Important Events on Christmas

496, Clovis baptized by Bishop Remme along with 3,000 of his Frankish troops, after being influenced to Christianity by his wife Clutelda
800, Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor
1066, William the Conquer crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey
1197, John I of England born on Christmas Eve
1776, Washington crosses the Delaware and attacks an unsuspecting Hessian garrison in Trenton
1821, Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, was born
1865, the founder of the Salvation army, Evangeline Cory Booth born
1868, Andrew Johnson pardons all Confederate soldiers
1926, Hirohito becomes emperor of Japan
1944, World War I soldiers hold a Christmas Truce between German and British regiments
1946, Jimmy Buffet born
1950, The Stone of Destiny (Scone) stolen by Scottish Nationalist students from Westminster Abbey
1991, Gorbachev resigns marking the end of the Soviet Union

-Jewel

Diem declectare, dieu laudes decorare

Christmas, Santa Claus, and Materialism

It is interesting to note that Christmas is a Christian holiday, except in America. It hasn’t always been like that either. At one time the pre-Christmas season was one of joy and fellowship, not a rush to get every type of electronic gizmo and gadget before a certain date. Yet this is far more than a cultural quark. It is an act of worship. Christmas hasn’t become non-religious; the problem is that the religion has changed. We can trace that change to the invention of Santa.
Ironically, St. Nicholas of Myra, from whom the legend of Santa Claus came, had nothing to do with the materialistic gift-giving of the 21st century. Living a fairly short (287-340), but productive life, Nicholas of Myra launched a pro-life crusade in Byzantium that had a generational impact for nearly a millennium. George Grant describes him in The Micah Mandate. "His tender pastoral care saw his flock through the fierce conflagrations of persecution and heresy. In the end, orthodoxy owed its survival to his evident compassion as much as it did to the theological foundations of his Nicean peers."
However, the American ideal of Santa Claus came about in 1821 when the first lithographed book came out entitled The Children’s Friend. The book was filled with fanciful tales and pictures of Santa Claus and his reindeer. This tradition was continued in 1863 when Thomas Nest published a serious of cartoons about Santa in Harper’s Weekly. His purpose was to support the Union and boost the soldier’s morale.
The problem with this picture, obviously, is its detraction from the real meaning of Christmas. Furthermore, parents are being encouraged to lie to their children and create a completely false hope. How will these children believe when their parents tell them about Jesus? Instead, Christians should use Christmas as an opportunity to celebrate the Lord’s birth by giving to others as he gave to us.
Yet, a Christian’s gift-giving should be radically different from the world’s. The world focuses on what people want, we should focus on what people actually need. Trying to live life simply, we should give to others what would either influence them for Christ or help them build His kingdom. More importantly, our satisfaction should be on the cross of Christ. The Cross isn’t comfortable, enjoyable, or painless. But neither was Christ’s incarnation.
-Jewel
Diem Declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

Humanism, a Failing Ideology

Taking roots in Greek and Roman cultures, then reappearing in the Renaissance, and now flourishing in the 21^st century, humanism is the most logical step of revolt against God. Although many in these three societies claimed to believe in some type of deity outside themselves, their life practice ultimately contradicted their claim. In essence, humanism is the belief that man is God. The god of humanism attempts, but fails, in fulfilling each of the duties of godhead: defining origins, metaphysics, ethics, security, and truth.

First, humanism fails to give a satisfactory definition of man’s origins. Origins is the study of how all that exists came into being. A man’s beliefs concerning his origins defines how he will live life on this earth. By whom or what we were created or how we evolved defines who we are. Are we images of a creator, made for his glory; products of earth itself, to show forth her praises; or nothing more than an object of pure chance in a world of meaninglessness? Our identity as humans effects what we believe about metaphysics, ethics, security, and truth.

The human mind is unable of itself to describe where we came from, for we were not there. If we are the ultimate standard, how can we believe something we did not observe? If the human mind is capable of reaching truth, how can we tell what source has reached this capability? Furthermore, if the human mind can find truth of itself, why is there so much controversy over the origin of man? Without knowing where we came from we cannot define the other crucial elements of life.

Secondly, the metaphysics of humanism is flawed. Metaphysics is the study of reality. Without being able to observe anything past the material world, nor trust any sources that claim there is a spiritual realm, man cannot understand life as it is. The spiritual realm cannot be observed; it is a world of ideas and beings outside of the physical. Humanism cannot explain a realm outside of material objects. But without a world of ideas, how can we describe the actions and motives of those around us? For example, you might be able to see someone give his mother a hug. This action itself is not love, but only a manifestation of a concept called love. This idea cannot be touched, tasted, smelled, seen, or felt. The same goes for ideas such as justice, freedom, beauty, good, or evil. Without abstract concepts, a standard of ethics is impossible.

Next, humanism provides no basis for ethics. Ethics, the principles of right action, are foundational to any culture. Without some proper sense of morality, mankind would wipe each other out. An absolute standard of ethics cannot be found in man, for what one man thinks is right, another deems wrong. The serial killer in prison thought his actions just as acceptable as the lady who gives to charity. Neither can the State raise such a standard, for how many examples from history are there of governments committing horrible injustices? The church has no authority either to define ethics outside of the Word of God.

