Writing Religion Out of Our History

posted by Kenneth

From John Piper's recent Blog: Writing Religion Out of Our History

Piper writes:

The new Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, which is now where every visitor will arrive to see the nation’s Capitol, opened yesterday with 580,000 square feet of displays and $621,000,000 worth of history, but no God.
In what appears to be an intentional misrepresentation of the nation’s religious roots, visitors will enter the center reading a large engraving:
We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.
This reminded me of the celebration of the goddess Reason in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on November 10, 1792. There were some similarities between the American and French Revolutions. But that was not one of them. Reason was big here. But she was not yet God.
I was drawn to South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint’s comments because we both graduated from Wade Hampton High School five years apart. This is the Senator then and now.

So here is what Sen. DeMint said on his website.

DeMint: New Capitol Visitor Center Omits History of Faith

December 2, 2008 - Greenville, S.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) made the following statement on the opening of the new Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) in Washington, D.C. He recently fought to include prominent displays of our national motto, "In God We Trust," and the Pledge of Allegiance within the CVC. The Architect of the Capitol has also been instructed to consider the rich faith heritage of our Nation when selecting the content of any future display. “The Capitol Visitor Center is designed to tell the history and purpose of our nation's Capitol, but it fails to appropriately honor our religious heritage that has been critical to America’s success,” said Senator DeMint. “While the Architect of the Capitol has pledged to include some references to faith, more needs to be done. You cannot accurately tell the history of America or its Capitol by ignoring the religious heritage of our Founders and the generations since who relied on their faith for strength and guidance. The millions of visitors that will visit the CVC each year should get a true portrayal of the motivations and inspirations of those who have served in Congress since its establishment. “The current CVC displays are left-leaning and in some cases distort our true history. Exhibits portray the federal government as the fulfillment of human ambition and the answer to all of society’s problems. This is a clear departure from acknowledging that Americans’ rights ‘are endowed by their Creator’ and stem from ‘a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.’ Instead, the CVC’s most prominent display proclaims faith not in God, but in government. Visitors will enter reading a large engraving that states, ‘We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.’ This is an intentional misrepresentation of our nation’s real history, and an offensive refusal to honor America's God-given blessings. As George Washington stated clearly in his first inaugural address:

'…[I]t would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States, a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes: and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge.’

“The fundamental principles of the freedom we enjoy in this country stem from our Founding Fathers’ beliefs in a higher power, beliefs put forth in the Declaration of Independence and manifest throughout our Constitution,” said Senator DeMint. “If we cease to acknowledge this fact, we may cease to enjoy some of the freedoms we take for granted. We must not censor historical references to God for the sake of political correctness. And we must truthfully represent the limited form of government the Constitution lays out so that our ‘government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.’ So help us God.”

Spectacular Sins!?

Posted by Kenneth

What does the fall of Satan reveal about Christ’s glory? How does Adam’s sin magnify our Lord? How does the glory of Jesus shine through in Judas’ betrayal? How is the honor of Jesus at stake in the sin and evil, the suffering and the calamities and the wickedness, which abound in the world today?
In this book John Piper seeks to provide a biblical perspective on God’s sovereign and righteous governance over even the sinful acts of men. History’s greatest sins do not thwart God’s purposes to save his people and glorify his Son; they fulfill them. And being grounded in this hope is the key to “Christ-exalting strength in calamity and Christ-exalting courage in conflict.”

“Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ. Wow! Spectacular and sin! I’ve never seen those words together before. And who but John Piper could so brilliantly weave them into the same lyric as the global, purposeful glory of Christ! This man never ceases to inspire me to be more awestruck with the supremacy of Jesus.”
—Chris Tomlin, Song-writer and lead worshiper

“When it comes to holocausts or other horrors, most of us assume God has his hands tied and his back to the wall. We figure the devil wreaks havoc when God’s not looking; we rationalize the Lord’s ‘mistakes,’ figuring he absentmindedly took his hands off the wheel when tragedies happen. But John Piper paints a different picture from the pages of Scripture that will strengthen your heart, bolster your faith, and deepen your understanding of the ‘largeness’ of God’s sovereignty.”
—Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

Here are some vidoes of Piper sheading some light on God's sovereignty...enjoy.

Piper answering a question about Spectacular Sins


What should we do with evil?


Piper's own struggles with God's sovereingty


So what is our role in praying?

