Author: Wick

Wow. I didn’t realize I hadn’t blogged on “The Holiness Manifesto” (book) since last October. I’ve finally begun pressing forward, and just finished chapter 5, “The Social Vision of the Holiness Movement”. It was written by William Kostlevy, Professor at Tabor College.

I’d confess, prior to reading this chapter I assumed it was about feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, etc. I’m sure that fits in there in a few places, but overall it was nothing like I’d assumed.

If I had to give it a new title, I would call it “Secret Societies: How Woman’s Rights Impacted the Social Vision of the Holiness Movement”. But perhaps that would be too long.

Kostlevy gives a short glimpse into the various responses of evangelicals to “secret societies” including Free Masons and many others. If you’re like me, you only know a bit, and even then only through rumors and the Church’s official stance against them. It’s pretty good information, and historical references to other publications here.

What was surprising to hear (but complimentary to women I suppose) was the purpose behind much of the evangelical support of women’s rights, and opposition to secret societies – which were white men only for the most part.

To quote Kostlevy, the group believed “the expansion of women’s social influence would ‘drive drunkeness out of politics’ and usher in an age of economic prosperity and social righteousness.” So there you go. Women….you got your rights, at least legally. Where’s our economic prosperity and social righteousness? hehe.

Altogether, I think it’s important stuff to note/know. Especially in a time where we will hinge the future financial and/or moral prosperity on any person/persons attaining some sort of “next level” of power or permission. There’s gotta be more to our gospel. Thankfully, there is. 🙂

Much more.

So lately, I’ve been reading far too much by one author. If you read my blog more than once a year, you’ve probably noticed. I’m a bit embarrassed. Though I will state, I do not read his words as scripture. Nevertheless, God seems to be revealing Himself in phenomenal ways through this mans spoken and written word….and it becomes hard for me to not soak in as much as possible.

That being said, I made it a goal to find someone who disagrees in a large way with NT Wright, and read one of their recent works. It didn’t take me long to find a book written towards the end of 2007: The Future of Justification: A Response to NT Wright, by John Piper.

Apparently, where NT Wright is saying we’ve gotten quite a bit of wrong focus in much of our Christianity, Piper says no. Piper thinks we’re doing alright, and to mix in some of this “new theology” will muddle the waters in threatening ways. Threatening enough to write a book in direct response to it.

I would make fun of his need to write a book in direct response to Wright; except for the fact that NT Wright has recently published a book in response to (although not claiming in the title, certainly admitting in interviews) Pipers work. The book is “Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision“.

So what to do with all of these findings? I got both of them.

What do they each briefly say about their book?

John Piper: “to declare the lordship of Jesus and say that’s the gospel, rather than the gospel being an explanation of how to be saved overlooks the problem that, for the person who has been in treason against the Lord of the universe all his life, the resurrection is not good news. It’s really bad news. He’s going to be destroyed if the resurrected Lord has all power in heaven and on earth.”

NT Wright: “My anxiety about what has now been seen as the traditional Reformed view (though there are many traditional Reformed views!) is that it focuses all attention on ‘me and my salvation’ rather than on ‘God and God’s purposes’, which – as we see in the Gospels, and in e.g. Romans 8 – are much wider than just my salvation. This book, for me, thus follows from Surprised by Hope and the other things I’ve been writing in the same vein.”

I went out to watch the Wings’ game at Buffalo Wild Wings. While there, we saw my wife’s OB doctor. I joked about grabbing him on the way out the door if anything happened. But honestly? I didn’t expect to see him again until Thursday morning, as scheduled.

We left during first intermission. When I got home, Sarah had been tracking contractions for about 20 minutes, but wasn’t too concerned. We were appropriately aware to continue tracking for a bit. After an hour of solid 4-7 minute intervals between them, we decided to come in and check things out.

We arrived at ten, and the contractions were coming more steady, and more intense. Many moments came where I continued to be thankful for my wife offering her body up as a sacrifice for producing another life for our family. Her pain increased. We were in uncharted waters, as our first two daughters were both induced. It seemed like this time, it would just “happen”.

At about 1am Wednesday morning, Sarah finally received her epidural. Whew. I know some moms are VERY adamant that these are bad things….risks and all. I can see where they come from. Good for them. 🙂 For us (her specifically, me only sympathetically), we are medicine people. 🙂

Pressure increased, and it was go time. Around 1:50 or so…the stage was set. Fast forward through details I won’t go into….and at 2:13am Ruby Anne arrived. 7 Pounds, 7 Ounces. 21.5 inches long. Our third girl. Third princess. Third car seat in our (not a minivan) crossover.