Kuyperian Commentary

On February 9, 2022 By Uri Brito In Culture Like

Joe Rogan and the Case for Long Conversations

These last few days have been filled with long conversations with dear friends. I treasure them and their words with my heart. On one evening, we delved into each other’s lives and history; on another evening, we spent time dissecting the glories and agonies of life; and the other night, we sat around good food and delved–again–deep into our histories and who the shaping figures are in our lives. Even though parents speak in fragments to one another, I trust even those incomplete sentences–interrupted seven or eight times by the needs of four-year-olds–bore good fruit.

This is all a tribute to good conversation; the kind that leaves an imprint on the next day, and the next day. I am the kind of romantic who believes discipleship happens like that; through long conversations in the right direction. Some intimate, some intriguing, but always stimulating. There are people, and then there are people who are curious. The latter make good friends. These friendships are enriched by resurrection meals around a fire in good and in bad times.

One of the blessings I’ve had over the years is to speak freely about a host of issues that few pastors wish to discuss on social media, unless, of course, they take upon themselves anonymous identities. I met with a pastor a few months ago who wondered if I get a lot of “hate” from readers for the things I say. I was genuinely puzzled by his words. I simply take it as an exercise in written dialogue with others. Yes, some don’t like this or that, but I will take that rather than this sentiment.

I am part of a denomination that rarely if ever makes the map when it comes to national discourse. Our pastors are not well known; with few exceptions, they don’t make headlines, and when we do, it’s to engage in intramural discussions that 0.001% of evangelicals care to ponder and the other times, we find ourselves as the amusement of leftists.

I actually find this lack of exposure fairly comforting. It means that I, as a pastor of a growing congregation, have the luxury of opining about a host of topics I find to be biblically important, culturally necessary, and pastorally expedient without distractions. This allows me to minister to a small group of people that are interested in growth and find arguments built in lengthy paragraphs compelling.

In some ways, my goal of writing has always been to slowly, but surely, convince my readers that building frameworks for life are important, and thinking about current issues or rituals through a Christian perspective is crucial for the well-being of any society. I am still a believer in long-form conversation and dialogue about the good, true and beautiful, and I view it as an investment in the kingdom of God.

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On February 5, 2022 By Uri Brito In Scribblings Like

Discipleship and Formation

Our evangelical churches stress the importance of discipleship. It is good and necessary. But discipleship is often discussed in the context of intellectual learning; a fact-finding mission. However, there is more to discipleship than data.

Discipleship in the Bible is also the cultivation of bodily postures. The Bible trains us to move and live and to have our being in God. True discipleship must include learning to kneel, raise hands, eat, sing, show affection, speak gently, receive, give, sit, and stand in the presence of God and others.

When we formulate a discipleship curriculum without incorporating common biblical rituals we are secularizing biblical formation and turning it into an encyclopedic course and a data-gathering mission.

KC Scribblings are quotes or short sections of readings and thoughts.

On February 3, 2022 By Bill Smith In Culture, Discipleship, Family and Children, Men, Wisdom Like

Sexual Mission

Sexual restraint in our Western culture is not a virtue. To deny your urges for sexual expression is, at the least, a passé morality of a puritanical by-gone era or, at most, abusive. Sexual expression is practically a sacred right, codified by law-making bodies and upheld by the courts under the constitutional privilege of “right to privacy.” Even so-called conservatives become libertarian when it comes to questions of sexual morality. What people do in the privacy of their own bedrooms or how they want to identify themselves sexually should be up to them, and no one should be able to say anything negative about them or deny them any privileges that those who live out “traditional sexual morality” enjoy. This lack of personal and authoritative discipline seems fine until you are dealing with sexually transmitted infections, rampant illegitimacy, homosexuals demanding to be “married,” and Johnny proclaiming himself a female so that he can shower with the girls whom he recently beat in some athletic competition.

