God's Providence

"God's providence is His constant care for and His absolute rule over all His creation, directing all things to their appointed end for His glory and for the good of His people."

The truth of God's providence is a wonderful comfort to His elect, but an intolerable mystery to those who are counted among His enemies.

"He works in providence by an unseen hand. He works through what we call secondary causes--the actions of people and other living creatures, as well as the so-called laws of nature. God often governs His universe through unwitting and even unwilling instruments."

Quotes from: I Exalt You O God, by Jerry Bridges

Theology MATTERS~ in prayer

Because "theology matters" has become my 'mantra' over the years I was very pleased to read The Secret to a Better Prayer Life by Pastor Joe Thorn (I found his blog this a.m. through Justin Taylor's Between Two Worlds).

Of course, I hope you'll take time to read Pastor Thorn's post, but here are a few highlights:

• I am convinced that one of the best things to help your prayer life is systematic theology.
  
  The more we know of God, the better equipped we are to praise him for who he is.
  
  Good theological meditation of both the glory of God and the heinousness of our corruption will be of great assistance in both knowing and mortifying your sins.
  
  Our thanksgiving will only be as weak as our theology.
  
  At the very least, good theology teaches us to what we may appeal in God when making our requests.
  
  In the end, I believe prayer is impossible without systematic theology. It is the secret of a healthy prayer life. Theology of course is inherent in any prayer, but systematic theology helps us to develop a more holistic, comprehensive and detailed picture of God, self and the world.

"My "mission" in Life...

...is NOT to make you a Calvinist!" I've said this to countless friends and acquaintances over the years, and I mean it!

But, my "mission" is to write on topics that often get shuffled to the "back burner" by most Christian women in our busy world.

I get great pleasure out of discussing topics that your average woman in the church rarely considers, and sometimes doesn't even know how to pronounce! :-)

All I want to do is encourage Christian women to really wrestle with theological issues--cause you most certainly ARE capable of it. Not for the "sport" of it, but for the sanctification it encourages--equipping you to better serve your Saviour, your husband, your family, and your church!

So, if you should begin to consider, understand and embrace the same theology that I've spent so many years considering and refining in my own mind (by God's grace through His Holy Spirit) you just might be surprised at how much beauty you come to see in the TULIP! :-)

Theology 101 - Man-centered theology

I deplore/detest/despise man-centered theology. Harsh words? Maybe.

But when one considers the natural consequences of a man-centered theology and holds it up against Scripture, he/she too will come to deplore it!

Have I completely rid myself of all "man-centered theology"? No.

But because my greatest desire is to read, understand and know God as He has revealed Himself in His Word, I am confident that He, through His Holy Spirit, is able to thoroughly renew my mind and bring it into submission--that's called, sanctification. It's a long and difficult process, but it is His way and I will rest in that.

What is man-centered theology? Well, first of all it's an oxymoron! Because "theology" is the study of God (see further discussion here), it's very telling how easily man redirects the focus toward himself and away from God! Ahhh, the depraved mind! But, I digress...

A man-centered theology looks at God and asks, "What's in it for me?", "What will I gain from a relationship with the Thrice holy, sovereign creator of the universe?", "How do I explain the things of God without reducing myself?".

Some evidences of a man-centered theology:

God wants me to be wealthy.

God want me to be in good health--always.

God saved me because there was something in/about me "worth" saving.

God saved me because I "accepted" Him.

God owes me a life of ease and comfort.

If I follow a prescribed pattern or formula, God must grant me my wish/desire/demand.

I do not deserve to suffer.

I need (fill-in blank) in order to love God more.

I need (fill-in the blank) in order to serve God.

I must have certain elements available/practiced in order to "worship" God.

I want church/worship to be convenient.

I want church/worship to be entertaining.

I want church/worship to be "relevant".

I go to church because it makes me feel good.

I go to church because I like the music.

I go to church because I have friends there.

I go to church because my children like it.

I go to church because it "gets me through the week".

My God does not (fill-in the blank).

My God would never (fill-in the blank).

The list goes on, but you get the picture.

Man-centered theology makes the fatal error of filtering God's Word through MAN's gird, rather than filtering man's thinking through the grid of God's Word! It's an understandable mistake--we are fallen creatures.

However, those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ must abandon their human understanding and strive to reconcile their will and understanding to that which has been revealed by God in His Word. THIS is why we need to and must study theology, so that we can understand and will embrace a God-centered theology!

