"The Pilgrim's Progress," by John Bunyan

This is a classic that every Christian should read at least once. An extended allegory of the Christian life, Bunyan describes the journey of "Christian" as he makes his way from his native City of Destruction to the goal of his pilgrimage, the Celestial City. Along the way, as he meets with assorted characters (with such memorable names as "Mr. Worldly Wiseman," "Talkative," and "Mr. Money Love"), is beset with all sorts of trouble (including "Vanity Fair" and the "Doubting Castle"), and is helped by his fellow-pilgrims and others, Christian in his journey illustrates what the pilgrimage of faith is all about.

Bunyan's story reminds us that, like Christian, and like our forefathers before us, we are "strangers and exiles on the earth," seeking a "better country, that is, a heavenly one." (Hebrews 11:13, 15). Like Christian, we must leave all behind in the City of Destruction, calling out on the way, "Life, life, eternal life." Like Christian, we must take the burden of our sin and guilt to the cross of Christ, where it falls off into the selpuchre below. And like Christian, we will at times transverse the Slough of Despond, and we will find need to escape from the Doubting Castle by taking from our breasts the key called "Promise."

The Pilgrim's Progress is also helpful for encouraging what I would consider biblical, healthy self-examination. Christian meets up with many false pilgrims, who claim to be on their way to the Celestial City, but who in fact perish along the way. They are turned aside by a love of money, or they are unwilling to suffer the reproach of the cross, or they forsake the narrow and difficult path for the way that is broad and easy but leads to death (which way Christian actually took, but was ultimately saved from it). Talkative knew all about religion but had no heart knowledge of it. Ignorance deceived himself into thinking he would receive entry into the Celestial City, but he did not have the necessary certificate to get in.

As Christians, we are prone to err like these in the story who ultimately fail in their pilgrimage. As Bunyan depicts the nature of genuine, saving faith through both the words and deeds of Christian and his companions, we are able to see our own hearts more clearly.

But more than anything, Bunyan's story is a great encouragement for those who are fellow-pilgrims with Christian. His description of the glories of the Celestial City at the end of the book is a powerful reminder of what Christ has prepared for those whose hearts are set upon "the highways to Zion." (Psalm 84:5).

World-famous Wasilla

Some of you who read this blog have actually been to Wasilla and may be interested in this article from the Anchorage Daily News describing the recent invasion of international media upon our fair town.

Although the article gives the impression media types are to be seen everywhere, as far my experience goes, Wasilla doesn't seem that much different than it did a few weeks ago before the excitement began. I saw one cameraman shooting video at the main intersection "downtown" (actually, a four-way stop sign). Who knows, maybe a shot of my Toyota Camry rolling past the camera made the nightly news that night?

But other than that, I haven't seen any media here. No secret service agents, either. Mainly just the usual folks - locals and tourists.

The article quotes various international newspapers' descriptions of Wasilla. I'm afraid to say they're all pretty accurate. Honestly, though we love calling Wasilla home, the town itself isn't the charming or quaint place you might expect in rural Alaska. It is quite non-descript with lots of strip malls and a hodge-podge of buildings scattered here and there alongside the Parks Highway. But, that is part of the beauty of Wasilla. The town, and the people who live here, are unpretentious. And if you can show me a Super Wal-Mart with a better view from the parking lot, I'll move there!

Of course, the article mentions the all the attention the now-famous (or infamous?) library has been getting as a result of the alleged attempt on Mayor Palin's part to ban books from it. Apparently they have gotten flooded with calls and e-mails asking about Palin's nefarious past as a book-burner or whatever the charge is.

On reading that, I have to hand it to the library's efficient staff. Despite the deluge of outside attention, they are still able to call our house every two days or so with this message, spoken in a monotone fashion: "Hello, this is the Wasilla Public Library, and Robyn Johnson has a book on hold and we will hold for seven days. Thank you." Next time they call, I'm tempted to ask: "Did someone turn that in, or has it just been taken off the Palin blacklist?"

It's been interesting, to say the least, to see Wasilla become a househould name overnight. But, I doubt much is really going to change around here. Which is fine, because I like it the way it is.