Yet many humanists do have a sense of ethics to some degree. This shows that they are not only being inconsistent with their beliefs, but that they are also made in the image of God and have His knowledge implanted in them. This knowledge, commonly referred to as a conscience, has been corrupted by the fall; nevertheless, it is still visible in all men. Calvin explains, “That there exists in the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with a sense of Godhead, the memory of which he constantly renews and occasionally enlarges, that all man, being aware that there is a God, and he is their Maker, may be condemned by their own conscience when they neither worship him nor consecrate their lives to his service.” In addition, the god of humanism fails to provide genuine security (soteriology). Humanists argue that the solution to the world’s problems is proper education. The more we study the human mind, find great classical works, or pour money into the public school system they believe our problems will dissipate. Today the morale is just as high as ever despite the problems that are beginning to uproot our society. Just this year, Time Magazine announced their high ambition in its cover article, “2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal.” Yet this is not the direction we are heading despite the billions of dollars we as Americans have poured into the education system. On the contrary, our economic status has plummeted in the last five years, men are not grown up by thirty years of age according to Newsweek Magazine, and many of our medical institutions are moving towards exterminating the population through abortion and euthanasia rather than saving it.

Most importantly, humanism fails to define what all humankind seeks: epistemology or truth. The epistemological concerns of every scholar, clergy, and peasant, apart from the revelation of God, have come to naught. How can man’s mind discover what is is truthful and what is fallacious? Rene Descartes (1596-1650), French scholar and humanist philosopher, came to the conclusion that the way to determine truth was to doubt everything, until nothing more could be doubted. What was left would be truth. Descartes, over the course of his doubting, came to the conclusion, “I think, therefore I am.” However, Descartes failed to doubt his own existence in stating “I think,” presupposing the very premise he was attempting to prove. Descartes, along with all other humanists ultimately fall short of defining universal truth resulting in relativism.

This relativism, sometimes called “pluralism,” “tolerance,” or “co-existence”, is the basis of the modern dream of paradise. Yet to the United Nations, this idea is much more than a simple dream, it is the pathway to utopia. James Q. Wilson describes it thus,

“Many people have persuaded themselves that no law has any foundation in a widely shared sense of justice; each is the arbitrary enactment of the politically powerful. This is called legal realism, but it strikes me as utterly unrealistic. Many people have persuaded themselves that children will be harmed if they are told right from wrong; instead they should be encouraged to discuss the merits of moral alternatives. This is called values clarification, but I think it a recipe for confusion rather than clarity. Many people have persuaded themselves that it is wrong to judge the customs of another society since there are no standards a part form custom on which such judgments can rest; presumably they would oppose infanticide only if it involved their own child. This is sometimes called tolerance; I think a better name would be barbarism.”

Evidently, it is the Bible alone that remains the standard of origins, metaphysics, ethics, soteriology, and epistemology. It claims that, “…God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1)” Furthermore, the spiritual kingdom is “…not in word, but in power.

(I Cor. 4:20)” It is the standard of all right and wrong. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for…instruction in righteousness. (II Tim. 3:16) It describes the way of salvation. “(Christ) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father. (Gal. 1:4)” And finally it claims, “…and Thy law is truth. (Ps. 119:142)”

Bibliography

Bahsen, Greg, Always Ready, 2004

Bahsen, Greg, Defending the Christian Worldview against all Opposition, 2006

Calvin, John, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1966

Dokoupil, Tony, “Why I am Leaving Guyland,” Newsweek Magazine, August, 2008

Grant, George, The Micah Mandate, 1999

Grossman, Kev, “2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal,” Time Magazine, February, 2011

Holy Bible, King James Version, 1964

Wilson, Nate, The Functions of Deity, 2010

Books

"In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, Who alone is sovereign, does not declare, "That is mine!"-Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920)

"One desire has been the ruling passion of my life. One high motive has acted like a spur upon my mind and soul...it is this: That, in spite of all worldly opposition, God's holy ordinances shall be established again in the home, in the school, and in the state for the good of the people; to carve as it were into the conscience of the nation the ordinances of the Lord, to which the Bible and Creation bear witness, until the nation pays homage to God."- Abraham Kuyper

"Everybody has a god-No exceptions-Everybody does. Everybody has to, because everybody must appeal to some authority to decide what is real and what is not real in order to make sense out of life. Everybody must attribute his origin to something and everybody has an opinion about what is wrong with things in the world. And everybody has an idea of how to find safety from what is bad. Each one of these functions of deity requires us to make an un-provable assumption, a faith-based statement that goes beynd the sphere of science into the realm of religion and philosophy." -Nate Wilson, from the introduction to The Functions of Deity (Which I highly recommend!)

