* Please see the ADDENDUM I've added below. ~ 2.27.2013 *

This past weekend, my husband and I took a little getaway. I loaded my backpack with a few books, one of which includes a reprint of Jonathan Edwards' "An Humble Attempt..." ¹

The full title of Edwards' work is more than a mouthful! . . .

I'd already read through the book last year, and I've dabbled in it since, but I took it along with me since I've been wanting to reread it...

A little background...

Jonathan Edwards wrote and published "An Humble Attempt" in 1748 as an expansion of a sermon he had originally preached to his congregation in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1747. Edwards' spirit had been stirred up to this good work through a holy exhortation and godly challenge which came to him from across the Atlantic, in both word and deed: through the written text drawn up by several ministers in Scotland in "A memorial from several ministers in Scotland, to their brethren in different places, for continuing a Concert for Prayer, first entered into in the year 1744" (the full text of which Edwards included in "An Humble Attempt" ² ), as well as through the vibrant example of several societies and concerts of prayer for revival which had sprung up in Scotland beginning in the early 1740's.

Initially Edwards' "An Humble Attempt" had little impact, but several decades later, it began to bear much fruit among the Calvinistic Baptists in England. The Scottish minister, John Erskine, had corresponded with Edwards during his lifetime, and in 1784, he sent John Ryland Jr. a copy of Edwards' "An Humble Attempt." God's Providence had brought Ryland Jr. into geographic proximity as well as spiritual kinship with Andrew Fuller and John Sutcliff (as well as William Carey) in the East Midlands. Ryland Jr. passed along Edwards' "Humble Attempt" to Fuller and Sutcliff, and a fire was kindled. Both Fuller and Sufcliff were already familiar with Edwards; Edwards' writings had served to inform, shape and reform their theology, moving them from a high (hyper) Calvinism to Biblical, evangelical Calvinism.

In response to reading Edwards' "An Humble Attempt," a similar call to prayer for revival now rang out loudly in England: "The Prayer Call of 1784," which, according to Michael A.G. Haykin, was most likely penned by Sutcliff himself. Soon afterwards, societies of prayer for revival arose, old churches were revitalized, new members were welcomed in through conversion, many new churches were planted, and in 1792, the Baptist Missionary Society was formed and along with it, the advent of the modern missionary movement, with William Carey and others sailing off to India the following year to fulfill Jesus' great commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, to proclaim repentance and forgiveness in His name to all nations and fulfill God's covenant promises to Abraham: that through Abraham, in his seed (in Christ), all the families of earth would indeed be blessed to the praise, honor, and glory of God!

In 1789, Sutcliff republished Edwards' "An Humble Attempt." In the Preface, Sutcliff expressed his heart's desire to see the Body of Christ raised up in united, extraordinary prayer for revival, so God might pour out of His Holy Spirit in Pentecostal power as He did in the book of Acts.

O for thousands upon thousands, divided into small bands in their respective cities, towns, villages, and neighbourhood, all met at the same time, and in pursuit of one end, offering up their united prayers, like so many ascending clouds of incense before the Most High!—May he shower down blessings on all the scattered tribes of Zion! Grace, great grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity! Amen!

As I re-read those words this past weekend, over two hundred years after Sutcliff wrote them, my heart broke and ached...

O! for thousands upon thousands ... offering up their united prayers, like so many ascending clouds of incense before the Most High! Where are the intercessors after Christ's own heart, quickened by the resurrection life of the Christ who Himself is seated at the right hand of Majesty where He ever lives to intercede for His Church? Where are the watchmen on the walls breathing forth prayers day and night for God's Church to be a praise in the earth, even as the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, unceasingly intercedes for us?

After that, I went back and read once again these words of Sutcliff from earlier in the Preface, and my heart broke further and my heart ached more intently (emphasis mine):

If any inquire why the ensuing work is re-published, I would beg leave to lay before them the following intelligence.