Bye Bye Democracy

Posted By: Kenneth

News headline:

California Supreme Court to decide fate of Prop. 8 same-sex marriage ban

Another Headline:

Calif. Supreme Court to Take up Gay Marriage Ban
California Supreme Court agrees to hear challenges to voter-approved gay marriage ban

Joseph Mercado and Justin Niehoff embrace as they protest a gay marriage ban approved two weeks ago by Californians in Chicago's Federal Plaza Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. The event is part of a simultaneous protest planned for cities nationwide. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

What does October 31st mean to you?

posted by Kenneth

Which of these will you be celebrating on Oct 31st?

HALLOWEEN:

Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (Irish pronunciation: [ˈsˠaunʲ]; from the Old Irish samain). The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.

REFORMATION DAY:

Martin Luther was a German monk, theologian, university professor, Father of Protestantism, and church reformer whose ideas influenced the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization. The Protestant Reformation began on October 31, 1517 when Luther nailed his 95 Theses (a refutation and challenge of particular Catholic doctrines) to the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a universal priesthood. According to Luther, salvation is a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church. Luther's translation of the Bible into the vernacular of the people made the Scriptures more accessible to them, and had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. Martin Luther was not a perfect man, but the Reformation that God started through him has put God's Word in the hands of common people, like you and me, and has fought against justification by works so that the grace of God would be exulted in as a free gift, so that no man can boast!

MY POINT:
It is interesting to note that most churches in America recognize that Halloween is inconsistent with what Christianity stands for. Proof of this is seen in churches offering alternatives by renaming the holiday to "fall festival", "harvest festival", ect. But, it's generaly just a halloween party with Thanksgiving looking flyers. My qestion is; Why not celebrate Reformation Day on Oct. 31st? There are no rules on how to celebrate it...we could even make it fun for kids! My point is that for the sake of children not being deprived fun, we forsake a perfect opportunity to praise God for, and educate our children on one of the most significant moments in Christian history! We celebrate Columbus Day because we're happy that he found America, Martin Luther King Day because we're happy that racial injustice is not tolerated in America, and Presidents Day because we're happy that we have leaders who will step up and lead America. What about Reformation Day because we're happy that we have Bibles in America?! I'm just throwing this out there for some serious consideration.

I recommend that if you do not know much about Reformation Day that you watch this movie.

OUR NEW PLACE!!!

Posted by Rebecca

All the sins of all men?

Posted by Kenneth

The following argument has not been sufficiently and consistently answered since it was first posed by John Owen over 300 years ago.

"The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either:

1) All the sins of all men.

2) All the sins of some men, or

3) Some of the sins of all men.

In which case it may be said:

That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved.
That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth.

But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins? You answer, "Because of unbelief." I ask, "Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it is, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!"

- John Owen(The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Book 3, Ch. 3)

Meaningless words!

Posted by Kenneth

This Sign has vague unbiblical language. Virtually meaningless to the people driving by.


This sign has vague 17th century biblical language. Virtually meaningless to those driving by.

Without understanding, or understanding the wrong thing, the Gospel message is NOT preached. Some might say that on the second sign are the words of Jesus, so therefore it is a good sign. Jesus spoke in Aramaic, why? Because the listeners understood Aramaic! 17th century English is a pretty far cry from the English that we speak today. Let us be careful with our words when we speak of the Good News. I believe that God is absolutely sovereign in saving people by the preaching of the Gospel, but that doesn't mean we should treat it as a spell that we cast on a crowd or an individual ..."abra cadabra". The New Testament is full of commands to reason, persuade, and preach an intelligible Gospel (Acts 18:4,19:8, 2 Corinthians 5:11). Let depravity (Ephesians 4:18) be the cause of a lack of understanding, not our communication of the Gospel. And as we preach let us also pray with thanksgiving that we have understanding(1 John 5:20).

Fay = Grey Day

Posted by Kenneth

We are ok...wet and windy, but ok. here is a look at where we are. enjoy.

Here we are...
Here we are...
Here we are...
and here we are...

Kenneths Song and John Piper

Posted by Rebecca

Hey, kenneth's song is on an official John Piper video!

Rebecca's Big 2-1

posted by Kenneth

On July 10th my wonderful, beautiful, excellent, virtuous, God-fearing, loving, smart, respectful wife turned a whopping 21 years old! And what a day it was. Let me tell you what we did. First we drove 2 1/2 hours to Myrtle Beach, SC.

When we got there we checked into our super sweet hotel. Then we headed directly to Hard Rock Park.

