I am listening to Derek Webb right now. Personally, I liked his earlier stuff better, but that is beside the point. Webb has always been a little controversial. Do you remember the whole fiasco about his use of the word "whore" on his amazing song Wedding Dress? "Well I am a whore I do confess, and I put you on just like a wedding dress, and I run down the aisle, to you". Do you remember the ban that some (actually it might have been many) Christian book stores had on Webb's album? Many of you probably have no clue what I am talking about, because you have never heard the CD, because it got pulled from your Christian music store. Here is the point. If you are Abraham Piper and you want only 22 words here it is:

Do you find it ironic that we threw the "prophet" out of our Christian bookstores while embracing the whore that he denounced?

As noted previously, this is the longest chapter in the book. Therefore , we will be breaking it up into approximately 10 different parts. Today you will be treated to the second part, where we will cover the godly man moved by faith and fired by love for God.

The Canvas:

The most oft used brush in the masterpiece of a godly man is the brush of faith. Watson goes on a passionate, almost Pauline, discourse about the preciousness of faith. Faith, says Watson, "cuts us off from the wild olive of nature, and grafts us into Christ." It also, "is the vital artery of the soul...the mother of hope...the ground of patience." It "excites to repentance" and "enlivens graces". He sums this section up well when he says, "the life of a saint is nothing but a life of faith".

As Watson encourages us to "test ourselves by this characteristic" he paints a rather bleak picture of the condition of faith in England during his time. If we have not faith we are not godly. The question, then, that Watson is asking in this section is simple; do you have faith?

Our author makes a beautiful choice placing the "fire" of love for God after faith. Can you really separate the two? As Watson says, "faith and love are the two poles on which all religion turns". And again, "As faith enlivens, so love sweetens every duty". This section is Watson's confession that he is a Christian Hedonist, and that John Piper did not invent it (wink wink). He asks such pointed questions as, "is he our treasure and centre"? "Do we love him for his beauty more than his jewels?" Then he says something that pricks my heart..."Many court him, but few love him". Watson's main contention in this section is that if we are devoid of love for God, then we cannot truly be said to be godly.

Discussion:

Perhaps this question is inappropriate and will lead to endless abuse of Jesus' bride...with trepidation I ask it. What would you consider the state of "faith" in our nation? What about our churches? What about your church? What about your own soul?

After reading Richard Sibbes and remembering some of his quotes about "pitching matters too high", do you feel that Watson may sometimes do this? I am curious to hear a response to this from others that have read both books.

When Watson says "many court him, but few love him", how might we be guilty of "courting him" instead of loving him?

Strokes of Genius:

"A life of a saint is nothing but a life of faith" (p29)

"As faith enlivens, so love sweetens every duty" (p30)

"A godly man loves God and therefore delights to be in his presence; he loves God and therefore takes comfort in nothing without him." (p30)

"Many court him, but few love him." (p31)

Nathan White tells a very heart-felt story about his confrontation with a beggar and then asks a very intriguing question.

I am very intrigued by the series that Phil Johnson is beginning on contextualization. This is a very interesting discussion that is going on in the church. It seems to be one of those things that keep coming up in my life. To be honest, I'm leaning towards what Phil is saying here. Read his introduction here.

This one is for bloggers; Timmy Brister provides live-blogging tips.

The John 3:16 Conference continues to cause a stir. Oh, we who adhere to the doctrines of grace ought to brace ourselves for the bunk that is about to come our way. Dr. Galyon has pointed us in the direction of Jerry Choice Grace. All I can say after reading Grace's article, is "wow"...I am out of my "caged"-Calvinist phase. It's okay with me if you aren't Reformed minded. I understand, I was not at one point as well. But, to totally misrepresent and be so vitriolic is neither fitting to a Calvinist or an Arminian. Read Dr. Galyon's article and tell me what you think.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Tim Keller spoke at the Google HQ. If you get a free hour watch this:
(HT: Buzzard)

Welcome with me a new writer at Borrowed Light; Pastor Terry. Terry is the minister at FBC Palmyra. It is about 20 minutes North from where I minister. He has become a good friend in the last year. The Lord has often used Terry to temper me in my youth. All of us young pastors need a seasoned minister to keep us from going overboard. Terry was looking for a place to express his thoughts, and I figured Borrowed Light would be a great venue for that very thing. Be sure to welcome Terry to this blog.

