What a tremendous church we find mentioned here in Revelation 3:7-13. The church at Philadelphia was noted by Christ as keeping his word. And, we really don’t find any blemish with this church or with the leadership, though I’m quite sure they had their faults. After all, they were human.
But unlike some of the others, they adhered to the doctrine, which was laid out by the disciples. They maintained their faithfulness to God’s word, despite those amongst them who stood to stifle their daily walk.
What I think is especially noteworthy is that Christ calls out the fact they had those amongst them calling themselves to be Jews, but who weren’t. Unlike the church at Ephesis, which spent their daily energy seeking out all false believers among them, this church kept their priorities straight. They demonstrated Christ’s mandated love for one another, for their neighbors and for their enemies. As such, Christ promised to personally deal with these false Jews and cause them to bow down and to know that Christ loved these particular people.
This is critical to bear in mind in our day. Never before have Christians had so much access to older writers and defenders of the faith. And I’m thankful for this. But I’ve also noticed it’s easy for those who consider themselves reformed and conservative to sit on top of their own pedestals looking down on others.
I have to admit, I’ve become a little distant these days with all of the Spurgeon and other quotes– not that I don’t love Spurgeon. But I am concerned there are many who are still missing the point. Spurgeon, Calvin, Edwards and others may have been great men. But they were still men. And I would go as far as to say they were not inspired in the same fashion as the apostles and prophets who were used by God to provide the scriptures to us.
For this reason, I would rejoice to see a revival of studying the text in the original languages to derive those wonderful doctrines we hold dear. After all, all doctrine is found in scripture. And through careful exegesis and sound hermeneutics, we should each be able to defend our faith and to quiet the critics who would say we only arrive at our thoughts from those authors we read.
Thanks for visiting and hope you will leave your comments.
-Mike
17/06/2006 at 4:22 pm Permalink
Ah, yes, the sad truth that we non-Catholics often cling too tightly to our own chosen secondary sources of authority!
I don’t think I’m quite as dismayed about it as you seem to be, though. Ephesians 4 tells us that God has given to the Church teachers. There are teaching gifts, and then there teachers who are gifts to the Body.
I don’t have a big problem with recognizing some of the heroes you mention as fitting into that category.
But Sola Scriptura really does need to be the rule at the end of the day. It’s not bad to stand on the shoulders of giants, as long as they themselves had sure footing.
I think this may be so especially in the age of weblogs. Mike, you know full well every kook out there who fancies himself a teacher claims he’s just “getting back to the Bible” and away from “human traditions.” In the midst of all of that, a handy quote from Spurgeon may be able to function as something of a signpost, as a means of saying, “Look, see, I’m not the only guy who’s ever seen it this way. I’m in good company.”
I’ll admit, that’s not nearly as strong an argument as “Thus saith the Lord,” but as a secondary sort of thing, I don’t mind it too much.
I do, however, have a problem with those who seem to think that a Spurgeon quote (or Calvin, or MacArthur, or whoever) ought to be enough to end all argument.
Good post, BTW!
17/06/2006 at 6:17 pm Permalink
Gordan,
Thanks for the comment. I think we’re in agreement again. BTW, I too am not all that surprised when I consider fallen humanity. What does amaze me is that most counterfeits try really hard to imitate the real thing. Many professing Christians make a poor attempt.
Perhaps that’s a good thing.
-Mike
19/06/2006 at 9:45 am Permalink
Since you mountain bike, you can keep my hot pink shirt. It may come in handy in a safety situation-besides, what navy guy doesn’t want a hot pink shirt??
19/06/2006 at 12:41 pm Permalink
I guess it’s all about being like the Bereans.
19/06/2006 at 1:56 pm Permalink
jenm,
Thanks for visiting and for leaving the comments. Although, leaving the shirt comment on this site vs. on your site could create a bit of confusion. But ultimately, you called it right. What self-respecting Navy guy could refuse such a shirt. It will go well with my Razr phone.
Take care,
Mike
19/06/2006 at 5:51 pm Permalink
Oh, I didn’t realize the implication my 1st comment may imply. Let me correct, you can keep that hot pink shirt that is in your possession. It is certainly no shirt of mine.
My shirt has been successfully excavated from the dirty clothes pile, where it was eluding my keen eye the whole time.
19/06/2006 at 6:37 pm Permalink
Okay, totally cracking up now. No one else will know what we’re talking about now.
20/06/2006 at 10:15 am Permalink
Obviously, the church in Berea.
= )
20/06/2006 at 10:28 am Permalink
Very clever
20/06/2006 at 3:38 pm Permalink
Sorry to butt in on the hot pink shirt thing…but you can’t just throw that out there without expecting people to get curious!
I was just going to say there is a Talmudic tradition that all of David’s 30 mighty men slept in hot pink, as proof of how confident they were of their manliness.
And my Navy experience tells me that it’s okay to have, own, and wear a hot pink T-shirt…as long as you don’t tell anyone.
20/06/2006 at 3:52 pm Permalink
Hey Mike,
In light of reading this post, which is well written, you are so going to get a kick out of reading what I wrote in response to you on my Biblically Distinguishing “Types of Christ” post.
You wrote: “But I’ve also noticed it’s easy for those who consider themselves reformed and conservative to sit on top of their own pedestals looking down on others.”
— This is so sadly, dead-on true.
You wrote: “I have to admit, I’ve become a little distant these days with all of the Spurgeon and other quotes– not that I don’t love Spurgeon. But I am concerned there are many who are still missing the point. Spurgeon, Calvin, Edwards and others may have been great men. But they were still men.”
