Valentine's Day

It will be Valentine's Day in twenty-two minutes, a day to celebrate the Lord's goodness in providing some of his children wives.

All (three) of you who might read this know my wife, Maggie. She is wonderful in every way: beautiful, funny, intelligent, sweet, thoughtful, compassionate, kind-hearted, diligent, patient, godly, self-controlled, a good listener, a good talker, faithful... in a word, lovely. Often, on these sorts of occasions, I (like others) read over Proverbs 31. Two things jumped out at me this time.

1. "The heart of her husband trusts in her." (31:11) I am at peace when my wife is near me. Sometimes husbands can be characterized as helpless. I'll be the first to admit that, without her, that's often how I feel. Why, though? Because we trust our wives more than anyone else. My wife cares for me with the utmost detail, serving me day-in and day-out without thought to herself. There's never a taste of bitterness in her service, only love and patience. That kind of wife encourages trust. My heart trusts in her.

2. "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land." (31:23) I am noteworthy because of Maggie's excellence as a wife and woman. I imagine many conversations at church and elsewhere go something like this: "Who's Dave Ainsworth?" "You know, he's Maggie's husband." "Oh yeah?.. I love her!" People notice how great Maggie is and, in God's mercy, they notice me by association. The epitome of service and submission, her excellence redounds to my glory. May I be so humble.

This post is my small, feeble attempt to be faithful and honest and, after over 2 1/2 years of faithfulness, ensure that "her works praise her in the gates." (31:31)

Settling for Less in Marriage

Check out this fascinating article in The Atlantic Monthly. In it, Lori Gottlieb talks about the benefits of marriage not emphasized in romance movies. She speaks mostly to women, but (in my limited experience) I feel that in the church, with the present Christian emphasis on marriage and family in complementarian circles, this article can also characterize many men, possibly more than women. Her argument definitely needs to be sanctified, but the overall theme is instructive.

Here's an excerpt:

What I didn’t realize when I decided, in my 30s, to break up with boyfriends I might otherwise have ended up marrying, is that while settling seems like an enormous act of resignation when you’re looking at it from the vantage point of a single person, once you take the plunge and do it, you’ll probably be relatively content. It sounds obvious now, but I didn’t fully appreciate back then that what makes for a good marriage isn’t necessarily what makes for a good romantic relationship. Once you’re married, it’s not about whom you want to go on vacation with; it’s about whom you want to run a household with. Marriage isn’t a passion-fest; it’s more like a partnership formed to run a very small, mundane, and often boring nonprofit business. And I mean this in a good way.

I don’t mean to say that settling is ideal. I’m simply saying that it might have gotten an undeservedly bad rap. As the only single woman in my son’s mommy-and-me group, I used to listen each week to a litany of unrelenting complaints about people’s husbands and feel pretty good about my decision to hold out for the right guy, only to realize that these women wouldn’t trade places with me for a second, no matter how dull their marriages might be or how desperately they might long for a different husband. They, like me, would rather feel alone in a marriage than actually be alone, because they, like me, realize that marriage ultimately isn’t about cosmic connection—it’s about how having a teammate, even if he’s not the love of your life, is better than not having one at all.

Political Religion, 2

Here is a selection from John Henry Newman, quoted by Craig Gay in The Way of the (modern) World (referenced in my previous post):

As the traveler on serious business may be tempted to linger, while he gazes on the beauty of the prospect which opens on his way, so this well-ordered and divinely governed world, with all its blessings of sense and knowledge, may lead us to neglect those interests which will endure when itself has passed away. In truth, it promises more than it can fulfill.... And hence it is that many pursuits, in themselves honest and right, are nevertheless to be engaged in with caution, lest they seduce us; and those perhaps with special caution, which tend to the well-being of men in this life. The sciences, for instance, of good government, acquiring wealth, of preventing and relieving want, and the like, are for this reason especially dangerous; for fixing, as they do, our exertions on this world as an end, they go far to persuade us that they have no other end.

Political Religion

It's been nearly a month without a post, but hopefully I'll get a couple in before school starts on January 28th. Needless to say, Campaign 2008 is in full swing and it will be a number of weeks before we will know the final candidates for each party. I've been struck again and again by the uninspiring rhetoric from political candidates from both sides. Here's a little taste:

"America is our cause, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Her greatness is our hope; her strength is our protection; her ideals our greatest treasure; her prosperity, the promise we keep to our children, her goodness, the hope of mankind." John McCain's victory speech following the NH primary

"But we always knew that hope is not blind optimism. It's not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It's not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it... Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have the courage to remake the world as it should be. Barack Obama's victory speech following the IA primary

After listening unmoved, I was surprised at the reaction of the political pundits, especially to Obama. Normally cool and cynical, MSNBC's Chris Matthews confessed to being teary after Iowa. He believes he witnessed a great moment in American history.