Hard Rock Park was probably a mistake but we had fun. I say mistake because I forgot how worldly and sinful "rock music" can be. It seemed highlighted frequently in the park with posters, t-shirts, and the music that was constantly playing anywhere we went. The best part of the park was also the worst... The Led Zeppelin ride.

It goes 65 mph, 15 stories tall, with 6 loops... a VERY intense! But before you board they put you in a totally dark room with 20 people and make you watch a Led Zeppelin concert for 10 minuets...VERY LAME!!! No shirts, skin tights clothes... just not cool to me. Anyway, after that we went back to the hotel to chill out for a little while. As soon as we got back Tropical Storm Osama hit! Ok, it wasn't really a tropical storm but it was GNARLEY! totaly sideways rain, lightning bolts blasting down all around us, power outage 3 times in our hotel...thank the sovereign God that we "decided" to go back to the hotel when we did.

After a few ours of terrorizing weather we went to eat at the Olive Garden...

we got my meal and our desserts free! The next morning the sun was out and we headed to the beach. we had fun and got a little sun. then we went back home. All in all I think it was still a hit. We had a bunch of fun with out Rebecca getting drunk on her 21st birthday!

p.s. I thought this was kinda funny

Is that Muslim?!

Posted by Kenneth

On the pick guard of my guitar I have two stickers that people usually think is some sort symbol of Islam. Which is interesting because the only "public" place I bring my guitar out is in church or at a bible study to lead worship. Anyway, the stickers on the guitar are a Palmetto tree and a crescent. These represent the South Carolina (my home state) state flag...NOT Islam!

The Palmetto tree on the flag is a tribute to the palmetto logs that were used to build Ft. Moultrie in the Revolutionary War, which withstood bombardment by British warships quite well (palmetto is a soft wood and the cannon balls were pretty much absorbed). The crescent is thought to be a piece of armor worn around the neck called a gorget.

Kenneth's Big 3-0

Posted by Rebecca

This past Thursday June 26th was Kenneth's 30th birthday! The big 3-0!!! We had a ton of fun. First he and I went to Charles Towne Landing in Charleston, because Kenneth loves history. It is the place where the first settlers landed in 1607. There is a visitors center with a museum, and a trail that takes you around the landing with remains of old houses and archaeological digs. There was also a little zoo with animals that were in the area when the settlers first arrived.

Then we went to downtown Charleston and went to the market to do some shopping. The buildings that are now the modern day market, were used as the slave markets hundreds of years ago.

We went to the famous Hymans Seafood restaurant for dinner with some of his family. We ate a ton, and really enjoyed ourselves. Afterwards, we came back to his older sister Jenny and her husband Blaine's house and had a Narf tournament. (Kenneth's favorite card game)

Overall, We had ton of food, and a ton of fun on Kenneth's 30th birthday!

The "Stonewall" Calvinist.

Posted by Kenneth

Well, ever since we’ve been in South Carolina we’ve been surrounded by history. Anytime we drive somewhere we drive by 300 year old houses, Revolutionary War battlefields, War Between the States (Civil War) battlefields, cemeteries, old churches …and the list goes on and on. One thing is sure, South Carolina is steeped in early American history.
All this history has been very intriguing to me. As I try to discern Biblical ethics in the wars, politics, culture, and church of our own day and age, I am curious how the earlier Americans dealt with these same issues in their age. I mean, how did born again Christians deal with the issues involved with the War Between the States? Was it a “just war”? Is there even such a thing as a just war? Were all slave owners brutal bigots? Were any slave owners even born again? Did all the slaves hate their masters and living conditions? How did the believing slaves endure through slavery? Was the war even about slavery? Or the Great Awakening before the Revolution, how did that effect the culture of New England? Was religious freedom worth going to war for? What did evangelism look like during these times?… and so on.
Well, the best way to get these kind of questions answered is to read about the people involved. So, that’s what I have begun to do. My first book was a biography on the Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson written by Bronwyn Mills. My aim in this blog is to not tell you everything I learned about something or someone, but just some interesting things that I think are note-worthy.
The reason I chose Stonewall is because of a painting of him in my parents house called “ The Prayer Warrior”. Stonewall Jackson was a brilliant General for the South during the War. General Jackson and Robert E. Lee were a much feared duo in the Virginia/Maryland area during the first two thirds of the War. For the most part they maintained a defensive stance. Squashing every attempt of invasion the North made. Thomas J. Jackson received the nickname “Stonewall” during the battle of Bull Run when another general, General Bernard Bee, was rallying his retreating men. When Bee spotted Jackson and his men bravely holding their position he shouted “ Look! There is Jackson standing like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!”. The South went on to win the battle. Bee died in that battle.
Probably the most interesting thing I learned about Stonewall was that he was a Reformed (Calvinist) Presbyterian who leaned strongly on the sovereignty and providence of God. He was a feared warrior on the battlefield and a hard-charging general in camp, yet he was greatly loved by his men. They knew him to be a man of prayer. He was even regularly seen praying during battles. He would frequently lead groups of his soldiers in prayer. While he and his men camped they would have tent revivals and many would be born again.Concerning Jackson's views on slavery his wife Anna said that he,"found the institution a responsible and troublesome one, and have heard him say that he would prefer to see the Negroes free, but he...accepted slavery, as it existed in the South, not as a thing desirable in itself, but as allowed by Providence for ends which it was not his business to determine."
On May 2nd 1863, while on a scouting mission with his officers, Stonewall Jackson was shot in his left arm by confederate troops who mistook them for union soldiers. His arm had to be amputated. General Robert E. Lee said this famous line while Jackson was out of commission, “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm”. On May 10th 1863 General Stonewall Jackson died.
Many speculate that had he not died the War Between the States may have ended differently… we’ll never know. Here are some quotes by him and about him…