At an association of the ministers and messengers of the Baptist Churches in the counties of Northampton, Leicester, &c. held at Nottingham, in the year 1784, a resolution was termed to establish through the association, a meeting of prayer for the general revival and spread of religion. This was to be observed the first Monday evening in every calendar month, by all the churches. It still continues.—In 1786, another Baptist association commonly called the Midland, held that year at Aulcester, in the county of Warwick, entered into the same resolution. Many other churches, particularly in Yorkshire, have adopted, and now follow, the above practice. We have the pleasure also to find, that several Pædobaptist churches statedly meet on those evenings for the same purpose.

The re-publication of the following work is with the avowed design of promoting the above agreement and practice. Those concerned in its first institution, never intended it should be confined to any peculiar connexion, or particular denomination. Rather they ardently wished it might become general among the real friends of truth and holiness. The advocates of error are indefatigable in their endeavours to overthrow the distinguishing and interesting doctrine of Christianity; those doctrines which are the grounds of our hope, and sources of our joy. Surely it becomes the followers of Christ, to use every effort, in order to strengthen the things which remain...

In the present imperfect state, we may reasonably expect a diversity of sentiments upon religious matters. Each ought to think for himself; and every one has a right, on proper occasions, to show his opinion. Yet all should remember, that there are but two parties in the world, each engaged in opposite causes; the cause of God and of Satan; of holiness and sin; of heaven and hell. The advancement of the one, and the downfall of the other, must appear exceedingly desirable to every real friend of God and man. If such in some respects entertain different sentiments, and practise distinguishing modes of worship, surely they may unite in the above business.

Though firmly settled in his Calvinist Baptist beliefs, John Sutcliff had the strong desire for all the children of God to be gathered together with one heart and one mind to pray in one accord for the reviving of God's one Church. And that's the same desire God has been working in me over the past few years.

When I look out at the Church today, my heart weeps like Jesus' heart did over Jerusalem. And when I hear good-meaning, orthodox Christians use the word "strategies" my heart cringes within me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that we shouldn't strategize. Buy my question and my concern is this:  Where is the strategy the 120 members of the early church used in Acts 1 and 2? My heart cries with Sutcliff: "O! for thousands upon thousands!" Where is the burning heart of prayer that filled Edwards and Sutcliff and the rest of these men, the zealous intercessions ushered in great movements of reformation and revival and missionary zeal? Where is the midnight, unceasing asking, seeking and knocking for God to rend the heavens and come down? Where is the call to continuing devotion to prayer and to the ministry of the Word that we find in Acts 6?

And when I look back at the Biblical narrative and throughout Church history at God's mighty power and wondrous works in reviving His people time and time again, my heart aches that our God might once again show us grace in the wilderness, that He might awake and arise and appear to us for the sake of His name! O! We are living so very far below what He has intended for us! Have we forgotten that we serve a living Savior! Have we forgotten that He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!? Have we forgotten that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit? Have we forgotten that without Him we can do nothing? O! That our God might pour out upon us His Spirit of grace and supplications! O! That we might follow the example of David, and have our eyes opened to see that the fleshly armor we have been using is no match at all for the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged!

O! That we might put off all of our futile, fleshly ways, and seek the Lord, seek His face, and seek His strength in unceasing, importunate, fervent prayer day and night!

II Corinthians 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds...

Do we not understand our God is the God who does wonders?
Do we not understand that our God is the true God, a great and everlasting King over all the earth?

* * *

The "resolution" to which Sutcliff referred was the "Prayer Call of 1784," and in it, we find his catholic sentiment and spirit overflowing (emphasis mine):

Upon a motion being made to the ministers and messengers of the associate Baptist churches assembled at Nottingham, respecting meetings for prayer, to bewail the low estate of religion, and earnestly implore a revival of our churches, and of the general cause of our Redeemer, and for that end to wrestle with God for the effusion of his Holy Spirit, which alone can produce the blessed effect, it was unanimously RESOLVED, to recommend to all our churches and congregations, the spending of one hour in this important exercise, on the first Monday in every calendar month.

