Browsing the chaff to bring you the wheat of the Blogosphere:

Browse the ever-expanding List of 2005 Year-End Lists.

Read LaShawn Barber’s thoughts regarding Kwanzaa.

Read as Adam asks whether the band Superchick is more Nietzsche or Niecene?

Read as Ardel Caneday asks whether American Christians could actually withstand any true persecution when most can’t even stomach the liberal media.

Read as both Tim Challies and Adrian Warnock take stock of their blogging years.

Read the new Reformation 21, primarily dedicated to mining Wells (however bad the pun, it was intended).

Read Thane Rosenbaum wrestle with the relationship between books and the movies made from them.

Browse Town Crier (4)
Browse Town Crier (3)
Browse Town Crier (2)
Browse Town Crier (1)

As I’ve mentioned, I won’t be posting much this week. I’m gearing up for a short sermon series on Deacons, my wife and I have been painting our spare bathroom in preparation for a family visit, I’m trying to catch up on some reading, I’m writing a piece for our Care Groups to use in January, and after the family’s gone to bed, I’ve been working on the new blog template (currently experiencing a bug in Explorer and don’t know why; why can’t everyone use Mac and simply stay away from Windows?!).

As I work, I’ve been listening to quite a bit of solo piano stuff lately. No, not Yanni or John Tesh, more melodic, neo-classical pieces; not new age (though some does get classified as such), nor classical, this music falls somewhere in between. George Winston refers to it as “rural folk piano,” in the vein of John Fahey’s guitar stylings.

Some of the artists/albums that I’ve been listening to include:

Dustin O’Halloran: Piano Solos

Goldmund: Corduroy Road

Gonzales: Solo Piano

Alex Grant: Metaphor

Rob Costlow: Woods of Chaos

Craig Armstrong: Piano Works

Jan Hanford: 24 Preludes For Solo Piano

I recently discovered Hanford’s 24 Preludes For Solo Piano. You can watch Jan perform Prelude #24 to get a feel for the album. I purchased the album from Magnatune. For those of you not familiar, Magnatune is set on changing the way record companies do business.

Understanding that one of the primary ways music fans find out about new music is by hearing it from their friends, Magnatune encourages people to give away up to three copies of each purchased release. Here’s how they put it:

While other record labels are busy suing their customers for introducing their friends to great music… At Magnatune, we want you to copy our music for your friends. Yes, at Magnatune you can legally copy any album you buy for up to 3 of your friends.

Here’s how it works:

• When you buy an album (whether a download or CD) you can pass the download URL and password we’ve given you, to up to 3 friends. Pass the download information on by email, instant messenger or telepathy: whatever works for you.
• Or better yet, just forward to your 3 friends the email we send you when you buy, which has the download instructions in it (just remember to give us your email address when you buy!).
• You’re also welcome to email the mp3s themselves, or burn a CDR of the album as a way of giving it to your 3 friends.
• In short, use whatever mechanism you prefer to send them the music!

So, if you’re interested in a solo piano release and know how to download music, here’s the deal: the first three people to e-mail me at kpita@yahoo.com with “Magnatune Release” as the subject header will receive the download information for the album to download for themselves.

Enjoy!

Job 37:14 says, “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God” Psalm 139:14 reads: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Job 10:11 and Psalm 139:13 remind us that it is God Himself who knits us together. It is difficult to conceive of the miracle of the incarnation without also considering the miracle of human birth.

These pictures were taken approximately six weeks ago of my unborn son Carson. While I realize that these photographs were taken after the point at which most abortions are performed, it paints an undeniable portrait of abortion as murder. If this is not a human being, then what is? Looking at marvels such as this, particularly at this time of year simply breaks my heart for the millions of unborn babies slaughtered at the altar of convenience. Christians must lovingly stand strong on behalf of the helpless. Who will speak for those without a voice? Abortion is very real, it is very deadly and it is not going away any time soon. Our apathy is costing lives.

According to Abort 73, abortion is the single most common surgical procedure in the United States. In the year 2000, 1.31 million legal abortions took place. Under any other circumstances, this would certainly be considered genocide. It is indeed discrimination because these women and doctors are placing the mirage of an ideal lifestyle above the value of human life.