Reformation

It's nearing the end of October, and children and adults alike are planning for Halloween. Over the years, this holiday in America has grown from being a cute excuse to dress up in your favorite costume to a celebration of evil. Yet few people realize the important events that October marks.
It was October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses to the Church in Wittenburg, marking the beginning of a reformation that is still influencing us today. But the price of reformation was soon to be discovered. It was also October, 1536 when William Tyndale, translater of the English bible, was burned at the stake as a heretic by Henry VIII. His last words were, "Lord, open the eyes of the king of England." A year later, his the same King Henry ordered a publication of Matthew's bible to be spread abroad through England and every church to open up copies of the bible in the common tongue. Tyndale's vision of "the ploughboy to know more of the bible than the scholar," came true. God was once again bringing his word to England.
Following Tyndale would come countless other martyrs who would spread the reform by their witness. I have not time to go into the stories of George Wishart, the two Margarets, Marion Harvie, and countless other Huegonots and Waldensians.
October marks yet another important event to the history of the Church. It was 1533 when Micheal Servetus, condemned by the council of Geneva for heresy, was burned at the stake. Contrary to popular view, it was not John Calvin who had him executed. John Calvin begged the council to allow him a less painful death, but he was disregarded. And it was Calvin who preached a sermon to Servetus at his death begging him to embrace the true doctrines of Christ.
Will you remember these important events, or will you, like countless others forget the price our father's paid? October 31 is a landmark to the Church...what will you do to remember?

Ariansim and the Council of Nicea

In today’s pragmatic world, few Christians realize the heresies that dominate their culture. Fewer still realize the treacherous implications that heretical beliefs can bring upon a society. And yet, these false philosophies have raged since the beginning of the world, threatening to uproot societies and ruin empires. Early Byzantium was no exception. The Byzantine Empire had scarcely won its place amongst the great nations of the world when the heresy of Arianism reared its ugly head. Only Providence knew how the tenants of this heresy, the dangerous consequences that forced their way into Byzantium society, and the Council of Nicea that arose to address this issue would play a vital role in the chronicle of the kingdom of God.

The tenants of Arianism were simple in nature, and yet contained grave error. Although Arius (1), presbyter of Alexandria at the time, brought his beliefs into public play, we can trace the roots of Arianism from theologians Origin and Dionysius. Basically, Arius taught that although God was without beginning, Christ was created by God from nothing at a definite period in time, was therefore not coeternal with the Father, and was mutable and inferior to Him. He also believed that Christ was made God by the Father and was therefore to be worshipped. As time went on, the Arians disagreed among themselves on Christ’s relationship to the Father; some of the radicals claimed that Christ was completely unlike the Father and therefore fallible.

One of the dangerous consequences Arianism thrust upon Byzantine society is that it threatened to lead to a Statist and Unitarian mentality. For this to be understood one must recognize the raging conflict over the doctrine of the Trinity. With the resulting beliefs arising from such a conflict come many consequences (2) that have a profound effect on the world we live in. Throughout history, true Christianity has been the only religion to adequately explain the doctrine of the Trinity, the one and the many. As the City of Man attempts to explain how one, that is society as a whole, and the many, that is the individuals of that society, relate to each other they fall into error. Focusing overly on the individual, the heresy of the many, or on the state as a union, the heresy of the one, the balance is thrown off and tyranny or anarchy reigns. This explains the common error of humanity to fall into polytheism or Unitarianism. Without the Spirit mankind cannot explain the mystery of the Trinity.

Arianism as well falls into this trap of the heresy of the one. If we follow Arianism to its logical conclusion: if Christ was human and became God, man can also become God and should therefore be worshipped. (Rushdoony) This is the most basic principle of Statism: man is God. Through the years, this doctrine would seep into Byzantium as emperors would cross the line from being God’s servant, to imagining themselves as being God himself; a fatal error indeed.

Constantine, emperor of Byzantium (3), found yet another danger to this heresy. To him, having the Christian Church unified under his command was crucial to Byzantium’s survival. If the Arian Heresy divided the church, the country of Byzantium would be at risk. At the opening of the council of Nicea Constantine explained, “For my own part, I hold any sedition within the church of God as formidable as any war or battle, and more difficult still to bring to an end. I am consequently more opposed to it than anything else. (Norwhich)”

Constantine tried to stop the brewing contention between Arianism and Orthodox Christianity by sending a letter to Arius and his opponent, Alexander. This letter tried to convince the two that this argument was trifling and forgiveness was the best option. It didn’t work. Constantine then began what was to be the first ecumenical council of the Church: the Council of Nicea.

The council was to be held at the imperial palace in Nicea, modern Asia Minor, from May 20 to June 19, 325 A.D. Constantine’s intention was for the gathering to be a nationwide ordeal, but it was not to be. The western church, uninterested in the east’s quibbles, only sent a few delegates. From the east came nearly three hundred. Phillip Schaff sums up the importance of this event. “The Council of Nicea is the most important event of the fourth century, and its bloodless intellectual victory over a dangerous error is of far greater consequence to the progress of true civilization, than all the bloody victories of Constantine and his successors. (Hodge).”

The council desired to express their conclusion in a creed. The Arian’s apologetic being unfavorable, Eusebius of Caesarea, of a more neutral state, proposed an acceptable creed. For use in the creed, the Greek word Homoousios, meaning of the same substance, was inscribed to Christ.

“We believe in one God, the Father almighty, the maker of things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, only begotten, begotten of the Father, that is of the essence of the Father, by whom all things were made whether in heaven or on earth…But those who say, that there was a time when He (the Son) was not, that He was not before He was made, or was made out of nothing, or of another or different essence or substance, that He was a creature, or mutable, or susceptible of change, the Holy Catholic Church anathematizes. (Hodge)” This being put forth, Arius was temporarily exiled and his writings burnt.

