Interview with Douglas Douma: Author of the Recent Biography of Gordon H. Clark

Douglas Douma is among those unique Christian scholars who is able to bring a broad and varied range of intellectual perspective to his analysis and writing. He has an engineering degree from the University of Michigan, an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University, and an Mdiv from Sangre de Cristo Seminary. That he claims to have learned far more from books than in school is certainly a testament to his curiosity and passion for learning. I mentioned that his writing in the book was well done and I enjoyed reading it. There is also a lot of interesting information on his blogsite https://douglasdouma.wordpress.com/ and I commend it to you.

In the previous post, I reviewed his recent biography of Gordon H. Clark titled The Presbyterian Philosopher. Mr. Douma was kind enough to take time to answer questions about Dr. Clark and his book. I am pleased to share that interaction with you. I pray it will be of interest to those who want to learn more about Dr. Clark.

1)     Could you briefly share a little bit about your background and how you first encountered Dr. Clark or his work?

I grew up in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Though having read Christian theology books since I was 14, I had very little knowledge of philosophy. I took just two philosophy courses in college (at the University of Michigan). One on Logic and one on Knowledge. This was years before I came across Clark's writings.

While considering seminary, particularly the Lutheran one – Concordia Seminary in St. Louis – I began to ask deeper questions of the faith. Not finding much in the realm of intellectual Lutheran books I broadened my search. I read a lot of Alvin Plantinga, William Lane Craig, Hugh Ross, Francis Scheaffer, and a number of others. Yet I was not very satisfied with them. Most of what I found in “Reformed Epistemology” was merely a defense of Theism. This was of little interest to me while I was considering a life in the Christian pastorate.

The time of my intellectual “awakening” was in 2007 and the cliché “it started with Ayn Rand” largely applied to me. I read about ten of Ayn Rand's books while also getting into Libertarianism and especially the Austrian School of Economics. I read everything I could find of Ron Paul, Ludwig von Mises, and Murray Rothbard, among others.

Though largely agreeing with the Austrians on Economics, I was dissatisfied with Rand's more general philosophy and still saw Christianity (in the limited form I knew it) to be a better solution.

I came across and then read a book called “Without a Prayer: Ayn Rand and the Close of Her System” by John Robbins. This basically completed my falling away from interest in Rand. At the end of Robbins book also I saw what I thought was an overly praiseworthy note about someone named “Gordon H. Clark,” a Calvinist. Calvinism was still a scary word for me.

Sometime later, searching for “Christian intellectuals” and “Christian Philosophy”, I came across Gordon Clark's “An Introduction to Christian Philosophy.” Having seen his name in the Robbins book I thought I'd give him a chance. And still to this day “An Introduction to Christian Philosophy” is the single most influential thing in my mind outside of Scripture.

Over time, for 4 years I read nearly all of Gordon Clark' 40+ books during my evenings, during my lunch breaks, and wherever I could sneak in the time.

2)     Why did you think it was important for there to be a biography of Dr. Clark and what motivated you to be to be the one to do it?

After reading many of Clark's books I realize that he spent 90% of the time critiquing opposing views, and then only 10% of the time formulating his own theories. My first idea was to write a book summarizing these “10%” bits from all of his books. This way, I figured, one could read just one book instead of all 40. I quickly realized, however, that much of Clark's theology intertwined with the historical circumstances of his life and work in the church. To give proper context to the theology I realized a biography was necessary. At first I could find very little biographical information but as the project continued the information came in a steady stream until just the right about necessary for the biography was found. It would be difficult I believe to write a biography on a person less prominent than Dr. Clark unless the person saved many of their own papers.

So, I attended a Reformed seminary based on Clark's influence on my thought. And I chose Sangre de Cristo Seminary as Gordon Clark's papers were housed there. The decision to write the biography coincided with my decision to attend seminary. And, frankly, I probably worked on the biography as much as I worked on my seminary studies.

3)     What was the most surprising thing you learned during your research about Dr. Clark?

I was most surprised to find Dr. Clark's unpublished Systematic Theology. Actually, Andrew Zeller, President of Sangre de Cristo Seminary found the manuscript while searching for papers for the biography.

Of Dr. Clark, himself it might be considered surprising to learn that he did not drive an automobile until sometime in his 40s.

4)     What would you say is the most misunderstood aspect of Clark’s work?

There are a number of controversial points regarding Clark's theology. (Such as the incomprehensibility of God, the Free Offer of the Gospel, Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, the primacy of the intellect, the nature of the incarnation, his views on emotion, and his view of faith as assent to understood propositions).

Perhaps the biggest error is to call him “a rationalist.” I find this term to be utterly lazy and contrary to fact. Though Clark put a high value on logic, it was the Scripture which was his ultimate authority.

As far as misunderstanding, I've read very few who understand Clark's views on the incomprehensibility of God. One frequent error to say Clark believe man's knowledge to be “identical” to God's knowledge. On the contrary, Clark repeatedly denied this accusation. Instead he held that though any proposition known by man was the same proposition known by God, the knowledge is not identical in all aspects because God knows a greater quantity of knowledge than man, and (most importantly) God knows in a different way (or mode) than does man. (God's mode being intuitive and man's mode being discursive.) Along with this misunderstanding is the near universal mistake of those who have written on the Clark – Van Til Controversy to not realize that the very center of the conversation and possibly solution revolved around the definition of “content.”

5)     As you know, there is some debate about the extent to which Clark’s views changed over time. Did your research indicate whether there were any significant modifications to his thought?

I'm familiar with Ryan Hedrich's arguments to the effect that Clark's view on Divine Simplicity changed over time. That is, Ryan believes Clark was opposed to it early on and in favor of it later on. To the extent I've studied the topic, I believe Ryan has made some interesting points, but it is not necessary to conclude that Clark ever opposed Divine Simplicity.

