reformed blogging.

The fact is that the world expects us to be different; and this idea that you can win the world by showing that after all you are very similar to it, with scarcely any difference at all, or but a very slight one, is basically wrong not only theologically but even psychologically.
Our Lord attracted sinners because He was different. They drew near to Him because they felt that there was something different about Him… this idea that you are going to win people to the Christian faith by showing them that after all you are remarkably like them, is theologically and psychologically a profound blunder.
In this realm we are dealing with God, and our knowledge of God, and our relationship to God. So everything here must be ‘under God’ and must be done ‘with reverence and godly fear’. We do not decide this; we are not in charge and in control. it is God. It is His service, and He has to be approached ‘with reverence and with godly fear, because our God is a consuming fire’
….light entertainment, easy familiarity and jocularity are not compatible with a realisation of the seriousness of the condition of the souls of all men by nature, the fact that they are lost and in danger of eternal perdition, and their consequent need of salvation.
- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, 139-40.

What is preaching? Logic on fire! Eloquent reason! Are these contradictions? Of course they are not. Reason concerning this Truth ought to be mightily eloquent, as you see it in the case of the Apostle Paul and others. It is theology on fire. And a theology which does not take fire, I maintain, is a defective theology; or at least the man’s understanding of it is defective. Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire. A true understanding and experience of the Truth must lead to this. I say again that a man who can speak about these things dispassionately has no right whatsoever to be in a pulpit; and should never be allowed to enter one.
- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, 97.

…the work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. If you want something in addition to that I would say without any hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also.
…they [who suggest that the Church may be a hindrance to the propagation of the Gospel] argue, if you really want to influence people in the Christian direction you must not only talk politics and deal with social conditions in speech, you must take an active part in them… Not preaching, not the old method, but getting among the people, showing an interest, showing your sympathy, being one of them, sitting down among them, and discussing their affairs and problems… what is our answer to all this? I am going to suggest… that all this at best is secondary, very often not even secondary, often not worthy of a place at all, but at best, secondary, and that the primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.
- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, 9, 19.

“Hebrews 11 is a divine mandate to read Christian biography. The unmistakable implication of the chapter is that if we hear about the faith of our forefathers (and mothers), we will “lay aside every weight, and sin” and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). If we asked the author, “How shall we stir one another up to love and good works?” (10:24), his answer would be: “Through encouragement from the living (10:25) and the dead (11:1-40).” Christian biography is the means by which the body life of the church cuts across the centuries.” - John Piper, Brothers We Are Not Professionals, 89-90.

Some good Christian Biographies (in no particular order, except for no. 1):

1. The Life and Times of George Whitefield (vol. 1 & 2) - Arnold A. Dallimore — (I think it safe to say that these two volumes changed my life. Dallimore’s pastoral heart comes through his writing so that the two volumes are more than mere biography.)

2. Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography - Iain H. Murray (classic!)

3. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Vol. 1 & 2) - Iain H. Murray (comparable to Whitefield’s biography in richness!)

4. The Life of A.W. Pink - Iain H. Murray (the life of a brilliant man, who is not too well-known. Good read –like all of Murray’s biographies!)

5. The Life and Diary of David Brainerd - Jonathan Edwards (can be dry at times, but it is the realness of the biography, that God would work through an earnest and melancholy man like Brainerd, that makes it so good (an understatement)).

6. Here I Stand: The Life of Martin Luther - Roland H. Bainton (classic!)

7. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson - Courtney Anderson (Anderson was a screenwriter so some parts of the bio seem really dramatic, especially in describing Judson’s childhood. Yet, the book is well-written and good!)

8. William Tyndale: A Biography - David Daniell (written in a scholarly manner. gain a good history of the english reformation as well as appreciation for our English bible through reading this. Reaading this will make you so thankful for the Reformation!)

9. John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides - John G. Paton (makes for an easy and fun read since Paton writes so well! Like reading an adventure book.)

10. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners - John Bunyan (another classic!)

In his “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount,” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes a chapter to discuss false prophets. Upon reading this section (an exposition of Matthew 7:15,16a) the reader finds that much (if not all) of the Doctor’s analysis are still very much relevant.

First off, in identifying false prophets ML-J makes it clear that it is not one who is easily seen to be a hypocrite that is a false prophet, for Christ describes these men as wolves in sheep clothing. Thus, the falseness of their teaching “is to be detected by what it does not say rather than what it does say.” (p.500) Meaning, that simply judging what they do say, is not sufficient. The Doctor continues by saying that among these men, “the most dangerous person of all is the one who does not emphasize the right things.” This explains why so many are undetected, because they are able to use Scripture to support all that they preach, and yet they do not preach “the whole counsel of God.” With that stated here is a brief overview of what is contained in the exposition:

1. The false prophet is always a very comforting preacher. As you listen to him he always gives you the impressions that there is not very much wrong.
2. His teaching has an almost entire absence of doctrine as a whole in its message. It always talks vaguely and generally; it never gets down to particularizing about doctrine.
3. The false prophet very rarely tells you anything about the holiness, the righteousness, the justice and the wrath of God. He always preaches about the love of God, but those other things he does not mention… He does not say things that are obviously wrong, but he refrains from saying things that are obviously right and true
4. The false prophet never emphasizes the final judgment and the eternal destiny of the lost.
5. The false prophet does not emphasize the utter sinfulness of sin and the total inability of man to do anything about his own salvation.
6. His teaching does not emphasize repentance in any real sense. It has a wide gate leading to salvation and a very broad way leading to heaven.
7. The false prophet does not emphasize the absolute necessity of entering this strait gate and walking along this narrow way… They offer an easy salvation, and an easy type of life always… They tell you not to examine your own soul.

In conclusion ML-J points to false prophets as a primary reason for the state (”weak and ineffective”) of the Christian church.

That is the cause of the trouble. They still talked about God; they still talked about Jesus; they still talked about His death on the cross. They did not stand out as obvious heretics; but they did not say those other things that are vital to salvation. They gave this vague message that never upsets anybody. They were so pleasant and ‘modern’ and up-to-date. They suited the popular palate, and the result is not only the empty churches about which we are hearing so much at the present time, but, as we shall see, the poor quality of Christian living of which most of us are so guilty. - p. 505,6

Recently finished reading volume two of Iain Murray’s biography on D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Was happy and encouraged to see the great emphasis the Doctor placed on reading books, especially the older ones:

In Dr Lloyd-Jones’ view, a greater influence for change, as far as literature was concerned, was not new books at all but the older reformed and Puritan classics which, though now becoming very scarce, could still be found in the second-hand bookshops. - p.350

‘It is very interesting to note how the type of theology you hold will decide whether you are reader or whether you are not.’ His theology, as it was preached, made people readers.” - p.360

Martyn Lloyd-Jones… was convinced that, next to the pulpit, it was books which could most effectively spread the Christian faith.” - p.635

Tolle lege!

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

1. The supreme object of this work is to glorify God… The first object of preaching the Gospel is not to save souls… Nothing else, however good in itself, or however noble, must be allowed to usurp that first place.

2. The only power that can really do this work is that of the Holy Spirit…

3. The one and only medium through which the Holy Spirit works is the Word of God… The medium which is used by the Holy Spirit is the truth.

4. The true urge to evangelization must come from apprehending these principles and, therefore, of a zeal for the honour and glory of God, and a love for the souls of men.

5. There is a constant danger of error, and of heresy, even amongst the most sincere, and also the danger of a false zeal and the employment of unscriptural methods.