptist churches in England, including the Devonshire Square Church pastored by Kiffin. In this year, these seven churches came together to issue the First London Confession of Faith (revised and expanded in 1646), in the drafting of which Kiffin seems to have played a major role. United in the beliefs expressed in the First London Confession, the Calvinistic Baptists engaged in a “nationwide strategy” of evangelism and church planting from 1644 to 1660. As Baptist historian Barrie R. White notes, Kiffin played “a significant and continuous part” in this “nationwide strategy.”

Support of Governing Authorities and Support of the Oppressed

Following the execution of King Charles I in 1649, England was established under a republican form of government under the administration of what came to be known as the “Rump Parliament.” Frustrated the failure of the Rump Parliament to achieve reform, Oliver Cromwell led the army to forcibly dissolve the Parliament in 1653 and Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland. As historian Michael A.G. Haykin notes,

…there were a number of Calvinistic Baptists, especially some in the army in Ireland, who were highly vocal in their criticism of Cromwell. Kiffin, John Spilsbury and a Joseph Samson wrote to their Irish Baptist brethren in January 1654, urging them to “consult with that blessed rule of truth which you profess to be your guide… for that expresseth no other thing to Christians but exhortations to be subject to all civil powers, they being of God, and to pray for all that are in authority, that under them we may live in a godly and quiet life in all godliness and honesty.”

William Kiffin even served in the second Protectorate parliament in 1656 for Middlesex. However, Kiffin did not only model his admonition “to be subject to all civil powers” under the rule of the Lord Protector (whom Kiffin supported as Cromwell was a great promoter of religious liberty), but he once again became a loyal subject to the throne when the reign of King Charles II (who persecuted independent congregations) was inaugurated in 1660. Though persecution by Charles II was the reason why the “nationwide strategy” of the Calvinistic Baptists came to an end, and though Kiffin was briefly jailed a number of times in the two or three years following the inauguration of Charles’ reign due to his refusal to compromise his Baptist beliefs, Kiffin remained a loyal subject of the king and the king eventually appointed him to public office as an alderman of London, a Lord Lieutenant and a magistrate. Though he seldom exercised these offices, Kiffin was able to use his political influence, along with the wealth he had earned as a cloth merchant, to help Baptists being persecuted in both England and in the American colonies. (Haykin notes “For instance, in 1664 he was able to rescue twelve General Baptists, who had been sentenced to death for participating in an illegal conventicle.” )

During this stormy period for England’s political history, it was sometimes hard to tell who constituted the proper governing authority, and it could be risky to become too closely involved in politics. William Kiffin’s grandsons, Benjamin and William Hewling, learned this lesson when King Charles II died in 1685 and they supported the Duke of Monmouth– a Protestant who was the illegitimate son of Charles II– thinking that he was the rightful heir to the throne, against James II, the Roman Catholic brother of King Charles II. Benjamin and William Hewling were captured, tried, and executed in 1685 by supporters of James II, when Benjamin was 22 and William was 19. This came as a great blow to Kiffin, who had raised the boys as his own sons following the death of their father.

A Sober Discourse of Right Church-Communion

Baptist historians generally consider A Sober Discourse of Right Church-Communion, published in 1681, to be Kiffin’s most important written work. This work was a response to the errors of John Bunyan, who himself held to believers’ baptism, but argued that those who held to other opinions concerning baptism should not be denied church membership or participation in the Lord’s Supper. Kiffin noted the consistent example of the apostles in baptizing those coming to faith before admitting them to the Lord’s Supper. He cited the biblical mandate from II Thess. 3:6 to withdraw from disorderly persons, and noted that those who did not submit to proper baptism were “disorderly.” Kiffin observed that Bunyan had no command or example from Scripture for letting anyone partake in the Lord’s Supper without baptism, and he asserted that Bunyan’s practice negated the importance of the command to be baptized. Kiffin considered the subject of baptism to be very serious, but this did not lessen his Christian love for those with different views, as he noted that believers' baptism was never intended by God to be "a wall of division" to exclude "other Christians from our love, charity, and Christian-communion" but only to exclude "from immediate Church-fellowship."