—Yep. Now here is my response on my post to you. Mind you, I was totally unaware of what you wrote here. “Sola Scriptura is the standard we are to hold. However, Sola Scriptura does not mean read your Bible only or your Bible and commentaries only. But alot of people misunderstand what Sola Scriptura is. (and I am not saying that you misunderstand it.) This Pastor Peter is new to me. That is why I say, from what I have read so far of him, he appears to use sound doctrine as his yardstick as we all should. He is a man. Spurgeon is a man. They know this. We know this. Some of the greatest theological minds of this world know that they are mere and sinful men saved by Grace (hopefully). That is why we are to be as Bereans as we read commentaries and things of men and when we listen to sermons, or anyone proclaiming Christ. (I know you know this). But we cannot disregard those great men that have laboured over the Word before us, such as Spurgeon.
Sola Scriptura means Scripture alone. We believe that the Scripture alone is the rule for our lives. Sola Scriptura properly defined DOES NOT mean only read your Bible and nothing else. It DOES mean hold everything you read to this rule or yardstick. The standard by which what you are reading or listening to must be held to, put in light of, compared to Scripture to make sure it can be upheld there and there alone. Berean-style reading and listening. (I think you know this?)
You are not disappointing me, Mike. I understand what you are saying. But I do think you ought to consider at least gleaning something from the works of Spurgeon.”
His servant for HIS glory,
Lisa
21/06/2006 at 6:09 am Permalink
Gordan,
Once again, you are in great and rare form. Thanks for re-bolstering my manhood. I will wear hot pink with pride, but in the privacy of my own home.
-Mike
21/06/2006 at 6:32 am Permalink
Lisa,
I’m glad you left the comment and I don’t mind at all.
Please don’t think I don’t glean from Spurgeon, for I definitely do. But everyone claims to love Spurgeon and few seem to get him.
Remember the Downgrade Controversy? After obtaining his life long dream of unifying the Baptists in his region, he quickly pulled out. Why? When it came to doctrine, they had perhaps 1% in common.
I have Spurgeon’s works, as well as Edwards, Calvin and others. I enjoy their biographies more than their materials. I enjoy getting to know the heart and mind behind what we hold as powerful messages.
Having been in Fundamentalism of the extreme nature for a while, I am seeing an exchange. I’m seeing people who follow strong, domineering personalities, exchange their leadership for new leadership. But they’re still followers of men– just reformed.
This is what else I’ve seen:
1) Many cannot dive in and understand the text of scripture they wish to expound upon
2) Many who have been trained in the original languages, refuse to dive in and understand the text they wish to expound upon
3) A few are capable of understanding and are willing to do this task
4) A few lack training, but are very diligent to use every resource available to dive into the text that they might not be ashamed
It is much easier to obtain what others have said about Justification by Faith than it is to see why our fathers arrived at it from scripture. I’ve covered this in other posts, but will give a brief example here.
In the Greek, dia can be translated as “by” or “through” in the genitive case. And it can be translated as “because” or “on account of” in the accusative. In the text, you will never find the phrase “dia pisten”, which is the accusative form meaning “because of faith”. You will find the phrase to always be in the genitive, such as “dia pistews” in Ephesians 2:8.
Because of dependency on others, we tout Justification by Faith. But through misunderstanding and reliance on concordances, we end up with a literal translation that is Justification because of Faith.
Furthermore, take John 3:16– perhaps the most famous verse in the bible. Yet there is no “whosoever” in the text. The text is not the focus of the passage even. It’s explanatory of v14. And the phrase “pas ho pisteuwn eis auton” makes it clear that the people who claim the promises of God are those who constantly believe on Christ. This is where we derive the notion of Perseverance of the Saints. Throughout Revelation we see similar phrases as well.
I would never suggest anyone not read the works of these other men. But take a look at much of what we see. It’s laden with quote upon quote.
Anyway, I’m grateful for how God is using you. And I have certainly enjoyed your thought provoking postings. Part of being a voice in the wilderness is that it’s a rather lonely place to go against the norm. After all, who am I?
Take care and thanks for visiting.
BTW, have you read the Blog or the actual website post? The website goes into verse by verse details.
Mike
21/06/2006 at 8:07 am Permalink
Hey Mike. I have responded to you on that post in my site.
You wrote here: “I have certainly enjoyed your thought provoking postings. Part of being a voice in the wilderness is that it’s a rather lonely place to go against the norm. After all, who am I?”
I would say your blog and comments on mine have been very edifying and thought provoking and I appreciate them. Yes, it is lonely sometimes when you are going against the norm. That is what makes me thankful for my husband and my church family and for the few in the blogosphere willing to stand for truth. The challenge always being to speak that truth in love. I totally agree about being followers of men. THat is why, no mater how great a man is, the Word of Truth is far greater (and sufficient) and we must be careful to be Bereans even to those great men that have gone before us. To those great men that God has called for His glory that are only great because of the work of God done for His glory. But they are still but men.
Truly who are we? But vessels and instruments of grace to be used for His will and purpose- though we are marred by sin, Christ has made us postionally perfect. Why me, Lord? I cannot comprehend why He would choose me for I know I deserve His eternal wrath.
His servant for His glory… working out my salvation with fear and trembling,
Lisa
21/06/2006 at 8:15 am Permalink
Amen! And I like the fact you referenced Phil 2:12. But I really like it when it’s combined with v13. “for God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Thanks Lisa and I’m looking forward to further exchanges.
-Mike