We hereby solemnly exhort all the churches in our connection, to engage heartily and perseveringly in the prosecution of this plan. And as it may be well to endeavour to keep the same hour, as a token of our unity herein, it is supposed the following scheme may suit many congregations, viz. to meet on the first Monday evening in May, June, and July, from 8 to 9. In August from 7-8. Sept. and Oct. from 6 to 7. Dec. Jan. and Feb. from 5 to 6. March, from 6 to 7; and April, from 7 to 8. Nevertheless if this hour, or even the particular evening, should not suit in particular places, we wish our brethren to fix on one more convenient to themselves.

We hope also, that as many of our brethren who live at a distance from our places of worship may not be able to attend there, that as many as are conveniently situated in a village or neighbourhood, will unite in small societies at the same time. And if any single individual should be so situated as not to be able to attend to this duty in society with others, let him retire at the appointed hour, to unite the breath of prayer in private with those who are thus engaged in a more public manner.

The grand object of prayer is to be that the Holy Spirit may be poured down on our ministers and churches, that sinners may be converted, the saints edified, the interest of religion revived, and the name of God glorified. At the same time, remember, we trust you will not confine your requests to your own societies (i.e. churches); or to your own immediate connection (i.e. denomination); let the whole interest of the Redeemer be affectionately remembered, and the spread of the gospel to the most distant parts of the habitable globe be the object of your most fervent requests. We shall rejoice if any other Christian societies of our own or other denominations will unite with us, and do now invite them most cordially to join heart and hand in the attempt.

Who can tell what the consequences of such an united effort in prayer may be! Let us plead with God the many gracious promises of His Word, which relate to the future success of His gospel. He has said, "I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them, I will increase them with men like a flock." Ezek. xxxvi37. Surely we have love enough for Zion to set apart one hour at a time, twelve times in a year, to seek her welfare.

I know I can sometimes become quickly frustrated and flustered and irritated and distracted by those who disagree with me on Calvinistic doctrine. In a recent post, "Will it not, in the end, destroy brotherly love..." ~ Whitefield | welcome one another, I wrote about "an interesting tension in my soul" over these matters, and in fact, I had found that tension increasing to the point where it was in danger of overwhelming me and drying up my soul. But thanks be to God, in the past few days, God's Spirit sent His refreshing rain upon me, and stirred me up to remind me how deeply I long (and He longs) to see such explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in extraordinary prayer, for the revival of religion and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth.

Therefore, as God's Spirit permits me and equips me, along with Edwards and along with Sutcliff, I humbly desire to attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people, be they Calvinistic or Arminian, in extraordinary prayer, for the revival of religion and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth. And along with Sutcliff, I will greatly "rejoice if any other Christian societies of [my] own or other denominations will unite with [me], and do now invite them most cordially to join heart and hand in the attempt."

As I further reflected on Sutcliff's words, Caiphas' prophecy in John 11 was brought to mind:

49  But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

51  He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52  and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

The Lord Jesus Christ did indeed die to gather into one all the children of God who are scattered abroad –– to bring all of us back to God –– both Jew and Gentile, both male and female, both young and old, both Arminian and Calvinist, etc., etc.

I Peter 3:18  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit...

The apostle Paul reminds us of the unity, oneness and fellowship believers share with Christ and with one another:

Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15  by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

18  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

19  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Having been brought near by the blood of Christ, yes, we do have peace, and yes, we do have access –– but, my brothers and sisters, let's not become short-sighted, self-absorbed, ingrown, apathetic, and indifferent, and forget that one blessed responsibility of that access is that we are called to pray for more and more souls to be gathered in, so along with us, they too might enjoy that blessed union, fellowship with, and access to God the Father through Jesus Christ in one Spirit! That is part of God's design for us as He builds His Church :–– In His mysterious and marvelous workings, God builds His Church through the prayers of saved sinners like us. Yes, God is altogether sovereign in the building, but we are still responsible nonetheless! Can we say we truly love Zion if we don't mourn and weep and plead for her, and seek her welfare in prayer?