The Second London Confession of Faith

In 1688– three years after King James II took the throne and Benjamin and William Hewling were executed– James II was forced into exile and dethroned by his nephew and son-in-law, William Henry of Orange, who became King William III of England. The next year, William III urged passage of the Act of Toleration, which granted religious liberty to independent congregations, including the Baptists. Following passage of the Act of Toleration, William Kiffin and six other Calvinistic Baptist ministers sent out an invitation for Calvinistic Baptists to meet at a General Assembly in London to discuss and endorse a confession of faith that had been authored by William Collins and Nehemiah Coxe in 1677– a confession modeled on the Westminster Confession of the Presbyterians and the Savoy Declaration of the Congregationalists. This confession– the Second London Confession of Faith has been referred to by Baptist historian Thomas J. Nettles as the Baptists’ “richest confessional treasure.” This confession (or its adaptations in the Philadelphia and Charleston Confessions) was embraced by the churches or associations from which each of the 293 delegates who met in Augusta, GA in 1845 to establish the Southern Baptist Convention came. In 1689 representatives from over 100 Calvinistic Baptist churches came to the General Assembly. This number demonstrates the success of the “nationwide strategy,” which had begun when there were only 7 Calvinistic Baptist churches in existence. William Kiffin was the only Baptist minister from the group that issued the First London Confession of Faith still alive to sign the Second London Confession.

Domestic Tragedy

In addition to the loss of his grandsons mentioned above, William Kiffin had to endure the personal sadness of being preceded in death by his first wife and by all of his children. His eldest son, William, died in 1669, at age 20. His second son died in Venice, having been poisoned by a Roman Catholic priest with whom he had discussed matters of religion. His daughter Priscilla died in 1679. His final son, Harry, died in 1698 at age 44. Kiffin’s first wife, Hanna, died in 1682.

Adding to the sorrow of these lost family members, Kiffin’s second wife, Sarah, was charged before Devonshire Square Church on March 2, 1698 for defrauding Kiffin of 200 pounds and for propagating false accusations against her husband. She refused to appear before the congregation and was suspended from communion on April 24, 1698.

Conclusion

Kiffin fell asleep on December 29, 1701 and was buried in Bunhill Fields. His life is an example of faithful ministry within the local church, partnership with other churches in evangelism and church planting, support for governing authorities, financial stewardship, care for the oppressed, and faithfulness to live out and proclaim convictions formed through careful study of God’s Word.

[Sources:

James Leo Garrett. Baptist Theology: A Four-Century Study. Macon, GA, USA: Mercer University Press, 2009.

Michael A.G. Haykin. Kiffin, Knollys, and Keach. Leeds, England: Reformation Today Trust, 1996.

Thomas J. Nettles, The Baptists, Vol. 1. Ross-shire, Scotland: Mentor, 2005.

William Kiffin blog

William Kiffin page on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library]

Galatians- Extended Synopsis

Explanation

In my Sunday school class at Kosmosdale Baptist Church this past week, we began a study of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians. I wanted to help the class get an overview of the book of Galatians without reading the entire book of the Bible in class, so I came up with the following 3-page extended synopsis of Galatians. This synopsis is based on outlines I had to make of various sections of this book for my class on Galatians here at Southern Seminary. This synopsis contains all the major propositions of the book with enough additional information from other verses in order to make sense when read. Some of the more theologically significant verses are not found in this synopsis, but as we study through Galatians, we will go beyond the synopsis to examine the book verse-by-verse.

Synopsis

Paul, an apostle. and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:

Grace to you and peace.

I am astonished that you have turned yourselves away. Now, do I seek the favor of men? Do I strive to please men? If I were still trying seeking the favor of men, then I would not be a servant of Christ. For I declare to you, brothers– the Gospel I proclaimed. For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism. But when the one who selected me from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his Son in me, I didn’t immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up into Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went away into Arabia and afterward I returned to Damascus. Later, after three years, I went up into Jerusalem to meet Cephas, I didn’t see any other of the apostles. Look! Before God, that which I write to you is not a lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. But they kept on hearing, “The one who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith.” And they were glorifying God because of me.

Later, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas along with Titus as well. And I reported to them the Gospel I preach in the nations. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But as for those appearing to be something– those appearing to be something added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised, then James, Cephas, and John knew the grace given to me.

But when Cephas came into Antioch I opposed him to his face: “We, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, since we were justified by faith in Christ– if, while we are seeking to be justified by Christ, then is Christ a minister of sin?! For if I construct again those things I destroyed, I demonstrate myself to be a transgressor. For through law I died to law. I have been crucified with Christ. I live, but it is no longer I, but the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God. I don’t set aside the grace of God.”

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?! I only want to learn this from you:
Are you so foolish? Have you endured so much in vain? Did He then, (do these) from works of law, or from hearing with faith? Consider Abraham– he believed God and it was counted to him for justification. So that those believing are blessed with believing Abraham.