For further thought and consideration follow these links:

God-centered vs. Man-centered Theology

Another Gospel - The dangers of the "seeker-sensitive", man-centered Gospel

Two Views of the Gospel:Man-centered vs. God-centered (chart)

Comparison of God-centered and Man-centered Worship (chart)

Let's talk about girls/women teaching men, okay?

UPDATE (5/4/07): Frank Turk is adding to the discussion HERE


I love it when Xian men take on the topic of women teaching, and Dan's done just that here,
Biblical Christianity: Girls Gone Exegetical! .

This has been a topic near and dear to me over the years for many reasons, here are just a few:

1) In my young charismatic days I was actively pursuing the pastorate. My "model" was Gloria Copeland and I intended to follow in her foot steps. Yes, I'm serious.

2) I applied to ORU (Oral Roberts University) with plans to do graduate work there in theology in preparation for the pastorate.

3) Just before I met my husband the Lord had begun to dramatically changing my theology (a VERY good thing!) , but I still greatly enjoyed studying and discussing the Bible and Xian living.

4) I greatly enjoyed auditing seminary classes while my husband was earning his ThM--I was one of few women in the class.

5) The seminary we attended gradually began to redefine it's mission and purpose for various courses of study to include women in what had previously been designed and restricted to men preparing for the pastorate.

6) I've always been curious why Xian women tend to avoid theology--studying and discussing.

I hope you'll go on over and read Dan's post plus the comments. Then, I hope you'll either post your thoughts there, or come back over here and comment!

Behind the woodshed, me???

Due to serious and threatening weather conditions for the past 3-4 days, I
haven't had the opportunity to prepare a post for my usual Monday series,
"Theology 101". So, I offer you the following until I am able to sit down and
give some concentrated thought and effort toward "Theology 101" (I've been
thinking on soteriology and sanctification).

Consider this statement in reference to Charles Finney's destructive theology:

I believe that he loved the Lord deeply and destroyed the faith through distortions. And I think that when he got to heaven, God took him behind the woodshed and he got a big whoopin’. And then God said to him, “Enter into the joy of your Master, you idiot.” Don’t get me wrong — we’re all going to get a whoopin’ when we get there. But I hope not that bad.

Then consider this statement as it relates to "going beyond the Bible":

I like Calvin because he says what Calvinists never say: “I don’t know.” When the Bible stops speaking, you stop. But I find preachers who keep on talking. Get your education for one simple reason: to know when God has stopped speaking.

These are important warnings for us as we consider our theology--building and embracing it. I've always understood that I will deserve to "get a whoopin' when we get there", but I really don't want it to be because I was unwilling to say "I don't know"! As I continue to post here at "Practicing Theology", I want to remind you that I don't know A LOT of stuff! I simply want to invite other Xian women to consider some matters they may have previously ignored or thought were "beyond" them.

The quotes above are from the blog of our pastor's son, David "Gunner". Gunner is a student at The Master's Seminary and, along with his dad, recently enjoyed a Winterim class at TMS taught by Dr. John Hannah.

Dr. Hannah indeed does have GREAT wit and wisdom--which not only educates, but cuts to the heart. We GREATLY enjoyed sitting under the teaching of Dr. Hannah while my husband worked on his ThM at DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary). So, you can imagine my "righteous jealousy" when we discovered last week that our pastor was going to attend the class with his son.

Women and theology

(This post has been in my heart for years, on my mind for months, and in my "draft" folder for weeks. But yesterday when I read this, "Realizing that other women share my interest in theology and deep thought has been such a relief to me. After a very long time, I realized that I'm not nearly as weird as I first thought." , by Kim at "Upward Call", I decided the time is right for my post...)

One of my earliest posts here at "Practicing Theology" was, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf (aka theology)?", I asked women to share why they appeared to avoid theology. I also shared that as a woman I perceived myself to be in the minority in my interest, and very often discovered that I was the only woman present in most theological discussions--formal or informal, spectator or active participant.

Several weeks after that post I become aware--via another woman's blog--of a book by an author I'd never read before, and up until then had never heard of. I was drawn to the book because the author had taken on the task of encouraging Xian women to embrace theology rather than shun it. Careful not to "waste" money on an unknown book and author (our "book money" is limited and precious), I borrowed the book from our local library and began reading while on a trip to a conference with my husband.

We hadn't been on the road very long, and I was only 3-4 pages into the introduction when I read something that brought tears to my eyes--because I related so much to what was said. This is what I read,

"In my ministry to women, I encounter a wide spectrum of negative attitudes toward theology, from indifference to hostility. A few women here and there may find theology fascinating, may even devote a lot of time to study it, but they are exceptional and, in the opinion of some, a little peculiar. Most women cannot be bothered." (emphasis mine)

I read this outloud to my husband who did not chide me for my tears--he knew how "odd" I'd felt all these years. (Throw in the fact that for 19 yrs. of my married life I have been childless AND worked full-time outside the home--that really adds up to "peculiar" in the eyes and minds of many!)