During this time of year in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, may we not forget the millions of children who have had their lives snatched from them while much of America has simply stood idly by. Christians must demonstrate love while pointing to the truth; abortion is murder and cannot be allowed to continue.

Much of the problem within the pro-life movement as a whole seems to be very similar to much of the problem in the American church as a whole; complacency. While many believe in a more active communion with God, few are moved to action. While many believe that abortion is indeed murder, again, few are moved to action. In the end, the American life of ease could be one of the Church’s worst enemies.

I am becoming more and more convinced that much of the reason that many American Christians are not moved to action on such issues as abortion is because many American Christians simply do not understand the Gospel in the first place. They have “received” a gospel which promises God’s favor demonstrated in the “American Dream” and there is little conception of the seriousness or the spread of sin. Without the backdrop of sin, the grandeur of the Gospel is then minimized and we receive “personal salvation” without a grasp on the true scale of the Gospel.

It may be said that the entire Bible may be summed up in the three words “Creation, Fall and Recreation.” This frames a view in which the Gospel is nothing less than the reversal of the Fall, beginning here and now. It is not just a “way to heaven,” though it is that; it is much more. Christians are thus charged with a new cultural mandate, acting to reverse the effects of the Fall wherever possible. With such an understanding, the true scope of the Gospel is then realized and Christians (might) be much less likely to fall into complacency if they truly understand salvation in the first place.

Act to end abortion. Pray to end abortion. Begin by understanding the Gospel.

Visit Abort 73’s website.
Visit the Center for Bioethical Reform’s website.
Visit National Right to Life’s website.
Visit Promiseland Ministries’ website.
Read Why Pro Life? by Randy Alcorn.
Read Pro Life Answers to Pro Choice Arguments by Randy Alcorn.

I’m not one to blog about blogging. However, with that said, I do want to briefly touch on this blog. I have been fairly disappointed with the standard Blogger/Blogspot template for some time now. So I have been tinkering with an entirely new template, with a completely brand new look. I know little to no HTML, so this has been a slow and often frustrating process. But, I’d like to thank the people at Blogger Templates. I have used one of their free templates with some very slight modifications (that’s really all I’m capable of). I’m also using a background image graciously provided by Fraser’s Birding Website.

I’ve been wanting to take the comments section out of Blogger’s administration in order to remove the registration process (this may change again if it results in much spam) and I’ve wanted to add some minor functionality to the blog and my wife wanted a bit of color. I hope that I’ve accomplished this. The one thing I’ve pondered and not done is add a “category” filing system for posts, but maybe later. Lord willing, I will switch to the new format January 01, so until then, keep me and my computer in your prayers!

Here’s some of what I stopped to smell along the way through this great big www.Mcworld:

Pray for Don Whitney, as he has revealed that he has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

Browse Best of Godblogs to see what’s worth reading in the blogosphere.

Browse Book & Culture’s Top Ten Books of 2005.

Visit two of my good friends as they join the blogosphere: Adam Groza and Chris Gonzalez (and not because Chris has a link to me, though that helps!).

Read LaShawn Barber’s comments regarding white liberals true lack of diversity.

Read as Philaskolia over at Ars Theologica wrestles with liberalism.

Read Rhett Smith’s plea for us to do our homework.

Read as the guys and gals at One True God Blog navigate the seas of Narnia.

Follow Calvinist Gadfly’s links to some entertaining “Google fights”.

Read The Jollyblogger’s reflections regarding the debate surrounding the origins of Christmas.

Read Sofyst’s thoughts concerning my recent post regarding the necessity of the Church.

Listen to NPR’s All Songs Considered list their music of the year.

Browse Boomkat’s music selections for 2005.

Browse the list of year-end lists.

Browse Town Crier (3)
Browse Town Crier (2)
Browse Town Crier (1)

From the opening pages of Scripture, we read that relationship is central to God’s plan for His people; relationship with Himself. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the cool of the garden and enjoyed intimate fellowship with their Creator and Sustainer. But, as we know, things did not remain in this state for long. Adam and Eve chose sin over God (and really, that’s what sin is; choosing something instead of God) and they, along with all of creation were thrust into the grips of sin. We see the ruptured spiritual relationship physically demonstrated by their removal from the garden, only to look back upon cherubim and flaming sword.