At the dedication of a statue erected in honor of Stonewall shortly after the war the preacher prayed, " When in Thine inscrutable decree it was ordained that the Confederacy should fail, it became necessary for Thee to remove Thy servant Stonewall Jackson...".

The Sovereign decrees of God comforted and emboldened Jackson.

"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"

General Jackson on his death bed.

"I see from the number of physicians that you think my condition dangerous, but I thank God, if it is His will, that I am ready to go."

Stonewall's Last words.

"Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees ..."

This mans life was saturated in the sovereignty of God. I am encouraged by his strong testimony to be ready for the day the King has decreed when my life here will end. I pray that I will not waste my life but that the Lord will embolden me to be a radical risk taker, wise strategist, enemy discerner, prayerful encourager, and a biblical minded soldier on this spiritual battlefield we call earth.

Music Recommendation!

I STRONGLY recommend Bethany Dillon & Matt Hammitt's new album "In Christ Alone". If anyone knows my musical taste...then you kind of know what to expect...really good vocals and music! There is very strong lyrical content on this album, mostly do to the fact that half the songs on the album are hymns. I love this album. You can get it on iTunes.

Kenneth

Life as a Vapor

You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:14

John Piper writes,

The Son of God is not a vapor. He is solid reality, with no beginning and no ending. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday and today and forever. He looked His disciples in the eye and said without irony or exaggeration, “Before Abraham was, I Am.”

But what about us? Once we were not, and now we exist? Humans come into being. For how long? Forever. Either in heaven or in hell. There is no going out of existence. For that would not be joy for those who love God nor punishment for those who don’t.

You exist forever. There is no use protesting that you did not ask to exist and would like not to. That is not an option. You and God are both in the universe to stay- either as friends on His terms, or enemies. Which it will be is proven in this life. And this life is a vapor. Two seconds, and we will be gone- to heaven or to hell. “As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone” (Psalm 103:15-16).

Jesus Christ came into this world- this fleeting, fallen, fickle world- and did the greatest thing that will ever be done. As the perfect Son of God, He died in our place, absorbed the wrath of God, paid the penalty for sin, provided the righteousness of the law, and rose invincible from the dead- all in a vapor’s life of thirty-three years. Because of that, we have something firm to grasp. “Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:7-8). The gospel is firm and lasts forever.

( http://www.desiringgod.org/Store/Books/ByTopic/All/480_Life_as_a_Vapor/ )

First Blog Ever!!!

Hey! Thanks for visiting The Padgett Post! This is Kenneth writing the first blog on this here thing. Rebecca (my wonderful wife), and I are currently in South Carolina at my parents house for the summer. We will be heading up to Kentucky in August so that I can attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. We are pretty excited about that. It will probably take three to four years. We will be updating this blog frequently with personal jabber about whatever is new in our lives...or about whatever we want to write about. We will (hopefully) also post our thoughts on the books we are reading, things that we are learning in the Bible, and whatever ever else we think will be necessary for edification(building up). So check this blog regularly if you want...we hope you do.