‘Big Truths for Young Hearts’ is a great theology book written by an equally great theology professor. However, it’s not the type of the book that one would expect from Bruce Ware. The whole idea behind this book is to equip and encourage parents to raise their children to know and love God through instilling in them a love for theology. Basically this book is a systematic theology that covers all areas of doctrine. Children will find it easy to understand and adults, of all ages and spiritual maturity, would benefit greatly from it. You will find at the end of each chapter discussion questions and a memory verse to use during family devotions. This is an excellent tool for parents, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and pastors. I highly recommend it.
Bruce Ware is professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the 2009 President of the Evangelical Theological Society.
‘Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will only do harm to himself and to the community. Alone you stood before God when he called you; alone you had to answer that call; alone you had to struggle and pray; and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot escape from yourself; for God has singled you out. If you refuse to be alone you are rejecting Christ’s call to you, and you can have no part in the community of those who are called… But the reverse is also true: Let him who is not in community beware of being alone. Into the community you were called, the call was not meant for you alone; in the community of the called you bear your cross, you struggle, you pray. You are not alone, even in death, and on the Last Day you will be only one member of the great congregation of Jesus Christ. If you scorn the fellowship of the brethren, you reject the call of Jesus Christ, and thus your solitude can only be hurtful to you….
We recognize, then, that only as we are within the fellowship can we be alone, and only he that is alone can live in the fellowship. Only in the fellowship do we learn to be rightly alone and only in aloneness do we learn to live rightly in the fellowship. It is not as though the one preceded the other; both begin at the same time, namely, with the call of Jesus Christ. Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair.
Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. Let him who is not in community beware of being alone.’
Bonhoeffer, Life Together
‘Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
Costly grace is the sanctuary of God; it has to be protected from the world, and not thrown to the dogs. It is therefore the living word, the Word of God, which he speaks as it pleases him. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
Last week Jen picked up a copy of April’s Macleans magazine from the hospital to read on her break. She then brought it home for me to read. And an interesting read it was!
This issue reported on the Project Teen Canada study that is done every 8 or so years by sociologist Reg Bibby. Since the last study 8 years ago there has been considerable drops in teens drinking (down by 7%), smoking (down by 15%), doing drugs (down by 6%) and more teens are abstaining from sexual relationships (up by 5%).
As I read these statistics, I was wondering to myself the cause of such changes amongst teenagers. Initially I thought it was due to the increased awareness in the media in regards to the consquences of doing drugs, drinking, smoking and having sex. In some case this assumption proved to be correct however Bibby noted one reason in particular for these marked changes.
There is a growing disconent amongst teenagers not to follow down the same path as their parents (e.g. Divorce). Even though approx 85% of those in the study said their parents were the greatest influnence in their lives. Teens long for stability in their adult lives. A stability that resembles that of the 1950’s – one that is focused on morals, good values and family. In fact the study shows that more teens want to get married and have kids (both up by 6 and 13% respectively). However the article asks an interesting question:
“But exactly what will there be to hold households together? In the old days, organised religion would have set a template, consecrating marriage, welcoming children into the world and generally setting down the formula for a stable upright family. But today, only 2 in 10 young people attend church regularly. Breaking with the past will require a new social model that adapts old-fashioned values to modern reality.”
In my opinion social models don’t work – history is littered with numerous examples of this. The only way that these teens will see stability in their adult lives, is if they follow the model that God has set forth in his Word. Not to be the pessimist but they are destined for failure even though their intentions are somewhat good.
With fewer teens going to church, how do we encourage and show them that the right foundation for life and family is found only in the Lord? This will be one of the greatest challenges that the church will face for this and the next generation.
Last night at work an interesting conversations was had. In light of the book that Dave and I just finished reading, it was ironic that the conversation was about adoption. I’ll give a brief synopsis of the conversation. One girl was talking about how a friend of hers had a baby by hiring a surrogate and buying eggs. I was shocked at this, and asked why they didn’t just adopt? Apparently, for this couple, the “genetics thing” was very important to them and so, since the husband’s sperm was used and eggs were chosen that resembled the mother’s traits, this child was ‘theirs’. They wanted to know the child came from “good breeding” and would ‘look like them’.
Further to this, we got talking about adoption and someone said, “you can’t even get normal, healthy kids anymore, they are all the spawn of crack heads”. Another girl, who was adopted (how very interesting) was a bit offended at this, but someone else quickly said, “well, you know, back 20 years ago it was mostly teenage girls that got knocked up that gave their kids up for adoption, but now it’s only the crack heads.” I thought to myself, “ya that may be because of the prevalence of abortion!”, but I will leave that topic for another rant.
Anyhow, the conversation then went on to talk about international adoption and someone said, “but, you can’t even get normal kids that way either. They are all thrown into a cramped building like a chicken coop and then they have ‘bonding issues’ and will cling to anyone who even touches them”.
ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I was utterly appalled!! Are we so arrogant that our kids have to be perfect? That they have to be lined up like little trophies in our lives to show others how “normal” and “healthy” they are and how this apparently makes us successful parents??? Don’t kids who have “crack head moms” or “bonding issues” or “unknown genetic breeding” deserve just as much love?? Ugh, how God’s heart must absolutely break at our rotting, stinking hearts.
I have to admit, I would hope for a ‘normal, healthy’ kid too. You’ve heard it many times I’m sure. “what sex are you hoping for?” “oh, it doesn’t really matter, as long as they’re healthy, that’s the most important thing”. Well, I would challenge myself and you…what if the child isn’t healthy? What if they’re not ‘normal’? Would you still love them and accept them? Are they any less worthy?
I have to chide myself. I didn’t open my mouth and voice my opinions. In retrospect, I wish I had. I was scared, scared of rejection by my peers. Yet another idol, another issue of selfish pride. I hope I will get another chance and that I will open my mouth so that maybe someone somewhere will catch a glimpse of God’s deep, vast, rich, unconditional love for the life of children who are rejected by man. And I can only pray that there will be people out there who would be willing, even joyful, in taking these kids into their homes, in loving them just as they are.
Regular readers of this blog will know that both Jen and I have been making our way through Russell Moore’s book ‘Adopted for Life’. Moore is the dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I really didn’t know what to expect by reading a book on adoption… I actually got the book as a freebie at the Gospel Coalition and at the time had no interest in reading it. However I’m glad that the Lord has put adoption on our hearts and led us back to this book. It is a rich book that not only shares one family’s journey but also takes considerable time in showing us that the very nature of adoption is rooted in the Gospel. As Moore explains:
“The gospel of Jesus Christ means our families and churches ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans close to home and around the world.”
“Adoption is not just about couples who want children-or who want more children. Adoption is about an entire culture within our churches, a culture that sees adoption as part of our Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself”.
This book does not provide step-by-step instructions for adopting – there are many books and resources out there that help with that side of things. However I think every Christian should read this book, so that we can gain a proper understanding of what adoption is. And I’m not just talking about children here -remember we were all adopted into God’s family! I have a copy, the church has a copy in the library or you could pick up a copy from Amazon. You won’t be disappointed.
Dave Winter
Jen Winter
The Winters