The Council of Nicea was effective in maintaining the unity of the church in Byzantine and we see that this practice has biblical precedent. In Acts fifteen we find Paul and Barnabas disputing over the matter of circumcision. Their first response was to hold a council, or presbytery, at Jerusalem. After coming to agreement on the issue they wrote a letter, a creed, to those being questioned. This passage lays out not only the process of resolving disputes in the church but also the biblical principle of church accountability. Likewise, the Council of Nicea was a foundation stone to the church and would settle the vital doctrine of the divinity of Christ. Furthermore, its example would allow many essential doctrines to be confirmed over the early ages of Christendom which if compromised would have caused damage to the church of Christ. However, with such a foundation covering centuries of church history, why has the modern American church forgotten this principle? Everywhere we find churches apostatizing on the major issues of the faith; issues such as the origin of the universe, the depravity of man, or the definition of biblical marriage. Yet few denominations have called even a small council to answer such basic questions. In the meantime the American church is sliding farther and farther from biblical Christianity. Who will be the next Constantine?

Epilogue

A Short Apologetic against Arianism

When any question arises concerning theology, metaphysics, or any area of life, the Christian’s first response should be to go to the pages of the bible. The bible, although it may not distinctly mention Arianism, distinctly opposes the idea. Romans 9:5, for example, “…Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever.” In John 10:30 Jesus claims, “I and my Father are one.”

In the fourth century, Arians used Proverbs 8:22 to defend their beliefs. “The Lord already possessed me long ago, when his way began, before any of His works.” They claimed possessed means created. Hence we find Strong’s Concordance describing qânâh, Greek for possessed, as “To erect, i.e. create; by extens. To procure.” (Strong) The Arianian error; therefore, is in the context of the passage. Nevertheless, nowhere in Proverbs 8 does it claim that this “wisdom” is the Eternal Son of God.

By using the text of Proverbs 8:22 to defend the reliability of their argument, the Arians inferred that they believed the Bible to be an honest source. But if part of the Bible is true, by its own standard, all must be true. And as mentioned above, John 10:30 clearly states that Christ is one with the Father. The Arians were being noticeably inconsistent. An inconsistent belief can not be trusted as fact or theory alike.

Endnotes

(1) To many, Arius’ untimely death proved the fact that he was heretical. Joseph Morecraft III describes Arius’ death in his book, History of Reformation in the West. “When he (Arius) was to return to Alexandria, Egypt, a leading preacher there, named Alexander, fell to the ground with his eyes filled with tears and prayed: “If Arius comes tomorrow to the church, take me away, and let me not perish with the guilty. But if you pity Your church, and You do pity it, take Arius away, lest when he enters heresy enter with him. (Rushdoony)” The next morning, as Arius and his retinue were making their way to the church as a triumphant procession, to be publicly reconciled with the church there so as to preach in it, “Arius stopped and left the procession suddenly because of gastric pain. After waiting some time, his followers investigated and found that the old man Arius had collapsed in (his own) blood and fallen headlong into the open latrine (Urinal).” After this he was often compared to Judas Iscariot, who died a similar death. This event proved vital to the conclusion of the Arian conflict in Byzantium.

(2) This is summed up in the cliché, “Ideas have consequences.”

(3) According to Joseph Morecraft, Constantine had two major weaknesses and one great strength. He was weak in that he was dualistic, wanting paganism to coexist with Christianity. Sadly, he also started popery and encouraged what would later become the Roman Catholic Church. Nevertheless, Constantine began the ecumenical councils of the church; a practice we find right from the pages of Scriptures. (Morecraft) He also ended the persecution of the church under Rome. Constantine’s faith has been doubted. According to legend he did have a faith experience, or vision, near the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Whether this experience played out in his life can be doubted. However, despite his errors, God did use this man to establish His church.

Bibliography

Hodge, Charles D.D, Systematic Theology, WORDsearch corp. 2009

LaTourette, Kenneth Scott, a History of Christianity volume I

Morecraft, Joseph, History of Christianity and Western Civilization, Vision Forum, San Antonio

Morecraft, Joseph, The History of the Reformation in the West

Norwich, John Julius, Byzantium, the Early Centuries, Alfred A. Knoph, publisher, 1988

Rushdoony, R.J., A Christian Survey of World History, “The Early Church and Byzantium,” Chaldedon /Ross House Books, Vallecito

Help Save Pastor Youcef!

Iran has recently imprisoned pastor Youcef, a young father of two boys and pastor to a congregation of 400, and sentenced him to death for his religious views. His wife has also been imprisoned. Because of international pressure, Iran has changed his charges to criminal offense and the local judges have sent the trial to the top leader of Iran. American Center for Law and Justice aclj.org has put together a petition to send to our secretary of state in hopes she will speak up for pastor Youcef and build up international pressure. The bible commands us to "remember those who are bound as bound with them." Please sign now!

