Carey 2010 6

In a slightly revised programme here at the Carey we had first a good question session with Conrad Mbewe and Greg Beale and then later a prayer and share session.
Various people spoke - Martin Leech and some of the current 11 EMF students (from Romania, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary); Steve Bignall on EP's mission work in French speaking Africa; our own South African Richard Raven from LTS; Alan Levy on PTI; Sergey Babanko from Kazakhstan; Yuriy Vyshnevs'kyy from ELT; John Stevens about Passion for life which I confess I knew nothing about and, finally, Jonathan Bayes of Carey Outreach Ministries on the far east.
We then spent a quarter of an hour in prayer.

Carey 2010 5

The second paper of the morning was from John Benton entitled "Going soft on sin?" He had four points

1. The calamity of going soft on sin

He spoke of the biblical understanding as deviation, culpability, rebellion, debt, deviation, etc. It is Satanic
and is the central problem. He took us to Genesis 3 to flesh things out. Hell, of course, shows the seriousness of sin as does the remedy - Christ's death on the cross

2. The causes of going soft on sin ere he sketched some of the way that sin has been redefined in our society. People speak of alienation, break down of relationships, etc, not sin. Victimhood is common. Ecology is emphasised over morality. Over the last 50 years we have moved, he contended, from a moral culture to an emotional one. he had some striking statistics on the how newspapers now speak so often of self esteem, etc. 3. Consequences of going soft on sin.

There is confusion about sin, compromise of the gospel and the emptying of the churches. He spoke about the new perspective which emphasises Lord rather than Saviour, righteousness as a technical term not a moral one, belonging rather than anything moral. Justification re-interpreted in relational terms and what ever the argument for it is from early Judaism it is suspiciously like modern culture.

There were also quotes from M Watts on why the English stopped going to church, which was liberalism. What liberalism began is now being carried on by others. 4. The cure from going soft on sin Our lives must be holy, our theology must hold to creation and fall, our preaching must declare the Law (not just for conviction but also for holiness), churches need to be holy and how we must pray.

Carey 2010 4

We began Wednesday with another session from Greg Beale. Using a sermon that preceded it he sought to summarise his much lauded book The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God

It is only possible here to give a brief idea of all that was said. We began at the end of the Bible in Revelation. Beale equated the new creation with the New Jerusalem, a Temple. He then took us back to Genesis and sought to show that the Garden of Eden was a Temple. The cumulative argument noted that Eden like the Temple was the
Unique place of God's presence

Place of the first priest
Place of the first guarding cherubim
Place of the first arboreal lampstand
Formative for garden imagery in Israel's Temple
First source of water
Place of precious stones
Place of the first mountain
First place with an eastern entrance
First place of wisdom
Part of the tripartite sacred structure
Also note Ezekiel's view of Eden as the first sanctuary (see Ezekiel 28)
The ANEastern concept of Temple as a Garden, etc.
He then went on to consider Genesis 1:28 as not merely a cultural mandate but a great commission to fill the world with those who are in the image of God - reflecting God's glory. This would be an extension of the Garden of Eden into all the world. Adam's management or wardenship was to keep evil out and extend the Temple of God.
“…if people were going to fill the earth [according to Genesis 1]. We must conclude that they were not intended to stay in the garden in a static situation. Yet moving out of the garden would appear a hardship since the land outside the garden was not as hospitable as that inside the garden (otherwise the garden would not be distinguishable). Perhaps, then, we should surmise that people were gradually supposed to extend the garden as they went about subduing and ruling. Extending the garden would extend the food supply as well as extended sacred space (since that is what the garden represented)” [J. H. Walton, Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001: 186), See The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God [85]
What we see in Revelation then is the fulfilment of what was intended at the beginning. We also see that a Temple does not have to be an architectural entity.
He then went on to look further at Genesis, with brief references to the possibility that the ark was a sort of Temple, etc. The re-establishment of the Temple certainly goes on with the call of Abraham. Genesis 12 (see 2, 3) is a reformulation of Genesis 1:28 - often missed. Also note 1, 22, 26, 28, 35, etc, which all hark back to 1:28.
Certain things happen each time a true temple is built. Nearly every time there is
1. God appearing to them
2. They pitch a tent
3. On a mountain
4. They build alter and worship which include prayer and likely a sacrifice.
5. The place where these activities occur is often locate near or at Bethel, that is, “the house of God”
The Temple then was never intended to be permanent but a model of what the Garden and what would come - filled by God. We then ha d a thorough description of the Temple as representing the heavens and the earth. Some of this was obvious but some much more interesting. Eg the Sea. The Temple was a small scale reminder of their task to go out.
Time eventually ran out with tantalising allusions to the little stone of Daniel, etc, etc and clear references to the fulfilment of the Temple in Jesus Christ. He is the True Temple. We are the priests and in a sense a Temple too.
Very stimulating. No time for questions.

