Book Review: Sex and the Supremacy of Christ

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SexJustin Taylor offered the opportunity for bloggers to preview and review Sex and the Supremacy of Christ a few weeks back, and I have finally had time to read it.  I hope this is helpful.  For a full list of author's bios and some helpful ministry links, go here.

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Sex and the Supremacy of Christ is more than a book. It's a vivid and wonderful memory for me.

My wife and I attended the Desiring God Conference that became this book. It was the first time my wife and I have been overnight without our children, and it was for two nights. We left them with the grandparents and drove my Dad's Caddy to Minneapolis.  The conference was well worth the separation anxiety that we experienced from missing our kids so much. But they did great, almost as good as us.

I remember thinking that this weekend away would be a good time to rediscover my wife who has been willingly kidnapped by our 4 wonderful kids. We still regularly "date," but we needed an extended breather. The conference provided a great opportunity for my marriage to hit "refresh."

Enough about my story, it's time to talk about a book.

This isn't a systematic theology of sex or a detailed how-to with graphic photos. But it is a book for everyone about sex and Christ and how they are not at odds. It's the meditation of different people with different experiences coming together to cover some important topics for our times. There isn't a bum chapter in the book, and I think it's a good example of how to combine scholarship with pastoral application on sex. I recommend it highly. Now for a few brief comments through the book.

Justin Taylor introduces the book. He writes,

Bruce Marshall, in his novel The World, the Flesh, and Father Smith, wrote a very provocative sentence: "The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God." What Marshall saw—and what few are saying—is that there is a deep connection between God and sex. (p 15)

This idea permeates the book.

John Piper then explains the two real points of the book. 

I think everything in this book will be the explanation and application of these two points. The first is that sexuality is designed by God as a way to know God in Christ more fully. And the second is that knowing God in Christ more fully is designed as a way of guarding and guiding our sexuality. (p26)

Though some who have reviewed the book feel Piper really never sufficiently proves this (fair enough), I don't take issue.  I think everything good in life points us more deeply to Christ, and Taylor's intro actually preemptively aids Piper's claims.

Ben Patterson's talk was one of the best at the conference, and his chapter reminds me of why. His explanation of the Song of Solomon against the backdrop of the sexuality connect to the storefront of Victoria's Secret is very helpful because, as Patterson says, the pleasures of sex are heightened by proper restraint just as the Colorado river is more powerful because of the walls of the Grand Canyon. Wonderful illustration.

David Powlison counsels us to fight against the unholy side of sex that finds its way into our marriages, and good advice it is. This is no superficial drive-by. He pulls no punches and speaks with great clarity on sin and sex. A powerful chapter, worthy of a second read.

Al Mohler speaks on homosexuality with his usual erudition. His seven principles for talking about homosexual marriage are helpful, including point 6, "We must be the people who love homosexuals more than homosexuals love homosexuality." (p 126) This is what is so often missing from the conversation on homosexuality.

The guys from 9 Marks Ministries write about sex and the single guy, and it’s pretty basic stuff from The Joshua Harris School of Courtship and (anti) Masturbation. If you already hold these views you will be satisfied with this chapter. If you don't, I think this chapter will be a helpful challenge for your current views.  Nothing earth shattering here, but good, solid stuff.

C.J. Mahaney then talks to married men about their wives, how to know them, how to express passion for them, and so on. He rehashes the Song of Solomon in some detail, and puts together a very helpful chapter for guys like me who need all the help we can get. As a practical guide, it’s worth the price of the book.

Sorry, but I don't want to try to do justice to the chapters on sex and single women or married women.  I don't fit the profile.  I will leave it with this unimprovable quote, "Engaging in this physical expression of marital intimacy and union is one of the most meaningful ways we can encourage our husbands."  (p. 201)  Enough said.

Justin Taylor adds a nice historical essay on Martin Luther and his wife (not a conference lecture). It's very good. He provides some analysis of Luther's writings on marriage and the goodness of sex. And finally Mark Dever writes on the Puritans and sex. He gives a variety of fantastic quotes and historical review which makes for fine scholarship as well as a vivid and interesting read.

At the end of the book there are several helps.  There's a list of recommended resources, a Scripture index (from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:4), a Person index (from Douglas Wilson to H.L. Menken), and a subject index (from "foreplay" to "Yuck Factor").  These all seem very complete.

All-in-all, a great book. It’s better than the conference because it’s on paper and easy to review.  But no book is ever as good as the experience of talking for hours about being with your wife and then being with her, only to wake up the next day and do it all over again.

Funny Preachers

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The concert the other night was at a local church.  And there was that moment, like at all church concerts, when the preacher comes out and makes some type of gospel presentation.  He didn't encourage walking the aisle or anything (thankfully), but he did have the crowd rolling as he tried to convey the truth.  Really funny guy.

But there was one little joke/story in the middle of what he said that made me realize that he was about to lose everyone.  He had us laughing and thinking, and then he didn't know when to stop.  I was distracted because he told one too many jokes.

