American Idolatry

Remember to turn off music!

Idolatry Defined By Spurgeon

Spurgeon, "A Summary of Experience and a Body of Divinity"

If you love anything better than God you are idolaters.

If there is anything you would not give up for God it is your idol.

If there is anything that you seek with greater fervor-
that is your idol.

Conversion means a turning from every idol.

What do I fawn over? What do I covet? What do I need(or think I need)? Where is my treasure founded?

All good questions that I fail to ask myself often, mostly because I already know the answer isn't what I would like it to be. I know now very often that my heart is covetous because I value something above God. My heart is prideful because I have given myself more deference, usually that which is due only to God. I need something so badly because that something has gained a characteristic that should only be attributed to God.

I was telling my husband and a friend just last week that so often I have the expectation that my husband must understand and have compassion on my life and situation. Why? Does my husband have peace that surpasses understanding and He can give it to me? Does my husband offer eternal joy to me? Does my husband understand my human condition because he was experienced the essence of Humanity in a perfectly sinless and universal way? I had attributed characteristics of God to my husband that He has no right, ability or desire to hold. I looked to him to fulfil my needs as I saw them.

WRONG!

Only God can be the real Lord and master of our lives. Only God can understand the human condition purely and satisfactorily for even us. Only Christ came to die on a cross for my transgressions, there by suffering for my sins and showing His great mercy on me and you. Therefore, in light of His eternal and infinite character I should, as a finite creation, look to Him for these things that I have a desire for! My desires are not wrong, but my placement of them are.

Sometimes though my desires are wrong, like the lady I saw in the grocery parking lot. I want to be worldly at times. I want to create jealousy in the hearts and minds of others. Then My desire is the idol because my desire is what is wrong.

Idols are so insidious. Sneaky. Blatant. Tempting. Do you find any of these things on the throne of your heart?

Is Our Nation Christian?

One day I was attending one of these prayer meetings when a young man stated that he felt very definite and earnest prayer was needed for England. at the end I took this young man aside and asked why he had brought the subject before the Christians.
"Don't you think that England needs praying for?" he asked.
"Yes, but not as if it were a heathen land, because after all, it is a Christian country."
"But are they having blessing and revival?"
"I do not know."
"They can't be. If they were we would know it--in the midst of all our famine, war and suffering. England, the land that sent us the Gospel, is worshipping other gods."
"What do you mean?"
"To them sport, film stars, wealth, amusement--all are far more important than God."
"But how do you know all this?"
"From the papers. I will bring you some to prove it."
A little later he handed me a bundle of Chinese papers, and when I read them I understood the burden of his prayers. Every item reported news from England, every picture, was concerned with a film star, or a sportsman, or a horse race--not one mention of God. England, seemingly so prosperous while other countries passed through terrible suffering at the hands of Communist domination, had forgotten what was all-important--the realization that God mattered in the life of a nation no less than in that of an individual.

--Gladys Aylward: the Little Woman by Gladys Aylward with Christine Hunter

Did you know that the United State is the 4th most unreached nation in the world? That more then 3000 churches close their doors every year?

That being said...what do you see most in the news these days? Where is the gospel heralded in our nation? Even many Evangelicals have taken a back seat to their calling to go...in their own nation.

This has really been on my heart of late with everything going on in our nation. I hope that you pray and go....Our nation is perishing for want of a Savior! Go and Tell!! Are we experiencing revival? Why ever not?

The wretched idol, SELF!

(Octavius Winslow, "Christ and the Christian
in Temptation" 1877)

Of all the sins common to our fallen nature, God
has the most signally marked that of Idolatry, or
False Worship.

Man is by nature an idolater. His sinful mind,
being alienated from God, seeks some object
of worship other than the true and living God.

The 'renewed' man is not entirely exempt from this sin.
Hence the exhortation of the Apostle addressed to the
early Christians, and in these last days addressed to us:
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." "My dearly
beloved, flee from idolatry."

Surely, it was not the gross and senseless idolatry of
the heathens to which the Apostles thus refer; from
this many of those saints to whom they wrote had
already been delivered; but to other idols and other
worship, less palpable and degrading, but not less
superstitious or offensive to God.

The worship of SELF is a natural and fearful form of
idolatry. It is an innate and never entirely eradicated
principle of our nature, but clings to us to the very last
of life. Alas! the holiest and the best of us want to be
something, and to do something, when in reality we
are nothing, and can do nothing.

We walk in our religious life, for the most part, upon
stilts; always appearing in the eyes of others taller
than we really are!

But real greatness and true humility have ever been
in alliance with entire abnegation of SELF.

Who can stand before the cross and gaze upon the
Creator of all worlds impaled between two criminals,
Himself dying as the chief, and not shrink into his
own nothingness, bewailing that he should ever have
been betrayed into the folly and the sin of burning
the incense of idolatry before the wretched idol,
SELF!