-Jewel
Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

A Talk on Communism

Recently my Dad has been reading to my brother and I 1984 by George Orwell. What he seeks to impress upon our mind is the consequences of Marxist thinking. In the fabled nation of oceana everything from war to thought is ditated by Big Brother-the state. Everywhere Big brother is watching you...from the telescreen in your house to the cubicle on which you sit. The very truth that is common sense now is changed to fit the party's philosphy. In fact, the three slogans of the party are almost opposite of the Judeo-Christian worldview, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.
Yet, suddenly we realized that such tolatarism wasn't only fiction; everywhere men and woman are pushing such a seemingly radical idea. It may never come to the extent of 1984, but it has happened in Soviet Russia, and is happening in countrys like China and North Korea. we had just finished reading a chapter of George Orwell when Daddy picked up the recent Voice of the Maryters newsletter and began reading about an underground church which had been forced out of their worship place. The similarities were almost humerous if we had realized the profound reality of what we were reading.
In Christ is the power to combat such forces; are we ready to stand for His kingdom?

"When men despise history they are on the road to barbarism, because to despise history is to reject Biblical faith and reject meaning and purpose in life in favor of gratification in a moment. people who have no past have no future. they represent cluture senility."-R.J. Rushdoony, Roots of Reconstruction

"The purpose of stripping men of their past is to reshpae them into whatever form their elite rulers choose."-R.J. Rushdoony, Roots of Reconstruction

Highlights of the 2011 CHEC conference

I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to have spent the last three days learning from some of the wisest men in the homeschool community. I believe that How Christians must take Dominion in music (1) was one of the most impacting to me personally. To put it simply: You can’t take dominion consuming. Yet why are Christians only consuming music instead of producing it? What if we only taught children to read and not write? Yet that is what we are doing with music. “Music is a craft, not an art-it can be trained and learned.”(2) Bach, the greatest Christina composer of all time, only achieved what he did through hard work, not some unexplainable talent.

Christian music is based on a hierarchal system. Instead of a mass of chaos, we have order. Yet order is not the only matter involved in hierarchal music. Mr. Selbrede compared the decline in this musical structure to governmental systems. Bach wrote a monarchal type of music, yet we have declined to a republican system, then to a democratic system, then to a Marxist system of equality. And yet through all of this unbelievers cannot help meet up with God and His system. Even our instruments are based on this organization.

As far as I understand, this hierarchy works through keys of the musical system. This is not to say no dissedence is allowed for, in fact so long as dissedence resolves it makes a piece great. However, some music today has been created so disorderly it breaks the musical system. What such composers fail to understand is liberty in rule. They think no rule is liberty-. Yet law is the only thing that brings the liberty they are seeking. I think the ultimate example of this is atonal and polytonal music which has such a tone of dissidence it is almost unbearable.

Another factor to Hierarchal music is the equal balance of both chords and melody. This is characteristic of Bach’s music.

A last and final point I thought was worth highlighting was the “heresy” of elitism in music. If music needs taken dominion of for God’s glory why do we want only a few experts in this area? Shouldn’t we be teaching all God’s people to play and sing for Him?

While I was there, I had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Rushdoony on a subject that had been puzzling me for quite some time: What is the biblical view on metaphysics (3) and how does it compare to the Greek view? To explain my question, I had been confused about the whole spiritual/ material realms and how they comport with each other. Basically, the answer is this. Christians are not materialists, in other words, we believe there is something more than just the physical realm. Plato himself understood this, and granted for another realm where ideas are. For example, the Greeks put much emphasis on ideas living in a separate realm of ideas such as humanity, love, justice, etc. According to the Greeks, the problem with mankind is the fact that we are materially human. The goal of humanity is to reach the spiritual realm and become a god.

Christians also believe there is more than the mere physical. Angels would be an example of this. Yet we do not separate the realm of ideas as much; we see the spiritual realm and the physical as equal creations, the Greeks put more importance on the spiritual realm. For a Christian, humanity is only the plural for humans; and sin, instead of being a mere idea, must be part of a sinner.

Yet these two metaphysics are not mere presuppositions that must fight the battle on equal stance. The Greek thinking has many logical problems, mainly that of, “How do these two realms comport with each other?” Aristotle, Plato’s top student, saw this dilemma and took an opposite realm of materialist atheism. And yet, materialism has basic problems as well. For example, according to materialism, there is nothing that cannot be experienced by the senses. And yet, they are inconsistent in using the laws of logic for their arguments. The laws of logic are not material; they cannot be tasted, touched or smelled. Without the laws of logic, contradicting is allowed and therefore I can say they do believe in a spiritual realm. Do you see the problem here? (4)

Another talk I enjoyed was The Danger of Abstract Thinking in our Theology by Mark Rushdoony.(5) I will readily admit that my dad will have to explain some of it to me that I didn’t understand, but nevertheless, it was beneficial.

One point he made was that rationalism puts God under the microscope of man’s mind. It makes truth an abstraction. We are asking, “Is God’s word true according to me?” An example of this is many people can’t believe in a God who ordains people to go to hell? Yet, who decides what standard God has? Us? If it were up to us, who then is God? This is the danger of abstract thinking.

Or another one: God is awesome because of His love and mercy. Here we are choosing an abstraction to fear God because of some of his attributes instead of all of them. A god of just love and mercy is a different god than the God of the bible, whatever you choose to call him. Creating an abstract god is violating the second commandment.