But, as we trace the unfolding revelation of God’s redemptive plan, we see that God repeatedly teaches His people that He will be their God, they will be His people, and He will dwell among them. This idea becomes known as the covenant refrain and is repeated both explicitly and implicitly throughout the pages of Scripture (Exodus 29:45, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 37:23, 2 Corinthians 6:16, etc.).

At various stages, God physically reminded His people of this truth by identifying with their circumstances. Through the wilderness wanderings, He went with them in a tent. When they had taken possession of the land, this movable structure moved to a sense of permanence (at least from a human perspective) and He rested His presence upon the temple.

Yet, even while near to His people, God was still removed. Our sin still kept us at a distance. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and that only once a year. The very structure of the tabernacle and the temple alike reminded God’s people of the precious promise and the reality of sin.

But the promise and the hope stood firm: I will be their God and they will be My people and I will dwell among them.

No one could have imagined that God Himself would come to dwell with His people in such a way that, not only would Christ humble himself in the form of a man (Philippians 2:1-11), but that in the same process, He would take the penalty for the very sin that had once kept us distant (Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 5:10, etc.). God tabernacling among His people in the ultimate sense (John 1:14).

The promise and the hope was fulfilled: I will be their God and they will be My people and I will dwell among them.

Read Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson.
Read The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses by Vern Poythress.
Read The Bond of Love: Covenant Theology and Contemporary World by David McKay.

“It’d be great if it wasn’t for all the people.” This was a pastor friend’s response when I asked him how his current ministry was going. That statement has stuck with me and it’s been under close examination ever since. I periodically reflect on the state of the church, the local body that I pastor, the church in America and abroad. Though wrought with difficulties, because people are involved, I am becoming ever more convinced that the Church is at the center of God’s will for our lives.

When I began my M.Div. at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, the pastorate was not even on my radar. My wife and I planned on continuing through with a Ph.D. in order to pursue academic teaching opportunities. However, somewhere in that process, God broke my heart for the state of His Body and Bride, the Church. Very few professing Christians in America live any differently than the rest of society and many churches simply resemble self-help clubs or social lodges. My overwhelming burden was that I had to become intimately involved. I couldn’t sit idly and simply lament the fact that the church in America is dying, I had to pray that God would somehow use me to communicate the love that He has for the Church and the central role that it is to play in the Christian life.

That’s why it’s so hard for me to fathom people who have the other reaction. Also recognizing that much of the modern American church is lifeless, rather than rushing towards involvement, many are questioning the validity of the church in the first place and withdrawing. Once this is coupled with American isolationsim, the recipe for trying to do it alone slowly brews.

It’s seems that many people often go through a phase of questioning the validity of the Church as a “formal” entity. Often, the concerns are stated as something along the lines of “why go to church? Why do we seem to foster the idea that is a requirement to attend ‘church’ on Sunday mornings or Sunday evenings? Why do we even gather together as we do? What is it that I can find by going on Sunday mornings to the local church that I cannot attain by not going?”

Some argue that we “go to church” simply out of habit, hoping that we’ll feel somehow godly and righteous while others argue that it is not necessary, because love, edification and worship may be found outside the church walls as often as inside, and sometimes even moreso. Building from the idea that the true Church is the elect, God’s people, many then argue that simply being with other believers can be “church” and that we don’t need all the formalism of set times, schedules and practices.

While I’ve heard many of these conversations, what I have yet to hear is someone reference Scripture to defend a lack of involvement in Church. Essentially, the brunt the argument usually boils down to the fact that edification may be found outside of a “formal” gathering, and that the modern American church is, for the most part, lifeless. Rather than appealing to Scripture, the answer seems to be “I’ll belong once you get it right.” Rather than become part of the solution, the answer seems to be withdrawal and rather than engagement, apathy.

It is difficult to read Scripture without seeing relationship and community at the heart of God’s plan for His people. Hebrews 10:23-25 admonishes God’s people to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

I can just hear the argument now, “not neglecting to meet together” does not mean I have to belong to a “formal” church gathering. While such an argument may seem appealing at first, it simply does not hold with Scripture. From early on, God has gathered His people into a “formal” community. Israel had very specific regulations, health-codes and ethnic boundary markers (Leviticus). While anyone could become an Israelite, they could not do so simply by wanting to “hang out” and have “edifying talks” with the other Israelites. There were very specific regulations that must be followed.