Beware of SELF idolatry!

It is the most insidious, hateful, and degrading
form of idolism to which the soul can be subjected.

www.gracegems.org

Where do you fall?

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Update From the Crazy House

Drinking: Diet Coke, I love the super fizz feeling!
Recovering: Well you name it we have had it lately!
Reading: The Ragamuffin Gospel, and Keep and Quiet Heart, and also a Book by Gladys Alward about her mission.
Studying: Genesis and the Gospel of Mark
Linking: http://christianaudio.com/
Watching: You Tube, they have some awesome sermons on there, I think I might be bordering on a junky lately I have done a lot of that in the evenings and at nap time, when I have the time.
Listening To: Exactly what a mom to four small children would hear. "Momma where are my socks?" "Momma I am hungery" "Silas is doing...." "Gresham hit me!" "That's mine!!!" Yeah pretty ordinary!

John Piper On Idolatry

Blessed Assurance

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Words:Fanny Crosby Music:Pheobe Knapp

Sin and Idolatry

Turn music off on the bottom before watching.

Introduction to Idolatry

Since posting on my parking lot escapades (see here) I have been considering a posting series on a topic that has become of significant concern to me. The sin of Idolatry. This sin has always been prevalent in my life; it was the conviction of this sin that brought me to the arms of grace; and this sin continues to be a battle with my own flesh and especially, my mind. Often I discover that I have exhaulted something above where it rightly belongs. I have exchanged the glories of the invisible God for something visible, something like myself or my desires, another person (spouse, children, family, friends) or something to which we have attributed some characteristic of God (I do not mean an unspecific God--I mean Specifically Yahweh, God of the Old and New Testaments-the Trinity).

Idolatry is such an insidious sin, since it creeps up and out of us in such seeming unaccountable way. Our nature fosters it naturally, our eyes are blinded to it easily because it is rooted in self. I find it most clearly set in my mind, coming to the surface in thoughts and then words and actions. My thoughts often reveal so much more of my idolatrous heart then anything else. And so often I am at the center of those self congragulatory murmurings, or the complaints of lack that flood my thoughts, the discontent, the comparissons, the wicked critisicms, and the endless one ups. Focus and worship offered to anything or anyone apart from God is idolatry.

In what ways are you harboring an idol? What do you go to first whenever You make any decision?

Your idol may be so hidden, or so peculiar, that all our attempts to touch it, have left you and it unscathed. Will you therefore conclude that you have none? Search deeper, look closer; it is not too deep for the eye of God, nor too hidden for the eyes of a tender conscience anointed with divine eye-salve. Hidden love is the deepest of all love; hidden diseases the most incurable of all diseases. Search every fold of your heart until you find it. It may not be so big nor so ugly as your neighbor's; but an idol is still an idol, and an image still an image, whether so small as to be carried in the coat pocket, or as large as a gigantic statue.

Every man has his idol; but it is not every man who sees it. Few groan under it.

"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21

"The dearest idol I have known,
Whatever that idol be,
Help me to tear it from my heart,
And worship only Thee."

-The History of an Idol, its Rise, Reign and Progress
J. C. Philpot, October, 1855

Over the next several weeks I hope to define and broaden my own understanding of Idolatry and hope to post some of my finds here along the way. I hope it is as pertinent to you as it is to me at this time in my life.

Blessings,
Larissa

53 Years Ago Yesterday.....

Saw this on between two worlds so I watched both parts.






and then this video came up and I watch it too, well last night late and it was so very powerful to me! I hope you enjoy!!



I hope and pray you are no longer under the impression that you are simply to wicked for God to pardon! Or that God is to weak to change you!

Reposting---What's In a Name?

Originally Posted by William on our old site for the benefit of those following the arrival of our daughter and now reposted because I wanted to have it available here.



We thought we would give a little insight into the names we have chosen for our children, especially since I didn't go into much detail when we shared the good news of adding a little female presence to our boy house! The names we chose for our children have been mostly inspired by men of the faith who have impacted our lives greatly either by their writing or by their testimony of faith, but most especially their exposition of Scripture.





Silas Haddon - Silas is the name of the missionary partner of the apostle Paul, with whom he was stranded in prison. Also the amanuensis of Peter for the book of 1 Peter. Haddon is named for Charles Haddon Spurgeon who was quite possibly one of the most influential Christian preachers in history. This man has truly been an inspiration to me as a man called into pastoral ministry and a lover of good preaching.





Kace Renwick - Kace was to be named Cornelius after the centurion in Acts whom Peter witnesses to, but after some issues we decided to nix the name and only call him Kace, as that was to be the nic-name. It was taken from a theologian and famous apologist Cornelius Van Til whose family called him Kees (pronounced Kace). Renwick is taken from a covenanter named James Renwick (pronounced Rennik) who was martyred for the faith. His life and testimony can be read in Fair Sunshine, it is a wonderful story of God's glory going forth in the lives of His people.





