Sunday in the Western Theater

For a time in the first part of the war, ancestors on both sides of the family - mine and my wife's - were serving in the same part of the Confederate Army. A number of our North Carolina forefathers were in the 29th N.C. Infantry, commanded by Col. Robert B. Vance; my wife's ancestor, Capt. Samuel C. Godshall, served in the 11th Tennessee under General Rains (and in fact, Vance was in command of Rains' brigade after that officer was killed).

One of the religious histories of the war related a chaplain's visit to these units in the spring of 1863, somewhere in central Tennessee:

Rev. S. M. Cherry, one of the most devoted chaplains in the army, gives an account of the revival at this period in McCown’s division, to which he was attached as chaplain of the 2d Georgia battalion. … “While riding on,” says Mr. Cherry, “I met with Rev. Dr. Bunting, chaplain of the Texas Rangers, who kindly consented to preach for us. We found General Ector’s Texas brigade, and Colonel Vance’s brigade, of North Carolina and Georgia troops, concentrated in a glade of rough rocks and gloomy cedars. Both commanders are official Church-members, and never object to preaching even on the outpost. Soon one thousand of our soldiers were grouped about the spot selected for Sabbath morning service. It was a grand sight to behold such a vast assemblage, seated upon the rugged rocks, to listen eagerly to the words of life. … While all listened so attentively, I could be contrast the scene with the bloody charge made by the same men when the gallant General Rains fell upon a spot very similar to our preaching place. The theme of the preacher was: ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,’ and strong were his arguments and earnest his appeals to impress indeliby upon their hearts the truths of his sermon.”

From Chapter XVII, “Spring of 1863”, in William Wallace Bennett, A Narrative of the Great Revival which Prevailed in the Southern Armies, (Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger, 1877), pp. 266-266 (Accessed via Google Books, 2 Mar 2008).

Missed Opportunity?

A large mainstream church in the capital city is installing a 6000-pipe organ. Fine, I like organs, though I hope they don't overpower the Messiah sing-in this year.

I think they may have gone a bit far when the music minister was quoted in the big city paper calling it "an evangelism tool, not just for [our church] but for us as Christians."

The Metropolitan Tabernacle in London only sang a capella. Imagine what Charles Spurgeon could have done if he'd had an organ to go along with the preaching.

Liebster Jesu

Blessed Jesus, at thy word,
We are gathered all to hear thee;
Let our hearts and souls be stirred
Now to seek and love and fear thee,
By thy teachings, sweet and holy,
Drawn from earth to love thee solely.

All our knowledge, sense, and sight
Lie in deepest darkness shrouded
Till thy Spirit breaks our night
With the beams of truth unclouded.
Thou alone to God canst win us;
Thou must work all good within us.

Glorious Lord, thyself impart,
Light of Light, from God proceeding;
Open thou our ears and heart,
Help us by thy Spirit's pleading;
Hear the cry thy people raises,
Hear and bless our prayers and praises.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Praise to thee and adoration!
Grant that we thy Word may trust
And obtain true consolation
While we here below must wander,
Till we sing thy praises yonder.

Trinity Hymnal no. 220

No, Let's Don't Build A Bridge

Russell Moore of Southern Baptist Seminary raises a critical point about Paul's sermon to the Athenians on Mars Hill -- what Paul was not doing was building a bridge to their culture:

Paul did not start speaking in Athens with a “common ground” idea of a generic god, and then reason along to Jesus. He started with the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth, proclaiming among the Gentile philosophers exactly what he had proclaimed among the Jewish rabbis: that God had raised him from the dead. Where Paul starts is also where he ends: with the guarantee that God will bring about judgment found in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (17:31).

Yes, Paul takes note of the altar to the unknown god, and yes, he quotes pagan poets. But in neither case is he “building a bridge,” at least not in the way the “engagers” wish to do. He is not saying, “You see part of the truth already, so let me show you what you already partly believe.”

