No Blog Articles: Where Have You Been?

It's been a while since I posted any new articles here at Post Tenebras Lux.  As much as I enjoy writing about things that truly matter blogging is (and should be) a low(er) priority for shepherd-preachers/husband/fathers.

The last few months have been physically challenging for my family.  Andrea has had several procedures related to agonizing kidney stones.  The family has shared several colds, the flu bug, and pink eye.  We even had a round of shingles to boot.  Seasons of sickness certainly make one thankful for seasons of health.

With extremely full schedules Andrea and I have been feverishly swimming to keep our head above water.  As such, I have not had time nor chosen to make time to blog.  As with all things everything we do must be kept in it's proper place.  My wife and family and church are my top priorities.  My Sunday School lessons, weekly sermon expositions, and a hundred different tasks are more important to God then what I (or so and so) think of Matt Chandler's pandering interview with HBO's Vice news.

I also enjoy stepping away sometimes just to be reminded that the world goes on whether or not I (or anyone else) blogs.  Tim Challies is no one's pastor (even though he is generally a very discerning author).

Having said that, Christian podcasts and blog articles certainly have a place in the internet heavy world we all live in.  Pastors can exhort, instruct, protect, and clarify many different things via books, podcasts, and blogs.  I hope to post more regularly in the weeks to come.  However, if you do not hear from me, know that I am likely at the doctors office or meeting with a key volunteer at church. :)

Spurgeon on Choosing a Local Church

The Most Urgent Need in the Church

"Pastor, I wonder if you agree with these two paragraphs from Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book Preaching and Preachers?

But, ultimately, my reason for being very ready to give these lectures is that to me the work of preaching is the highest and greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. If you want something in addition to that I would say without any hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also. (9)

Do you believe that? Do believe that you have been called to the highest and greatest and most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called? Do you believe the most urgent need in the church is not for better programs or for better leadership principles, but for better preaching? Do you believe. pastor, that the best way for you to serve the world is to study yourself full every week and preach yourself empty every Sunday?

Here is the other quotation.

We are here to preach this Word, this it the first thing, ‘We will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word.’ Now there are the priorities laid down once and for ever. This is the primary task of the Church, the primary task of the leaders of the Church, the people who are sit in this position of authority; and we must not allow anything to deflect us from this, however good the cause, however great the need. This is surely the direct answer to much of the false thinking and reasoning concerning these matters at the present time. (23)

Is that right? Do you believe that the primary task Church is not to redeem the cosmos or make a heaven a place on earth, but to preach Christ and him crucified? Do you believe that your primary task as a leader of the church is not cultural transformation but gospel proclamation? Do you believe the word of God will do the work of God?

Remember, pastors, as you step into the pulpit tomorrow you are charged in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word."

Article by Pastor Kevin DeYoung.  Key thoughts by Martyn Lloyd-Jones