The Christian Pint

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Testimony of realizing the Lordship of following Christ

If we truly realize the Lordship of Christ why is it that sin boldly against the knowledge of God? If Christ is Lord how can we even entertain the idea that He might not be deity or even exist?

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Would you be satisfied?

John Piper once said something to the effect of:

Would you be satisfied to go to heaven, have everybody there in your family that you want there, have all the health and restoration of your prime, and everything you disliked about yourself fixed, have every recreation you've ever dreamed available to you, and have infinite resources and money to spend, would you be satisfied... If God weren't there?

Would you be satisfied if God weren't there?

That's a question that hits most people right between the eyes, myself included. Perhaps a different way of phrasing it is would you be satisfied if only God were there?

Most today would not be able to answer these questions as we ought. Do we love God as we ought, or do we love ourselves, our families, our money, our health more than our Creator?

God's love is such that through the death of His own Son, He works in us by His Spirit so that we no longer feel loved by our self deification that makes much of us. We come to realize that such is a cheap imitation of love. We then start feeling loved in the way we were created to feel loved, by glorifying God and making much of Him in all we do forever.

Is God enough? Ought we to answer as the Psalmist did?

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
- Psalm 73:25-26

Such should be the prayer of our hearts; that we might say that without God I am never be satisfied and only with Him am I whole! Jesus is my portion! Jesus is my all! My strength will fail me. My heart will deceive me. My friends and family may abandon me. I will be laughed at and scorned by men yet I am more than conqueror through Him who loves me! God is my strength and portion! Christ is my life! So long as He enables me I will glorify Him because He is worthy!

Think about it.
Grace and peace.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Why Postmodern Philosophy Fails!

The "depthlessness" of this philosophy as a world view where nihilism and narcissism reign supreme and one does not need to know things that simply do not affect them at this very moment is why we should reject this anti-intellectual view where truth doesn't exist and its practitioners are nothing more than intellectual charlatans.

Educate yourselves, seek Truth.

HT: HowObamaGotElected.com

Monday, November 10, 2008

Beer Review Monday - Budweiser American Ale

Today is an interesting day. I am going to rate a beer made by Anheuser Busch. Budweiser's American Ale was first revealed to the public during the 2008 Olympic Games, where skeptics and fans alike expressed interest. A few days ago I received a pint from a friend who thought it was worth a taste, so reluctantly I drank it. It poured with a reddish brown color and had a decently think head, not a Guinness head but few beers can match that. Unfortunately the aroma is almost indistinguishable from your classic Budweiser, rather sweet malt with a hint of citrus hops. The taste is rather bland and lacks flavour, the malt overwhelms the hops as with most mainline American brewing. Furthermore this beer is utterly thin, perhaps even thinner than a light beer. This beer is essentially Budweiser 2.0 and the slight improvement is not worth the price increase from normal Budweiser. If you're going to spend the extra three dollars I'd suggest a beer in that pay grade, such as Killian's Irish Red.

The Christian Pint Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Commercial Description:
Since 1876, we've been brewing Budweiser, the great American lager. This year, we're brewing something new - Budweiser American Ale. Carefully brewed with caramel malted barley from America's Heartland for a rich, amber color and sweet malt character, and dry-hopped with Cascade hops from the Pacific Northwest for a noticeable citrus aroma, it's more than a new taste... it's a whole new tradition. Cheers!

As always remember do not become drunk on wine (beer) but be filled with the Holy Spirit, and do not cause your brother to stumble. (Ephesians 5, Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Grateful for (Almost) Any Government

Dr. John Piper reminds us that we are to be grateful for our government even if the candidate we supported wasn't elected.

How does the Bible instruct us to pray for “all who are in high positions”? It says,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).

A few observations:

1. Giving thanks “for kings” is hard when they are evil.

And, as Calvin said on this passage, “All the magistrates of that time were sworn enemies of Christ.” This shows us that anarchy is a horrible alternative to almost any ruler.

We should give thanks for rulers because “non-rule” would unleash on us utterly unbridled evil with no recourse whatever.

Again Calvin: “Unless they restrained the boldness of wicked men, the whole world would be full of robberies and murders.” The better we understand the seething evil of the human heart that is ready to break out where there is no restraint, the more thankful we will be for government.

2. The effect we pray for is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly, and dignified in every way.”

Dignified means “serious and reverent,” not stuffy. I suspect what Paul means is not that we can’t live godly and serious lives during times of anarchy. We can. I suspect he means that peaceful and quiet lives, which are the opposite of anarchy, are often wasted in ungodly and frivolous actions.

So he is praying for a government that would give peace and quiet (not anarchy), and that Christians would not fritter away their peaceful lives with the world, but would be radically godly and serious about the lost condition of the world and how to change it.

3. Using our peace for radical godliness and serious action will lead to more effective evangelism and world missions.

This last observation is confirmed by the hoped-for outcome Paul mentions. Paul says that the reason God delights in such peaceful, Godward, serious action is that he “desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

More people will be saved if our government restrains the horrors of anarchy, and if Christians use this peace not to waste their lives on endless entertainment, but seriously give their lives to making God known.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voting

Since such drama has been launched in this voting season I suggest we all step back and listen to the man who wrote the dictionary.

“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, 'just men who will rule in the fear of God.' The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be sqandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.”¹

Words for any wise man to ponder, pray, and meditate on prior to voting.
Grace and Peace.

1) Noah Webster, History of the United States (New Haven: Durrie & Peck, 1832), pp. 336-337, 49. - Return to text