[These are notes I shared with my congregation to supplement sermons I have preached recently.]
After last week’s sermon on David and Bathsheba, several people mentioned to me that it was a great sermon for young men to hear since it dealt with sexual sin. I was quick to point out that it’s also a good sermon for older men to hear. David was about my age when he fell into sin with Bathsheba – around 50 years old. Likewise, when Solomon broke the three laws of kingship, multiplying gold, building up an army, and going after foreign wives, he was also in middle age – probably late 40s. Here’s the key point: While young men are especially inclined to sexual sin, older men are not exempt from such temptations. Yes, young men need to learn to battle against sexual sin. But older men need to continue fighting that battle in order to finish well. We can never let our guard down.
In last week’s sermon I argued that Bathsheba was not raped by David, but was complicit in adultery. A couple really good treatments of that aspect of the story can be found here and here. This issue is important not only as a matter of fidelity to the biblical text but also because the “Bathsheba was raped” trope is one of the best examples of how cultural Marxism/feminism distort the way many people read the Bible today. And all you have to do is look at the craziness of the Lindsay Clancy trial to the see the real world impact of this kind of thinking.
In last week’s sermon, I also connected sexual immorality to the collapse of civlization. We will see this play out in 2 Samuel – David’s sexual sin will unleash forces that will eventually rip Israel apart. But it’s also an historical thesis that has been carefully studied. J. D. Unwin published Sex and Civilization in the 1930s, documenting the reality that civilization depends on chastity. Cultures that practice strict monogamy and sexual discipline flourish; when those restraints fall away, civilization is only a few generations away from collapse. Obviously, Western nations are putting that thesis to the test right now. Here is a short summary of Unwin’s very important work.
On the topic of effeminacy, I recommend Tim Bayly’s book The Grace of Shame. Effeminacy is not just manifested in sodomite behavior; it is manifested in all kinds of ways in which men are soft, passive, cowardly, and undisciplined. Effeminacy is specifically a sin men commit (though there is a female version of this sin as well). Effeminacy is the absence of masculine virtue and strength in men. Paul says the effeminate will not inherit the kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 6:9, though some English translations obscure what Paul is saying there; note that Paul ends 1 Corinthians with a call for men to “act like men” and “be strong” in 16:13, which describes the opposite of effeminacy.
I preached on the importance Christian education a few weeks ago on August 9. Reformed denominations used to take a much more firm stance on this issue. For example, in 1987, the PCA produced a position paper on “Education and Parental Responsibility.” I do not think today’s PCA would be willing to put out a statement like this one – and it’s not because public schools have gotten better, it’s because the PCA has lost its will to be counter-cultural. Here’s an excerpt:
“The duty of education is therefore a family responsibility. The family is the fundamental unit of society under God, and it is the duty of parents as led by the father to prepare their children to function righteously under God’s rule in all spheres of life (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-25; 18:19; Psalm 127:3-5; Ephesians 6:1-4). In order for this task to be successful, education must be distinctively Christian; i.e., based upon God’s revelation of His Truth in His Word (Psalm 36:9; Exodus 20:16; John 17:17; John 14:6; John 8:32). Education is a necessary task for equipping children to glorify God in work and worship that is according to His Word. Thus, Christian education is necessary and essential for a godly use of talents (Psalm 78:1-8). This responsibility cannot be abdicated by parents, for God holds them accountable. Parents may delegate this responsibility to surrogate parents who meet biblical qualifications while retaining the responsibility of education and the authority over their children. The modern concept of children belonging to the state is anti-Christian. The responsibility for educating children does not belong to the state and therefore the state should not usurp this responsibility from parents…
Churches and Presbyteries should consider how they might encourage parents in the task of providing their children with an education that is consistent with biblical Truth and that will prepare them for effective service for God’s Kingdom in all spheres of life. Churches should seriously consider providing thoroughly Christian and biblical schools for their covenant children as well as many other children in their respective communities. If necessary, the church should assist in providing the means by which a parent can educate his child, whether it be through establishment of a Christian school or financial assistance to the parent to provide for a Christian or private education elsewhere.”
I also did a podcast with Bryan Dawson of 1819 News on Christian education, which you can find here. I highly recommend Nate Walker’s book Gospel Education if you’re looking for something to read on classical Christian education. Doug Wilson’s book The Paideia of God is also very good.
Finally, I preached a couple sermons in June and July on America at 250. If you’re interested in learning more about America’s Christian founding, Eric Metaxas’ new book Revolution is a great read. It’s one of the most comprehensive re-tellings of our nation’s origins available and it’s from a solid Christian perspective. John Eidsmoe wrote a series of short, helpful articles on aspects of America’s Christian founding from May through July for 1819 News. You can find those article here.
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