But that no one is justified with God by law is evident. Brothers, I speak in terms of human relations: No one annuls or adds to even a human covenant that has been established. Now I say this: The Law does not cancel a covenant. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise. What, then, is the Law? It was added on account of transgressions. It was ordained through angels by means of a mediator. Is the Law, therefore, against God’s promises? May it never be! But before faith came, we were being kept [as] those confined under law, so that the Law has become our tutor in order that we might be justified by faith. But since the coming of faith we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God. For as many of as have been immersed in Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. But if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

But I say that as long as an heir is a minor, he is no different from a slave, but he is under guardians and trustees. So we too had been enslaved under the elements of creation.
But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son. And because you are sons,
God sent forth the Spirit of his son into our hearts.

Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son. And since a son, also an heir through God. But formerly, not having known God, you were enslaved to things that aren’t really gods. But now, knowing God– or, rather, being known by God– how can you turn again to the weak and bankrupt elements? Do you want to serve them all over again? You scrupulously observe days, months, seasons, and years– I fear for you.

Brothers, I beg of you– become like me, for I became like you. You didn’t wrong me, but you know that through an infirmity of the flesh I formerly proclaimed the Good News to you. And you didn’t despise nor reject your temptation in my flesh; rather, you received me as an angel from God– as Christ Jesus.

Therefore, where is your blessedness? For I testify that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and gave them to me. So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?! They court you dishonorably, but good is always to be courted in a good way.

My children, I’d like to be with you now and change my tone. Tell me, you who want to be under law, don’t you hear the Law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons– but the one by the slave woman had been born according to the flesh, while the one by the free woman was through a promise. These things are allegorical, for these women are two covenants: One, indeed, is from Mt. Sinai, giving birth into slavery– this is Hagar. Now Hagar (Mt. Sinai) is in Arabia: This corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. But the higher Jerusalem is free– she is our mother. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, not bearing children! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor pains! Because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as it was then, when the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is even now. But what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son.” Therefore, brothers, we aren’t children of a slave woman.

Christ has liberated us into freedom: Therefore, stand firm and don’t be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Look! I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision Christ will not benefit you at all. Again, I testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace! For we by the Spirit through faith eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything, but [what matters] is faith acting through love. You were running well, who cut in on you to prevent you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from the one calling you. I have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you will take no other view. But the one troubling you will bear the judgment– whoever that may be. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the offense of the Cross has been abolished. For you were called to freedom, brothers.

But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are obvious– which are: fornication… and things like these, which I forewarn you. . that those doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love… . self control. Against such things there is no law. But those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Brothers, if someone is overtaken by any transgression, you– the spiritual ones– must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Carry one another’s burdens. For if anyone considers himself to be something even though he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work. But the one being taught the Word must share all good things with the teacher. Don’t be deceived! For what a man sows, that he also reaps. But we should not grow weary in doing good. So, then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.

See what large letters I write to you with my own hand!

Those who want to make a good show in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised. For the circumcised ones themselves don’t keep law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything.

Finally, let no one cause me trouble.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.
–Amen.

Why would a Christian vote for John McCain?

[The following is a response to SouthEastern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Nathan Finn's blogpost, "On Going with the Best Available Option for President."]

Christians believe that human life begins not at birth, but at the moment of conception. We believe that the best science supports this opinion, but, more importantly, we believe that God's Word clearly teaches that individual human life exists in the womb in passages such as Exodus 21:22-23, Isaiah 44:2, Psalm 139:13-14, Jeremiah 1:5, and Luke 1:15,44. This means that abortion is murder and that the government's failure to recognize this type of murder as a crime is the most crucial political issue of our day. At this point in the 2008 Presidential race, only one candidate- Mike Huckabee- has a consistent pro-life record. John McCain is "moderate" on this issue at best.

In 1860 a person of sincere, biblically-informed conviction would not want to vote for someone that was moderate on the issue of slavery. In Nazi Germany a person of sincere, biblically-informed conviction would not want to support a political leader that was moderate on the issue of the "Final Solution" concerning the Jews. In the 2008 Presidential election a person of sincere, biblically-informed conviction will not want to vote for someone who is moderate on the issue of legalized child murder.

Why would a Christian vote for John McCain?

He or she wouldn't.

Why preach through books of the Bible?

[The following is an excerpt by "Why I Still Preach the Bible" by Pastor John MacArthur, found in the Together for the Gospel book, Preaching the Cross.]

