Theological Treatises

  The "Philosopher"-Pastor This little treatise is probably going to be a bit autobiographical--so, if you would rather not peruse it, here is your early "warning"(!)  Just very recently, I have come to more-fully realize that I myself fit into this category of a "philosopher"-pastor.  From the very outset, I wish to emphasize that the word "pastor" takes  absolute precedence  over the descriptor "philosopher."   . . . In my opinion, in many cases, the "philosopher"-pastor  never  intended to  be  a church minister of the gospel.  Instead, he envisioned his life as one of quiet study and writing--with perhaps some teaching mixed-in.  (Just how he was going to pull this off, is anyone's guess[!])  But, in time, God clearly calls these "philosopher"-pastors into the church's formal gospel ministry.  When this call happens, they go.   In the history of the church, I would include the fo...

  Objections To Christianity/To The Gospel In my judgment, it  is  possible for fallen sinners to have  honest  objections to "Christianity"; but that it is  impossible  for anyone to have  honest  objections to the true church's  faithful  preaching of the Gospel of Christ and His grace.   What passes off for "Christianity" is sometimes  so  absurd--that it is the responsible thing, to object to it.  Just to use one instance: the popish teaching that if you enter a certain door of a particular church building in Santiago, Spain, on the right day of the correct year--all your sins will be forgiven.  Only the most ignorant of wretched fools could  actually  believe this (with integrity); and even the Jesuits would probably seek to concoct some "disclaimer," to save themselves from becoming laughingstocks. . . . But, unfortunately, many of the same things could be said about so-called "prot...

  The  Always-Uncomfortability  of the Saint's Life On Earth The church's true children of God, those who are born again to a vital hope in the Lord Jesus Christ--always, in a certain sense, bear about in their souls an  uncomfortable feeling  while living in this world.  Our Heavenly Father makes sure that this will be the case--and He does this for our good.  It is in  this  sense, perhaps more than in  any  other, that the regenerate Christians are "aliens and strangers" in this world, (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11).  It is  not  so much that we do not "belong" here,  as  it is that our hearts are  not  fully and passionately "here."  Instead, they (our redeemed and Spirit-filled) souls are (really) in heaven, with Jesus.   The world can (and does sometimes) show us its splendor and glory--and our response (done respectfully within ourselves), is, "Ho-hum. This is nice; but it i...

  Secure Church Women One of the glories of the gospel's influence in the church, is to see believers become  so  secure in Jesus, that they, in time, become almost "immune" to all the outside pressures to compromise themselves, pollute themselves, and hurt themselves.   This is especially beautiful, when it is witnessed in the true and regenerate church's women.  They are so happy to be who they are in Jesus, they would not want to  be  anyone (or anything) else. . . . The world--especially the religious world--comes to them, and says, "Become like a man; you can be as bad and vile as any male. You can be 'empowered' with all the things that the world offers. Come, be part of it."  The secure, Christ-loving churched woman says, "No way. You can keep your alleged 'power' to yourself.  Mine  (in Jesus) is much  greater  than yours. Nothing you can offer me can make me happier than I am right now."   . . . And corr...

  How the Pastor Shepherds the Church Session For you non-Presbyterians out there, by "session," we mean, the currently-serving elders of a church congregation. . . . And though this little paper is designed to assist ministers and (lay) elders, everyone else should feel free to "listen in."   First of all, the pastor is the "least" among "servants" on the session.  He is there to minister to his fellow-elders.  Typically, the pastor, especially if he has had some years of experience, is "used to" the slings and arrows, darts and rocks that get hurled at church leaders.  Because of this, he is usually more in the position of being able to shield his brothers from the same.  Also, the pastor, being called by God to be an undershepherd of Jesus, the Great Shepherd, is endowed with a large measure of the blessed Holy Spirit; and he is also blessed to be able to spend an inordinate amount of time in prayer and in the reading and study of th...

  The Amazing Richard Sibbes The Puritan pastor Rev. Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), was very-appropriately referred to as, "the heavenly Doctor."  Sometimes his books and sermons seem to lift the souls of the church's saints right into glory, (even while we are still down here on Earth).   A sermon Sibbes preached on Song of Solomon 5:2 & 3, in a series entitled, "The Love of Christ," will prove the point.  Check out these remarkable words, as I quote him, (and all the  italics  are my emphases): "Thus [Christ] looks on us, and thus faith looks upon Him too, and  together  with the sight and sense of  sin,  at the  same  time it apprehends righteousness,  perfect  righteousness, and so is  undefiled . This is the main point in religion, and the comfort of Christians, to see  their  perfection  in  Christ Jesus, and to be  lost  in  themselves,  as it were, and to...