Clark did change his view on the Incarnation. Just a few years before his death he was saying things very much in line with the Chalcedonian Creed's view of the incarnation. However, in Clark's book “The Incarnation” written in the last months of his life, he attempted to improve Chalcedon's formulations. I have high regard for Clark's work, but if there is one thing I'm unsure of the truth of in his writings it is his work in this last book.

An interesting article few know of is Mary Crumpacker's “Clark's Axiom, Something New” where she indicated that Clark's “Wheaton Lectures” (1966) are merely an extension and clarification of his earlier work, and not a radically new proposal.

For the most part, however, I see a strong continuity of thought throughout Clark's life. Most of his major ideas can be seen in his letters and writings in the 1930s and 1940s. 

6)     I mentioned in my review that I would have liked you to have further explored the potential influence of Van Til’s work on Clarks own apologetic. Can you share any further insight into this?

As to your wish that I had explored the relationship of Clark’s thought to that of Van Til’s thought more, I must point out that the record is quite scant. John Frame has said that he heard years ago that Clark and Van Til would take walks together discussing philosophy back in the 1930s in Philadelphia. But other than what I’ve written, and this comment from Frame, there isn’t any extant information about their relationship at the time. One might surmise some things from their theological writings, but the connections are difficult to determine.

One thing of interest you might want to look into is the letters between Van Til and J. Oliver Buswell. Buswell makes something of a 3rd leg of the tripod in the Clark – Van Til discussions. There are more letters between Buswell and Van Til than between Clark and Van Til. There is also a dialogue between them in “The Bible Today” in the late 1940s. I'm not sure this will be of much benefit though as Clark and Van Til are much closer to each other in thought than either is to Buswell.

7)     You had an excellent observation in the book that since Clark primarily worked at secular institutions rather than at a seminary the trajectory of his work proceeded with a higher degree of independence than that of many other Christian scholars.  In what ways do you think that was a benefit and in what ways do you think it was a hindrance?

Clark's relatively isolated studies really helped to avoid “group think.” He wasn't part of the “Westminster faculty” or in on the Bible Presbyterian bandwagon.

The hindrance for Clark was largely with his job prospects, book sales, and connections in the Christian world. Had he been at a Christian Seminary he would have been much more well known.

8)     How would you assess Dr. Clark’s legacy?

I tried to some in the last chapter of the biography. Even doing that I had some difficulty saying much. It is important to realize that much of Dr. Clark's work and tenor was not the same as the aggressiveness you see in the internet debates today. Part of the purpose of the biography is to show who Clark was. In fact, of 915 extant letters only in 4 or 5 of them does Clark write with an aggressive or mean tone.

9)     Which of Dr. Clark’s books would you recommend as a starting point to someone looking to start reading him?

This question comes up from time to time on our Gordon H. Clark Discussions forum on Facebook. I think the most frequent answer — and one with which I agree — is Clark's "Religion, Reason, and Revelation." One of the great things about this book is that from the very start you can see Clark's emphasis on the importance of definitions. His discussion on "What is Religion" was eye-opening to me. 

This "3R's" book is a nice place to start because it is interesting without being too challenging philosophically. Following that I'd recommend "A Christian View of Men and Things," "Three Types of Religious Philosophy," "An Introduction to Christian Philosophy," "Thales to Dewey," and "God's Hammer." These are some of the books of Clark's which address broader topics. Following the reading of these, one can then pick up various books Clark wrote on more specific topics, whether they be on secular philosophers ("Dewey," "William James"), religious thinkers ("Karl Barth's Theological Method"), or Clark's own Christian constructions such as "Historiography," "Language and Theology," "The Trinity," "The Incarnation," and various other topics. This plan would have one read from the more general to the more specific, and generally increasing in rigor. 

10) Many of us have the Trinity Foundation to thank for keeping Dr. Clark’s works published but we now have an entire generation of Christian scholars and pastors that maintain a substantial portion of their libraries electronically. If Dr. Clark is to remain accessible, it seems that it would be advantageous to have his collected works published on Logos. Are you aware of any possibility of that happening? (If not, perhaps a worthwhile suggestion to The Trinity Foundation)

I don't have any information on this question. I'd be glad for Clark's works to be made more accessible electronically. I know from a pastor-friend of mine who is a missionary in remote Cambodia that digital libraries are the only way to go in places where you can't carry dozens of boxes in.

11) Is there anything else you would like to share either about Dr. Clark or the process of writing the book?

I like to emphasize the availability of Clark's lesser known and unpublished writings which I've posted to the Gordon H. Clark Foundation website. http://gordonhclark.reformed.info

I'd be glad to see scholars engage with these papers more.

12) Any other books planned at this time?

A contract has been signed for “Selected Letters of Gordon Haddon Clark” which I've compiled and which will be edited by The Trinity Foundation.

I have an interest in writing a few more books in my life, but am struggling to find anything worth dedicating multiple years of effort towards. I'm glad for suggestions.

13) Before we leave off, I would like to give you the opportunity to share a little about Sola Appalachian Christian Retreat (www.discoversola.com).

We're working on starting a hiker hostel and Christian retreat center on the Appalachian Trail. I see a great need for evangelism there and an opportunity in which I believe we can with the Lord's provision be effective. We plan to offer accommodation and meals to long-distance hikers attempting thru-hikes of the trail. Through evening hymn-sings, morning bible studies, making available small Gideon's New Testaments, being there to answer questions regarding the faith, and living in a way honorable to God, we hope to influence those who visit us to come to know the Gospel.

In the non-hiking season, I hope we'll be able to conduct a 2 or 3 month “term” in a style similar to L'Abri Christian Fellowship and invite hikers back whom we have positively affected during the past year so that they can learn more of the faith.