Xmas Frozen Lakes

Meant to put this up before now - mainly in the hills near Aber on December 28th

Carey 2010 3

The third session was a sermon from Conrad Mbewe on joy. After a survey of some of the things going on among Reformed Baptists in Zambia he preached on Philippians 4:4. He began by pointing out the way that although the Christian life begins in joy too often it is not carried on in that way. It is in the opening questions of both the Westminster and Heidelberg Catechisms yet it is often missing with us. Our eagerness to be holy sometimes militates against our desire to be happy (the opposite often prevails in the world).
Paul's very happy letter was not written at a party but from prison. He frequently refers to joy however.
We all have a natural desire for joy - even the suicide exhibits that. The very way the gospel is presented takes this into account - hell is a place of no happiness and heaven of great happiness. Doesn't the opening of the Bible say the same thing? Holiness = happiness, sin = sorrow. Or take the opening of the Book of Psalms to see the same thing we may have begun with Psalm 90 not Psalm 1). The closing psalms show the same thing. (He didn't mention Jesus' first miracle which also fits). John 15 exhibits a similar concern for the disciples' joy. Philippians with its amazing 19 references to joy, rejoice, gladness, etc, is all of a piece with this. All this shows that living the Christian life with a lack of joy is profoundly wrong. God commands joy.
The source of joy, of course, is God himself. This is also emphasised in Philippians. Christian joy is a by-product of a healthy walk with God not an object in itself. This is one thing that makes it so different to hedonism.
He then took us to Proverbs 5:18, 19 by way of illustration. Here is a young man beside himself with joy - not in himself but this wonderful gift from God. It is as we meditate on God and his blessings that we find true joy. When we see what we are by nature and what we deserve and then what God has done for us joy is inevitable. To take hell for us is an inestimable gift. How can anyone fail to delight in such a God? Previously you were running from God but now he is your Father and nothing can compare with that.
Further, joy is, of course, part of the fruit of the Spirit. He makes it clear. It is when we centre our thoughts on the Lord and on all he has done and will do we have to be joyful. There is an inevitability about such meditation.
Paul says always because we are responsible to be joyful. It is our duty the rest of our lives. No contrary providence must never be allowed to take our joy away. In the Book of Acts we read how persecuted they were and yet what rejoicing there was. Here is Paul too in prison and yet so positive.
In Romans 14 Paul says that the kingdom is not about food and drink but other righteousness, peace and a joy produced by the Holy Spirit and that transcends circumstances.
Peter speaks about it as well in the first chapter of 1 Peter (6 in this you greatly rejoice). There are trials yet there is joy still (inexpressible joy).
Paul exhorts rather than making a statement as if we fail to live the Christian life as we should we will not rejoice. Going back to the marriage illustration he described (with a little humour) how bad it can get. That is how it is for some. Were is the blessedness I knew, etc?
Happiness goes with holiness and when we fail to sort it out we suffer alack of joy for it.
Let nothing come between your soul and your God. Remember the context of Euodia and Syntyche. Get back to a healthy warm walk with the Lord. Treasure your walk with him and you will know joy again. W emay have to ask ourselves where we went wrong and go back. The dearest idol I have known ....
Christian joy is not mere levity. It is not indulgence in wine or beer. No wonder worldly joy hardly lasts. It is something much higher. It is found in God for whom we were meant.
His very final point was the powerful witness a joyful Christian can be, instancing the testimony to himself of his own sister.

Carey 2010 Pics

Snow, Erroll Hulse and Kees Van Kralingen, Bill James and G K Beale (in reverse)

Carey 2010 2

The second speaker was Dr Greg Beale currently at Wheaton but due soon to take up a post at Westminster in Philadelphia. His subject was divine inspiration with special reference to the Book of Revelation. He began by making reference to the current debate over inerrancy with special reference to A T B McGowan.