Our sexual lives are not private. They are a part and parcel to the world-building, dominion project that God gave us as his image from the beginning. For this reason, they are public; not in the sense of being open to voyeurs, but rather in the sense of having public ramifications. Our sexual lives are created to serve our mission as humanity. When unrestrained by that context, sexual expression becomes bondage to sin leading to death. For this reason, God has called us to discipline our sexual appetites.

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On January 27, 2022 By Bill Smith In Discipleship, Wisdom Like

Self-Discipline: No Pain. No Gain.

We are living in an ever-increasing fragile world. Many in our society are not tough-minded or self-disciplined anymore. They are slaves to the comforts of their own minds and desires. The origins of this problem are many. Parents have coddled children, not allowing them to face any sort of discomfort, always rescuing them immediately when they express pain, giving into their every desire, and certainly not painfully challenging their children in any way. They let them fall to pieces and are “understanding,” and, consequently, they never learn any sort of mental toughness. If someone disagrees with them, challenges their view of the world, they become “Karens,” yelling and screaming and seeking to eliminate the one who is making them uncomfortable, making the entire world a safe space. Institutions have kowtowed to these adult-sized infants and institutionalized this mental bubble-wrap. These undisciplined minds can’t face the challenges of the real world. Because of this, they will eventually be crushed, whether through the weight of reality that they can’t control, or they will implode because they are ticking timebombs of fear, anger, and discontentment. Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt have documented and evaluated these phenomena in their book The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up A Generation For Failure.

God has called us, in one sense, to be anti-fragile, which means that he wants us to grow up and be able to handle the challenges he puts before us. If we are to accomplish the mission of dominion, he has given us, there must be some degree of anti-fragility that comes through self-discipline.

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On January 26, 2022 By Uri Brito In Culture, Wisdom 1

The Guru of Common Sense and the Christian Call

The Peterson/Rogan interview is blowing up the interwebs. Four hours of conversation ranging from climate change and the significance of the Bible in shaping language and culture. I made mention to someone that Peterson channeled the great Francis Schaeffer when he spoke of the Bible as truer than true. The late apologist wanted to speak of truth as something more foundational; something more rooted. He coined the phrase “true truth” to convey this sense of certainty in the God of Scriptures. Of course, to be clear, Peterson is not yet a member of First Baptist of Pascagoula. If anything, he’s embraced a sensical priestly role in our secularized society.

The interview is fascinating on a number of levels, but more importantly, in my mind, is the closeness to sanity I see abounding in sundry platforms, especially on the world’s largest, namely Joe Rogan. Now, I am aware of the traps that certain purists warn us about and I despise the kind of generalism associated with the media. Observations about “God” generally don’t mean much, and I try to develop allergic reactions to such instinctive. Nevertheless, as one who observes and follows social trends, there is certainly a shift in orientation taking place in our society.

Bill Maher’s atheism affords him a little dose of common grace here and there, but if you told me that Bill Maher was going to be a voice of reason in 2022 on matters pertaining to COVID, I would have said you are as high as Bill Maher on a typical Saturday. But alas, sanity is prevailing. There is less stupidity going around.

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On January 24, 2022 By Mark Horne In Theology Like

Against Nature

In Romans 2:27-28 we read:

Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
ESV

This translation translates as “physically” and “physical” two entirely different words. In verse 28, Paul designates “true” Jews as having more than a circumcision en sarki “in flesh.” Paul’s use of the term “flesh” is complex. The word has a bunch of biblical associations beyond “physical.”

But in this post I want to consider his terminology in verse 27. There he refers to Gentiles as the ek phuseos akrobustia—the “by nature uncircumcision.”

What?

