In the May issue of the The Atlantic Monthly, Jay Parini writes about the recent popularity of historical fiction in his article, ”Making History: How Historical Fiction Went Highbrow.”  In that article he has a wonderful quote about the importance of history and our draw towards it.  

He writes, “In our high-velocity, high-volume world, the present can seem just too bright, too close.  We need the filter of memory to pull reality into focus.”

 That seems to me, to be exactly right.  History – corporate memory – brings into focus our chaotic, “high-velocity” reality in which we live.

One of my favorite - alright, probably my favorite! - Christian musical groups, Indelible Grace,  is offering a free or “pay what you want” sampling of their music.  They are worth a listen.  Here’s the link.  

They are associated with RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) and are dedicated to teaching the “contemporary” (I’m fearful of using that word because I don’t want you to think that they are some cheesy lovey-dovey pop musicians re-making the hymns) church how to sing the hymns.

Thomas a’ Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ has good words for me and other bibliophiles:  ”Certainly, when Judgment Day comes we shall not be asked what books we have read, but what deeds we have done; we shall not be asked how well we have debated, but how devoutly we have lived.” (1.3.5)

Hmmm…a good word for the day.

The ancient inscription on the Delphi Temple read, “Know thyself.”  That two word command (or is it an invitation) summarizes almost all of ancient philosophy; all the great thinkers beginning with Plato sought to do just that – to “know thyself.”  It wasn’t just the pagan philosopher either; Christian theologians quickly adopted the motto and reoriented it towards knowing thy true self along with true knowledge of God.  Here is a sampling of Christian theologians on “knowing thyself.”

Clement of Alexandria:  ”If one knows himself, he will know God.”

Augustine:  ”I desire to know God and the soul.”  Nothing more?”  ”Nothing whatever.”  

Augustine (again):  ”Let me know myself, let me know Thee.”

Calvin: “Nearly all wisdom we possess … consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” 

What does it mean, then, to “know thyself” and how does it help us know God?  Calvin gives a couple of suggestions.  First, to “know thyself” is to consider how we were meant to be when first created.  We are to ponder all of the great gifts that God gave to us in creation – intellect, creativity, dominion, love, justice, relationships, etc – and to realize that none of these came from our own hand, but by the gracious hand of God.  In like manner, the Psalmist bursts into song:  ”What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands…” (Ps. 8:4-6).  What a delight to contemplate our intended place in God’s good creation!

Seconldy, however, Calvin points out that in “knowing thyself” we understand our “miserable condition” we now find ourselves in because of sin.  An honest assessment of who we are now, says Calvin, will reveal to us a “sorry spectacle of our foulness.”  (This, I suppose is where we get the image of all the sour-faced Calvinists!)  But, thankfully, we don’t stop there.  Calvin writes, “From this source arise abhorrence and displeasure with ourselves, as well as true humility; and thence is kindled a new zeal to seek God…” (II.I.i).  Earlier he states, “No one can look upon himself without immediately turning his thoughts to the contemplation of God, in whom he ‘lives and moves’” (I.I.i).

So, with a healthful look at thyself, seeing thy intended beauty and realizing thy “sorry spectacle,” turn thy gaze from thyself to the Living God.

Time magazine has an interesting article on the “10 Ideas Changing the World” – #3, interestingly enough is “The New Calvinism.”  It’s fitting, I suppose, that Calvinism is making a comeback on his 500th birthday.

Also checkout this blog by Ray Pennings in which he reflects on perhaps why there is a growing appeal for Calvinism.

I was doing some reading and came across some helpful words from a Puritan, Lewis Bayly. One of the chapers in his book, “The Practice of Piety” is called: “BRIEF DIRECTIONS HOW TO READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ONCE EVERY YEAR OVER, WITH EASE, PROFIT, AND REVERENCE.” He outlines six guidelines for profitable Bible reading. Although they seem profitable, I’m not sure they make reading the Bible in a year “easy” as he claims. Regardless, I offer them as suggestions for reflective Bible reading.