He then went on to contend that

"John's prophetic commission to write true words is based on the truthful character of Christ and God from whom the words come"

This comes out he said in the very way that John speaks of writing the words of Christ and calling on people to hear what the Spirit has to say.
John is commanded to write down words in a book. The words will be written and true because of the character of Christ. The deduction is quite explicit. It is exegetical not merely deductive.
He then took us to four main passages
Revelation 3:14 (cf Isaiah 65:16, 17 and its reference to the God of amen. Also refer back to Revelation 1:5 to see that the reference in 3:14 is to the new creation)
See also 19:9, 21:5, 22:6. From the context it becomes increasingly clear that this is not just an implication but what John actually says. The blessing is for those who take seriously this written record. The book is called a prophecy identifying it with OT Scripture.
This was the main part of the paper. I think it is the same paper that Martin Downes reports on here which he got from here

Is Revelation unique?
1. In 22:6 John is grouped with other prophets. The allusion is to Numbers 27
2. The repeated commissioning of John to his task militates against such an idea
3. There is also the parallel wit Isaiah
4. There is also a parallel with Daniel and Ezekiel. Okay - just apocalyptic then? But John has clearly added other material and is not just apocalyptic in its genre. Besides this he also puts himself on a par with Moses.
There was other material referring to the psalms and at the start he pointed out that he had no time to look at other matters prepared for the paper.
His main point then was that there is a clear connection between the flawlessness of Christ and God and that of Scripture Inerrancy - the word is not there but the same concept is.
Aware of contra arguments he finally asked whether God would commission John to write faithfully and truly yet knowing there would be some slippage in the inscripturation.
It was a privilege to hear this careful and convincing presentation.
Questions followed.

Carey 2010 1

The opening session was taken by an old friend of the conference Kees Van Kralingen from the Netherlands 9from Papendrecht near Dordrecht just south of Rotterdam). His subject was the church and the Word. After a little gentle humour he earthed his remarks firstly in the context of current attacks on the doctrine of the church and of Scripture. He had three points

1.The church in Ephesus

This involved a description of Ephesus itself (250K and where the statue of Artemis was found, the Ionic games took place and where there was much wickedness) and then of the planting of the church by Paul as recorded in Acts. Paul's stay there at first was brief but he was followed by Apollos. Later Paul came for 2 or 3 years and lectured for some time. There was much opposition but soon the gospel had gone out to all of Asia. It is a very encouraging story. Paul's final address to the elders in Acts 20 is also of great interest. It seems that Paul did actually revisit Ephesus despite his fears. We get some idea of Ephesus from 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy as Timothy worked there. Epaphras at Colosse and John also had contacts with the church. In Revelation we read of their later heretical tendencies. The letter also makes clear how there were always problems to be faced.
2. The church and its biblical position and role
1 All we say of the church and what it should do must be dictated by Christ, the Head of the church. Too often today this is forgotten. Think of the images used in Ephesus and elsewhere - the body, the household of faith, Temple, etc.
2 The church is a pattern of the kingdom to come
3 It is the church that is God's instrument for bringing the gospel to the world
Hence the need for holiness, the Word, etc. The ministry of the Word is also very important as we see in Ephesians 4 (the chapter read by Erroll Hulse in the beginning).
3. Application
1 Keep the right view of the church and an emphasis on preaching of various sorts. This includes house to house visitation of different sorts.
2 Do not forget the importance of boldness or forget the importance of emotional involvement.
3 He referred finally to Revelation 2 and the way that the Ephesians forsook the Lord because they ceased to keep Christ as their first love
A short discussion followed.

I'm dreaming of a white Carey

I can't remember the Carey being this white before.

Electric Folk

One of my Christmas presents to myself was the 1969 album Liege and Lief by the Folk Rock band Fairport Convention, which I saw going rather cheaply. FP are a band I've long been aware of but had not really listened to. I'm finding it quite enjoyable. Yesterday I read this obituary to Tim Hart of Steeleye Span here. I was a little more aware of the slightly later SS but again not greatly. I suppose it is partly an age thing. The Irish band Horslips who were a little later again I think were my real love.