On Being Presbyterian, by Sean Lucas

Conservative Presbyterians have a bit of an identity problem in this day and age. Not that we don't know who we are (though true of some), but others outside our relatively small circles aren't sure what to make of us. To some fundamentalist Christians, we appear to be liberals, or licentious, or both. To liberal Christians, we are fundamentalists (and drinking beer won't change that notion). And from an American evangelical perspective, certain practices of ours, such as infant baptism and liturgical worship, smack of Roman Catholicism. And to many of these same evangelicals, our Calvinist teachings are coldly fatalistic. So when someone asks me what kind of church I pastor and I tell them it is Presbyterian, I'm not always sure what meaning that word will convey for him or her (the problem is only compounded by the name "Orthodox" in my particular denomination). For those completely unfamiliar with denominational monikers, as I once was, "Presbyterian" means basically nothing.

"On Being Presbyterian" is a very helpful primer for explaining the basic beliefs, practices, and history of Presbyterianism. The author, Sean Lucas, sets out to describe what can be called a "vanilla Presbyterianism" of the conservative sort. While he does not ignore some of the differences among Bible-believing Presbyterians, he succeeds in setting forth the essential features of what constitutes historic, traditional Presbyterianism. And while he obviously writes as one who is Presbyterian by conviction, the tone of the book is not strident or polemical. Lucas has the humility and wisdom to recognize Presbyterians are but one part of God's Kingdom. At the same time, he would have the reader appreciate, and even embrace, the heritage he himself has embraced as his own.

What I like about this book is that Lucas highlights what I believe are vital, but not always understood, aspects of a thorough-going Presbyterianism. There is much more to being a Presbyterian than subscribing to the so-called five points of Calvinism. Rather, as Lucas details in his book, Presbyterians are committed to many important teachings and practices: union with Christ, covenant theology (and infant baptism), a high view of the sacraments, the corporate nature of Biblical piety, the spirituality of the church, a view of God's people as a pilgrim people, the importance of worship (and the need for worship governed by Scripture), and of course the connectional nature of the church. All of these things help make up the total picture of what Presbyterianism is all about.

Because Lucas includes and helpfully explains so much that constitutes a full-formed Presbyterian identity, I will definitely recommend this book to those who are interested in learning more about Presbyterianism. In fact, we are reading it now in our leadership training course.

I particularly enjoyed reading the last section of the book, in which Lucas gives a brief history of American Presbyterianism. Though he could not possibly include everything there is to say about this, I only wish he had written more about the major role Presbyterians (and Princeton seminary, a Presbyterian institution) played in world missions throughout America's history. I would hope this impulse to spread the gospel is also a vital part of a Presbyterian identity.

Upon reflecting on this book, I thought that we who are Presbyterians are at our best when we are actually being faithful to our theology and principles. Our belief in the absolute sovereignty of God should create in us a deep humility. Our understanding of the covenant ought to inspire us to be faithful in nurturing our children in the faith. Our understanding of the spiritual nature of the church should cause us to focus all our efforts, as a church, on building Christ's Kingdom on earth and not be sidetracked by involving ourselves (as a church) in the politics of the day. Our belief in the universality of the church should motivate us to do all we can to pursue true union with other churches.

And finally, our belief in union with Christ ought to to serve to root our ultimate identity in our glorious Savior. We are Presbyterians, but even more fundamentally, we are Christians. And our Presbyterianism is worthwhile only insofar as it serves to facilitate our worship of Christ, and our service in his Kingdom.

The right book to study?

Robyn and another woman at church are preparing to meet regularly to discuss a book together. The book they chose? "Don't Waste Your Life," by John Piper.

Let's see...she makes three meals a day, does laundry for 6 people, cleans the house, changes diapers, homeschools two children, hosts people regularly at home, maintains the family social calendar, keeps up with e-mail correspondence, and probably does a hundred other things that I can't think of now and don't thank her enough for.

Do you think she chose the wrong book to study?