I’ve taken the liberty to “”modernize” and paraphrase what Bayly wrote.

“Just as faith is the soul of Bible reading, so reading and meditating on the Word of God are the parents of prayer, therefore, before you pray in the morning read a chapter in the Word of God, then meditate on all the excellent things there are in that passage. The following is a guide for meditation:

First: How is the passage challenging you to live a holy life filled with good works?

Second: Are there any warnings of God’s judgment on particular sins that you need to hear?

Third: What blessings does God promise to those who demonstrate patience, chastity, mercy, gift-giving, zealous service, love, faith and trust in God, and other Christian virtues?

Fourth: How is God the gracious deliverer and gift-giver to his faithful people in this passage?

Fifth: Apply these things to your own heart; don’t read the passage merely as history, but as God’s letter sent from heaven to you.

Sixth: Receive God’s Word with reverence as if God stood by your side speaking His word directly to you. Apply all that you read in Scripture to yourself and respond appropriately – either growing in faith or in genuine repentance.”

I loved the section: “reading and meditating on God’s Word are the parents of prayer…”; what a great metaphor!

History is sometimes said to be “His story”; the story of God acting in and through time.  But is also said to be the accounts of man throughout time.  With these two ideas in mind, I believe that the study of history is one of the best uses of our mind (perhaps you can sense a bit of a bias coming from a history teacher!).  As we study history, we learn what it is to be human – who we are as a race.  

John Calvin, in his Institutes, says of man:  ”We must now speak of the creation of man: not only because among all God’s works here is the noblest and most remarkable example of his justice; wisdom, and goodness; but because, as we said at the beginning, we cannot have a clear and complete knowledge of God unless it is accompanied by a corresponding knowledge of ourselves” (1.xv.1).  Humanity, the apex of God’s creation, demonstrates God’s justice, wisdom, and goodness.  The more we study the history of man, the more we come in contact with examples of these God-characteristics (of course, in history we encounter fallen man so these characteristics are severely marred and blurred by sin)  And as Calvin explains, the more we know ourselves the more we are able to know God.

There has been a lot of  “post-partisan” talk these days in politics that turns out to be partisan as usual – or perhaps even more partisan!  Parties still vote down the aisle and this supposedly post-partisan economic package is as partisan as you can get!

In the midst of all that, there are a group of Christians from the left and right who are acting truly post-partisan as they seek to offer solutions to the poverty problems.  Jim Wallis from Sojourners and Michael Gerson, former speechwriter for President Bush, and others have joined together to form the Poverty Forum.  Check it out – they seem to be doing some great stuff!

As usual, individuals and the private sector seem to be more innovative than the “post-partisans” in D.C.

In reading Frederick Dale Bruner’s commentary on Matthew I came across this quote of his while commenting on Matthew 5:18:

“When teachers loosen Scripture, they encourage their students to loosen it, too.  … Therefore Jesus says, Be warned: what you do to Scripture will be done to you in judgment: minimalization or maximalization.  Religion, Bible, and seminary teachers must be especially careful when they refer to Scripture.  Students pick up our attitude to it – to our greater or lesse judgment.” (p.202)

In 500 years since Calvin’s day, much of his thought has been distorted – by detractors as well as supporters.  Here are two quotes from Calvin that I think are instructive for Calvinists like myself and those who find him highly distasteful and overly speculative.

“In the reading of Scripture we ought to ceaselessly to endeavor to seek out and meditate upon those things which make for edification.  Let us not indulge in curiosity or in the investigation of unprofitable things.” (1.xiv.4)

“The theologian’s task is not to divert the ears with chatter, but to strengthen consciences by teaching things true, sure, and profitable.” (1.xiv.4)

Calvinists or not, we would all do well to pay attention to Calvin’s advice here.