While it would be anachronistic to read the Church completely back into Old Testament Israel, we must stress a continuity in which God’s people, the elect, are one from beginning to end. As such, if there were “formal obligations” to belong to national Israel, why must we assume any differently for the Church? No, we don’t require circumcision at the door and we don’t regulate the diets of our members in the same way as did Israel, but it seems perfectly reasonable to allow that God means for us to belong to this “formal” gathering.

The necessity of the Church in the Christian life is even more evident for those who claim a Credobaptist understanding of a regenerate Church membership. This then lays the foundation for church membership, which is tied to the administration of the Lord’s supper, which is tied to accountability, which flows from bearing one another’s burdens, which flows from being convicted by the preached Word and being called to live in community. The idea of the “lone ranger” Christian is certainly not one that either Jesus or Paul seemed to hold.

Indeed, it would seem odd, if not ridiculous that with the exception of Philemon, Paul’s letters were written to churches, if indeed the Church were not a central aspect of the Christian life. Rather than tell his readers that they can find what they’re looking for outside of the Church, Paul continually rebukes them for not taking it seriously enough. Rather than tell his readers it’s not important, he shows them how it should be done. Rather than lower the standards, he raises them to include discipline with the possibility of exclusion. Instead of telling them simply to love one another, he argues that the Church is the venue in which this is to be lived out.

Jesus (Matthew 18:15-20) and Paul’s (1 Corinthians 5) appeals to church discipline make little to no sense outside of a “formal” Church structure. In addition, Paul’s instructions regarding Elders and Deacons (1 Timothy 3, etc.) and the prototypical Deacon structure of Acts 6:1-6 seem rather out of place if there is no Church structure. Indeed, it may be argued that without a “formal” understanding of the Church, much of Scripture is simply difficult to make sense of.

It is often the case that those who want to withdraw from active Church fellowship suffer from pride. Rather than humbly submitting to fellowship with other believers, there is an attitude of “since you don’t do this correctly, I don’t need it.” Notice the tone of the original question, “What is it that I can find by going on Sunday mornings to the local church that I cannot attain by not going?” Church is not about “what I can get from it” but about how I can strive to “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves (myself). ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Paul’s admonition in Galatians 6:1-3 must always be on our hearts: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ²Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” We ought to strive for what James refers to as “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27).

Though his list is by no means comprehensive, Mark Dever gives five reasons why you should be a member of a local church:

1. Join a church for the sake of non-Christians: the clarity of the Gospel is at stake and the consistent practice of church discipline is a great testimony. We must strive to communicate what it means to be a believer and what it does not mean; this is best done within a corporate setting.
2. Join a church for the sake of weaker Christians: God’s intention is that the Church be the setting to help weaker Christians. The stronger is to come alongside the weaker; church membership is not for ourselves, it is about practicing humility and love, where the wiser sheep look out for the weaker sheep.
3. Join a church for the sake of stronger Christians: see above: The other half of the above. We need the Church for the sake of spiritual development.
4. Join a church for the sake of church leaders: our leaders need to know who to pray for and how to pray for them; they must know you in order to protect you.
5. Join a church for God: The church is ultimately God’s idea (Acts 2). Simply because many churches have existed as a mass of tissue with no skeleton does not negate God’s purposes.

While there is a danger in formalism, “formal” gathering is necessary and vital to the Christian life. Those disappointed with many churches do have a point; these things ought to be occurring outside of the walls on a regular basis. However, that in no way negates the necessity of gathering together as a local Body. In fact, it only seems to strengthen the need, because, I don’t know about others, but I know all too well that I stray quickly when there are not brothers and sisters to help keep me on track. This is to be the love of the Church in action. I’m sorry that some have not experienced this, but I’d encourage them to be part of the solution rather than the complainer’s box.

Read Sofyst’s reply to this post.
Read Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever.
Read The Church by Edmund Clowney.
Read Stop Dating the Church by Joshua Harris.