Bible Before Blog

I am blogging for a few days as the guest blogger over at the Blue Fish Project. Here is today's post:

Several people over the last few months have told me either that a post on my own blog is not theologically nuanced enough for them, or that I didn't include enough exegesis when making a provocative comment. I agree. The reason is not that I think theological nuance or good exegesis are unimportant - actually the exact opposite - but that they are impossible to deliver in a blog. Not if the blog is going to be readable, anyway.

For all its ability to communicate widely and brilliantly, the blog has some glaring inadequacies. For the serious communicator the worst is that blog posts will always struggle for detail and nuance. A blog is not a book. Nor a sermon. At its best it can be a conversation when comments are posted and responded to, but we should never assume that blogging can give us the kind of depth a book can.

It is, however, incredibly addictive and potentially time-consuming. I recently asked a pastor what he thought the big dangers of the internet are for himself and his flock. His answer surprised me: time wasting. We now have a medium in the home that takes an incredible amount of time to use well. And on which it is possible to spend an incredible amount of time for reasons that are merely trivial.

It is tempting to assume, when surfing and interacting with the best blogs (even this one!), that we are engaged in deeper theological reflection than we actually are. Therefore if we let our blog use take more time than we spend in God's Word or doing Christian reading there is every danger that we get shallower, even while we think we are receiving good stuff. It commits us to only ever expecting to receive at a certain level. Or, worse, it commits us to only hearing stuff we personally decide to surf because we already agree with it. There are far too many theologically duff conversations that happen in cyberspace where they can never mature through access to encouragement or correction from the outside.

The writer to the Hebrews told people in the churches that they should already have elementary teachings under their belt and now be pressing on to maturity. If we aren't careful the blog easily becomes a means of keeping us at the elementary level. It is a poor medium for taking us further.

If you more readily read a blog than a book - or the Bible - switch off the computer now and get your Bible off the shelf. Linger over it. Enjoy the presence of God. Turn your reading into worship. Write down what you discover and how God wants you to respond. Don't rush it. Then, if you have access to one, get a good Christian book off the shelf. Nothing simplistic, go for some deep stuff and linger in that too, letting wise people teach you.

And for those of us who write blogs, let's acknowledge their limitations as well as all the good things about them. And then do our utmost every time we write to do so with as sparkling and scintillating a style AND as much penetrating depth and weight in the scriptures as we can.

Living in God's Strength

The first of three messages on John 17, added here

The others to come

The New Israel

I am finishing a week at the lovely Schloss Mittersill in Austria, teaching on the annual Bible and Culture Course. Its been a real privilege to be here with delegates from 14 countries. A little taste of Heaven. And when the clouds and rain cleared today to show the snowy peaks in the distance - brilliant!

This morning we were in Isaiah 49, the Second Servant Song. If you can, take a few minutes to read the chapter. Its blockbusting. In it we learn about the Servant of the Lord, the king God will send to redeem and save. In it we learn about him:

• That he is God's secret weapon for saving his people
• That he accomplishes it with his word that is like a sharp sword
• That it comes through great suffering

But by far the most important thing is that this servant is called by God "Israel." And he ISN'T talking about the nation of Israel, because in v5 this New Servant Israel, rescues the nation of Israel.

This is the most important principle for applying the Old Testament. There is a New Israel - Christ. Not the Church, not nation-state Israel. Jesus. The title is taken from the nation in Isaiah 49 and given to God's New Israel. This Israel becomes a New agreement between God and Man. He doesn't merely relate the covenant, like Moses. He is the covenant. He is the recipient of God's promise to Abraham to bless all nations.

By failing to obey the Mosaic covenant, Old Testament Israel was devastated and exiled by God. Our New Covenant, our New Israel - Jesus Christ - perfectly obeys God, makes a new covenant, not with the blood of sacrificial animals but with his own blood. God's plan has always been to have a people Israel. Get rid of any confusion. Israel is no longer geographical, it is not the nation in Palestine. It is Christ, and everyone in him. Praise God for raising up a perfect Servant who becomes a guilt-offering to cleanse and save nations. Everything God promises to Old Testament Israel is "yes and amen" in Jesus Christ.

Dullness of Demeanor?

I've just finished reading "Preaching the Cross", conference addresses from the 2006 Together for the Gospel Conference. Its a great read, uplifting, challenging and heart-warming in equal measure. Its well worth getting. I most appreciated the contibutions from C.J. Mahaney and John Piper. Here are a couple of quotes:

C.J. The Pastor's Priorities:

Simply stated, God uses human ministry and godly leadership as a means of grace... Pause and consider this as you face the daunting demands of pastoral ministry. Who stands behind and guarantees the fruitfulness of your labours? Our Mediator. What assures you that by "watching your life and doctrine," men and women will spend eternity with God. The work of our Saviour. What empowers your close watching and diligent persistence? The cross of Christ.

John Piper, Preaching as Expository Exultation to the Glory of God:

Oh, brothers, do not lie about the value of the gospel by the dullness of your demeanor. Exposition of the most glorious reality is a glorious reality. If it is not expository exultation ~ authentic, from the heart ~ something false is being said about the value of the gospel. Don't say by your face, or by your voice, or by your life that the gospel is not the all~satisfying glory of Christ. It is. And may God raise up from among you a generation of preachers whose exposition is worthy of the truth of God and whose exultation is worthy of the glory of God.

Hallelujah and Amen!