My wife and I are actively speaking at churches and continuing to raise funds as missionaries. We'd be glad for readers of this interview to consider supporting our mission.

Book Review: David P. Murray- Christians Get Depressed Too

http://christianaudio.com/christians-get-depressed-too-david-murray-audiobook-download

We all know that as believers we are to have the joy of the Lord but as a result of the cookie cutter categories of Christian pop culture, many believers have a difficult time coming to terms with those who are apparently believers and yet struggle with depression and anxiety. There are even many believers who think that a “true” Christian cannot get depressed and that any mental or emotional issues are either the result of sin or demonic oppression. Beyond the popular misconceptions are various disagreements among Christian counselors regarding the issues and how to respond to them.

Thankfully, David P. Murray offers this brief, practical, and caring book on the subject.

Dr. Murray is the pastor of Grand Rapids Free Reformed Church, is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, has written various other books and is the author of the head heart hand blog (http://headhearthand.org/blog/).

Dr. Murray points out that the common misconceptions about depression and mental illness within the Church are not only unhelpful but can actually be hurtful by increasing the burden of pain and guilt on those who are already suffering. Murray argues from biblical examples that depression is actually something that can and does happen to believers. He insists that we need to overcome the overly simplistic idea that every emotional and mental issue is the result of sin and faithlessness. He argues that the church has a responsibility to help those who suffer and that Christians, particularly pastors and caregivers, should study depression so they understand what it is, what causes it, and how to best help those who suffer from it.

He avoids getting dragged into the theological and psychological controversies surrounding the subject but his balanced treatment gives the listener confidence that he is familiar with them, understands them, and is presenting what he finds to be most practical and helpful. His purpose was to write a book that those who are suffering and those who care for them can use. Readers and listeners who want a more technical or theological treatment will need to go elsewhere. He does, however, include a number of biblical references and a helpful appendix of other works that would be of interest to those who want to study more.

The practical nature of the book can be seen in how Murray organizes the material. He condenses the topic into 6 sections that are organized the following way:

-The Crisis – Why should we study the topic?

-The Complexity – What is the appropriate attitude to approach the topic?

-The Condition – What is it and what does it look like?

-The Causes – Why does it happen?

-The Cures – What can be done?

-The Caregivers – How we can help those in need.

To tackle such a complex topic so briefly and practically is a very difficult thing to do. Dr. Murray has done an outstanding job and has produced a balanced, yet conservative and biblical, treatment of the topic that is both informative and helpful. As a friend of several believers who struggle with depression and the father of an autistic child, I appreciated the wisdom and balance with which Dr. Murray addressed the issue. It is a testament to both his writing ability and pastoral care that he is able to avoid the tendency to reductionist oversimplification in such a short work. He provides a good example of the informed humility that he is encouraging others to pursue.

The work is concise, well written, and easy to follow. The production was well done and Dr. Murray’s reading was well paced and articulate (in that remarkably dramatic way that only a Scottish accent can accomplish). For anyone who is struggling with depression or knows someone who is, this is a great place to start. Other more comprehensive works are available but this is the best short introduction to the topic I can recall.

* I received a free copy of this book from christianaudio.com as part of their Review Program. Reviews are not required to be positive and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review- Steven Lawson, Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men

Foundations of Grace: A Long Line of Godly Men

By Steven J. Lawson / Reformation Trust Publishing

While discussing God’s sovereignty in salvation, students have often been asked me if I could provide to them the Bible verses on both sides of the issue. I usually receive a skeptical look when I reply that there are no Bible verses on both sides of the issue, that God does not contradict Himself, and that all of the Scripture supports the teaching of the Doctrines of Grace (I am happy, however, to work through the passages that appear contradictory). There are difficult to understand passages, but sovereign grace is so pervasive in the Bible that those looking for it will begin to see it everywhere.

In his book, Foundations of Grace, Dr. Steven J. Lawson traces elements of the Doctrines of Grace through every book of the Bible. The book begins with a foreword by Dr. John MacArthur, which is an excellent theological essay that would itself be worth the price of the book. Lawson then argues that how one understands God’s sovereign grace in salvation is foundational to their understanding of the biblical message and theology. He argues for God’s sovereign plan to save fallen humanity through a gracious act of election as a unifying theme of the Bible. Lawson then works through each section of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation examining God’s sovereign Grace and related truths. The book then concludes with a call to believers to stand firm in these truths in afterword by Dr. R.C. Sproul.

The book provides an accessible defense of the Reformed view of the unity and consistency of the Bible on these points. The treatment is not overly technical or complex and as expected, presupposes a Reformed understanding of various biblical and systematic theological positions. Since he explores similar themes in each chapter, reading the book from cover to cover becomes tedious at times. The upside of this style, however, is that the book will likely serve as a good reference resource to those who may want to examine these themes in relation to a particular book of Scripture.

Advanced readers looking for a comprehensive biblical theology, extensive exegetical detail, or a critical evaluation of theological issues attending the interpretations will not find that here. What readers can find here is a good introduction to why Reformed Christians are so passionate about God’s sovereignty and the Doctrines of Grace.  

* I received a free copy of this book from Reformation Trust Publishing as part of their book review program. Reviews are not required to be positive and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

If You are Serious about Spiritual Growth, Set Aside Your Devotional

I know that there are good devotionals and I know that many people have benefited from the daily discipline of reading them. Even so, I am confident that most people would be better off if they replaced their devotional books with daily devotional Bible reading. After all, the Bible is the source of truth and life. Anything worthwhile that you will find in any devotional has its source in the scripture. The Word of God is sufficient for every spiritual need and it alone has the promise of God to be effective. Relying on devotional books rather than reading the Bible is like locking yourself into your house at noon on a summer day and shutting up all the doors and windows so you can read by candlelight.

