Quote Of The Week: Jay E. Adams

"You may wonder why I speak of the obligation of marriage--in the singular--when, of course there are many obligations (for instance, Paul speaks in 1 Cor. 7 of the obligation of sexual relations). When I speak of the obligation of marraige, I have in mind the basic obligation underlying all others (including the sexual obligation). That basic obligation is to meet the other's need for companionship. When a couple takes marriage vows, whether they realize it or not (and often they do not), they are vowing to provide companionship for one another for the rest of their lives; that is what their vows amount to. Notice they do not vow to receive companionship, but to provide it for one another. Marriage itself if an act of love in which one person vows to meet another's need for life, no strings attached.

That means that when a husband or wife complains, "I am not getting what I want out of marriage" his or her statement is nonsensical. And you must reply, "You did not enter marriage in order to get something for yourself. You vowed to give something to your partner. Marriage is not a bargain in which each partner says, 'I will give so much in return for so much.' Each vows to give all that is necessary to meet his or her spouse's need for companionship, whether or not he or she receives anything in return. Therefore, the only question is, 'Are you fulfilling your vows?'" Many marry for what they can get out of the marriage; but that is lust, not love, and is biblically untenbale. For that reason it is often necessary to challence counselees about their inadequate views of marriage and their failures to live up to their stated vows. As an act of love, marriage vows commit one to giving, not getting. Therefore, the Christian counselor must help his counselees see that the fundamental question is, "How can I please God and my mate?" not "how can I please myself?" To please God by rightly pleasing one's spouse is the basic obligation of marriage.

Be Careful of Your Language

I can't believe that I wrote down a quote and did not record who said it. It is driving me insane! I apologize for that. Because of my failure to be diligent in my citations, it may forever remain anonymous. Don't bother trying to "google" or "yahoo" it. The quote was taken from a podcast and I am sure there is no transcript on-line to try and get a match. My best guess is that is either from Dr. Michael Horton or Dr. Albert Mohler. Anyway, without any further delay, here is a tasty morsel to chew on.

"By grace you've been saved...Beloved, please be careful in your language. Grace is not an offer to be accepted or rejected by man at will. It is an invasion of the inner being of man so that he is impelled to believe."

Quote Of The Week: Dr. Michael Horton

Michael Horton comments on how modern-day evangelicalism has shifted away from what Christianity really is:

"We are getting dangerously close to the place in everyday American church life where the Bible is mined for quotes but largely irrelevant, God is used as a personal resource rather than known, worshiped and trusted, Jesus Christ is a coach with a good game plan for our victory rather than a Savior who has achieved it for us, salvation is more a matter of having our "best life now" rather than being saved from God's judgment by God Himself, and the Holy Spirit is sort of an electrical outlet we can plug in for the power to be all that we can be."

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: JOHN PIPER

Open Theism is a horrible heresy (false teaching) that claims that God does not know future events. It also claims that God does not have a purpose in allowing troubles to come our way. In refuting this heresy, John Piper says:

Do we love God? That is the point of the test. Do we cherish Him and the merciful wisdom of His painful purpose more that we cherish pain-free lives? That is the point of God's testing.

Our trials reveal the measure of our affection for this earth--both its good things and bad things. Our troubles expose our latent idolatry.

For those who believe that God rules purposefully and wisely over all things, our response to loss is a signal of how much idolatry is in our souls. Do we really treasure what we have lost more than God and His wisdom? If we find ourselves excessively angry or resentful or bitter, it may well show that we love God less that what we lost. This is a very precious discovery, because it enables us to repent and seek to cherish Christ as we ought, rather than being deceived into thinking all is well.

What is it that you have lost: money, job, stocks, a family member, health, notoriety, a business, a home? God's good purpose in allowing you to go through this is show you what you love more: God or His gifts to us. Our greatest treasure and joy should alway be in Christ. When hardship comes, it shows whether or not that is true. God is good in showing us our sin so that we may return to Him in joy.

Open Theism is wrong. God plans everything for His glory and our joy in Him.