July 2005 Dear Friends of Credenda, I see that the time has come for me to write another support letter to those of you who help keep the ministry of Credenda afloat. And so let me put it to you this way. Having grown up in evangelical ministry circles, I have been acquainted for many …
Professional Arrogance
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 55 As we consider our responsibilities in the business and professional world, we have to begin by distinguishing different kinds of professional or vocational arrogance. The first is arrogance of an anti-intellectual sort-driven by the egalitarian assumption that anyone can …
Expertise
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 54 Vocation is important in business, and when a man is called to his profession, one of the things that develops over time is expertise. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall …
Sidelong Glances
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 53 In the world of business and vocational callings, one of the hardest things for the Christian heart to mortify is the carnal reaction to what other people make. Even the ludicrous examples illustrate the principle. In a free country, …
Cliffhangers
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 52 The universe is governed by personal law. It is not governed by impersonal forces. Up to and including gravity, everything operates the way it does because it is the will of our Father in heaven. Economic downturns, hardships, cash …
Mint, Dill, and Cummin Cops
In our service of worship, we declare the mighty acts of God. He has made all things, and then recreated them in His Son Jesus Christ. We are here today because we profess to believe this. Now these declarations by God’s covenant people are potent, whether or not unbelievers are paying any attention to them …
Flooding the World Again
As Scripture instructs, we must be adults in our understanding. But we must also cultivate what Luke records in the books of Acts when he says that the early Christians ate their bread with gladness and simplicity of heart. We may be refreshed with both maturity and simplicity when we come to understand the water …
Dead Men
In the Word of God, we are summoned to approach the throne of grace with great boldness. The early apostles, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, dominated by Him completely, preached the Word with great boldness. The apostle Paul, after many years of apostolic ministry, had, as one of his prayer requests, the …
Fair and Unfair
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 51 One difficult aspect of learning to operate your own business is the lesson of learning how to take your lumps. In dealing with the general public, a customer’s reactions will often be out of proportion when considered in the …
A Few Tattered Rags
Not only must the Church throw down idols, but the Church is called to throw down idols using God’s appointed instruments for doing so. We are to pull them all from their marble pedestals, but what ropes are we to use? In the apostolic era, the word of God was preached with great boldness, and …