Many people have asked me through the years if I could suggest a good devotional book. I always suggest the Bible. When I give that answer, I often see a look of disappointment come across the face of the brother or sister who asked. Perhaps they think I am being sarcastic or teasing but the answer is truly and humbly the best suggestion that I know to make. Frequently, people think that they do not have time to invest and are looking for a quick dose of spiritual insight. Also common, however, is that many Christians are concerned they are not equipped to use the Bible devotionally. These concerns need not prevent believers from devotional use of the Scripture and the effort to overcome them is well worth it.

In this post, I will briefly discuss a few reasons why the Bible is better for devotional reading than other material. In the next post, I will give examples of how to use the Bible for devotions.

Why is the Bible Better?

1)      The Bible alone is the Word of God. Any other material is only useful to the extent that it accurately communicates the truth found in the Bible (2 Tim 3:15-16). God has provided the scripture for our spiritual nourishment and growth (Mt 4:4). The connection between the Word of God and our sanctification is so strong that it would require a separate series of posts to work through (Jn 17:17). It is probably not an overstatement to say that our spiritual maturity can be measured by our growth in the Word (1 Jn 4:6).

2)      The “good” devotionals I mentioned above are selections of readings from the Bible followed by a few questions. These can be helpful especially to newer believers because they guide you through the process of thinking about the passage. Those who are serious about growing spiritually, however, will benefit greatly from exercising their ability to ask questions and make their own observations and applications of the text (2 Tim 2:15). It may take longer to get going in the beginning but so does chewing your own food. After a bit of practice, you will find that you enjoy the process (Ps 119:103).

3)      Unlike the “better” devotionals mentioned above, most devotionals are really more of a form of commentary or scriptural application on a short passage. Many of these books reinforce bad habits that are not beneficial to disciplines that support deep spiritual growth over time. Often they are filled with examples of taking scripture out of context, oversimplification, or reducing God’s Word to motivational literature. Serious meditation on the Bible involves a respect for what it intends to teach (Heb 2:1). Taking a point (even a true point) and using out of context Bible verses to support it is a bad habit to get into. We are to be people of the Word and our use of the Word should respect it as a system of truth. Likewise, applying promises and platitudes out of context in order to make us feel better or get motivated may in fact be exactly the opposite of what is most needed in our spiritual lives (Heb 12:7).

4)      Connected to the last point is that frequently devotionals have an imbalanced focus. They often focus on what God has done or can do for us out of proportion with reflection upon God’s glory or our weakness. The Bible does talk about God’s love and His blessings but it also convicts us of sin and shatters our selfish pride. God’s purpose in His word is not just to encourage us, but to recreate us. He knows what lessons we need and His word is perfectly balanced (2 Tim 3:16).

5)      Finally, many devotionals often lead to a habit of thinking superficially about God’s word. “Devotional” is often just a code word for “not too deep or complicated”. Real growth occurs, however, when we wrestle with the profound truths of God’s word. Reverence rather than cuteness or pithiness should characterize our devotions (Prov 9:10).

Why Lack of Time is not a Good Reason to Avoid Devotional Bible reading

1. The fact is that we make time for what is most important to us. If we are simply trying to fit our devotional time into our otherwise too busy schedule then we have the wrong priorities (Mt 6:33). If our devotional exercises are simply a religious ritual that we check off each day then we should probably just sleep in or use the time for something else (Amos 5:21-23).

2. I talk a lot about the need to invest time in reading and studying the Bible. I think that is very important, but I am primarily talking about sustained engagement throughout years of continual study and meditation. I am not talking about marathon sessions in individual sittings. If the average person spent even 10 to 15 minutes a day, consistently, in devotional Bible reading I think they would be surprised at how significantly their thought life would change.

You do not need to be a teacher or an expert to do it

1. People sometimes assume that when I suggest that they use the Bible for devotional reading that I am expecting them to become highly trained theologians. When I suggest that the Bible be used for devotional reading, however, I am not talking about systematic Bible study. Proper Bible study should also be something believers learn and that does take time but even young teenagers and new Christians are capable of using the Bible for devotional reading with just a little help to get them started. Devotional reading and Bible study are not exactly the same thing but they are complimentary. We should always seek to base our devotions on proper understanding of the text and our study should always have a devotional end in mind. The more time spent directly in the Bible will increase our ability to do both. In the next post I hope to help make this connection a bit more clear.

2. I am convinced that most people would actually be less confused about the Bible if they spent more time reading the Bible and less time reading other material. I just typed “devotional” into the amazon.com search bar and 51,876 entries came up.  I recognize there is an important place for other Christian material, but it should always be supplemental. Unlike other types of Christian literature, people often primarily use devotionals as substitutes for reading the Bible itself. What are the chances these 52,000 books are consistently reflecting upon the truth of the Bible? I am certain that if the goal is to be transformed by the renewing of our minds then the time would be much better spent actually meditating upon the truth (both plain and difficult) contained in the Bible.

In the next post, I will try to help those get started who may want to use the Bible for devotions but are not sure how to get started. 

Practical Theology

What do you think of when you hear the word “theology”? Unfortunately for many people the word conjures up visions quite removed from their daily life. It is often assumed to be a word more closely associated with a library than a living room, a classroom rather than a workplace, and ideas rather than people. The truth of the matter though is that in the Christian life one cannot separate the knowledge we have of God and our practical everyday walk. As we consider the inexhaustible wisdom of God’s revelation of Himself in His Word we are drawn to think more deeply upon Him. The result is not impractical or academic but rather calls attention to the majesty and greatness of God and His Word. Unfortunately most Christians neglect a disciplined study of the things of God and prefer a more devotional and experiential approach. Often this is accompanied by the assumption that theological study is unnecessary for the average person and is the calling of only a small subset of people within the Church.