Newton on Joy

I decided to take as my new year text today those familiar words of Habakkuk 3:17, 18. Reading the new Banner collection of Newton's letters to Ryland today (Wise Counsel) I came across a passage (from a letter published long before in the Works) that chimed in well. Newton writes

The great question is, how are we practically influenced by the word of God as the ground of our hope, and as the governing rule of our tempers and conversation? The apostle exhorts believers to rejoice in the Lord always. He well knew that they were exposed to trials and temptations, and to much trouble, from an evil heart of unbelief; and he prevents the objections we might be ready to make, by adding, "And again, I say, Rejoice!" As if he had said, I speak upon mature consideration; I call upon you to rejoice, not at some times only, but at all times; not only when upon the mount, but when in the valley; not only when you conquer, but while you are fighting; not only when the Lord shines upon you, but when he seems to hide his face.

Hymn of the week 38

We enjoyed singing new year hymns again yesterday. I mentioned a Doddridge hymn this time last year. See here. We enjoyed singing it again and this other one by the same man.

Our Helper, God, we bless Thy Name,
Whose love forever is the same;
The tokens of Whose gracious care
Begin and crown and close the year.

Amid ten thousand snares we stand,
Supported by Thy guardian hand;
And see, when we review our ways,
Ten thousand monuments of praise.

Thus far Thine arm has led us on;
Thus far we make Thy mercy known;
And while we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.

Our grateful souls on Jordan’s shore
Shall raise one sacred pillar more,
Then bear, in Thy bright courts above,
Inscriptions of immortal love.

Third Photo Series 02

From Drop Box

2009 Round up

I'd meant to do some sort of round up to close 2009. Anyway according to my calculations there were some 577 entries last year. The lowest monthly figure was 40 for March and the highest was last January (66). Total visits are now somewhere around the 97K mark (134K in page views). My last daily average was 618 (110 page views). Most visitors are from Europe and the USA. Thanks for the literally hundreds of comments. I know some simply lurk, some contact me off line and some prefer to use Facebook but all the comments are much appreciated. Apologies when I fail to reply as I should.

Series this last year have included the year long one on Calvin, a short one on Gwent Castles and the continuing ones on Rock 'n' Roll and shoes. There were also ones on Prayer, Sovereignty and Responsibility, Bold Miriam, Holiness and Book buys plus the occasional "Hymn of the week". One or two series are rather in abeyance. There were lots of entries about visiting my dad, of course, and my visit to the Philippines various videos and pictures. I also reported on our Children's Holiday Bible Club different conferences, including (in reverse order) Westminster, the JOC Calvin Conference, Aber, Grace Assembly, Affinity and the Carey.

Well, that gives you the flavour. It's rather eclectic but appreciated by some I trust. Here's to blogging 2010.

2010 and eternity

A little slow off the mark I guess - I wasn't sure just where to begin until I found this quotation near the very end of F W Boreham's Bunch of everlastings. He says

I recently took a long, long railway journey through a thousand miles of civilisation, a thousand miles of desert, and a thousand miles of bush. The train bore me to a part of this vast continent in which I found myself surrounded by trees that were entirely new to me, and by flowers such as I had never seen before. I freely expressed my admiration, and, when the time came to commence my homeward journey, I found among the mementoes with which I was presented a beautiful bunch of everlastings. A Bunch of Everlastings! It seems to me I have this morning been gathering just such a bouquet. Here is Stephen Grellet listening to the great word that rings through the silence of the forest Etemity! Eternity! Eternity! Here is Uncle Tom uttering the same word with strange and wonderful effects: Eternity! Here is Dr Chalmers confessing that the mistakes of his life lay in his forgetting the greatness of Eternity! The list could be indefinitely continued; the valleys are full of everlastings. ‘That night,’ says Ebenezer Erskine, in recording in the pages of his diary the greatest spiritual crisis that he ever knew ‘that night I got my head out of Time into Eternity!’ ‘The vastness of the word Eternity was impressed upon me,’ says Andrew Bonar in his diary; and, a few months later, he says again, ‘I strive to keep the feeling of Eternity always before me!’ ‘Gentlemen,’ exclaims old Rabbi Duncan to his students as he dismisses them at the end of the year’s work, ‘many will be wishing you a Happy New Year. Your old tutor wishes you a happy Eternity!’.