The Good Shepherd continues to call and to gather all of His sheep to Himself, so His Church might be a house of prayer of all nations and a house of prayer for all nations... and that in-gathering will carry on until the Day our Lord descends from heaven and returns to the earth to judge the living and the dead and set up His Kingdom upon the new earth, and all things will be put under His feet, death will be destroyed, and we shall no longer see Him through a glass darkly, but see Him face to face, and we shall always be with Him forevermore!

However, in the meantime, so long as the Lord Jesus tarries, we know for certain there is still room at the Great Banquet! (Luke 14:15-24). And, my dear friends, because there is still room at His Great Banquet, we know for certain there is still room at His throne of grace where we might come together and prostrate ourselves in prayer and supplication and weeping and mourning and fasting to seek Him, to seek His face, to seek His strength with boldness and confidence –– that His Gospel would go out in the Holy Spirit, in power, and in boldness and in much assurance to all the ends of the earth, so other sheep who have not yet be gathered to Him may be gathered to Him, and that along with us, they may begin to taste and see He is good, and all the nations might praise the name of the LORD from the rising of the sun until its setting down, and all the ends of the earth might fear Him!

John 10:16
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

8  The Lord GOD,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
“I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered.”

ADDENDUM:  I realized I needed to make some clarifications to this post. I realize that Edwards was preaching against Arminianism in his day (and, in fact, God sent down revival blessings as a result), and I'm not sure at all what Sutcliff's viewpoint on 21st century Arminianism would be, but I continue to find myself falling into the interesting and necessary tension in which Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (also a Calvinist) found himself, which was recently described in this blog post by Exiled Preacher:

Lloyd-Jones was prepared to work with other Evangelicals whose views were quite different from his own on the charismatic gifts, worship styles, Calvinism and Arminianism and so on. His attitude to dealing with differences between Evangelicals was this, 'If am I convinced that a man is my brother I am going to bear with him. I am not going to divide from him. What makes us one is that we are born of the same blood, of the same Spirit. We are born again by the same Spirit into the same family... I do not separate from my brother.' (Unity in Truth, p. 120-121).

In closing, I'd like to repost my own words I'd written earlier this month in this post:

I want to make it clear that I very well know that souls can be saved and not hold to the tenets of Calvinism. I know this because for years, I was saved, but I wasn't a Calvinist! (In my post, "True Calvinism is not," I wrote about how I balked at and rejected many of the doctrines of grace for years. I'd encourage you to read that account here.)

... I am ten thousand times more convinced of Calvinistic doctrine than I was at this time year. I believe it is critical and vital that the doctrines of grace are preached and taught. And I strongly and urgently assert that one reason why the Church is in such a sad, sorry, and ruined state right now is because those doctrines have not been preached and taught as they ought to have been –– since those doctrines provide the true kindling for the fire of personal and corporate reformation, renewal, and revival –- which results in an overflowing love and zeal for God, God's glory, God's Word, God's Gospel, and God's mission –– exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost. O! We are in desperate need of the heavens being rent again and the Holy Dove to descend with His baptizing fire!

However, all that said, I am compelled by the Spirit of Christ to welcome ALL the saints (both Arminians and Calvinists) whom Christ Himself has welcomed, for Christ's sake and for the sake of the Gospel, for the glory of God. (Makes for an interesting tension in my soul, to say the least!)

In Romans 15, Paul reminds us of our holy obligation to welcome one another:

5  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6  that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant me to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, and welcome one another, that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in extraordinary prayer for the revival of religion and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth, for the glory of God!

II Corinthians 13:11-14,
Karen

You can read about some of the journey to prayer God has had me on over the past few years in these posts:

Naphtali News: Ministry of the Word and Prayer (see especially the second portion)
Here I stand & from here I cast (devoted to prayer & the ministry of the Word)
Silent Night - Not! ~ "Prayer also will be made for Him continually" ... day and night

If God has been giving you a burden to pray for revival, please visit my other blog dedicated to prayer for revival:  tent_of_meeting.xanga.com.