Dualism leads to abstraction because it is separating the spiritual and the physical realms. As Christian, we believe in spirit and matter, but they don’t conflict.

(1) How Christian must take dominion in music, Martin Selbrede-2011 Christian Home Educators of Colorado Conference

(2) Ibid

(3) The nature of reality

(4) Ideas from Greg Bauson’s work, Defending the Christian Worldview against all Opposition.

(5) The Danger of Abstract Thinking in our Theology, Mark Rushdoony-2011 Christian Home Educators of Colorado Conference

B.C.

I'm not the only one who tries to write poetry in my family. With my brothers budding and creative writing, we have a good amount of poetry laying around the house. Caleb showed me these poems he wrote and I knew I had to put them on my blog. They're great! You can tell we have a lot of interesting discussions regarding the war of northern aggression in our family!

B.C.

It starts with Genesis

The first book of all

It shows God’s creation

And man’s sinful-fall.

It tells of a wicked earth

Sinful man, shedder of blood

It tells of God’s judgment

With a terrible, worldwide flood.

It tells of man’s crave,

Yes, crave for power

It happened at Babel

By building a tower.

God confused the languages

Right there and right then

He made different Nations

And changed the course for men.

Abraham and Isaac

Then Jacob his son

This was God’s people

When they first begun.

Exodus tells of Israel

When they were slaves

It tells of Moses

And the freedom God gave.

It tells of their journeys

Through the wilderness

The wandering people

God created to bless.

He gave them the law

So they might obey

And what they could do

So they could be saved.

Leviticus tells how

The ark assembled be

The tabernacle and lampstand

God to would see.

It also tells what we are to eat

And what we should wear

Laws for hygiene

He gave us to share.

Numbers counts

The number of men

According to the tribes

Their numbers have been.

Many for the Army

Many to be priests

To account for the people

And have the many feasts.

Deuteronomy tells

Much of Isreals history

How God led them into the land

Contented they should be.

But they soon found out

It was not like they thought

And 40 years in the wilderness

A punishment God brought.

Joshua tells of Israel

After Moses was dead

It tells of more journeys

And the mighty Joshua led.

It tells of the city Jericho

And how its walls fell

The crossing of the Jordan

Many a story it has to tell.

Judges tells of rebellion

And capture from the foe

It tells this story

So the children would know.

The story of Ehud

The dagger in his hand

To the story of Deb’rah

Conquering the land

To Gideon, God's man

Taking on the foe

Though the tide wasn’t pretty

And his numbers were low.

It would take a while

To name them all

Jepthah, Ihzan, Elon,

And then King Saul.

Ruth tells the story

Of one woman of God

Who chose to glean

Where the wheat was trod.

1^st and 2^nd Samuel

records history of the land

through battles and hard times

it shows God’s mighty hand.

Next comes the books of Kings

Some good, most bad

Some were pleasing to the Lord

And others made Him sad.

A whole bunch of history

The Chronicles do show

God tells of their failures

So that we all would know.

Ezra comes next in line

Building Gods holy place

Ezra told them why to build

So God would shine his face.

Nehemiah worked real hard

To build up the wall

But God lifted them up

After every fall.

Esther really showed some guts,

She told the king some news

She saved her struggling land

She told him she was a Jew.

Job was a rich man

Until God tested him

Satan took away his wealth

And tried to make him sin.

Job trusted in the Lord

And did not turn away

It shows that god will provide

If we trust and obey.

Psalms is the book of prayer

And cries to God alone

It also records praises

To God up on the throne.

God is our shepherd

Our strength and our might

God will defend us

And help us in the fight.

God answered his prayers

And helped him do right

God will also help us

And guide us towards the light.

Proverbs are wise sayings

To guide us on our way

Many words of wisdom

The writers have to say.

Vanity, vanity, vanity,

Vanity under the sun

Follow God when your little

You’ll continue till you’re done.

Song of Solomon

Shows God's way to wed

The way they did

Lover and beloved.

On that day we lost our country safe

As far as I can tell

We lost our freedom, family and faith

We lost the rebel yell.

We lost our states governing right

We lost it to the state

We lost it ‘cause we lost this fight

And now it is too late.

It’s what we said when we had lost

The War Between the States

Fought our hardest, paid the cost

Yet our freedom still abates.

The old south clings onto that sight

That someday they’ll be free

Not from slavery’s dreadful might

But northern tyranny.

We are still slaves yet to this day

Under governments hand

They’ll force us till they get their pay

We own no scrap of land.

 

An Encouragment to the Young

My calling, as a woman, is not that of teacher but of encourager and life-giver to those around me. The only time the bible that it speaks of women teaching in a positive sense is older women are to teach the younger women specific principles. I hope these thoughts of mine will be an encouragement to you. With that foundation laid, I will digress.

I heard a pastor say once that the best years in life are the high school years-years to “hang out” with friends, learn, and not have to worry about real life. College life everywhere is portrayed as party life, fun and in a word: a life of unaccountability. Embraced by Christian and non-Christian alike these single years extended as long as possible. But is this really a biblical pattern? What are young people to be thinking about anyway? Having been examining such questions recently, I came up with a list of five important topics for us to be thinking upon.