Sadly, this sets up a false separation between growing in knowledge and living the Christian life as if the two were not interdependent. The result is that many people are deprived of a deeper interaction with God and a strengthened confidence in the truth of the Bible as objective and unchanging truth. By learning about God and His truth we come to know the Lord in a more intimate way.

Theology (the study of what is true about God) need not be stiff, academic, or detached. I read two great articles today at the housewife theologian website that address the need for women in particular to be engaged in theological study. These articles, How Well Do YouReally Know the Person You Love and Reflections on Women and Theology do a wonderful job of calling attention to an important issue in the Church today. Disciplined Bible study and theological reflection should be encouraged for all Christians regardless of their demographics. The Bible does not categorize us based upon our demographic or market segments. These are just a couple of a number of articles over there that not only deal with important topics but are also great examples of how to communicate theological truth in a balanced, practical, and accessible way. 

I encourage you to read them.

No Pain No Gain

The Lord has seen fit to make some adjustments to my schedule this past week that will result in a little more time between posts over the next month or so. Despite my busyness I finally had a chance to sit down this evening after bible study and do a little bit of reading. I picked up John Piper’s book Brothers, We are NOT Professionals. I am planning to post a review of the book in the near future once I finish it but while reading this evening I came across a statement that I thought was worth sharing.

I do not always agree with John Piper on every issue but there are many that I do and one of Piper’s goals which I share is to encourage people to think carefully about their faith and about God’s Word. One of Piper’s chapters is an encouragement to pastors to “show your people why God inspired hard texts”. We usually do not think carefully about something unless there is a difficulty. It is when there is some problem to be solved in our bible study that we tend to pay the kind of attention to the text and the theology that it really always deserves. Highlighting this truth Piper made the following statement:

If God has inspired a book as the foundation of the Christian faith, there is a massive impulse unleashed in the world to teach people how to read. And if God ordained for some of that precious, sacred, God-breathed book to be hard to understand, then God unleashed in the world not only an impulse to teach people how to read but also how to think about what they read- how to read hard things and understand them and how to use the mind in a rigorous way.

Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, ‘What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.’ Impart understanding to others, Timothy, in a way that will enable them to teach others also. In other words, the writings of the apostles- especially the hard ones- unleash generation after generation of education. Education is helping people understand something that they don’t already understand. Or, more accurately, education is helping people (young or old) learn how to get an understanding that they didn’t already have. Education is cultivating the life of the mind so that it knows how to grow in true understanding. That impulse was unleashed by God’s inspiring a book with complex demanding paragraphs in it.”

Piper makes a great point here. To encounter the Word of God and to study it is an education. If you are not educated but you commit yourself to reading the Word of God carefully you will, over time, become a very educated person. You may not speak the queens English or be able to do multivariable calculus but your critical thinking skills will be honed to a point that is rare to find in many college graduates. Not only will understanding increase (in multiple subjects) but also humility. This isn’t just a theory that I happen to agree with. I have witnessed it in the lives of real people.

We live in a culture that is rejecting the notions of truth and objectivity. The disciplines of education will continue to crumble in that kind of environment. As people who believe in an objective and unchanging Truth revealed in the propositions contained in a book given to us by God we cannot avoid those disciplines. If the bible is God’s truth then it is a single message and each part relates in some way to the others. I believe that one of the great opportunities for the Church in our age is to once again be a haven in the culture for those who are trained to read and think critically.

I pray that whether you are a teacher or a student that you would not avoid the difficult places in scripture. Meditate on them and think about them hard depending upon God to grant you understanding. If you do so God will stretch you and bless you. If you want a deeper relationship with God then spend time pondering the riches and depths of His Word. May God bless your study of the difficult passages!

On Buying a Bible

I had a somewhat discomforting experience the other day when I set out to purchase a bible. I own a number of different bibles most of which I use for various distinct needs but most of them do not work well as regular readers. They are either too large, too small, too rigid (hardcover) or too fragile (paperback) to endure the punishment of constant carry. Some time ago I began to use one bible for my normal reading and used the other more cumbersome volumes when studying or teaching. For many years my basic reading bible was a leather-bound King James Version (I use the N.A.S.B. as my base text for teaching and study) but a few years ago the wear on the cover and binding was such that I had to retire that old friend. Since I already owned so many other bibles I could not quite bring myself to spend the money to replace it and instead have been reading variously out of the other bibles at my disposal.

Earlier this year, while attending the T4G conference I received a free copy of the ESV study bible. Since that time I have been doing my best to check the quality and nature of the translation (you might notice that I have often used the ESV quotations on this site). Some have criticized the ESV saying it is somewhat archaic in its language and word order and is a bit inconsistent in applying its translation philosophy but overall I think it flows fairly well. I have found some amusing translations in the ESV such as this curious gem in Proverbs 30:25-26,

the ants are a people not strong,

yet they provide their food in the summer;

the rock badgers are a people not mighty,

yet they make their homes in the cliffs;

But overall I have found the ESV to generally be both readable and accurate wherever I have checked it. Various scholarly reviews are available on the internet pointing out both the strengths and weaknesses of the translation and I encourage those interested to check them out.

At any rate, I decided that it was time for me to get another everyday reader that would be convenient to carry and would hold up to the rigors of traveling with me and I decided to purchase an ESV for that purpose. My first choice in purchasing books is to buy them online because the selection is always good, the prices are often better than in the store, and I do not have to find time to get down to the store. In this case, however, it was very important to me that the book felt right when I held it and that the pages and font were right etc. so I wanted to actually hold and read from the book prior to buying it. The local Christian bookstore that I use when not buying online was not open so I made my way to a larger Christian chain store. I was looking for a 2007 text ESV in a convenient size with good binding and cover and no notes or commentary.