In the big picture, preaching verse-by-verse, book-by-book, brings a divine balance to ministry. It helps keep the preacher from leaving things out or from getting on a hobbyhorse and riding it to death. It forces him to deal with topics he might not naturally be drawn to if it were not for the fact that it is addressed in the next verse he is preaching. Put simply, it requires him to teach God's truth the way God revealed it. And that's the best way to teach.

Some preachers allow their audience to determine what topic they will address. As one popular pastor has written:

Adapt your style to fit your audience... The ground we have in common with unbelievers is not the Bible, but our common needs, hurts and interests as human beings. You cannot start with a text, expecting the unchurched to be fascinated by it. You must first capture their attention, and then move them to the truth of God's Word. By starting with a topic and then showing what the Bible says about it, you can grab their attention, disarm prejudices, and create an interest in the Bible that wasn't there before. [Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995), 294-295.]

But such a bait-and-switch approach is really just a recipe for compromise- tempting pastors to tickle the ears of their audience or water down the gospel in an effort to be more appealing. In essence, this approach says that God's Word is irrelevant and makes human ingenuity the key to interesting sinners in the gospel. It is therefore an approach that should be categorically rejected.

Response to and excerpt from Sibbes' "The Bruised Reed"

Yesterday I finished reading The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes as part of the 2008 Puritan Reading Challenge. [Yes, I know I was a day late, but I started reading about 20 days late.]

Response

As this work has blessed Christians for over 300 years now, offering any response is clearly judging my superior. However, I will say that The Bruised Reed is not an easy read. For this reason, I would not suggest that someone unfamiliar with Puritan works begin with this particular book. Nor would I suggest that someone who is in a "bruised" (i.e. "distraught") condition- the intended audience of this work- be handed this book, as they will likely only become frustrated due to the difficult sentence structures. However, I would suggest that anyone going into full-time ministry read this work as an excellent example of how to help hurting people by directing them to a consideration of Christ. Also, I would definitely suggest that anyone teaching on Isaiah 42:3 or Matthew 12:20 (the verses that this work is focused upon) study Sibbes' thoughts on the text. This is the real genius of the Puritans- how they can give laser-like focus to a single passage of Scripture, drawing numerous valid connections to other texts and offering insightful applications, so that sometimes (as in the book under examination) they produced a whole volume on a single verse. Finally, for someone who has learned much of Christ and who may even be tempted toward pride due to his or her knowledge of Him, I would certainly suggest he or she study this book, as Sibbes destroys human arrogance (by demonstrating that we are all 'bruised reeds') and employs God's Word to deepen his readers' affection for the Lord Jesus.

Excerpt

The following is my favorite passage from The Bruised Reed, coming near the end of the final chapter; this passage shows the Christ-centeredness of this work and demonstrates the relentless application of the text, characteristic of the Puritans:

Let us strive a little while, and we shall be happy for ever. Let us think when we are troubled with our sins, that Christ hath this in charge of his Father, 'that he shall not quench the smoking flax,' until he hath subdued all. This putteth a shield into our hands to beat back all 'the fiery darts of Satan,' Eph. vi. 16. He will object, (1.) thou art a great sinner; we may answer, Christ is a strong Saviour; but he will object, (2.) thou hast no faith, no love; yes, a spark of faith and love; but (3.) Christ will not regard that; yes, 'he will not quench the smoking flax;' but (4.) this is so little and weak, that it will vanish and come to nought: nay, but Christ will cherish it, until he hath brought judgment to victory.

The Gospel according to Joel Osteen

On May 31, 2005 my uncle, Dr. Alan Branch of MidWestern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote an article titled, "The Gospel according to Joel Osteen." The summary of his argument is found in the following paragraph:

Essentially, Joel Osteen advocates a form of the “prosperity Gospel” in BLN [Your Best Life Now!], a theology he learned from his father. For example, chapter 14 is titled “The Power in Your Words.” In this chapter, Joel Osteen concludes by saying, “Friend, there is a miracle in your mouth” (125), a phrase which mirrors the title of one of John Osteen’s books, “There is a Miracle in Your Mouth.” I want to be clear that Osteen’s version of the prosperity Gospel is not as extreme as Kenneth Hagin or Kenneth Copeland. Much of his book simply encourages people to be “positive.” In this sense, Joel Osteen is a Pentecostal version of Robert Schuller!

You can read the rest of the article HERE.

As Osteen is such an influential public figure (leader of the congregation with the largest average weekly attendance in the U.S. and author of two New York Times bestsellers) I encourage everyone reading this to please read the article linked above and drop a comment concerning your thoughts on what it says. (Please don't leave a comment if you don't bother to read the article.)