I went on to read this,

"But perhaps even more serious an obstacle is the way Christian women have come to view themselves. We have split into two camps--the Marys and the Marthas. These two beloved sisters have unwittingly become a vehicle for categorizing ourselves as either "women who think" or "women who serve". On the one hand, those who call themselves Marthas prefer acts of service to intellectual pursuits. Of a decidedly practical bent, these women care passionately and actively for the needy hurting people around them. They invest time and energy providing invaluable ministry to these pressing and very real needs. They also suspect theology is over their heads and frankly are not all that interested. Marys, on the other hand, are most at home in the world of ideas. They relish an intellectual discussion and the mental challenge of a perplexing argument but feel awkward and out of place in the kitchen." (emphasis mine)

Of course, this brought more tears. I imagine that many of the women reading my blog have similar thoughts and feelings.

The clay does not ask the potter what he is doing or has done in making such a vessel. As for me, I continue to put considerable effort toward becoming more of a "Martha", and encourage the "Marthas" to put considerable effort toward becoming more of a "Mary". It goes without saying that we each will enjoy personal benefit from it, but imagine what our husbands, children, friends, and church family will gain--Biblically sound women ministering and serving to the physical AND spiritual needs of others.

(I'm reading the book I've quoted over again and am not yet ready to "go on record" regarding my opinion or recommendation, I hope to in the not so distant future. I do have some concerns about some assumptions made and positions taken by the author, but nothing that adversely impacts her encouragement for Xian women to study and embrace theology.)

Practicing Theology - Decision making and God's word

There's a post over at Pyromaniacs today discussing decision making in light of God's Word.

Ladies, this issue is HUGE!! What you understand and embrace regarding decision making and God's sovereignty in your life (as well as the world around you) will seriously impact how you will respond to the"ups and downs" of this life--all of which have been ORDAINED by God for YOUR good and HIS glory. I'll admit that life and relationships are often painful, and even scary, but your knowledge of God and resulting trust in Him arms you to "fight the good fight" and "press on", and better equips you to minsiter in your calling as a wife, mother, friend, sister, etc.

Dan's post brought to my mind some people I've known over the years who don't have a high view or clear understanding of God's sovereignty (something I definitely plan to cover in my Monday "Theology 101" series). That prompted this comment that I left at Pyromaniacs,

"...Some people tend to wrestle with God's will and decision making in hindsight. By that I mean, if things didn't go well (as defined by them and/or society) for them in a particular area, they assume that they "missed God's will". There tends to be a complete disregard for God teaching/training/growing them through trials/suffering, or the possiblity that they suffered the consequences of foolish and/or selfish motives. This often stands out when chatting and/or counseling women in "unhappy" marriages..."

Then, later in the day when it seemed to me that many commentors were clearly confused or unwilling to embrace the full extent of God's sovereignty, I left this comment,

"I love these posts/comments...cause I get to see/read how others "get" or "don't get" something that presents no problem for me. On the other hand, I more frequently see how others "get" things that simply escape me!!

In my understanding and practice, "coloring in the lines" is merely pointing out that God has given us freedom within the context of His principles laid out in scripture. We are "free" to proceed accordingly--the resulting blessings or consequences are contained within what He has already ordained and set out to accomplish.

I've heard it said that if you want to KNOW God's will for today, wait until tomorrow. :-) Therefore, I can rest in the knowledge that what happened yesterday--no matter how I perceive it--happened according to God's will. I am obligated to make decisions based on my knowledge of God's Word and His ordinances."

I hope you'll spend some time reading Dan's post and the comments left. I find this sort of exchange VERY refreshing, challenging and helpful to grow in my own understanding of who God is as He has revealed Himself in and through Scripture.

Practicing Theology: Gaining a Biblical Perspective on Suffering

Please, if there's nothing else you do today--or this weekend--read this post on Pyromaniacs by Dan Phillips.

For several weeks now, after one of my husband's recent Sunday morning sermons, I've been pondering making a post titled, "It was good that I was afflicted" based on Psalm 119:71. I still might post more on this Biblical principle, but for now I can't imagine doing it any better than Dan has done.

I know that some of my regular readers are suffering and/or struggling in various ways, and as Dan posted, "I've no doubt you have challenges, as do I. And to you they're very large, as mine are to me. (I hasten to say yours may very well dwarf mine.)".