Other related posts...

on catholicity...

a Calvinist, a Wesley bobblehead, the holy catholic Church & the communion of saints
"Will it not, in the end, destroy brotherly love..." ~ Whitefield | welcome one another
I can't keep walking on eggshells here (more on Revelife, Calvinism, the Body of Christ and self)
May the mind and word of Christ dwell in us so we might arise as one man

on prayer & revival...

the lost treasures of Christianity & the call to pray for revival (Bible reading: Ezra 1)
Revival resources, etc.
More revival resources: opportunity and eyes to see the ruins, a burden from God
postcards from England: "The Burden for Revival" (ML-J)
The Day of Pentecost ... the first of a series (Martyn Lloyd-Jones on revival)
an advent of a different sort for the "glorious progress of the work of God"
Are you storming heaven – or are you sleeping?
Prayer & Revival in Ireland (R.A. Torrey) & Livingstone in Africa: Are we in our closets?

References and Acknowledgements

¹ "A Call to United Extraordinary Prayer... ('An humble attempt...)" (Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Heritage imprint by Christian Focus Publications: 2003, republished 2004). Includes an introduction by David Bryant.

² You can access "The Memorial" from Scotland here: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.viii.iii.i.html (see Section IV.)

HT for the text from Sutcliff's Preface to "An Humble Attempt" found at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.viii.html / Please note: The Preface itself can be accessed here: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2.viii.ii.html.

HT for the text of The Prayer Call of 1784:  http://www.calltoworship.org/calltoworship/articles/sutcliff.html.

Other Sources (in addition to those cited above):

Andrew Fuller, "A Memoir of the Rev. John Sutcliff, of Olney, Bucks" - http://baptisthistoryhomepage.com/sutcliff.john.memoir.html.

Michael A.G. Haykin, “The 18th Century Great Commission Resurgence: Part 2. Praying for Revival” - http://baptistmessenger.com/the-18th-century-great-commission-resurgence-part-2-praying-for-revival/.
.
Michael A.G. Haykin, "John Sutcliff and the Concert of Prayer," in Reformation & Revival, A Quarterly Journal for Church Leadership (Summer 1992, 1:3) - http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ref-rev/01-3/1-3_haykin.pdf.

(All resources referenced were accessed 2.26.2013)

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corriedale_lambs_in_Tierra_del_Fuego.JPG  / CC BY-SA 3.0.
Work found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Osmar_Schindler_David_und_Goliath.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0 / {{PD-Art|PD-old-70}}

This is a follow-up to my last post, a Calvinist, a Wesley bobblehead, the holy catholic Church & the communion of saints. (I'd actually begun writing this post almost a year ago, put it aside at the time, but now I've pulled it out again...)

Some of you may be aware of George Whitefield's differences with John Wesley, Whitefield being a Calvinist, and Wesley an Arminian.

   

A while back, as I was reading Arnold Dallimore's biography of George Whitefield, I ran across a letter written by George Whitefield in response to John Wesley.¹ Whitefield's sentiment in that letter is a demonstration of the quality of fellowship God wants us to have with Christians who differ from us, and his words here set the tone all of us as Christians should seek to aspire to.

Prior to presenting the letter itself, Dallimore brings us a little background:

Among the letters brought to Whitefield by his brother there was one from John Wesley.¹ It is to be regretted that this letter has not been preserved, but from Whitefield's reply it is evident that Wesley introduced the matters on which they differed and sought to provoke him into dispute. Whitefield answered:

Savannah, March 26, 1740

HONOURED SIR,—

Since I returned here, I received your letter and journal –– I thank you for both, and shall wait almost with impatience to see a continuance of your account of what God is doing or has done amongst you –– He knows my heart, I rejoice in whatever God has done by your hands. I prae, sequare, etsi, no passibus equis. ["Go before, I follow, though with unequal steps."]