... Paul’s discourse on the Areopagus is strikingly different from many Christians’ attempts to be relevant to popular culture. He points to the Athenians’ culture not so much to bring out what they know as what they deny.

An excellent article on the need to understand popular culture but not to be imitators of it. Some things to wince at but good to consider (or re-consider).

(HT: Stephen Gambill, The Reformed Pastor )

The Biblical Pattern of Snow

If you're looking at the King James Version, the Bible mentions snow 24 times. This includes ten passages using snow as a standard of whiteness; two as symbolic of purity; and the rest mention it as a meteorological or seasonal event.

Whatever the purpose, it's accumulating in our yard this evening.

A theological link between the Democrats

I just finished reading The Preacher and the Presidents, a new book about the interaction of evangelist Billy Graham with twelve presidential administrations. Reflecting on this and some other reading, I realized there was a connection between the Carter and Clinton administrations -- both Jimmy Carter and Hillary Clinton have read and sought to apply the teachings of Reinhold Niebuhr, a modern liberal theologian who was quite critical of Billy Graham over the years. I also ran across Barack Obama's claim of Niebuhr as his favorite philosopher.

However, I wasn't the first to connect the dots. Benedicta Cipolla's September '07 article for the Religious News Service, posted here at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, explains that "Reinhold Niebuhr is [the] unseen force in 2008 elections."

Good or bad? I haven't read Niebuhr, but from what I do hear of him, it doesn't advance any Democrats in my estimation. Tillich is in there, too. On the other hand, I have read Bonhoeffer and saw both some encouragement and some trouble spots. All three have been mentioned by or in connection with Carter and Clinton (Ms).

Even Though

"Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls --

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."

-- Habakkuk 3:17-19

The Problem and The Solution

Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.

Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfil thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.

-- Trinity Hymnal, no. 421

Endorsement Watch 12-28-07

It's been quiet the last few weeks so I haven't been posting on this thread. However, Robert Novak's column on Huckabee's mixed reception among fellow Southern Baptists pointed out one I missed: Judge Paul Pressler, a conservative leader among Texas Baptists, endorsed Fred Thompson on December 7.

The former Texas Court of Appeals judge said he believes Thompson is a true conservative and can win.

"Fred Thompson has the experience, convictions and dedication to make him a great candidate and a great president," Pressler said in a statement released by the Thompson campaign. "He knows Washington but is not part of the Washington system. Fred is the consistent conservative in the presidential race and is the most electable."

(Baptist Press, 12/7/07)

Meanwhile, an op-ed from months ago, lauding the death of the Religious Right, is still being published as current, most recently on December 26 in the Westminster, MD Community News:

Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee, the only ordained Baptist minister in the race, is
almost totally ignored by his fellow Christians .... Huckabee’s only evangelical
endorsement comes from Tim LaHaye, co-author of the “Left Behind” novels — which may be the appropriate title for Huckabee’s campaign.

This has been decidedly untrue for at least six weeks, as I reported a month and a half ago. I'm surprised any news editor is so unaware of the current situation that he would run this column without at least editing that paragraph.

Ron Paul on evolution: "I don't accept it as a theory"

Ron Paul was asked to clarify his views on evolution, as a follow-on to the question posed to GOP candidates recently. This is his reply, as nearly as I get it from the video:

“Well, first, I thought it was very inappropriate question, you know, for the presidency to be decided on a scientific matter ...

And I think it’s a theory, the theory of evolution, and I don’t accept it as a theory. The Creator that I know created us, every one of us, and created the universe, and the precise time and manner and all, I just don’t think we’re at a point that anybody has absolute truth on either side …”

I'm not sure what to make of Paul's reply, and not knowing where the exchange took place doesn't help. The hesitancy of his answer makes me wonder if it was an ad hoc statement rather than a conviction, and if the former, there's little point in dissecting his comment pro or con.

Incidentally, I have not heard of any prominent evangelical leaders who have endorsed Paul's candidacy, but I do know he's got serious support in some evangelical and conservative Catholic circles. He also has a contingent of homeschool supporters, including Isabel Lyman, but I'm not sure how many of them would identify themselves as "evangelical" for political purposes.