I was simply amazed when I got to the store because it was almost impossible to buy a plain text bible with decent binding, cover, and pages. It seemed that virtually every bible was filled with notes or commentary. I must assume based upon the displays that virtually everyone uses a study bible these days because basically the only plain text editions were the cheap small ones that people generally give away. There were tons of bibles with study notes from famous teachers such as MacArthur, Ryrie, Sproul, and others. There were bibles for old women, young women, teens, men, boys, and every other demographic, even some broken down by profession. There was even an entire section of different King James Study bibles, which made me smile since the sixth rule given to the KJV translation committee was:

“No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text”

-The king would not have been pleased J

I have great respect for many of the teachers who had contributed notes for these volumes and it is a great blessing in our age that we have access to so much information from good scholars and teachers about the bible but there is a danger to this kind of thing. I believe that the main reason for what I saw is pure marketing, but the demand for these things might be there because of another reason.

Perhaps we are not focusing enough on teaching people how to study the bible for themselves. In an effort to be relevant we want to chew all their food for them so that they can immediately benefit from God’s word without having to draw its meaning out from the text themselves. In doing this we deprive them of the discipline of wrestling with God’s word in meditation and study. We replace Sola Scriptura with a cult of personality where certain teachers become the authoritative interpreters of scripture.

Commentaries and study bibles are great tools and can be a tremendous blessing if used properly. They should be supplemental, providing observation and explanation that allows believers to go deeper in their own study. Unfortunately, it seems all too often people use them like cliff’s notes, jumping down to the footnote in order to give them the interpretation of difficult passages. Instead of being one of many tools they become the paper pope giving the “proper” unquestioned understanding.

The Lord has blessed His church with many great teachers and scholars and we should not ignore their insights but we should be doing everything we can as teachers and preachers to teach people how to properly study their bibles so that they have the confidence to engage the Holy Word directly and as a result get the most out of the other tools available to them.

Let this be one of our commitments in this New Year.

God Bless!

Christianity Today's view of Al Mohler

I just read Christianity Today’s cover story for October 2010 written by Molly Worthen. It is a brief biographical sketch of Dr. Albert Mohler a leading evangelical thinker who is the head of Southern Seminary and who is an important figure in the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention. Although the article includes descriptions of the importance of Mohler to conservative evangelicals there is a general tone of condescension in the piece. Worthen, it seems, considers Mohler a fundamentalist and it is reasonably clear that she doesn’t see this as a good thing. Although it is subtle, Worthen does not portray Mohler in a positive light.

Whether you agree with him or not Al Mohler is a remarkable person in many ways. He has accomplished a number of things that were only dreamed of by many conservative theologians before him. He has a successful and broad ministry in the general culture with his radio program and blog. He has been able to make a tremendous impact at Southern Seminary in shifting it from liberal and neo-orthodox theological positions to a more traditional and conservative direction. Along with this, and partly as a result, Mohler has been part of a conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Denomination as a whole. While Worthen is correct in identifying the fact that Mohler holds to fundamentals in theology such as the inerrancy of the bible, complementation roles for men and women etc, he cannot properly be considered a fundamentalist.

Mohler is carrying out his conservative revolution from within the Southern Baptist denomination. Separatism is the position that most clearly defines modern fundamentalists and Mohler never withdrew from the SBC but rather chose to work from within the denomination. In addition to remaining in broad fellowship in the SBC with those who may not share his conservative theology Mohler has also engaged in measured ecumenical activities that virtually no fundamentalist would. Mohler is a cofounder of Together for the Gospel along with Presbyterian Ligon Duncan and charismatic C.J. Mahaney. One would be hard pressed to find any fundamentalist Baptist engaged in mutual ministry with one partner that holds to infant baptism and another that believes in the gift of tongues for today. Mohler also signed the Manhattan Declaration which is a joint declaration of both Protestant and Catholic leaders on various issues such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. Many of his colleagues refused to sign and Mohler explained that his signature was not an endorsement of the theological positions of the Catholic Church broadly, but rather agreement on the specific issues mentioned.

It is therefore further testimony about how far Christianity Today has fallen from its original purpose that a Christian leader who holds to fundamental doctrines and yet is attempting to engage the broader culture and reform an old-line denomination would receive such condescending treatment. It is even more remarkable when one considers (as reported in the article) that it was Carl Henry, former editor of Christianity Today, who was an important influence in turning Mohler more conservative.

When Karl Barth, the leading Neo-Orthodox theologian, came to the U.S. to deliver lectures he made a stop at George Washington University where 200 or so religious leaders were invited to come and ask him questions. One of them was Dr. Carl Henry. Dr. Henry rose to ask a question and identified himself as the editor of Christianity Today. Barth sarcastically asked “did you say Christianity today or Christianity yesterday” referring to Dr. Henry’s conservative theological views. Dr. Henry replied “yesterday, today, and forever”. A lot of history has happened since that time but I still find it ironic that in our time it is Dr. Henry’s old magazine that seems to exhibit Barth’s attitude toward those who have the audacity to believe wholly in the truth of the scriptures.

I recommend the article but caution the reader to recognize what I believe to be an obvious bias. By the way, I almost chose to review an article written by Dr. Mohler instead of this one. Since in this case the topics nearly overlap I have linked that article here and recommend you read that as well to give some depth to the views of the person described in the Christianity Today article.

The Important Discipline of Difficult Reading

For a number of reasons I have been giving some thought this week to difficult books. We all appreciate it when we find an author who is able to simply explain difficult ideas and clear, well written books are a great blessing but then there are also those other books. The other kind of books are those that require a lot of work and discipline to finish and even more to understand.