With that in mind, it is my prayer and desire that you will draw strength from drawing closer to God as you seek to know Him better and understand His sovereign plan through your present struggles--He has indeed given us a "great cloud of witnesses"!

Great hymns and sound theology SHOULD go hand-in-hand

A truly GREAT hymn of the Church will contain and communicate sound theology. Hymn writers like John Newton, Isaac Watts, and Martin Luther are among my favorites. But the writer of my "all time" favorite, "I Sought the Lord, and Afterward I Knew", is still unknown. I've heard this hymn set to several different tunes, but my "all time" favorite tune for this particular hymn is Jean Silbelius' "Finlandia".

I can still recall the first time I heard and sang this hymn in the late 80's/early 90's. My husband and I were attending the annual Sovereigne Grace (Gary Long's ministry) conference in Salado, Texas.

This was toward the end of our time at DTS (Dallas Theological Seminary), as well as the time during which I was refining and solidifying my understanding of Reformed theology. I was still trying to reconcile the various "spiritual" experiences of my life and found that this hymn summed up my life AND my theology quite nicely!

There is a woman in our church who also considers this hymn to be her favorite. What a pleasant surprise that was when she told me several years ago--we're kindred spirits!

I hope you'll enjoy reading the words to this hymn, read them slowly and thoughtfully--you just might find your theology challenged!


I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;
'Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou dear Lord, on me, on me.
'Twas not so mucd that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou dear Lord, on me, on me.

I find I walk, I love;
but O, the whole Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.

Theology in action: I am the mother of a new driver

We reached another "milestone" in our family today, our oldest daughter earned her driver's permit! While I definitely share in her joy (we celebrated with a trip to a frozen yogurt shop) I realized that this is just as much a "milestone" for me as it is for her. It is yet another area that the Lord has ordained to teach me to trust Him more.

One of our "little birds" will soon be venturing out of the nest that we lovingly and carefully crafted for her and her sister. I have no concerns that she will willingly return to the safety of our nest over and over in the months and years to come, but it's the dangers and predators outside of our nest that concern me most. THAT is where my trust in the Lord is going to be stretched and refined.

I will be learning to trust Him in ways I never have had to before--all part of my sanctification, ordained by Him. Will I trust Him when she's late getting home from a visit to a friend's house? Will I pray instead of fret when I hear on the radio about a traffic accident? Will I show compassion and mercy when she announces that she backed into another car in a parking lot? Will I be more concerned about the condition of the family vehicle than the condition of her growing responsibility?

Yes, we reached another "milestone" in our family today--and by God's grace there will be MANY more to come!

Q & A with R.C. Sproul

One thing about blogs & blogging that has "hooked" me is the opportunity to dialogue with Xians--some are like-minded, some are not. I am often forced to apply my handy-dandy "Xian worldview sifter" (aka - my Bible) and consider what I'm reading.

Another benefit of blogs is having easy access to what some well-known Xians are saying on various topics. I get countless opportunities to ponder the "where, why and how" of our agreements and differences. Somtimes I'm swayed in my thinking, sometimes I'm more firmly planted--it's very challenging and refreshing.

I'm very fond of R.C. Sproul--along with others, he has contributed to my clearer understanding in various areas. So, when I read this link of a recent interview with R.C. Sproul, I found myself swayed in some areas, and more firmly planted in others! I thought others might enjoy the read, too!

Bathroom reading

Well, if you made it this far past the title of this post, I'm impressed!! You either have an inquiring mind, or are curious what sort of fool I may make of myself this time! :-) But seriously, the title of this post isn't designed to be misleading or even to entice you to read further.

If you'll recall, one of my first posts asked why women tend to avoid discussing theology. Some of the comments I received (on and off the post) stated that the reader struggled with having time to read or consider theology. So, this morning in the course of my own busy day--wife, mother, home educator, aging parents who need regular assistance or advise, active in my local church, the wife of a church leader, and personally pursuing further formal education--I recognized a long-time practice in my home that certainly would work in the homes of others!

I want to recommend to you ladies that you select a good book or two on theology and/or church doctrine, and keep it in the bathroom that you frequent most often in your house! Even if you're too shy to admit it, there is some great reading time to be had in that room everyday!! :-)

I'll admit this isn't a novel idea, it's just that I'm nuts enough to post it here for all the world to read. And I'm not the only one to take notice of it--I once worked in an office where one man picked up the department's copy of the Wall Street Journal about the same time every morning and headed down the hall--now THAT'S time management!