Why do preachers strive to be funny?  The only thing I could think positively about humor is that it breaks down barriers and gets people to listen.  And the reason a preacher would need to use humor is because he is speaking to people he doesn't really know. 

The pastor at the concert was talking to many who were not members or attenders of his church, and for us the humor did work to get us to listen.  So his humor is understandable. 

But don't we know of preachers who are week-in and week-out funny?  Humor seems to be a huge part of their approach.  My thought: they must not know their people very well.  There must be a barrier that must be crossed to get them to listen.  Yeah, I know it can be other things, like people want to be entertained or whatever.  But I think my point is still true, humor in "the pulpit" is so popular because relationships are not, because love is not obvious enough.

Though it seems to "work," is humor really necessary and helpful to open ears?  Didn't Peter in Acts 2 use the crowd's questions about tongues and accusations about the sin of the crowd to break down barriers? 

I think we need a real discussion among pastors to see if humor isn't a bandaid on a bigger problem, because my dad doesn't need to tell me a joke before he gives me advice.  I'm always listening because I know he loves me.

Experience the Reign of God

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The calling to seek first the reign of God and God's justice means orienting our public deeds away from imposing our moral will upon the social fabric and toward giving tangible experience of the reign of God that intrudes as an alternative to the public principles and loyalties.

Darrel Guder, ed., Missional Church, p 109

Denver & MHO

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Denver_cdCall me strange, but a couple in our church took my wife and me to see Denver and the Mile High Orchestra last night in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.  The CD cover scanned at the side was signed to me by Denver.  Trust me, the only signed documents I'm really interested in are my paychecks.  But I thought it would be cool for the site. 

The group is Christian, had a 13 piece orchestra, and was a little wacko (in a good way).  But this wasn't a typical orchestra.  From the website...

In the five years since their inception, the group has traveled around the globe, performing at churches, conferences, festivals—even at the Olympics—taking their electrifying horn-driven sound to the masses. The big band sound of the 30’s and 40’s had long intrigued Denver, who had played the trumpet for 16 years , so he assembled a group of musicians—friends to reinvent the style for the modern age. "I grew up listening to hip-hop, rock and pop, to all those genres," says Denver, who is also the group's lead vocalist and music arranger. "So I wanted to take the best of today and the best of yesterday and mix 'em up."

Img_0462_600I wouldn't have gone to this concert in a million years if I had to buy the ticket and find the directions and drive there myself.  But I'm really glad our friends took us, and I would probably see them again.  Sometimes you listen to a CD and go, Uh, that's good, just not my style.  And then you see them in person, see an outstanding performance, experience remarkable creativity and tremendous talent, and say, Man, that's something different and interesting and special. 

I get it now.  I won't tell you to get their CD unless you are interested in swing/jazz/scat.  It's different stuff.  But if you get the chance to see them, it's definitely worth watching and maybe even listening to after you leave.

Img_0472_600Thought it would be fun to get my wife to cozy up to Denver.  Great pic.  Click it for a bigger version.  Get your hands off my wife bro.

By the way, you can go on their website and listen to some of their music for free.  Go for it.

Southern Baptist Convention Blogger

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For all of you who are interested in following bloggers who will be attending the upcoming SBC annual meeting in Nashville, I'm here for you.  So you should bookmark this site, Reformissionary, keep an eye on my Emerging SBC Leaders site which should offer many links, and I also expect Joe Thorn and Marty Duren to blog as well.  I'll let you know if I find others.

I hope to update as much of the convention that I can get myself to sit through.  I will definitely be saying much about the "Younger Leaders Summit" on Sunday June 19th, some on the boring regular meetings on the 21st and 22nd and (though I'm sure I will miss some votes), and whatever else I can take note of.  I will be taking plenty of pics, and maybe even doing some vlogging if Joe teaches me how.

UPDATE: The convention hall is supposed to have wifi for some real-time blogging.

The Perfect Church

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I got an email from someone I know today who has visited the church I pastor but is still looking for a local body to connect with.  Great guy, theologically thoughtful, concerned about the right things.  I asked in an email if he has found a local church yet, and he said he found three imperfect ones that if the good parts were combined (worship style, preaching, elders, passion) would become the "perfect church." 

I know what my friend is talking about.  So many times in my years as a Christian I have wished to find the right combination in a local community of believers, and every time I've been disappointed.  So I don't fault what he said; I've said the same before.  But it did strike me that we all might be looking for the wrong things in this elusive "perfect church."

I made this statement in reply to his ideal church cocktail...

The perfect church is the one that you truly lay 100% of your life and heart down to serve through.

The longer I thought about that sentence, the more I liked it.  I think it's that simple.  Sure, let's make sure they confess that the historic truths are really true, and that they know the mission we are on in the world, and all that.  But then just find the closest one and invest every ounce of yourself to living the mission in your neighborhood.