N.C. one of top 10 Baptist news stories, 2007

According to the survey by the Associated Baptist Press, "Turmoil" in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is one of the top ten Baptist news stories for 2007:

Years of pro-SBC conservatives consolidating their grip on the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s leadership led most of the state convention’s affiliated agencies -- including three colleges and the state’s Woman’s Missionary Union -- to distance themselves from the convention. In response, messengers to the annual meeting voted to defund WMU. They also expelled a prominent and historic Charlotte congregation, Myers Park Baptist Church, for its stance on accepting gays and lesbians, prompting national headlines in the secular press.

I remember a conversation I had with an SBC pastor prior to our move back to North Carolina in 1996. The region of Louisiana where we lived was full of Reformed, Baptist churches (punctuation is intentional) -- at least five congregations within a reasonable drive of our home, both independent and SBC-affiliated. I was trying to reconnoiter the church situation back in the Carolinas and called a few pastors in the area we were contemplating, hoping to find if there were any like-minded churches there (remember, this is pre-Web for most of us, and the Founders Conference was trying hard not to look like a sub-denomination within the SBC).

I asked the pastor of a moderately large church whether he knew of any Baptist churches that were teaching "the doctrines of grace", and there was a pause, almost a sigh, on his end of the line, before he said, "You have to understand; here in North Carolina, Baptists are still debating whether the Bible is literally true or not. They're not to that level of theological sophistication yet."

I think I've seen the larger N.C. association continue to move to the conservative side since then, and the moderate party consolidating itself as a subset group (subsitute "fundamentalist" and "liberal" if you feel led). Our congregation, South Smithfield Baptist Church, is not currently a member of either the BSCNC or the Southern Baptist Convention; neither are we hostile toward either. I just mention this as an interesting FYI.

Of course, as I had occasion to mention in my sermon last week, there are sometimes good and Godly reasons that churches -- and I suppose, affiliated ministries -- may find it expedient to separate from organizations.

Endorsement Watch 12-10-07

Theologian Wayne Grudem endorses Mitt Romney as the conservative candidate most likely to beat Giuliani.

"I strongly disagree with a significant number of Mormon theological beliefs, which I find to be inconsistent with the Bible and with historic Christian teachings. But many Mormon teachings on ethics and values are similar to those in the Bible, and those teachings support Romney’s conservative political values," says Grudem.

All They Wanted ...

By the midpoint of the seventeenth century, however, the attitudes of many of the Indians and English had begun to change. With only a fraction of their original homeland remaining, more and more young Pokanokets claimed it was time to rid themselves of the English. The Pilgrims' children, on the other hand, coveted what territory the Pokanokets still possessed and were already anticipating the day when the Indians had, through the continued effects of disease and poverty, ceased to exist. Both sides had begun to envision a future that did not include the other.


For years Philip [the son of Massasoit] had used the promise of war as a way to appease his increasingly indignant warriors. Whenever pushed to an actual confrontation, however, he had always backed down, and it appears that as late as June 23, 1675, he held out hope that war might once again be averted. But instead of providing Philip with the support he so desparately needed to control his warriors, Governor Winslow [the son of Edward Winslow] only made matters worse. Indeed, it was his callous prosecution of Tobias and the others, for Sassamon's murder, that triggered the outbreak of violence. By refusing to acknowledge that Philip's troubles were also his troubles, Winslow was as responsible as anyone for King Philip's War.


In the end, both sides wanted what the Pilgrims had been looking for in 1620: a place unfettered by obligations to others. But from the moment Massasoit decided to become the Pilgrims' ally, New England belonged to no single group. For peace and for survival, others must be accommodated. The moment any of them gave up on the difficult work of living with their neighbors -- and all of the compromise, frustration, and delay that inevitably entailed -- they risked losing everything. It was a lesson that Bradford and Massasoit had learned over the course of more than three long decades. That it could be so quickly forgotten by their children remains a lesson for us today.

-- Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower (pp. 347-348)

Endorsement Watch 11/30/07

Breaking the recent string of Right-To-Life endorsements for Fred Thompson, today Mike Huckabee picked up the Georgia Right To Life PAC, which called him "the only candidate which qualified ... [based on] the positions of the candidates on the life issues, their records on the life issues and their ability to win."

Endorsement Watch 11/28/07

Well, that was quick. Jerry Falwell Jr. has endorsed Mike Huckabee.

Also this week, Huckabee announced the formation of the Faith and Family Values Coalition, which includes a number of evangelical leaders in its starting line up.

While Giuliani's endorsement from Pat Robertson has dominated the discussion for two weeks, seconded by Thompson's collection of right to life endorsements, Huckabee is gathering quite a list of supporters, and not all of them fellow Baptists, either.


New names coming with this announcement:


Randy Alcorn, author and Founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries
Dr. Mark Bailey, President of Dallas Theological Seminary
Phil Burress, President of Citizens for Community Values
Rev. Keith Butler, Founding Pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center Church
Jerry Cox, President of Arkansas Family Council
Michael Farris, Chair of Home School Legal Defense Association
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, Former Chair, Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention
Janet Folger, President of Faith2Action
Dr. Joe Fuiten, Founder of Positive Christian Agenda
Bishop John Gimenez, International Overseer of Rock Ministerial Family
Pastor Anne Gimenez, Co-founder and pastor of Rock Church, Virginia Beach, VA
Thomas Glessner, Founder/President of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates
Michael Heath, Executive Director of Christian Civic League of Maine
Dr. Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind series
Dr. Billy McCormack, Founding National Board Member of Christian Coalition
William J. Murray, Chair of Religious Freedom Coalition
Star Parker, Founder and president of CURE
Jim Pfaff, President and CEO of the Colorado Family Action
Rick Scarborough, Founder and President of Vision America
Kelly Shackelford, Chief Counsel, Liberty Legal Institute
Mathew Staver, Dean of Liberty University Law School
Dr. Jay Strack, President/ Founder of Student Leadership University
Karen Testerman, Founder and Executive Director of the Cornerstone Policy Research

Endorsement Watch 11/27/07

West Virginians for Life endorsed Fred Thompson today, according to his press release on Christian News Wire.

The Providence (RI) reports that the Rhode Island Right to Life Committee has also given their nod to Thompson:

Rita Parquette, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter, explained the local chapter’s choice this way in a statement late last week: “Fred Thompson has had a strong, consistent pro-life record throughout his political career. Thompson opposes abortion and believes the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision was wrongly decided and must be reversed.”

Evangelical Endorsements So Far:

There is also a reference in this article to Michael Farris of HSLDA campaigning for Huckabee in Iowa. I'll count this as an endorsement.

For Rudy Giuliani:
Pat Robertson (Founder, Christian Broadcasting Network)

For Mitt Romney:
Paul Weyrich, (Co-founder, The Moral Majority)
Dr. Bob Jones III (Former president, Bob Jones University)
Dr. John Willke (Founder, National Right To Life)

For Fred Thompson:
National Right To Life Committee
West Virginians for Life
Rhode Island Right to Life Committee

For John McCain:
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)

For Mike Huckabee:
Home School Legal Defense Association PAC
Rev. Donald Wildmon (President, American Family Association)
Rev. Jerry Vines (Former president, Southern Baptist Convention)
Rev. Jimmy Draper (Former president, Southern Baptist Convention)
Rev. Jack Graham (Former president, Southern Baptist Convention)
Stephen Strang (Founder, Charisma magazine)
Dr. Daniel Akin (President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)

Endorsement Watch - 11/25/07

Another quiet week in the evangelical circle, at least as far as presidential endorsements went.

World Net Daily's Bill Press says that Mike Huckabee has been endorsed by author Tim Lahaye, which may not be the best news to get:

Huckabee's only evangelical endorsement comes from Tim LaHaye, co-author of the "Left Behind" novels – which may be the appropriate title for Huckabee's campaign.

