A Return To Van Til

"Christ walks indeed a cosmic road. Far as the curse is found, so far His grace is given."1

Amen. Restoration will come.

1 Cornelius Van Til, "Nature and Scripture," The Infallible Word: A Symposium by the Members of the Faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary 2nd Ed. (Philipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing Company, 1967), 271.

Murray's "Systematic Theology"

"When any generation is content to rely upon its theological heritage and refuses to explore for itself the riches of divine revelation, then declension is already under way and heterodoxy will be the lot of the succeeding generation." 1

The Reformational concept of "always reforming" to the truth of God's Word is essential to both orthodoxy and orthopraxy. 

Good show, Murray, good show.

On a different note, Wild Sweet Orange tastes good to my ears.

1 Murray, John. Collected Writings, "Systematic Theology," p. 8.

More Bridges.

"We must build up with both hands - with our doctrine and our life. We must be what we preach ... A holy sermon is but for an hour. A holy life is his [the minister's] perpetual sermon - a living, practical commentary of his doctrine - the gospel to the senses."1

Wow. This book is full of gold!

1 Bridges, Charles. The Christian Ministry with an Inquiry into the Causes of its Inefficiency (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, reprinted 2006), 159.

Charles Bridges

"Our Divine Master never intended, that we should confine our religion to the services of the sanctuary. As men of God, we should have it at heart and in hand, spreading a spiritual savour over the common walks of society, and stamping us with the mark of confessors of Christ in the midst of a world, who hold him still in the same contempt, as when eighteen centuries since they nailed him to the cross."1

Wow. Am I stamped with the mark of a confessor of Christ in such a way as to draw the contempt of the world? That is a serious question. Do I preach with my words and deeds the Rock of Offense, which makes men to stumble and fall? Do I live for Christ? Am I living as one stamped by His blood? Do I confine my religion? Am I slow to have it at heart and in hand in every sphere of society?

God help me.

1 Bridges, Charles. The Christian Ministry with an Inquiry into the Cases of its Inefficiency (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, reprinted 2006), 115-116.

More Van Til

Van Til is so good!

"Grace can be recognized as grace only in contrast to God's curse on nature."1

1 Van Til, Cornelius, Christian Apologetics (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, 2003), 70.

Reading Van Til's "An Introduction to Systematic Theology."

"When God existed alone, there was no time universe, and there were no new facts arising. The only knowledge activity that existed was completed in the circuit of the mutually exhaustive personalities of the triune God. It is only with respect to man that we can speak of a relation of the a priori and the a posteriori elements of knowledge. Such a distinction cannot exist in God ... There is no novelty in God, and there can be no novelty for God."1 (Italics emphasis mine.)

God doesn't learn.

He is.

He knows.

He is True knowledge.

Hallelujah.

1 Van Til, Cornelius. An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1974), 10.

Seminary

It has been a while since my last post.

The summer flew by - Colin, my brother, is currently at the USNA for his undergraduate work. He's excelling and growing in wisdom and stature and favor with his community there. Indeed, the Lord will honors those who honor Him. God's goodness is seen in my brother's life and the way he pursues the Lord in an environment where such personal devotion is hard to maintain.

At the end of July I began my coursework here at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, PA. I'm currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity (on a three-year course - it's been quite the ride so far), with hopes of further academic study upon graduating. However, I am still open to whatever the Lord impresses upon my heart. Seeking His will is a priority in my life, and I am ready and willing to go where He commands me.

As I said, coursework has begun. I took Greek I over the course of four weeks from late July towards the end of August. It was rigorous, but very rewarding. I really respected my professor in that class and his concern for our spiritual well-being throughout the gauntlet of "Kamikaze Greek." I finished the course strong, and was super-pumped for the semester. The best part of Summer Greek, though, was the people I labored with. I made such solid friends in that class, and each one brought to the classroom their own unique personalities. I studied a lot with my friend Sam from NYC. He was a true encouragement to me throughout my Greek studies, and continues to be this semester. Our whole class really bonded during that time. It was very comforting to enter the academic semester already knowing some brothers and sisters to go to if I ran into trouble - academically or spiritually. The community at Westminster has been such a blessing to me thus far.

The Lord has been showing me some amazing things recently, and His Providence is one of the greatest blessings in life. This semester I have sat at the feet of those whose hearts have been filled with a fire for Truth. My professors here at Westminster Theological Seminary are truly godly examples who are heaven bent on not just teaching men and women theology but have deep-seated desires to prepare them for practical ministry in life as Christians. To be orthodox and engaging, I have found, is a much needed dynamic in our world, where there is a desperate need for the gospel, and a desperate need for an honest, yet propositional, Love. 

While God has continued to pour out His blessings on me, I have begun to cherish one particular blessing in particular. And it is odd. The academic workload here at WTS (especially for a first year student on a 3 year track taking 6 courses) is daunting, heavy, and near impossible to successfully keep up with. It took a Herculean effort to even begin to try and manage my time and work to get stuff done. I probably average a good 500 pages of reading a week. This is not including hours of time spent over my Hebrew and Greek grammar, vocab, and paradigms. Recently, essays have snuck into my workload. Needless to say, I have felt somewhat under the gun. But the beautiful thing about hardship is the way the Lord shows you how you can achieve nothing on your own strength. Indeed, as Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthian church, "For when I am weak then I am strong." God's power is seen at its greatest, when we fully acknowledge our own weakness and submit and accept His strength and direction in our lives. To become less is not self-abasement, it is a recognition of our status as finite creations, and a joyful reception of God's greatness. So in my studies, I am constantly reminded that God is truly in control, and that is His power alone that can bring me through my struggles, academic or no. What a wonderful blessing that is! His power is made perfect in weakness. Amen.