Authors Dr. Carl Trueman and Dr. T. David Gordon speak on the Reformation

Authors Dr. Carl Trueman and Dr. T. David Gordon spoke at the recent Remembering & Renewing Reformation Conference in Hudson, Ohio. Click here for the audio and please share. Don't forget to check out their books, too.

Book Review: Martin Luther on the Christian Life by Carl Trueman

There have been many books written about Martin Luther. Many good, some not, but this latest work by Carl Trueman, Martin Luther on the Christian Life, trumps almost all of them.  Luther, a man who was down to earth on many levels and an enigma on many others, is a man worth studying. At least to the degree where we as modern day Christians may have a more complete understanding of what he was striving for, his difficulties of getting there (if and where he did), how his thought progressed over his lifetime and the influence he has right up to today in Christianity. Not a perfect man but a man used by God to change the Christian world.

Not in the too distant past I had read everything available in written form and listened to virtually every sermon and lecture I could on the internet by Trueman. Now, a much sought after conference speaker that is a much more difficult task. Much of what I learned from him was about Luther. It was foundational knowledge for me and I often listened to some of these lectures numerous times. Trueman is a great speaker but listening to him was much more than enjoying a well-spoken lecturer. New doors on Reformation history, specifically on Luther, were opened for me for me that were previously closed. So when this book was first announced I was anxious to get my hands on it (devour it?).

In eight succinct chapters Trueman lays out Luther’s thought and specifically how it relates to the Christian life, not only in the 1500’s but more importantly today.  A brief biography is followed by the development of Luther’s theology. It is important to note that Luther’s thought changed over the years and much of what he wrote and is remembered of him is in the early years before his more full orbed theology blossomed. Though the early years were not unuseful, it does us well to educate ourselves more fully on the later years of his theology for that is where, not always but often, find the true heart of Luther’s theology.  That is where this work is illuminating.

Chapter titles:

1.Martin Luther’s Christian Life

2.Theologians, Priests and Kings

3.The Theology of the Word Preached

4.The Liturgy of the Christian Life

5.Living by the Word

6.Freed from Babylon: Baptism and the Mass

7.Luther and Christian Righteousness

8.Life and Death in This Earthly Realm: Government, Calling, and Family

Conclusion: Life as Tragedy, Life as Comedy

From the above chapter titles we see that all the bases are covered. As we know, no doctrine stands on its own. Every Christian doctrine hinges on others and it was no different for Luther as his life and thought progressed. This book dispels some of the false notions about Luther and reveals many others truths not widely known. Luther didn’t start out to create a revolution in the church, October 31, 1517 was not the start of the Reformation, and he had an incredible sense of humor and was very devoted to his family and his flock. Indeed, what started as what we call the Reformation today was Luther’s concern for his people rather than doctrinal purity. This book unpacks all of this and much more.

It is important to note that Trueman does not dabble in hagiography. Luther wasn’t perfect, far from it. Though Luther is a favorite of Trueman, he has no romantic notions of his character. Trueman brings out these errors, explains them, but makes no excuses for them.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It belongs in every church, pastors and layman’s library and deserves a thorough read and re-read. It’s a keeper.

Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through Beyond the Page. 

Northern Ohio Reformed Fellowship 2012 Conference

On October 26th-27th, come and hear Don McNeil 

speak about the Reformation.

___

Northern Ohio Reformed Fellowship (NORF) is sponsoring a conference at Faith Presbyterian Church, with lectures on Friday Oct. 26th at 7:00 p.m.,
and Saturday Oct. 27th at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Preregister by emailing Kate Tasseff at faith.pca.akron@gmail.com with your name(s) and days which you will be attending.

The cost is $5 per person, $10 per family. Please pay upon arrival at the conference.

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Don McNeil’s general topic for the conference will be “Religious Persecution During the Reformation.” More specific details about the lectures will be released soon.

Don McNeill serves with MTW and Africa Inland Mission in the areas of Theological Education. He is on staff at Westminster Theological College & Seminary in Uganda.

Don and Fran were reared in Mississippi and met at MS State where both received a Bachelor of Science. Don later earned a Master of Christian Education in 1979 and a Master of Divinity in 1994 from RTS, Jackson. Married for 35 years, they have four children, and grandchildren.

 

Dr. Joel Beeke on the Reformation

Reformation Polka

My friend Peter Webber brought this video to my attention. This is too good...

Always Reforming

I got home yesterday to find my copy of Always Reforming: Explorations in Systematic Theology had arrived in the mail. I quickly opened its pages to read the preface and then the introduction. It was refreshing to read Frame write in the preface, Reformed theology has often professed to be "always reforming" (semper reformanda), but it has often been to focused too much on its past achievements (reformata) at the expense of seeking new insight(reformanda). How very true. It was this thought that enticed me to purchase the work. A few pages later in the introduction A.T.B. McGowan writes, In our twenty first century we face many complex issues, which earlier generations have not been required to face and it will not do merely to restate old ideas in the old familiar words and try hide away from the modern world. It simply is not an option to create little communities of people who attempt to live as people did in earlier centuries, using seventeenth-century language and seventeenth-century Bibles and circling the wagons against the outside world. Apart from anything else, we do our children a serious disservice if we fail to address the issues that present the most serious challenges to their remaining in our churches.
McGowan goes on to state he has no problem with the Westminster Standards and neither do I. But, its time to consider writing new standards that will address todays issues. Amen to that.
I'm anxious now to delve into this work of several authors that explores the issues of todays church with the underpinnings of semper reformanda.

Iain Murray on Reformation and Revival

I’ve been listening to some sermons/lectures on Reformation & Revival by Iain Murray (I believe they were given at a Pastor’s conference some time ago.) Outstanding stuff ! Murray offers his assessment of the three views on revival. The first is that there is no Revival to be had. We have all that we are to receive from the Lord now, it anticipates nothing more than what have at the current time. This view limits the working of the Holy Spirit and is quite discouraging. The second is that Revival only comes through obedience, it is conditional. Thus, it is logical to conclude that we are disobedient and therefore in a state of judgment. This also is dispiriting in that within the boundaries of this view we would never be obedient enough to ever see and experience revival. Lastly, the balanced view, is that God is still working in and through His people all the time ("I am with you always") but there are times when when He is pleased to shed a greater outpouring of His Spirit. Murray explicates this view thoughtfully both from Scripture and history. Well worth the time to give it a listen. Additionally, he offers an exemplary explanation of the working of the Holy Spirit in revival, i.e., the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Give it a listen from Sermonaudio.com.