Press is wrong, since American Family Association's Don Wildmon has already endorsed Huckabee. But I won't add Lahaye to the list until I get another news reference, though.

Jerry Falwell Jr., son of the Jerry Falwell, was featured in the Lynchburg, Va., News & Advance yesterday, which reported that ...

... Although Falwell Jr. hasn’t been as politically involved as his father, he plans to continue bringing national political speakers to the school. “Convocation is meant to be a forum for business, political and religious leaders to speak - that will always be part of the convocation here,” he said.

Even in the midst of an interview two weeks ago, he got a call from Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

Falwell Jr. has not decided whether to endorse a presidential candidate, he said.

In September, Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes spoke at [Liberty University]. That was about a month after Falwell Jr. began his first semester as
chancellor of Liberty ...

And in older news, Huckabee's campaign website links to a video where author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar comes out for Huckabee.

Endorsement Watch 11-13-07

As previewed yesterday, the National Right to Life Committee endorsed Fred Thompson for president today, reports CNN this afternoon.

The organization's executive director David O'Steen said that in spite of variation in polling results, "the overwhelming consensus has been that he is best positioned to top pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination ... and also, looking at polls against the likely Democrats, he is well-positioned, and we believe [he is] best positioned, to win the presidency of the United States for unborn children."

My take on it: This is a critical endorsement for Thompson, who has an excellent voting record on pro-life issues but has taken flak because of a principled stand that is unpopular among some Republicans -- opposing a Constitutional amendment outlawing abortion, not because he's soft on abortion but because he believes it should be decided by the states (as it was before Roe v. Wade).

Also, Baptist Press reports that three former presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention have endorsed Mike Huckabee.

James (Jimmy) T. Draper Jr., Jack Graham and Jerry
Vines all said they were supporting Huckabee, a fellow Southern Baptist and former president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Draper and Vines served as president of the SBC during the 1980s and played key roles in returning the denomination to its orthodox roots. Graham served as president of the SBC from 2003-05.

My take on this one: Interestingly enough this didn't pick up in my news scrape yesterday. None of these men is a lightning rod like Robertson, Wildmon, or Dobson, but you don't get elected to lead the SBC without long and solid conservative and evangelical credentials; why didn't the mainstream media seem to notice this announcement?

For perspective, membership in the Southern Baptist Convention is over 16 million, which is more than the population of any state except California, Texas, New York, or Florida (and exceeds the combined population of the fourteen smaller states). Don't forget, too, that doesn't count young children in most cases. It's nothing to sneeze at.

A few more interesting endorsements highlighted in the Baptist Press article -- Stephen Strang of Charisma magazine, and Dr. Daniel Akins of our own Southeast Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

Evangelical Endorsements So Far:

For Rudy Giuliani:
Pat Robertson (Founder, Christian Broadcasting Network)

For Mitt Romney:
Paul Weyrich, (Co-founder, The Moral Majority)
Dr. Bob Jones III (Former president, Bob Jones University)
Dr. John Willke (Founder, National Right To Life)

For Fred Thompson:
National Right To Life Committee

For John McCain:
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)

For Mike Huckabee:
Home School Legal Defense Association PAC
Rev. Donald Wildmon (President, American Family Association)
Rev. Jerry Vines (Former president, Southern Baptist Convention)
Rev. Jimmy Draper (Former president, Southern Baptist Convention)
Rev. Jack Graham (Former president, Southern Baptist Convention)
Stephen Strang (Founder, Charisma magazine)
Dr. Daniel Akin (President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)

Endorsement Watch 11-12-07

CNN reports that Fred Thompson will pick up an endorsement from the National Right To Life Committee tomorrow. Three GOP sources told them so, they say.

The New York Times website mentions that NRTL's founder Dr. John Willke has already endorsed Mitt Romney, though.

Stay tuned ... I'll tally tomorrow

A Word in Season, from Isaac Watts

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow'r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.