As a Christian, though, these sounds of transcendence ring very hollow. It is without Christ. It ignores eternity. It is atheistic, at best; idolatrous, at worst. This is the nature of modern politics, however, and Christians must beware their involvement in such a Godless enterprise.

Craig M. Gay points out the danger in The Way of the (modern) World: Or, Why It's Tempting to Live As If God Doesn't Exist.

The worldliness of modern political life lies precisely in the modern tendency to relativize all human aspirations over and against those of immanent political-social change. Or, put somewhat differently, it has become increasingly plausible for us to focus essentially religious aspirations on the possibilities of political action and organization. While we may lose faith in this or that politician and/or party from time to time, our belief in the potential of the political process tends to be largely unshakable.

Politics is fun to watch. Politics is important, especially for the Christian. But Barack Obama and John McCain and the remaining candidates are tremendously less important than they or we believe. Let's not be deceived.

Isaiah 35 = I-35 = Bad Hermeneutics

Check this out. Wild.

Before You Ask Him

Maggie and I received a surprising blessing last week -- someone at our church anonymously gave us money towards tuition. We were so thankful, and encouraged to see God use his church to care for us.

In the week since then, Maggie's employers unexpectedly went out of town for a week, giving her the time off from work (and pay). Great to give a breather for Maggie, but not great for financial planning. Turns out the deficit in income is almost exactly what we received. While this wasn't exactly how we planned to spend the gift, if we had not received the money, our budget would have required a serious temporary adjustment.

Matthew 6:8 says that our Father knows what we need before we ask. We are so thankful for the chronology of gift-then-need because it illustrated this truth to us so clearly, strengthening our faith. Our God is a loving Father who provides for the needs of his children. He is, indeed, out ahead of us preparing good works. We can be confident that all things, whether blessings or hardship, work out for the good of those who love him.

Huckabee-McCain Ticket in 2008

I, for one, think it's a great idea. What would it mean if they went ahead and joined together pre-primaries? Ever been done before?

Anyway, these two were by far the most appealing candidates in tonight's CNN/YouTube debate. The commentators afterwards seemed to think so, albeit begrudgingly. Huckabee is great on domestic affairs and McCain is great on foreign affairs. Unstoppable.

As for the others, Romney wanted to consult everybody for everything, getting defensive when Anderson Cooper pushed for a response. He also seems very unnatural. He has two faces: one for "talking serious" and one for telling awkward jokes. Guiliani did okay, but certainly missed some points with conservative evangelical voters: he called Islam a wonderful religion, he wouldn't sign a federal ban on abortions, and he doesn't believe the Bible to be literally true (all fine and well, but what were Southern Christians thinking when he said he doesn't believe Jonah spent three days in the belly of a whale?). Also, I admit it's unfair because it's the entire realm of his experience, but I get tired of hearing about NYC. I wonder if that's the case with other voters. Thompson stumbled over himself the entire night. Ron Paul was himself, which is great and horrible at the same time. I can't remember the other guys' names, which tells you about their performance.

Hopefully their performances will give Huckabee and McCain more play on the major newsstations. I'm tired of seeing CNN polls when one or both of them isn't listed.

Any other people watch the debate tonight? Thoughts?

Scoffers in Psalm 1

I am reading With Willful Intent: A Theology of Sin by David L. Smith (for class) and came across a discussion of Psalm 1:1, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." He notes the progression of conformity to the world in these stances. Particularly convicting was his explanation of why the final place is reserved for scoffers, "because scoffers, if not the most scandalous of sinners are the farthest from repentance" (246).

The Psalms show that God despises pride, but a broken and contrite heart He will not despise (Prov 6:16-17, Psalm 51:17). Paul also explains that scoffing is a fruit of pride, setting it opposite of thankfulness in Ephesians 5:4, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."

In a lighthearted culture, I need to be careful that joking is for building truth up and not myself. In talking with my wife, Maggie, we have realized how our lives do not show a seriousness concerning eternity or zealousness for God's glory. Our conversation is filled more with joking and frivolity than with sobreity concerning sin and awe concerning God. Laughter is by no means always bad, and often accompanies joy and thankfulness and contentment. In similar fashion, though, laughter can accompany joy in wickedness and thankfulness for an easy life and contentment in meaninglessness.

I need to remember that mine and my wife's flesh hates the Spirit and desires to preoccupy our minds with worthlesss, silly things. I need to discipline myself to think seriously. I need to be a faithful husband in leading conversations with my wife toward eternity. Pray for grace and mercy and change.

The Second Amendment

The Supreme Court decided to hear a case against a Washington, D.C. statute outlawing hand-gun ownership in the district. This is the first time they have looked directly at the Second Amendment in nearly eighty years. See NYT article.