There is a general intellectual reward for working through difficult reading materials in that it trains our minds and builds up a discipline in our thinking that enables us to think more clearly and rigorously. In addition to this there are benefits to stretching our attention spans. Sometimes modern readers find some authors hard to read simply because we are so accustom to being bombarded with stimulation that we have lost the ability to concentrate. We want all of our problems solved in 30 minutes minus commercials but there are certain depths of understanding that can only come by painstakingly working through a complex argument to its conclusions. Challenging reading can provide the mental exercise necessary to this kind of growth. In addition to this general benefit it is also a great blessing to read an author who so thoroughly handles a biblical doctrine that when we fully understand their argument we wonder why we had not seen the truth so clearly ourselves.

It is true that there are many cumbersome books that have little or no payoff for the hours that must be invested in them. There are writers whose moments of brilliance are so sparse that wading through their writings is probably not worth the effort unless you have a compelling reason to do so. I’m convinced that some writers obfuscate in order to protect themselves from criticisms of weaknesses in their arguments. It almost seems as though some academics try to intimidate others with their style and vocabulary in the hopes that nobody will boldly announce that the emperor has no clothes! Many others are likely just poor writers.

There are, however, many authors that are not easy to read but whose work I think is well worth the effort. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but challenging oneself with substantial authors such as Jonathan Edwards, Francis Turretin, and John Owen will be a great benefit to many Christian’s who are ready to tackle them. There are few modern authors who can match the depth and breadth of these older writers and yet they are too often neglected. There has been a revival of these older authors of late but still many people read books about their books rather than tackling them directly. Older authors aren’t necessarily better than newer ones by virtue of their age but the ones that have held up over centuries deserve our attention. You won’t necessarily agree with everything that these authors say (at least I don’t) but if you can acclimate to their style you will certainly be challenged to think deeply about the subjects that they are writing on.

The Invisible Giant: Gordon H. Clark

In the last post I shared a list of books that Dr. R.C. Sproul considered the most influential on his thinking. It was an interesting list in many ways but one thing that stood out for me was that two of the books on the list were written by Dr. Gordon H. Clark.

Gordon H. Clark was one of the most interesting Christian thinkers of the past century. He has such a unique and penetrating way of looking at things that once you finish reading or listening to him you often have to go back and check to see if he really said what you thought you heard or read(and in most cases he did). It is almost impossible to think about things the same way after experiencing him. On virtually every subject of which I have read his work he has pushed me to think more clearly and to become more precise in my own view, regardless of if I agree or disagree with him. Many of the people he influenced became leading bible scholars, theologians, and apologists in their own right and conservative Christian teaching over the past 60 plus years would have been something different had it not been for Dr. Clark. It is for that reason that I find it strange that even many theologically educated Christians have never heard of him.

Dr. Clark was born in the summer 1902 and died in the spring of 1985. He taught at a number of seminaries and colleges during his 60 year teaching career and authored over 40 books on a diverse range of topics. He was a professional philosopher who specialized in critiquing secular philosophy from a Christian perspective. He was a founding member of the Evangelical Theological Society and was an actively engaged academic. Just a brief glance at the names of some of those who have been influenced by him demonstrates the wide influence that he has. They include John Gerstner, C.F. Henry, R.C. Sproul, Ron Nash, and Robert Reymond, just to name a few. Given this range it is remarkable that his work is not better known among Christian teachers.

Dr. Clark had an impact in a number of areas in Christian ministry and thought. He is the primary developer of the rational school of presuppositional apologetics. Although the term presuppositionalism is most often associated with Van Til’s system a strong argument could be made that it is Clark’s version that has had the biggest practical influence on modern evangelical apologetics.

His rigorous Calvinism was an important influence on a number of people who went on to become scholars and teachers within the broader conservative evangelical movement within a number of denominations. That his work contributed to the current resurgence of Calvinism in American evangelicalism is certain. He represents a bridge between the stalwarts of Old Princeton (Machen, Warfield) and some of the modern leaders of Reformed theology in America (like Dr. Sproul).

His most important contribution, however, was his philosophical work. He was known as a tireless and ardent defender of rational epistemology against all forms of empiricism. His philosophy is built upon the view that all human knowledge is dependent upon God’s revelation. With rigorous logic he argued that the Scripture should be taken as the starting point for every kind of knowledge and that all things should be deduced from the propositions contained in the bible. He applied a logical process to the bible similar to what is used in mathematical fields such as geometry where biblical propositions are accepted (axioms) and then all other truths are logically deduced from them. He was unwavering in his application of these methods and had the courage to follow the logic to its ends even if led to rather unpopular positions and he did not shy away from defending his views against those who disagreed with him. He was a devastatingly effective debater who would start with the assumptions of his opponent and then argue logically from them to absurd conclusions that they could not accept. Once he exposed contradictions within their system he would argue for the acceptance of his dogmatic Christian view.

As I have already mentioned, Clark argues in such a way that even when you do not agree with him you are forced to think much more carefully about your own position. No Christian student interested in philosophy or apologetics should consider themselves sufficiently well read until they have spent some time thinking about the arguments in Clark’s works:”Thales to Dewey, A Christian View of Men and Things, and Religion, Reason, and Revelation).

Given the importance of some of his ideas and the influence that he has had on many influential teachers we have to wonder why Clark is seemingly absent from the libraries of so many Christian teachers. I do not know the answer and we can only speculate. It is true that a great many people differ from Dr. Clark on many of his ideas and even many of those who agree with him on fundamentals would hesitate to go as far as he did in articulating certain things.

Regardless of the reason for the neglect, Dr. Clark is a teacher that should not be ignored, especially by Christians with an interest in philosophy or apologetics. Any concerns about his views pale in comparison to those of some other popular teachers such as Finney, Barth, and Schleiermacher who are widely read and discussed despite their blatant unorthodoxy. You may not agree with all of his conclusions but Dr. Clark will challenge you to think more critically about Christianity and how it applies to your worldview. If you don't believe me, ask R.C. Sproul!