Gresham Jeremiah - Gresham is named for J. Gresham Machen (rhymes with kitchen) who carried the mantle of reformed theology to Westminster after the death of Warfield and old Princeton. He founded the OPC denomination and was a great proponent of conservative and biblical theology. Jeremiah is obviously taken from the great prophet whose ministry could never be measured in worldly standards as a success although he was so faithful to the Lord in all he did. Jeremiah and the New Covenant made in Jeremiah 31 have truly been a great encouragement to Larissa and I throughout the years.





Petra Anastasia - Petra is a Greek word that means foundational rock(It is also a historical location that was said to be unconquerable and therefore names petra) and is found in Luke when Jesus explains the importance of building your house on the solid rock (there are also other places in the Greek New Testament that the word is found all of which refer to Christ and the nature of salvation and His gospel). As a Greek student I liked the connotation of the word, but also the female of Peter. Anastasia is from the Greek word anastasis which means resurrection or a new beginning. She will have a name that reflects the truths of the Gospel of grace in Christ.



I hope that all of you enjoy this very intimate look into the history and legacy of the names we have chosen for these boys and girl. We continue to pray that they will be as faithful to the truths of the gospel.

Mark Driscoll is Evil and So am I.....

Turn off the music on the bottom before watching this awesome video about why you and I are not Good People.

I am Still Such A Sinner

Yesterday morning I was wrestling my boys back into the car after a tumultuous grocery trip (although most of them are tumultuous). I happened to look across the parking lot as I was half pushing half throwing my youngest son into his seat, it is hard to get little people straped in. I glanced at this lady coming across the parking lot with her two very quiet and well behaved children, perfectly coifed and at ease. In the time it took me to convince gresham that yes, he really has to buckle the chest strap, the lady had easily loaded her two children, her groceries and was driving away. At that same moment I noticed that the car next to me was attempting to back out over my cart, with my baby still aboard and a walmart associate was flying to my rescue! Jeese, Could I be more glaringly "NOT IN CONTROL??"

As I buckled into my seat, wishing more then anything that I could be as calm, cool and collected as that woman all the time and that my children would be easy to strap into the vehicle. I suddenly realized how covetous I was. Not only did I desire to have what another person did "an appearance of unconcern" but I wanted to have perfectly coifed hair and neat, tidy clothes. In place of my crazy flat hair and my rumpled attire. I was suddenly that silly little girl begging to play with my friends toy, covetous down to my core. And not only that I wanted to be what that woman seemed to me--simply because I wanted others to look at me and be covetous at the same time!

My children have been chided of late because of their hearts of discontent and jealousy, especially with the Christmas holidays, and yet I am no better. Still I am clinging to the very first vestages of Grace that saved me from the wrath of God. I am still confessing my base core. I am still struggling to be contented in the place the Lord has me, a mom to three active boys and a new baby. I am still so humbled, I haven't been allowed to get puffed up with my own importance and I am so BLESSED not to be what I desire to be. I know now that if God gave me the desire of my heart at that moment it would not be a good thing for me. My heart would be turned away from the cross and toward myself.

We are all like this in some way, are we not? We have a perception, wheather it is true or not remains to be seen, and we desire what it is we see. We want it not just because we think it is good, but because we want others to think we are good. We are those dirty little children who always fight over the last bit of candy. We want what we percieve to be the "Best". And yet God has not withheld any good thing from me! He gave me His son, why should I doubt He would give anything up for me or He wouldn't go to any length to protect me......even from myself?

I have the best of things and yet I am still such a beggar for mercy!

Our Year in Review: 2008

This year was full of big moments for our family, I thought I would post a few for our enjoyment!

-We had a baby girl! Yeah Petra's first dirty diaper scared us just a little!

-William turned 30, pretty lame I know.

-Will was called to his first Pastorate

-Silas went to school...that was easy for him but not as easy for me! Daddy doesn't mind either way ;)!

-Will finished Seminary! "HALLELUJAH!! HALLELUJAH! Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hall-ee-llluuu-jah!"

-WILL FINISHED SEMINARY!!! wow that feels good!

-We celebrated five years of marriage.....yes we still have a lot to learn!!

-We got our first lizard(who died so we got another)...not my most favored momentous occasion, but the boys like it!

-We moved into our first actual non-seminary home! Praise God who gives all things and churches for having parsonages!!!

-Oh yeah did I mention that Will finished seminary?! Oh, Okay, just making sure!

And to top off this new year of 2009 we have seen more fully the riches of His grace, the providence of His love, the Wisdom of His Character and the mercy of His Salvation then ever before!

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!