It struck me as I have been hearing/reading commentary on this, how governments have to account for the sin of its people and its rulers. An understanding of human depravity is key to its self-understanding (cf. Rom 13:1-7). The amendment reads, "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Can you imagine the day when freedom does not require a well-regulated militia to preserve her? When those in authority do not require the sword to be for the good of neighbor-hating, desparately selfish people? When those in subjection do not need the sword in fear of greed and jealousy for power overwhelming a leadership's calling to maintain order? When freedom is real and true and complete and forever? When perfected people live in complete harmony with Creator and created?

One day soon.

Discipline

From Cornelius Plantinga's Not the Way It's Supposed to Be:

Just as in sports and music, discipline in spiritual hygiene has a point. Anybody can play, but only a disciplined person can play freely. Discipline is the basis and presupposition of both freedom and power. (36)

I despise discipline because I'm lazy. Discipline feels suffocating and doesn't show immediate fruit. How is painful ritual an expression of freedom in Christ, I reason. Short-sighted, I ignore Plantinga's point: Freedom without control is spasmatic and not enjoyable or beautiful, like me trying a layup or a Chopin etude sight-unseen. In sports and music, I am not a natural. Neither am I a natural at spirituality. Disciplined effort is required if I am to experience true Christian freedom.

Remind me of that next time I use grace for license.

The False Reality of Slavery

Leviticus 25:35-55 details how Israel was to think about hired hands and slavery between Israelites. The principle is in 25:39-40, "If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: he shall be with you as a hired servant and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of jubilee."

Why? Not because humanness requires autonomy. Precisely opposite, to be human is to be dependent. However, slavery is a false dependence. God holds the right to our servitude. He is Sustainer and Lord. 25:55, "For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

Jesus picks up on this in Matthew 23:8-11, "But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called teachers, for you have one teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant."

Paul, too, teaches Philemon that brotherhood trumps ownership. He is to receive Onesimus "no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother" (v. 16).

The Lord knows how easily we are influenced by our circumstances. Accordingly, he desires that our circumstances would accord with eternal reality. Slavery is a false reality. Consider how American Slavery influenced American thought. Black people were viewed (and often viewed themselves) less than human, property like cattle, not persons created in the image of God. This is one among myriad reasons societal and family oppression, even peaceful oppression, should be put down. The wicked lordship of wicked men eclipses the ultimate and true (and good) Lordship of Jesus Christ. Society's structures are to image God not obstruct him.

Heresy

I found this to be very instructive... It's from Heresies by Harold O. J. Brown

In a general way, however, we can say that orthodoxy assigns the priority to history, heresy to understanding. Thus, in a general way, orthodoxy appeals to the less theological and more historical minds among the theologians, heresy to the more theological, more philosophical, and more imaginative. Of course there are philosphers and artists among the orthodox, and dull pedants among the heretics, but it seems fair to say that the heretics are frequently more imaginative, the orthodox more plodding. [emphasis added]

Some contemporaries come to my mind. Can you think of some? It also reminded me of 2 Tim 4:2-5

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things...

In our effort to proclaim the gospel clearly and winsomely, let's be careful not to proclaim something that is as damning as it is enrapturing.

The Worth of One Sparrow

I saw this bird the other day outside my apartment. Hundreds of these sparrows live within a few blocks of my home. This one bird is pretty insignificant when it comes to birds, incredibly insignificant when it comes to all of life. Jesus Christ pointed to sparrows in his "Sending Out" Discourse in Matthew 10:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows

Take comfort, friend, that our loving Father is in absolute control. He knew and purposed this little sparrow to fall as it flew over the 1200 block of S Floyd St in Louisville, KY, as he purposes all sparrows in their final fall. In a far greater way, he knows and purposes everything having to do with you.

If this God is for us, who can be against us?

Who is sufficient?

I have been mercifully humbled of recent concerning my present inadequacy in serving the church as an elder. I think I knew this before, but wasn't too worried. I reasoned that I'm not an elder yet; I have a few years left before seminary is over, right? No hurry. And even when I'm done, I'll work out the kinks my first years. I can't be perfect, anyway.

The Lord has pointed out the presumption, laziness, immaturity, misunderstanding and lack of reverance and zeal in these thoughts -- all things unbecoming of an elder or elder-to-be. I am thankful for this scolding, and my prayer is that it stays before me for years.

Spurgeon discouraged/encouraged me in his Lectures to My Student, "The Minsiter's Self-Watch." He holds the standard incredibly high (discouraging). But, then Spurgeon encouarges those whom God calls to ministerial labor to "endeavor to get grace that we may be strengthened into fitness for our position" (encouraging).

Pray for me, that I might receive this grace and be made adequate. Pray that I would discipline myself for the purpose of godliness, that my efforts would be as noble as the end for which I desire (1 Tim 3-4). Praise the Lord, as well, knowing that wherever he places me, he has created me in Christ Jesus for good works and gone ahead to prepare them so that I may walk in them. As I quoted earlier, everything is subservient to my salvation.