“Death be not Proud” by John Donne

A few years ago my good high school friend Rachel passed away.  Recently in apologetics I’ve taught on the problem of evil and theodicy. So the pain of the past revisited me of late. But when Rachel passed away another high school friend sat in an English class at Covenant College.  One of the reading selections that he had was John Donne’s Death be not Proud.

Holy Sonnett #10

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

Do Christian schools train kingdom oriented individuals?

Am I qualified to speak on such a topic? Perhaps, here are my credentials: I went to two small Christian elementary and high schools (3rd-12 grades).  Upon graduating from a class size of 33 students I went to Grove City College.  Currently I now teach at Trinity Christian School in Pittsburgh, PA.  Does Grove City train kingdom agents? Yes, if anyone has any knowledge of that institution the answer is a resounding yes. But what I am specifically referring to are the local Christian high schools.

As a teacher it is my goal to see students develop and mature into passionate individuals not only for Jesus but also his bride and mission.  Every lecture, every discussion, quiz, assignment, and test has that as the ultimate goal.  I want to answer a resounding yes!! But often Christian schools do not.

A common objection to Christian school of children is the claim that parents want to raise missionaries; the best place they, in their wisdom, see that happening is in the public school.  (Sorry to say this- that is not how this works.)  So the most “kingdom” oriented families send their kids to the public school system.  But for the parents who send their kids to a Christian school they do so because they want to see their child walk with the Lord; their focus is on personal faith and conversion versus his mission.  So a simple answer to why Christian schools don’t train kingdom oriented kids is because the students there aren’t taught a kingdom focus.  I may try to do so but does the student’s local church and their parents do that?

Another thing: the Christian school can be a missional place.  It is not the church.  Instead it is a “third space” for where nonbelievers and believers can gather together and study God’s creation and his Word.  Studying is done in the context of community and mission (every teacher views Christian schooling as a ministry and opportunity to point people to Jesus and the church).

A prayer for All Saint’s Day

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The book of Common Prayer pg. 245 (of my copy)

Guys I like: Tim Keller

Perhaps no contemporary theologian has shaped my thinking of Christianity more than Tim Keller.  I had the privilege of meeting him when he spoke here in Pittsburgh in May 2008.  When I say “meet” I mean going up to him and having him sign my book, all while sharing a brief appreciation of his ministry.

Why do I like him?

1. His focus on the gospel.  TK says that “I am accepted, therefore I obey.”  This runs opposite of our hearts and how we think, feel, and live.  And the gospel is to encompass all of life (it is A-Z, not just A, B, C of the Christian life).  See his book The Prodigal God for a thorough explanation of this.
2. His focus on the church as the instrument of God’s mission.
3. His sensitivity to unbelievers.  He wants to be an effective preacher, pastor, and apologist.  I get the feeling that when he discusses people’s objections to the gospel, he listens to his audience and speaks directly to their hearts.

To sum it up: when I think of Tim Keller’s teaching and ministry, he points me to God’s grace and love.

PS. He has a new book out – Counterfeit Gods.  And Redeemer recently catalogued 150 of his sermons for free download. If you have not done so already – go to Steve McCoy’s site and peruse TK’s articles.

Guys I like: NT Wright

A sidenote: I had a discussion once with a certain college professor, Dr. Mark Graham, who stated that Wright did much to restore confidence to historians to believe in the orthodox portrait of Jesus Christ. My response was naive and arrogant; I never read anything by the man and condemned him without giving him a fair hearing.  I am eating humble pie.  I now use Wright in my apologetics class though his influence comes into play when I consider the church and the Holy Spirit. Because of my use of him a student challenged his historical studies because those would be the foundation for his theological views. Sad to say I saw myself in this student.

I like him for a number of reasons, though I do have cautions about his understanding of justification and other things.  (It is sad that I have to state that, most people think that because I am a “fan” means I buy the whole parcel of his theology.)

1. His stress on the Holy Spirit.  (I’ve mentioned this twice before here and here.)
2. His stress on our activity in God’s mission, in other words the church’s mission.
3. His historical scholarship and clear writing.  As Graham said to me earlier Wright’s work in the “Third Quest” for Jesus is immensely helpful to biblical and historical studies.  Bring this research to bear upon the question ‘Can we trust the gospels?’ and you have a good tool to help one defend the faith.

Why do you like NT Wright?