Books That Most Influenced Dr. R.C. Sproul

I just stumbled across a list put together by R.C. Sproul of what he considers the books that have been the most influential in shaping his thought and ministry. Dr. Sproul has been teaching and preaching for over 50 years and he has obviously read many books. It was interesting to see which ones stand out in his mind.

1. The Freedom of the Will, Edwards
2. The Bondage of the Will, Luther
3. Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin
4. God in Modern Philosophy, Collins
5. A Time for Truth, Simons
6. Charity and Its Fruits, Edwards
7. The Person of Christ, Berkhouwer
8. Gospel Fear, Burroughs
9. Gospel Worship, Burroughs
10. Institutes of Elenctic Theology (3 Vol.), Turretin
11. Principles of Conduct, Murray
12. A Christian View of Men & Things, Clark
13. Thales to Dewey, Clark
14. Here I Stand, Bainton
15. A Simple Way to Pray, Luther
16. The Coming of the Kingdom, Ridderbos

I also posted this list in a comment under the post "Advanced Study". If you find a similar list from another teacher or if you have your own that you would like to share please post it in the comments of the "Advanced Studies" post (listed under reading materials).

Book Review: Viola & Barna, Pagan Christianity

Pagan Christianity! Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices By Frank Viola & George Barna / Barna Books Many Christians take for granted that their Sunday morning worship service is rooted in the New Testament, but why does the church in the New Testament seem very different from our own expressions of corporate worship? Frank Viola and George Barna come to the startling conclusion that most of what Christians do in church is rooted more in pagan culture than in the New Testament. Discover how many church customs really originated. This thought-provoking exploration into the background of how believers have worshiped for centuries uncovers many non-Christian roots. From the order of worship to the pastor's sermon, traditional dress codes to Christian education, Viola and Barna take a revealing look at Sunday morning. 304 pages, hardcover from Barna Books. Frank Viola is an influential voice in the contemporary house church movement. Frank is a nationally recognized expert on new trends in the church, holds conferences on the deeper Christian life, and is actively engaged in planting New Testament style churches. George Barna is the chairman of Good News Holdings, a multimedia firm in Los Angeles that produces Movies, television programming, and other media content. He is also the founder and directing leader of the Barna Group, a research and resource firm in Ventura California. He has been hailed as "the most often quoted person in the Christian Church today" and is counted among its most influential leaders.

Overview

This is one of those books that leave me with mixed feelings. The authors correctly point out a number of examples where traditionalism, structuralism, and misuse of authority are undermining to the ministry of the Church. They rightfully identify numerous biblical teachings such as a plurality of elders, congregational participation in ministry, and an emphasis on the edification of the body that are sadly neglected in many churches. On the other hand the book is written in an unnecessarily provocative style and many of the conclusions drawn from historical analysis are somewhat ill supported. The authors make some good points but also border on throwing the baby out with the bathwater. It is therefore a bit difficult for me to settle on any unified opinion of the book.

The Good

This book points out many important elements of biblical ecclesiology that are either neglected or subverted in modern fellowships. They rightfully highlight the harmful and counterproductive nature of the pastor as C.E.O model and the unbiblical distinction between clergy and laity that exists even in many churches that are doctrinally opposed to the concept. They show how various organizational and architectural structures can reinforce, almost subconsciously, unbiblical views of the Church and the function of its ministry. They rightfully emphasize the necessity of servant leadership and mutual participation in worship, teaching, and fellowship contexts.

The Bad

The book is an apologetic for a particular ministry philosophy and there is no biblical justification made for that philosophy (perhaps that is in the follow up book). There is virtually no exegetical work in the book to demonstrate, from the biblical text, why these various developments in the history of the church are anti-biblical (which is more important than if they are unbiblical). The interpretive perspectives on the scriptures that are presented are simply assumed. The book is filled with footnotes to support its argument; however, many of those are references to other works by the author. The historical research is heavily dependant upon the work of Will and Ariel Durant who are not specialists in church history and wrote primarily for a public audience. Unfortunately, more substantial historical works by those who are specialists are neglected. Much of the historical analysis leaps from the assertion of certain facts to interpretations that are arguable and seem in many cases to be oversimplifications. In fairness to the authors, the book is intended for the layman rather than for historians but that hardly justifies superficial historical support considering the scope laid out in the introduction and implied by the title.

Conclusion

The book raises important issues that should be honestly considered by Christians. We should constantly be examining our practices in light of the scriptures. I particularly encourage those who are pastors, elders, or leaders to read the book and to examine their ministries with regard to the criticisms that are raised. On the other hand, I do not believe that the appropriate response to those criticisms is necessarily the remedy that they suggest. There are other important theological (and historical) considerations that are not addressed. It is a good book to generate discussion as long the reader understands that there are other perspectives. Had the book been written with more strongly argued historical analysis and a less polemical tone it would have been more valuable, but it is still worth a read.

Advanced Study

Rather than have a single huge "recommended reading" list we have decided to narrow things down in an effort to be more targeted and helpful to those who use the site.

We have included a page for those who are looking for advanced material to further their studies called "Advanced Study". We list only a few books on each topic that will provide advanced students with resources for further study. Please take a look at the list (linked at the top of the main page) and let us know where we went wrong or what we could do to improve the list.

Starter Kit

Rather than have a single huge "recommended reading" list we have decided to narrow things down in an effort to be more targeted and helpful to those who use the site.

We have included a page for those who are looking to find books that will help get them started studying a particular topic called "Starter Kit". We list only a few books on each topic that will provide a good foundation to get them started on a serious study of the topic. Please take a look at the list (linked at the top of the main page) and let us know where we went wrong or what we could do to improve the list.