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On January 20, 2022 By Bill Smith In Family and Children, Wisdom Like

Parental Discipline

The way of wisdom in Proverbs is the way of discipline. Solomon’s concern for discipline is heard from his opening words. We don’t pick up on it too readily because translations render the Hebrew word musar as “instruction” in some places and “discipline” in others. “Instruction” is not a bad translation, but we tend to reduce instruction to the verbal communication of truths from one brain to another. The Hebrew word, however, more literally speaks of a “chastening lesson,” which, I believe, is better rendered as “discipline” (though even that translation has connotations in English that may be misunderstood). Solomon desires that his son know wisdom and discipline (1.2), to receive the discipline of wisdom (1.3), to hear the discipline of his father (1.8). Fools despise wisdom and discipline (1.7).

The discipline of wisdom is the training of mind and body to produce a specific character that will cause you to fulfill your God-given purpose and enjoy God’s promised rewards. There are numerous sources for discipline, people and situations that are aimed at shaping our character. A primary source for discipline in Proverbs is parents. Parents are exhorted by Solomon not to neglect the discipline of children (19.18; 23.13-14). This training involves positive examples of discipline in the lives of the parents themselves, making the truth of God beautiful in their own lives. Parents must train also with positive, purposeful habits that give direction to their children as well as instructing them through teaching. Because the hearts of our children are bound up with foolishness (22.15), discipline also involves correction.

One parental tool that is prominent in Proverbs for this corrective training is the rod. It is not an exclusive tool. The rod and reproof–verbal rebuke and instruction–give wisdom (29.15). However, the rod is a tool, an obviously necessary tool, in the training of children.

Images come into our head when we read or hear “the rod.” Maybe the switch that you had to cut from the tree for your daddy to spank you comes to mind. You might think of a wooden spoon, paddle, belt, or some other instrument of pain that was applied to your seat of learning. If you’ve ever been spanked well, it is understandable that the instrument and its effects are all that come to mind.

Those images are not absent from the biblical use of “the rod,” but they are incomplete. The rod is the instrument of a shepherd and, therefore, a king (see Ps 23.4). In fact, it can be translated “scepter” (see Pss 2.9; 45.6; 89.32). While it can be used to destroy (see Ps 2.9), that is all a part of a larger purpose: to put the world in proper order.

Parents are rod-bearers, shepherd-kings of our children. We are shepherd-kings with God-given authority and a God-given instrument to be wielded to set put our children’s worlds in order; to train them so that they relate properly to God, others, and the non-human creation. The rod is not used arbitrarily or for selfish purposes. It is not an instrument of frustration that divides you from your children. The rod is used to set relationships right, which means that it must be applied in such a way in parent-child relationships that reconciliation and peace are the aims. Your child is not your enemy and should not be treated as such. You are not out to destroy him with the rod. Yes, the rod is an instrument of pain, and corrective discipline, just like all discipline, is painful (see Heb 12.4-11). But the pain is aimed at positively shaping your child’s character so that he avoids what is destructive and embraces what is life-giving.

Avoiding physical pain in corrective discipline is popular in some circles. If any pain is involved at all, these parents believe that psychological pain is sufficient. Scolding, isolation, removal of privileges, and things as such are seen as adequate applications of the “rod principle.” While these methods can be useful at times, we shouldn’t discount what the Bible says about physical pain in correction. Our children are not disembodied psyches. Training the mind through the body and the body through the mind are both needed. Enduring physical pain helps train the mind as much as enduring psychological pain trains the body. The two are interrelated. Neither should be neglected.

The aim of all our discipline is to shape the character of our children so that they embrace the way of wisdom with all their hearts. Parents, God has given you the authority and tools to do this. Wield them wisely.

On January 13, 2022 By Bill Smith In Culture, Family and Children, Politics, Pro-Life, Theology 1

Blasphemy Laws

While people condemn the blasphemy laws in God’s law as being barbaric and severe, every society has blasphemy laws. These are the laws that tell you what you can and can’t say about certain people and subjects; “gods” you must worship or, at least, refrain from criticizing. These laws are not arbitrary. They tell you who defines the culture and what the culture is. They tell you who the gods of the culture are; that is, what or who is worshiped. Sometimes these laws are codified and enforced by authorities. At other times they are general cultural practices that are endorsed by the authorities’ unwillingness to stand against injustice. Pressure by activists is put on companies to conform to their morality. If they don’t conform, they will be canceled or attacked. Whether codified or passive among government officials, or a loud, powerful, cultural movement, blasphemy laws exist, and violators will be prosecuted.