The glory of God in creation

Summer is over in Alaska, but it is not too cold to spend the day outside enjoying this wonderful corner of God's world. On Monday our family took a short hike to a viewing deck built over a small stream in which there were salmon preparing to spawn. Then, we drove to an mountainside overlooking Anchorage to pick some berries.

As I thought about our day, I was again struck with the thought of how privileged we are to live in a place of such beauty. When David meditated on the Creation around him, he proclaimed, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). We got to see some of God's marvelous handiwork that day.



The salmon we observed did their part in declaring to us the glory of God. If this red salmon could talk, he'd have an amazing story to tell. He was hatched here in these waters a few years ago, along with 4,000 of his brothers and sisters. Only about 40 of them made it to the ocean, the rest dying of disease and predators. Of those 40, only 4 survive to begin the trek back to their freshwater home in the mountains. 2 are caught along the way, by a bear, an eagle, or a happy dipnetter. The other two arrive safely back to the place they were born; there they will spawn and soon die.

How do these fish come back to the exact place where they began life as eggs buried in the gravel stream bed? Nobody knows. But whatever the scientific explanation may be, this instinct is a testimony to the wisdom and greatness of their Creator. When God appeared to Job and humbled him, he did so by demanding him to explain the mysterious workings of such creatures as the mountain goats, donkeys, and oxen. If Job had lived in Alaska, God would have challenged him to explain how the salmon come back to spawn. The wonder of Creation declares the wisdom and majesty of the Creator.

God not only glorifies himself through his creatures, but he teaches us by them. Proverbs 6:6 says, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." I believe there are countless similar lessons in creation, if we are able to discern them. While picking berries, we discovered there were two types to be found: blueberries and blackberries. The blueberries are sweeter and tastier than the blackberries. But they are more scarce and collecting them took much more time and effort. It was easy to pick to the blackberries, but they were not as pleasant to eat.

Isn't it a rule that the best things in life are the more difficult to obtain? The sweetest pleasures, the deepest joys, the most lasting satisfaction, are all hard-won. The pleasure of a day off after a hard work of week is usually much greater than just another day in a three-week vacation. In the spiritual realm, the same holds true. True joy, peace, and blessedness are found only in the often arduous path of following Christ. God is a God of delight and pleasure: "...in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). But this fullness of joy and eternal joy is no "easy pickings." To attain it requires a life of self-denying discipleship.

God's world has much to say about God, if we are willing to listen.

Big news in Wasilla!

Crawford, Little Rock, Kennebunkport,...and now, Wasilla? Now that Sarah Palin is the Republican candidate for Vice President, the little town in Alaska we call home could be that one proverbial heartbeat away from lasting fame as the hometown of the President. Will there be a Presidential Library here someday (first a bigger regular library would be nice)? Will Air Force One become a common sight in the Alaska sky? Will there be Secret Service agents prowling about every time President Palin comes home?

Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself. She's running for Vice President, not President, and there is that little hurdle of the election standing in the way. But, it has been fun to see our once-obscure town put instantly on the map. Whatever happens in the next two months, Wasilla's claim to fame will be not only as the home of the Iditarod, but also as the home of Sarah Palin.

Whatever one's views of Palin politically, it's hard not to be excited when someone from the "neighborhood", so to speak, hits the big time. It's like rooting for your third cousin who's competing in the Olympics. Even as tenuous as our connection to her may be (see below), we get to bask in a little bit of the national limelight as residents of her hometown. I guess it is just human nature to want a slice of the glory pie, no matter how thin it is.

Of course, it was big news here yesterday. I've only been here a year, so I don't know what other momentous occasions have taken place here. But, I would guess this is the biggest happening to date. Of course, Dairy Queen's grand opening in nearby Palmer last year created a stir. But this is even bigger than that!

We received several e-mails from friends yesterday about it, and some of them asked for "insider" information about Palin. I'm sorry to disappoint, but we have nothing to offer. We know people who have met her. Her high school alma mater is just down the road from the church. But, that's about the extent of any personal connection with our governor. In fact, I learned more about her yesterday than I did the past 14 months living in her home state.

