Considering the Selective Use of Scripture

As a movement, the “Young, Restless & Reformed” crowd has some issues.  They are, after all, young.  They are on the road to maturity.  Technically I’m a tad too old, I think, for the moniker but I appreciate what most of them are trying to do.

John MacArthur is not so appreciative.  As part of the generation before mine, he’s been quite critical of them in a series of posts.  Some of them have made the circuit.  I’ve stayed out of it.  I don’t want to contribute to a blog war- see, I’m getting older and maybe even maturing.  (comments have been closed, so I can’t respond there.)

I am not writing to defend the YR&R movement.  I’m not even going to point out the inconsistencies of John’s argument (a blogger friend who was unjustly singled out has done a good job of these things).  What I want to do is address his selective use of Scripture.  JM, in writing this critique of the movement, is also acting like a role model of sorts.  How he handles the Scriptures is VERY important.  He deeply cares about the Scriptures and expositional preaching has been a hallmark of his lengthy ministry.  But here he does not handle the Scriptures well, and we need to help see why.

Taking Texts Out of Context

Contrary to the current mythology, abstinence is no sin—least of all for someone devoted to ministry (Leviticus 10:9; Proverbs 31:4; Luke 1:15). It is, of course, a sin to give one’s mind over to the influence of alcohol or to bedeck one’s reputation with deliberate symbols of debauchery. As a matter of fact, drunkenness and debauchery are the very antithesis of Spirit-filled sanctification (Ephesians 5:18)—and men who indulge in them are not qualified to be spiritual leaders.

JM rightly notes that abstinence is not a sin.  At times it may be wise, but that doesn’t mean it is always wise.  His claims go beyond the text however.

 ⁸And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, ⁹ “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. Leviticus 10

It was not an absolute prohibition.  They were just not to drink on the job.  In light of the recent death of Aaron’s 2 sons, you have to wonder if abusing alcohol was one reason they offered up “strange fire”.  But JM speaks of abstinence.  They were not required to abstain for drinking wine, except while serving.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,  it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, ⁵lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Proverbs 31

Once again the encouragement is not absolute.  But when the king is working, making decrees or deciding cases, he should not be under the influence of alcohol.  JM overstates his case.  Oddly enough, see what the next verses say:

⁶Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,  and wine to those in bitter distress; ⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Proverbs 31

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Considering Creation

My first series at Desert Springs will be Foundations of the Faith from Genesis.  I’ll be spending 3 weeks on Genesis 1 (I’ll be moving more quickly through the rest of Genesis).

The first week I’ll be focusing on what it says about God (communicating Frame’s Lordship attributes).  The second week will focus on creation.  And the third will focus on humanity and the creation mandate.

There are many interesting questions to ponder or address from this chapter and these topics.  Here is some of what I’ll be using.

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Considering How Sermons Change

I’m currently preparing a sermon on Psalm 1 for a trip to PA this weekend.  I’ve preached on Psalm 1 a few times.  After putting together my outline, I looked back at previous sermons on this text.  I was a bit surprised at how different they were, and the different emphases.  I think they show how my own heart has changed, and therefore how my preaching has changed.

The first is from 2001.  I delivered it at a chapel for a Christian school.  Here it is.

Intro:  “You don’t stop playing because you grow old.  You grow old because you stop playing.”

I. Godliness starts with a heart commitment (vv. 1-2).  Psalms and Proverbs begin with same idea.  Our top priority gives shape to the rest of our lives.  Paul picks up on this in Colossians 3.  Commitment to Christ doesn’t just alter what we do, but why we do it.  If God is not first in our lives something will fill that gap.  Our spouses, our children, our jobs, retirement or ourselves become of exaggerated importance and warp our lives.  We live for those things and Christ and His will are squeezed out.  Commitment to pursue God and to pursue sin cannot co-exist.  We must forsake one or the other.  Ill. Max and Huck.  What does this heart commitment to God look like?

A. Godly people desire God’s blessing.  The Psalmist is using covenant language here.  He recognizes that true blessing does not come from being committed to anything less than God.  Hebrew poetry uses these parallel statements to describe a life separated from God.  Such people go about their business without regard for God and His revealed will.  The godly person, though among them, does not join them in living that way.  He realizes their ways are cursed by God.  His heart is set on pleasing God, and being blessed by God.  I’m NOT talking about health, wealth and earthly success.  I’m talking about walking with God regardless of our circumstances.   Ill. Joni Tada.

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