I could now send a particular answer to your last; but, my honoured friend and brother, for once hearken to a child, who is willing to wash your feet. I beseech you by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, if you would have my love confirmed towards you, write no more to me about misrepresentations wherein we differ. To the best of my knowledge, at present, no sin has dominion over me; yet I feel the stragglings of indwelling sin day by day. I can, therefore, by no means, come into your interpretation of the passage mentioned in your letter, and as explained in your preface to Mr. Halyburton. The doctrine of election, and the final perseverance of those that are truly in Christ, I am ten thousand times more convinced of, if possible, than when I saw you last. You think otherwise:  why then should we dispute, when there is no probability of convincing? Will it not, in the end, destroy brotherly love, and insensibly take from us that cordial union and sweetness of soul, which I pray God may always subsist between us? How glad would the enemies of the Lord be to see us divided? How many would rejoice, should I join and make a party against you? How would the cause of our common Master suffer by our raising disputes about particular points of doctrines?

Honoured Sir, let us offer salvation freely to all by the blood of Jesus; and whatever light God has communicated to us, let us freely communicate to others. I have lately read the life of Luther, and think it in no wise to his honour, that the last part of his life was so much taken up in disputing with Zuinglius and others; who, in all probability, equally loved the Lord Jesus, notwithstanding they might differ from him in other points. Let this, dear Sir, be a caution to us. I hope it will to me; for by the blessing of God, provoke me to it as much as you please, I do not think ever to enter the lists of controversy with you on the points wherein we differ. Only, I pray to God, that the more you judge me, the more I may love you, and learn to desire no one's approbation, but that of my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ."

Ere this reaches you, I suppose you will hear of my late excursion to Charles Town. A great work I believe is begun there. Enclosed I have sent you Mr Garden's letters –– They will serve to convince you more and more, of the necessity you lie under to be instant in season and out of season.

Oh, dear honoured Sir, I wish you as much success as your own heart can wish. Was you here I would weep over you with tears of love, and tell you what great things God has done for my soul, since we parted last. Indeed and indeed, I often and heartily pray for your success in the Gospel: May your inward strength and outward sphere increase day by day! May God use you as a choice and singular instrument of promoting His glory on earth, and may I see you crowned with an eternal and exceeding weight of glory in the world to come! this is the hearty desire of, honoured Sir,

Yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus,
G.W.

* * *

I will say that I consider myself a Calvinist, and that I love Calvinism and the doctrines of grace / TULIP (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace & perseverance of the saints). I know the name of John Calvin and the term Calvinism conjure up a lot of negative, misguided, flawed, and faulty connotations (understatement!), so for a brief summary of Calvinism / the doctrines of grace / TULIP, I'd encourage you to read this article.)

Over the past several years, I've been brought to the same deep and abiding conviction which Charles Spurgeon also held:

"I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else."

~ from Spurgeon's "A Defense of Calvinism"

I want to make it clear that I very well know that souls can be saved and not hold to the tenets of Calvinism. I know this because for years, I was saved, but I wasn't a Calvinist! (In my post, "True Calvinism is not," I wrote about how I balked at and rejected many of the doctrines of grace for years. I'd encourage you to read that account here.)

However, don't get me wrong... I'm not at all squishy or soft when it comes to doctrine. Along with Whitefield, I'd say I am ten thousand times more convinced of Calvinistic doctrine than I was at this time year. I believe it is critical and vital that the doctrines of grace are preached and taught. And I strongly and urgently assert that one reason why the Church is in such a sad, sorry, and ruined state right now is because those doctrines have not been preached and taught as they ought to have been –– since those doctrines provide the true kindling for the fire of personal and corporate reformation, renewal, and revival –- which results in an overflowing love and zeal for God, God's glory, God's Word, God's Gospel, and God's mission –– exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost. O! We are in desperate need of the heavens being rent again and the Holy Dove to descend with His baptizing fire!

WELCOME ONE ANOTHER FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

However, all that said, I am compelled by the Spirit of Christ to welcome ALL the saints (both Arminians and Calvinists) whom Christ Himself has welcomed, for Christ's sake and for the sake of the Gospel, for the glory of God. (Makes for an interesting tension in my soul, to say the least!)