The Scriptures are described in Psalm 119 as a light to our path. What more do we need as we seek God’s will than direction. I can think of no better way to think on God’s Word then memorizing it. I have found the easiest way to memorize is to break each verse into sections, and repeat each until I know it by heart. I then go unto the next section until I have the entire verse memorized. I have heard it done other ways as well. For example, one girl who had memorized whole books of the bible would repeat the verse over and over, putting emphasis on a different word each time. I also like to memorize short books at a time instead of random verses to help me keep track of review.

Psalm 36 says, “I will praise the Lord continually.” How are we to do that? One godly elderly woman set a timer as she was working to remind her throughout the day to give praise God. Looking at the scriptures one word at a time seems to give a great perspective-especially when going to sleep at night.

Death is not common talk around young people today. Unlike the fantasy death of the teenage culture so impenetrating the church today, Hebrews declares that we are “to be seeking a homeland.” For “if they (the patriarchs), had called to mind the place which they had come out, they might have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called there God, for He has prepared a city for them.” All throughout the word of God we have examples of those who died well, and those who died wickedly. While Absalom died cursing his father, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses died blessing the people of God and looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Death can come at any time…are we prepared? It has been a blessing to me to read the stories of the Huguenot and Covenanter martyrs. Their faith is an example to all.

A third thing that came to my mind was family life. I doubt than any normal girl (or boy…I would imagine) has in difficulty in thinking of marriage. It’s a natural desire. But how often do we think of life after the wedding; the difficulties of raising a family that will make an impact for God’s kingdom. Are we preparing ourselves?

-Building the Kingdom of God- As I am often reminded by our pastor, the kingdom is only taken by force. But by what force; the force of money and buildings or the force of love? We are often influenced by the culture around us and the church (Yes… the reformed church as well!) that the only way to build God’s kingdom is to become a foreign missionary, give money, or join an organization. We often forget that making a meal for our family, being a friend to the lonely visitor at church, or being an example of piety and godliness to a younger sibling is building the kingdom as well.

The Future is a fact that has loomed upon every person throughout history. It is not the wise or experienced that is to encounter it, but the young. Each time differs in what we will be facing, therefore it would be wise to study our times. In A.D. 60, for example, the next generation had to prepare for a world turned upside down-a world without Rome. In 1740 A.D. the next generation would be the creators of a “city on a hill,” a nation that would embrace Christianity for the next century. The future now, is unknown. But we can expect that the kingdom will not come easily. Whether facing opposition by communism, Psychology, Armenian dispensationalism, or Islam we know the kingdom of God will eventually be victorious over the kingdom of darkness. How will this next generation play a part in this great act of God? Only time will tell, the least we can do is prepare to be useful in God’s service. As one friend encouraged me, the great men of God going before us will have worked their whole lives in vain if their children do not carry on that vision. Those of us standing on the shoulders of such giants, have nothing to be proud of, and everything to work toward.

What do we actually believe, and how can I be consistent with that belief in my life? Theology is something I love to study, but how often do I ask how it actually applies to life? If I declare myself to adhere to the doctrine of Calvinism, How do I act according to that belief? For example, I would base my life upon accountability structures (parents, elders, etc.) so as to protect myself from the deceitfulness of myself: man is depraved. Or I when I wake up in the morning I wouldn’t be worried about getting everything done, since God is sovereign over my schedule. Titus 2 commands young men to be sound in doctrine; I would presume young women are to be as well although that may not be their primary focus.

The decisions we make now will determine the course of our life; whether we will build God’s kingdom or our own. Galatians 6:7-9 declares, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he also shall reap. He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, and he who reaps to the Spirit, will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” So many people today are expecting a good family, a loving marriage, or a successful job, yet they are only setting themselves up to be disappointed for they didn’t sow seeds of blessing. Will we, the next generation follow the same path to destruction?

