Theological Treatises

  Definition of "Christian" Dedicated to all regenerated Christians Preface note: this article is not dogmatic (by any means).  I am not going to "stake" everything on what I intend to write here today.  It is a way for me to explore a dynamic that has interested me for some time, (and about which I have never seen much written).  So, here we go. . . . What is the  best  definition of the word, "Christian"?  In the evangelical world, it is common to hear expressions such as this: "So and so became a Christian."  What this typically means is, "So and so prayed to receive Christ."  Of course, this is something of which we should rejoice--but is it proper, to say, that offering this prayer makes the person a "Christian"? There are probably some people who would call themselves "Christians," just because they were born in America, or perhaps some other nation historically affected by the preaching of the gospel of gr...

  Fully Satisfied In Christ Dedicated to all those who know and love Jesus Jonathan Edwards is hard to beat.  If a Christian was to claim  him  as his or her favorite theologian of all time--no informed person could criticize such esteem. Here are some of Edwards' words from his sermon, entitled, "Safety, Fulness, and Sweet Refreshment To Be Found in Christ."  This sermon is expounding Isaiah 32:2. . . . "But Jesus Christ has true excellency, that when [sinners] come to see it they look no further, but the mind rests there. It sees a transcendent glory and an ineffable sweetness in Him; it sees that till now it has been pursuing shadows, but that now it has found the substance; that before it had been seeking happiness in the stream, but that now it has found the ocean. The excellency of Christ is an object adequate to the natural cravings of the soul, and is sufficient to fill the capacity. It is an infinite excellency, such a one as the mind desires,...

  Prayer Transcending Time and Space Dedicated to long-lost friends Recently, after retiring, I went through a whole bunch of very old correspondence--sometimes from people with whom I have had no contact for over 50 years.  In some of these cases, I do not know if these people are still alive. But, as I read what they wrote to me so many years ago; and as I was sure I was blessed by their kindnesses so many decades ago, I felt compelled to pray for them again, (as I am sure I  had  prayed for them when I was in vital communion with them). Here is the point of what I wish to share today:  is it not  wonderful, that we can pray for dear souls with whom we have had no interaction for years--and yet pray for them as if they were standing right in front of us? When these people are faithful and persevering regenerated Christian churchmen, then I think that this prayer for them is something related to our conception of the  Communion of the Saints ....

May The Best God Win Dedicated to persevering churchmen Most of us have probably heard the expression, "May the best  man  win."  Today, I would like to consider the proposition, "May the best  God  win." We live in the fallen world, wherein  all  human persons  passionately  cling to their "gods."  (In the case of Spirit-indwelt regenerate Christians, we cling to God [capital "G"].) It has stuck me, especially lately, how zealously this religious devotion is the case; and how ardently adherents to their religions will "hold out," even to the bitter "end." And this is the theme I would like to briefly pursue: the fact that right up to the Great Day of Judgment, sinners will be fanatically cleaving to their gods. My point is this: believers in the  true  religion (based entirely in Christ and His gospel) have  no more ardency  for  our  beliefs, than do adherents of all other religions.  T...

  A Little Lesson For Young Theologians Dedicated to my young interns I remember, as a brand-new 23 year-old seminary student, being given, by the school in which I was enrolled, a very small booklet, entitled, "A Little Exercise For Young Theologians."  It was written by the German Lutheran pastor/theologian/philosopher/rector Helmut Thielicke, who was at the grand old age of 70, when I received his tiny tome.  (I still have it, somewhere in my library.) As I recall, Thielicke urged  wet-behind-the-ears  seminarians to adopt an attitude and spirit of humility and teachableness.  And even though I do not remember all the specifics of his encouragement--I do recollect that it had a positive impact on me. Being a young theologian is kind of a dangerous thing; and it is the inauguration of a lifetime of transformation, hopefully from  "glory to glory,"  (2 Cor. 3:18), in Christ. Here are a few pieces of practical counsel that I would g...