Jean Cauvin on Preachers Who Fuss and those Who Fuss at Them about Fussing

That's Calvin to you Anglo-philes. Of course that's not Calvin in the photo --there were no cameras in the 1500's! Duh. That's J. Gresham Machen, a personal hero, and a preacher who was wont to fuss.

HT: Tim Bayly

Indeed it is appropriate to repeat here once again what I mentioned before, that fault must not always be found with the servants of Christ, if they are driven with violent force against professed enemies of sound doctrine, unless one is perhaps disposed to accuse the Holy Spirit of lack of moderation. ... the vehemence of holy zeal and of the Holy Spirit in the prophets was like that, and if soft, effeminate men think it stormy, they do not consider how dear and precious God's truth is to Him. (Calvin on Acts 13:10)

Church Hoppers --Quit Dating the Church!

If you want to have the kind of a church
Like the kind of a church you like,
You needn't slip your clothes in a grip
And start on a long, long hike.
You'll only find what you left behind,
For there's nothing really new.
It's a knock at yourself when you knock your church;
It isn't the church--it's you.

When everything seems to be going wrong,
And trouble seems everywhere brewing;
Just take a look at yourself and say,
"What's the use of being blue?"
Are you doing your "bit" to make things "hit"?
It isn't the church--it's you.

It's really strange sometimes, don't you know,
That things go as well as they do,
When we think of the little--the very small mite--
We add to the work of the few.
We sit, and stand round, and complain of what's done,
And do very little but fuss.
Are we bearing our share of the burdens to bear?
It isn't the church--it's us.

So, if you want to have the kind of church
Like the kind of a church you like,
Put off your guile, and put on your best smile,
And hike, my brother, just hike,
To the work in hand that has to be done--
The work of saving a few.
It isn't the church that is wrong, my boy;
It isn't the church--it's you.

Legalist Preachers

I do not like this one so well, all he does is yell yell yell. I will not have this one about --when he comes in I put him out!!!

It seems there is afoot in the land a rash of people being rough on preachers.

Nothing new there. But the front is an interesting one: the advance is coming from seminary profs and presidents.

From both the left and the right.

From the right, the disciples of the late MG Kline (who I am sure would be appalled). The tar is that to preach imperatives is to be a legalist who doesn't preach grace or Christ. These men have done good work, particularly against the overly objective, outward and quantifiable crowd (FV to those "in the know").

From the left, the "Christ centered" crowd. Good folk, and I am grateful for them, generally. They don't return the favor, however, I guess. Again, to preach imperatives or cultural mandate is to be tarred a legalist.

Surprising victims include Edwards and Lloyd-Jones.

My own view is that we ought to have apostolic balance: indicative drives imperative. But, imperative cannot be lacking.

I thought we all agreed on that. Apparently, I am wrong. And I am very sorry to be wrong.