Chapter 4 is by far the lengthiest chapter in Watson's work. This is, in fact, the body of his entire book. He will here be painting the picture for us of what a godly man looks like. Everything else will be shading, touch ups, rounding, and everything else that makes a painting complete. This is the main picture. Therefore, it will take more than one post to mine this chapter. Today we will look at the godly man and knowledge.

Canvas:

Watson begins by comparing the natural man to the spiritual man. The natural man cannot understand the things of God, therefore he "does not see the evil of his heart" nor does he see "the beauties of the Savior". The believer, the spiritual man, on the other hand, experiences the "sweet and delicious" treasure of having the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. How do you know what type of knowledge you have? Watson gives eight "rare ingredients":

1. It is a grounded knowledge (it is certain)
2. It is an appreciative knowledge (it appreciates the beauty of God)
3. It is an enlivening knowledge (it brings about godly affections)
4. It is an appropriating knowledge (it applies Christ to the soul)
5. It is a transforming knowledge (it changes us)
6. It is a self-emptying knowledge (it brings us out of love for self)
7. It is a growing knowledge (the more you have the more you desire)
8. It is a practical knowledge (it is obedient in practice)

Watson then gives three uses for this doctrine of knowledge. The first of which is to "test ourselves" by this characteristic. By which Watson means, let us see if we have this godliness. He then gives three tests:

• Those who are still in the region of darkness do not have godly knowledge. Watson here does not necessarily mean the darkness of sin. It seems that Watson is more concerned with darkness of being ignorant of the knowledge of God. This knowledge does indeed lead to a hatred of sin, yet, it is also much more.
• Those who do not know God experimentally do not have godly knowledge. These are the men that know about God, yet they do not know God experientially. They have "head" knowledge but not "heart" knowledge.
• Those that have "knowledge" but do not trust Christ do not have godly knowledge. This point is very close to the preceding, the only addition is the application of Christ. It is one thing to know that there is a Savior, it is quite another to trust in him personally. As Watson eloquently puts it, "many in the old world knew there was an ark, but were drowned, because they did not get into it."

The second use of this doctrine is to encourage the those that do not have it to labor for this good knowledge of the Lord. The knowledge that Watson is here referring to is "saving knowledge". How do we get this knowledge? It is not by our power or might, but by God's mercy.

The third use of this doctrine is for those that have found that they do, indeed, have saving knowledge. Watson says that we ought to "bless God for it". We ought to be forever thankful for the work that God has done in us.

Discussion:

Do you agree that, "to compare other things with God is to debase deity"?

On page 25, Watson says, "many Christians are no better than baptized heathens". Is it fitting to refer to them as Christians?

Does this knowledge of God, "usher in salvation" or is it the essence of salvation? (p26)

I find Watson's counsel to the unconverted a little lacking on page 26-27. It is right and true to speak of the work of God in the salvation of the sinner. It is even permissible to let them know that salvation is not ultimately in their hands. Yet, we are called to urge them to repentance and trusting in Christ. Watson does suggest that they "implore the help of God's Spirit". Is this fitting counsel, or ought he to urge them to repentance and belief?

Strokes of Genius:

"True knowledge animates." (p21)

"True knowledge brings a man out of love with himself". (p23)

"There is no going to heaven blindfold." (p25)

"It is one thing not to know, another thing not to be willing to know..." (p25)

"Knowledge which is not applied will only light a man to hell. It would be better to live a savage than to die an infidel under the gospel."

Ed Stetzer has linked to a quote from Rob Zinn. Find the story here. This is one of the quotes:

"Jesus gave a commission to His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations," Rob Zinn, senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, Calif., said in the convention's annual sermon. "We are a denomination that talks a lot but does little when it comes to evangelism... "Folks, what you did in the '40s and what you did in the '50s isn't going to win this culture to Jesus," Zinn said. "One of the things we are losing right now is our kids." While Southern Baptists must never change "the man [Jesus], the message [the Gospel] or the mission," they must be willing to change methods like the kind of music used in worship if they are going to reach a new generation in a changed culture, Zinn said. His voice cracking with emotion, Zinn said: "My heart is bursting for a generation of people who are lost and dying and going to hell. It's not about you. It's about Him [Jesus], and He loves them all."

Here is my question for you. My spidey-senses tingle when I read that quote. But just like Spidey sometimes I'm not sure why they are tingling. Is it just gas? For the life of me I can't put my finger on what rubs me wrong in this quote. Can you?