The Battle

Satan trembled

He shrank away

The battle was ending

It was his day

His day to fail

His day to die

Jesus had come

Even he knew why

He came to save

Hung on that tree

His life he gave

On Calvary

He gathered his demons

“I’ll kill him” he said

Little did he know

He’d be crushed on the head

With vigor he set out

And tempted the LORD

But he miserably lost

When He spoke His Word

He tried to kill

Him on the cross

But when he arose

It was Satan’s loss

So Jesus came

He came to save

He conquered the world

The gift he gave

by my brother

The Legacy of America's First President

Peyton Randolph, born in the September of 1723 in Williamsburg Virginia, is now forgotten in the labyrinth of modern history. But he was no ordinary colonist, having served twice in the presidency as well as numerous other leadership statuses. At age thirteen he began a self-guided study of the classics and so was prepared to study at London’s Inner Temple at an early age. His numerous other accomplishments include Attorney General of Virginia, delegate at Burgess, and tutor and the College of William and Mary where he taught the great orator and statesman, Patrick Henry.
Another remarkable feat of his was multitasking-to an extreme level. Randolph, well versed in many languages, taught himself to write two letters at the same time, on two separate topics, in two different languages (Grant).
He served his first term in September 5, 1774, but retired in October of the same year due to unfortunate health. He however, took up office a second time in the May of 1775 when he again was forced to give the office up soon after. He would be followed by fifteen others, many of them as great as Randolph himself.
Yet, for all his prodigy, those surrounding him did not consider him particularly unusual. In fact, his young disciple, Thomas Jefferson said of him, “He was not particularly extraordinary.” Were his companions just blind to this, or was such great learning the norm of early America?
Why, when we enter into the capitols of our country, we see celebrated our presidents. They are applauded, and taught of, and even blamed, but no mention is made of the first sixteen who dared pioneer the way to our current freedom. Has the history of these men been blotted out of the history textbooks, to be remembered no more? The key to unlocking this great mystery lies in the hearts of the American people and their view on education.
The literacy rate has been slowly declining as the morality drops ahead of it. As the morality falls, the public response is to “educate” more. The problem is devastating. Education does not lead to morality, morality leads to education. This lesson, so characterized in the life of our first president, cannot be changed without seeing the ruinous results we see today in American society.
Such tactful sayings as, “children have the right to be educated” appear all over the school system. Outwardly it sounds appealing, but inwardly the consequences are children with no desire to learn. R.J. Rushdoony says of this pragmatic influence of the Dewey system, “The pupil is…a person with rights rather than responsibilities. Instead of being accountable to God, parents, teachers, and society, the pupil can assert that God, parents, teachers, and society are responsible to him. (Rushdoony)” Proverbs as well states, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter. (Prov. 25:2)” Peyton Randolph is a living reminder of a man who had the principle to understand that he had the responsibility to learn.

Grant, George-The Forgotten Presidents ©2002
Proverbs 25:5 New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Rushdoony, Rousas John- The Messianic Character of American Education quoted in Sir William Blackstone and the Common Law by Robert D. Stacey, Ph.D. © 2008

May Testimony to the Work of God in my Life

To begin with, I cannot say I as an individual am being saved, but rather that of my covenant family. For although my parents acknowledged the work of God in their life long before I came into this world; nevertheless, I have been chosen as a daughter of heavenly father by means of by earthly father’s leadership on my behalf and that of my family. Nor can I say that I have as some would phrase it, “an exciting and miraculous testimony,” thought I think it just has miraculous that the God of the Universe might look upon me, while so many others are in the brink of death and Hades forever. Of such I am eternally thankful. Instead of being plucked out of the fire with others being on guard, lest they spot their garments with what might have so dangerously spotted mine, I was plucked at the tender age of ten, and yet the ugliness of sin still abounded in me.

I must therefore admit, that at the first six years of life on this earth, my parents had not yet come to the realization that the churches we attended did not live completely to the standard of the gospel. I do not mean to say, that any church might come to perfection on this earth, yet these churches were, instead of drawing closer to God, drawing away by means of worldly cares, divisions, and as a whole the segregation of the family. I will say, but by the grace of God, I might have turned from the covenant of my father had we stayed in such a place.

But God, in his infinite wisdom brought my family to visit a local church on behalf of the homeschooling we heard thrived there. My mother, at an early age had decided that should God grant her any children she would teach them herself. This, I must be thankful, brought me to realization of the true doctrines of Scripture. We never left after that first Sunday, and have been ever since in that church. God, in his perfect wisdom, used imperfect churches on our behalf.

When I was ten, I requested to be baptized. Of the exact time of my conversion I know not. It seems sometimes that God works over a period of time instead of an immediate and obvious altar call. Because it was winter, I was baptized in the comfort of the church service. Not so my brother.

When my brother was ten he was baptized into the faith as well. We spent many an afternoon in wading in the creek, looking for the best spot for the ever approaching day. When we arrived with about 200 from the church it was pouring rain. Though some desired to wait it out, our courageous pastor decided to go for it…during the heights of a drenching thunderstorm. We to this day joke that my brother was sprinkled, poured, and immersed the rain so persisted! It was a fitting entry for my brother to be introduced into Christian manhood. Sadly, the seven and eight year old girls baptized alongside him had quite the fright in the frigid waters.

But I digress; I must say our family’s experience with failed adoption grew me most toward Christian womanhood. I was twelve when we decided to adopt a baby that was soon to be born. After months of preparation from paperwork and interviews, to planning the trip to pick the baby up, it was all faith building. We named the girl Moriah, after the mount of Abraham’s testing. During this time, with my mother busy with preparation I was now informally given the task of care for my siblings. Although I had much to learn, I believe that was the beginning my interest in learning the art of my calling, namely, homemaking. Sadly after such abundant anticipation and preparation the birth-mother changed, leaving our hopes of another blessing dashed. Ever since we have tried to bring more children into our home, but to no avail.

The very fact that God, before the world was, chose that my family would be brought into his covenant, and that I would be brought up to embrace His goodness is remarkable. I must attain that the very writing of this came by the grace of God that I might read the writings of great men of God’s kingdom as Calvin, Bunyan, Patrick, and Paton. To these I owe greatly for my love of writing and the study of history that will hopefully someday bless my family. Such author in later times as Elizabeth Charles, Douglas Bond, Eleanor H. Porter, and the like have taught me more in the skill of writing than a mere textbook might have. Such great composers as Bach, Handel, Wilbur, and Selbrede have taught me much in the biblical theory behind the music I so enjoy. I must give the honor to by parents for teaching me to read the Word of God firstly, and the great works of Christians in the past that I might grow as a godly woman.