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On January 10, 2022 By Kuyperian In Culture, Family and Children 1

Rhythms and Rituals for Adoring the King

Guest Post by Grant Van Brimmer

We all develop daily routines and rhythms. We all have morning routines, whether well regimented or not, whether that is to always sleep in or to rise early. Again, whether well regimented or not, we also have nightly rhythms. Nevertheless, we are creatures of habit. As James K.A. Smith observed, we are inescapably shaped by the various liturgies we partake in. He goes on to say, “Liturgies aim our love to different ends precisely by training our hearts through our bodies. They prime us to approach the world in a certain way, to value certain things, to aim for certain goals, to pursue certain dreams, to work together on certain projects.”[1]

We develop routines, habits, and rhythms because we are liturgical worshipping creatures. The scriptures teach us that we were created to glorify God (Is 43:7), that daily routine matters (Deut 6) and that we become like what we worship (Ps 115).

Here’s where the rubber meets the road: since our daily lives are lived out of what we love and worship, our routines necessarily shape us. This should cause us to take stock of our routines and consider what might need to change.

Here is a question of appraisal: How often do you verbally proclaim Jesus is King, even if just to yourself?

In the incredibly helpful work Pro Rege: Living Under Christ’s Kingship: Volume 1, Abraham Kuyper contrasts the popular view of Christ within Christian circles with the view of Mohammad in Muslim circles.

Even if you haven’t experienced firsthand the deep adoration Muslims have for Allah and his Prophet Muhammad, most know that it is detestable to speak lightly of Muhammad in Muslim culture.

The discipline of this adoration is commendable. It is also a harsh indictment on evangelicals. Most evangelicals don’t feel any inner anguish when we hear pagans use the name of King Jesus as a swear word. Rather than Jesus’ name being highly revered because it is by which men may be saved (Acts 4:12), it is treated as common.

Kuyper notes that more than the mandatory five prayers a day, many devout Muslims even add a couple of voluntary prayers throughout the day. Kuyper says, “Altogether, this adds up to approximately 1,800 prayers per year, and for some Muslims over 2,500 prayers. In each of them, the commemoration of Muhammad occurs between four and five times. This means that every single worshiper commemorates the name of Muhammad more than ten thousand times per year.”[2] No wonder it is unthinkable to treat their prophet’s name lightly.

Kuyper admits that there is certainly a mechanical (meaningless) element to this practice. Christians must admit that the reason for the mechanical nature of the Muslim prayer life is due to the fact that they are not offering prayers to the true God or a true prophet of God. Christians must not ditch habit, routine, or personal liturgies, just because a pagan does it wrong.

In light of the desire to be conformed into the image of Christ, we develop habits, or daily liturgies, such as prayer and scripture reading to form us into the type of people we aim to be. May I suggest developing a habit of verbally proclaiming the Kingship of Jesus throughout your day? The goal would be to direct your heart towards a deeper adoration and reverence for our King.

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On January 7, 2022 By Bill Smith In Discipleship, Theology Like

Jesus’ Baptism & Ours

If we would not be too proud to admit it, many of us American Protestants are scared of water. Whenever people start talking about what happens in baptism instead of what doesn’t happen in baptism, many of us start twisting in our seats. Images of superstitious priestcraft and mechanical guarantees of salvation start to swirl through our heads, and we have violent reactions like any good Protestant.

Some of us have seen people presume upon God because they have been baptized. That kind of abuse of baptism has caused us to go to the opposite extreme and reject any effect of baptism at all. Besides that, we know that God wouldn’t use water on our bodies to do anything substantive in regards to our salvation. That all happens directly by the Holy Spirit without any sort of means.

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