So ladies (that's who I'm primarily speaking to!!), please consider fitting a little theology into your day--you'll benefit greatly, so will your friends, husband, children, neighbors, and church!!

Now, if you'll please excuse me, I'm going to go do a bit of reading. (No offense intended!!!)

Theology 101 - Should the Average Christian Care About Theology?

Here's a good question, and an even better answer provided by J.I. Packer:

Should the average Christian care about theology?

A fair question! - but there is, I think, a convincing answer to it. The questioner clearly assumes that a study of the nature and character of God will be unpractical and irrelevant for life. In fact, however, it is the most practical project anyone can engage in. Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives.

As it would be cruel to an Amazonian tribesman to fly him to London, put him down without explanation in Trafalgar Square and leave him, as one who knew nothing of English or England, to fend for himself, so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it.

The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.
J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p.17

The Heart of a Mother - theology in action

Even if you're only casually familiar with scripture, you can easily see the many examples God provided of others putting their theology into practice--good (biblical) theology and bad (unbiblical) theology. But do you realize that God continues to provide us plenty of real-life examples today of people "practicing theology"--good theology and bad theology?

In the days, weeks, months, and years to come, I hope to offer posts that will help us establish, embrace, and practice "good"Biblical theology. And, as a part of that goal, I hope to post plenty of real-life examples of other Xian women practicing theology, so you will be encouraged in your walk, as well!

With that in mind, I'm posting the following excerpt from the email of a Xian friend in our church. She recently sent out an email update on the condition of her youngest child who was born with spina bifida--he had recently begun to experience unexplained excruciating pain. The email opened with her thanks to the Body of Christ in our local church for prayers, cards, meals, baby sitting, etc. She then gave us the details of the doctors' reports and the present course of treatment. Her closing words put the matter into a Biblical perspective, and caused my focus to turn from the human realm--Xians serving and ministering, doctors probing and explaining--to the One who knows every detail, ordained every detail, and is in control of every detail. He is worthy to be praised, even in the midst of our trials.

"So where does that leave us? In the best possible position . . . with tender hearts on bended knees before the all-wise God who lovingly knit our Tim's (name has been changed for this post) spine together just the way He thought it should be. And what a blessing it has been! No, I am not just saying that, I truly consider spina bifida to have been a blessing to this family. What selfishness it has exposed in my own heart! How it has demanded that I die to myself, that I take my thoughts captive rather than be steamrolled by worry. How deep the gratitude it has created for a God who would condescend to send His Son to suffer pain, I know how hard it is to watch your child hurt! (How silly that sounds, because taking the sins of the world and being crucified is so much bigger than spina bifida, but still.) And because of HIS pain, I am able to come to HIM with my worry, my sinful, selfish, lazy heart, my fear. I can come boldly before the throne of grace. Should I use this amazing opportunity to march before His throne, tell him how inconvenienced I am by my child having spina bifida, demand He heal it? No, no, NO!!!! May I use the gift that His Son's suffering provided to lay myself and my own son at His feet. May I humbly serve Him with whatever task He places in my hands. May I adore Him, love Him and praise Him, knowing He is constantly with me, giving me the strength, courage and patience to be a good mom, to raise Tim in the nurture and admonition of the Lord that I love. And I pray that one day Tim himself will come boldly before the throne of grace, not to ask for anything, just to bend his knee and worship."

There's really nothing else I need to add to this post. I pray that the words and example of this sister-in-Christ will be an encouragement to you in the trial you may be enduring by His providence, for His Glory alone (Rom. 8:28-30).

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf (aka: theology)?

It may be my imagination, but it seems that the majority of today's average Xian (Christian) women are hesitant to talk theology. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've seen and experienced over the past 20+ years.

Perhaps the word "theology" itself intimidates some. Perhaps many Xian women have not benefited from sitting under sound Biblical teaching. Perhaps some believe that such discussions do not reflect a "gentle and quiet spirit". Perhaps others believe that it is not applicable to their daily life as a woman, wife, mother, single woman, working woman, etc. Or, perhaps today's Xian women have been convinced, or worse yet resigned themselves, to believe that such matters are best left to clergymen, seminary graduates, and wild-eyed philosophers.

This situation is so prevalent that I've notice over the years--more often than not--I'm drawn to theological conversations occupied predominately by men (in case you're wondering, my husband is almost always among them).

So, whether you're a Xian woman or a Xian man, new believer or mature believer, I would very much like to hear from you. What do you think, or what have you observed, regarding the reason or reasons why today's average Xian women tend to avoid theological discussions?