Maybe the "perfect church" is closer than we think.  It's the imperfect group of people down the street who gather to give and serve and worship and grow, and then work redemption all around them all week long.  And everytime an imperfect person joins up with them, they are even more perfect.

EC Mudslinging

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Interesting post from Andrew Jones (TallSkinnyKiwi)...

Can I say it publicly? The season of emerging church mudslinging isover. Now its time to bless each other, rise up with wings like angels . . . and fly.

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And I am not saying that we should stop the discipline of examining ourselves daily or welcoming constructive criticism, but I am saying that I think a lot of us have done enough explaining and defending to feel like we are freed up again to get back to the mission of helping God reconcile all things to Himself, and not to feel dampened.

Cinderella Man

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Cinderella_manJoe Thorn and I watched a truly great movie tonight.  Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe is about a man who can take a punch inside and outside the ring.  Not only is he his kids' hero but he's also the champion of his wife's heart.  As a husband and father, the movie resonated with me like few others.

You will rarely see a movie so well made and acted, and that so effectively grabs your emotions.  You leave wanting to endure adversity in such a remarkable way.

Read Joe's review.

Local Community

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Lilian Calles Barger, author of Eve's Revenge, on Mars Hill Audio Journal 63...

When I say local church or local community, I mean local.  Local is not getting in the car once a week to drive 15 miles across town to a megachurch that's got 5,000 or 6,000 people where you spend 2 hours there and go home.  That is not a community, that is an association.

When I say "community," and I'm talking about "local community," I'm talking within a very small geographic space, because we are people that live in a small geographic space.  No matter how much we talk about going global, we live within a few square miles of where we live.  I think it's sad that we have gotten away from the neighborhood church, that people are now driving miles to go to a huge church for 2 hours.

The only way the church is going to be a redeeming community that is affective in the lives of people is when we get back to a very local model: smaller churches closer to where people live and work.  That way we can integrate all of life.

Storming Emergent

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I've been looking forward to the online ministry of Sam Storms for a while now.  It's good to see Enjoying God Ministries is up and at 'em (so Piperesque, I know, but God is fairly Piperesque, so that's cool I guess). 

Storms is working through Carson's book on the emerging church and putting up a series of responses as an "extended review."  I'm linking them here as they come online.  By the way, Mark Driscoll has a nice, concise review of Carson's book on Amazon.

Part 1; Part 2; Part 3

Wonders of Creation

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The tail end of a thunderstorm just developed right over my house (my city at least).  The weather map in a matter of minutes went from clear to a strong storm just East of us.  We sat outsite for about 10 minutes just watching the clouds mushroom.  It was awe-some.

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Prayer of Francis

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This just never gets old...

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console
to be understood, as to understand
to be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
it is in dying that we are born into Eternal Life.
Amen.

Emergent Collective Response

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Doug Pagitt writes,

A number of us have been working for a few months on a collectiveresponse to criticisms that have been made about us and Emergent.  We decided to put a document together, not for the purpose of settling all matters, but to try and put words around our hopes, and to give those who have to respond on our behalf some indication of what we are thinking on these matters.

I imagine that others would like to "sign on" to this response, if not in words then in spirit. Those listed are among the people who have been "called out" either for what they have written or said, but mostly what has been written.

And here's a link to the collective response (PDF file) by Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, Chris Seay, Spencer Burke, Dan Kimball, Andrew Jones, and Tony Jones.

I think it's a great response that needs very wide reading, from the staunch critic who has likened Brian McLaren to a cult leader to the blogger who hates emergent because their pastor told them to.  These four pages won't answer all the questions or do enough to moisten the dry tongue of the critics, but I think it carries wisdom as well as a humble spirit.

I want to play briefly with one thought that came to mind while reading this.  Often in church history the greatest theologians, authors, hymn writers (and so on) were pastors.  The practitioners were writing and their writing was informed not only by their preaching, but their daily involvement with the pains and joys of the local church ministry.  Is the Emerging Church about recovering that?  I'm not sure, but I think it's worth thinking about.

OTHER LINKS: Official post and conversation at Emergent-US; TallSkinnyKiwi; Justin Taylor; Emergent No; A-Team Blog; Subversive Influence;
 

Cubs Are Making Noise

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ZambranoCubs have won 7 straight.  They have had at least 10 hits in each of the last 7 games.  Derrek Lee is batting .389 and is 11 for his last 13 at bats (8 for 8 in his last two games).  The pitching is getting better even without Prior and Wood, including a 1 hitter yesterday (Zambrano) and a 4 hit shutout tonight (Rusch). 

UPDATE 6.6.05: Good article on Derrek Lee on the front page of Sportsline.com today.

This is fun baseball, and the race for the playoffs is getting tight.  After a pitiful beginning of the season, this may be an interesting summer after all

Girl Talk

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I think the Mahaney girls' blog, Girl Talk ("conversations on biblical womanhood and other fun stuff"), will be really good for women and their daughters when it kicks off on June 20th. 

(HT: JT)