School's Out for Summer!

Ok, it actually has been out for me for about two weeks now, but it's just now setting in. I keep waking up in the morning stressing about some forgotten paper or neglected lab. But alas, that's all over for a few months.

A few days ago I got a job working at the Pipac Center. I set up tables and chairs and anything else that they want me to set up for weddings, parties, chess tournaments etc. It's been pretty good so far. Although it's pretty mindless work, the people there are pretty cool and my manager is really easy going. It sure beats standing at a cash register for eight hours...

On a different note, I finally finished reading my second biography on Martin Luther, Here I Stand, by Roland H. Bainton. It was far better than the first book I read by Martin Marty (it was about three times longer as well). The book gave much more information on the circumstances and events throughout Germany and Europe during Luther's days, adding a much richer and full context to the story of the rebellious little monk from Wittenberg. One thing that I really liked about Here I Stand, as opposed to Martin Luther, was that Bainton quoted much more of Luther than did Marty. Almost every page had a quote on it, and many were very long. After reading through the book, I am now determined to read more of Luther's work (not just his published works like The Bon dage of the Will etc. but also his sermons and letters). Luther has a way with words that reminds me of C.S. Lewis. Although Luther is much harsher, direct and unrestrained with his words than Lewis ever was, Luther, like Lewis, has a unique ability to choose specific words to get his point across in the most precise and understandable way possible. Many times, after reading Luther, I nod my head in agreement and exclaim, "That's exactly what I was thinking!" (sometimes I do this aloud...luckily I am alone most of the time). However, at other times Luther's thoughts and insights are refreshingly new to me, causing me to look at an idea or passage about God in a totally new way. He is truly refreshing to read. And, as I mentioned in an earlier post, he loved the Word. His love for the Word is amazingly evident in all of his writings. In his preface to the book of Romans, Luther demonstrates his love for Scripture clearly when he says,

It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize [Romans] word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Therefore I want to carry out my service and, with this preface, provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding of it. Up to now it has been darkened by glosses and by many a useless comment, but it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture.

I am forever thankful to God that He has given me an ever growing love for His Word (it is such an inadequate and pathetic love). Luther is absolutely right when he says, "the more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes." I am rereading so many passages and I am finding that they seem new and fresh every time I read them. The Word is rich and full of God and cannot be exhausted. Luther is right: It is impossible to read or meditate on God's Word too much.

Now I have begun reading Jonathan Edwards' The Religious Affections. I have to say, Edwards is not as enjoyable to read as Luther is. His writing skills are not nearly what Luther's are (and his run-on sentences are killer!). However, Edwards has his moments...and in these moments he shines.

I am bold to assert, that there never was any considerable change wrought in the mind or conversation of any one person, by anything of a religious nature, that ever he read, heard or saw, that had not his affections moved. Never was a natural man engaged earnestly to seek his salvation: never were any such brought to cry after wisdom, and lift up their voice for understanding, and to wrestle with God in prayer for mercy; and never was one humbled, and brought to the foot of God, from anything that ever he heard or imagined of his own unworthiness and undeservings of God’s displeasure; nor was ever one induced to fly for refuge unto Christ, while his heart remained unaffected. Nor was there ever a saint awakened out of a cold, lifeless frame, or recovered from a declining state in religion, and brought back from a lamentable departure from God, without having his heart affected. And in a word, there never was anything considerable brought to pass in the heart or life of any man living, by the things of religion, that had not his heart deeply affected by those things.

Later he says,

If the great things of religion are rightly understood, they will affect the heart. The reason why men are not affected by such infinitely great, important, glorious, and wonderful things, as they often hear and read of, in the Word of God, is undoubtedly because they are blind; if they were not so, it would be impossible, and utterly inconsistent with human nature, that their hearts should be otherwise, than strongly impressed, and greatly moved by such things.

I said Edwards has "moments." However, this is not to say that most of what Edwards has written is bad or worthless. On the contrary, Edwards is very, very good. He can be much more profound than Luther at times. The Religious Affections is an amazing book, packed full of biblical truth. It just takes more work than much of Luther's stuff. His writing is hard to work through at times (most of the time). But this is not a count against him. Edwards is worth the work.

Well, I have spent far too much time writing this post and its time for supper. Later.