I can say that, generally speaking, she is well-thought of in these parts. Most people refer to her as "Sarah", as though they know her personally. And, given the size of Wasilla, I imagine that a lot of people do. Some have wondered about the wisdom of her decision to accept the the Vice Presidential candidacy when she just gave birth to a child not long ago (and a special-needs child, at that). I trust she and her family made that decision after careful thought and, I hope, much prayer.

In any case, it will make for an even more interesting election this fall.

"With Reverence and Awe," by Hart and Muether

The subtitle of this book is, "Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship." The authors' aim is to draw out the implications that Reformed theology has for the church's worship. In their words, they have written "a brief overview of how Reformed theology informs the way we think about, put together, and participate in a worship service" (pg. 13). Though written with a view to the ongoing worship debates among Reformed churches, to their credit the authors spend more time and energy explaining basic principles of worship than merely addressing this or that specific issue. The result is a book that is edifying and helpful, even if one doesn't come to the same conclusions as the authors do on any given matter.

I found myself in broad agreement with the book. It is true that what we believe about God and man, our theology, will necessarily influence how we worship. That is the basic thesis upon which the authors build their case that Reformed theology ought to produce worship of a certain character and form. They write, "Reformed worship has always flowed from Reformed theology. Simply put, you can't have one without the other" (pg. 15). Much of the book is then devoted to explaining the principles of historic Reformed theology that will (or ought to) shape how we worship: the sufficiency of Scripture, the holiness of God, the covenant, the Lord's Day, the means of grace, and so on. As a primer on the basic truths underlying biblical worship from a distinctly Reformed perspective, this is a most helpful book.

Some points were especially good. One, the authors point out that worship is the primary means by which God builds up and sustains his people in faith. As a pilgrim people living in a wilderness but looking forward to our heavenly home, it is the ministry of the Word, sacraments, and prayer, specifically as that comes to us in worship, that nourishes our souls in our journey. In other words, Sunday morning worship is not merely a beneficial supplement in our Christian lives, but it is at the very heart of our walk with Christ. This suggests that the primary benefit of worship is not the one-time experience it produces, but the long-term blessing it brings. This reminded me of Marva Dawn's point about the character-building effects of regular worship.

Another excellent point the authors made was the relationship between the church and worship. Quoting another minister, they write, "Growth in true holiness is always growth together. It takes place through nurture, through the work and worship of the church" (pg. 138). The church is called out of the world for the sake of worshiping God, and that worship is by definition corporate worship. This (along with much the authors write) flies in the face both of American culture and of popular evangelical culture. We prize independence and self-reliance, values that are beneficial in many ways, but which make Christ's call to humbly submit to one another in the church particularly difficult (Ephesians 5:21). (I might add to that, Alaskans in particular are a cussedly independent lot!). The point here is that worship is not about my "experience" so much as it is about giving glory to God side by side with all of God's people. To grow in grace, we need the church, and we especially need to worship with the church.

So I did concur with the main thrust of the book. In their call to think carefully about our worship practices (whether actual or proposed) in light of our theology, the authors need to be heard. I may not agree with every conclusion they make, but the basic argument is sound.

The fact of the matter is that, even when believers agree on basic principles of worship (even on the narrower matter of specifically Reformed worship), they will not always agree on how to best apply those principles. What I have learned as a pastor is how desperately I need wisdom, love, and humility in addressing the matter of the church's worship.

One thing that should be said, not so much as a critique but as a response to the book, is that the form of worship is only half the story. The other half is the heart of the worshiper. The authors of this book would no doubt agree with this, but their concern is primarily on the form of worship (though they do speak of the need to worship with reverence and joy). God gave Israel a very specific form of worship but the prophets denounced the Israelites when they worshiped with formal correctness but their hearts far from God (Isaiah 1:12-17; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8). If Reformed worship is to be Reformed according to the Word of God, then it must not only be faithful to sound theology in its form, but it must also be the expression of those who truly love God, and are seeking to obey Him. Worship acceptable to God is worship both in forms faithful to Scripture, and from hearts faithful to Christ.