In Romans 15, Paul reminds us of our holy obligation to welcome one another:

5  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6  that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

THE POWER TO WELCOME ONE ANOTHER

In those verses, Paul is praying for God to endow the Roman Christians with His power so they might welcome one another because it's wholly impossible for any of us to do that apart from the power of God working in us! Plus, he's praying these things for Romans because he knows they will struggle mightily with temptations not to welcome one another and to destroy brotherly love, as Whitefield put it. Isn't it wonderful that in Jesus Christ we have a merciful and faithful high priest who was tempted as we are, who knows our weaknesses, and having been tempted as we are, and yet without sin, He has pity upon us and is ready and able to supply sufficient grace from His riches in glory as we call upon Him? (see Hebrews 2:16-18, 4:14-16)

Paul's prayer has been preserved as part of the canon of Holy Scripture because the Holy Spirit wanted to remind believers throughout the ages (including us here in the 21st century) that we will all struggle and we will all be tempted like the believers in Rome in the first century. These things were written for our example. These prayers were prayed for our example. But thanks be to God, with every commandment God gives, God gives His people the power to fulfill that commandment:  the Christ who welcomed us will empower us to welcome one another, for the glory of God. We desperately need to go boldly to the throne of grace and ask the God of endurance and encouragement to pour out grace upon us so we might welcome one another. And notice there, that when we welcome one another as Christ welcomed us, we do so for the glory of God. What does it say about our attitude toward the glory of God when we are not seeking to welcoming one another as Christ welcomed us?

THE PICTURE PORTRAYED AS WE WELCOME ONE ANOTHER

A few verses later in Romans 15, Paul launches off into a seemingly different trajectory:  a spectacular world-wide missionary vision and call, in which he cites verses from Isaiah, written hundreds of years prior.  What's with that? How does Paul get there from the first verses in the chapter? My brothers and sisters, our welcoming one another in the local church is a picture of God's welcoming us into His global family. And our welcoming one another in the local church is a small picture of what God has been and is continuing to do throughout the entire world for thousands of years. As the Gospel is preached to all the nations (people groups) to all the ends of the earth, are we not welcoming those whom Christ has redeemed to God by His blood from out of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation. And if we aren't welcoming one another in the local church (or in cyberspace, or wherever ...), how hypocritical of us is it for us to claim we're burdened for the lost? Convicting? Yes, for myself also. Greatly convicting.

Jesus Christ died to make us all one new man that we all might glorify God for his mercy.

Romans 1:1  Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3  concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5  through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6  including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ...

"For the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ..." If you belong to Christ, you belong to Him for the sake of His name. If you have been welcomed by Jesus Christ, you have been welcomed for the sake of His name. Your salvation and my salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is God's means for His name to be lifted up and praised among all the nations. Peter reminds us that we're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9).

When we stop and linger over and meditate upon and don't skip over those first portions of the Lord's prayer, "Our Father... hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come," when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and His purposes for the world, as we keep the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel in plain view, we will keep a right perspective and be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit (see Ephesians 4:1-6), and strive to do whatever we can to avoid destroying brotherly love –– much as Paul wrote in Romans 12:  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. And you can look high and low, but I don't see any loopholes there:  all means all.

MADE WILLING IN THE DAY OF HIS POWER

There are many, many Christians with whom I differ, but as God's grace works in me, I long to welcome them as Christ welcomed me, and I wish to support and encourage all those who belong to Christ and are preaching the Gospel, seeking to lift up Christ and Him crucified, guarding the Gospel and holding to the authority and the truth of the Scripture, and seeking the glory and praise of God in all things.

As much as I have every fleshly reason to despise and reject those who differ from me (particularly those who have slandered and maligned both Calvinism and Calvinists), God Himself won't let me do so because His Spirit convicts me and His love comes to constrain and fill me. The God of endurance and encouragement has given and continues to give me Christ's supernatural, longsuffering love for those saints and their ministries:  a love for Christ and His Church that goes above and beyond my beloved Calvinism, so I might welcome them as Christ has welcomed me:  to love them as Christ has loved me, and to forgive them as Christ has forgiven me.

And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn't hit

And I don't know what to do with a love like that
And I don't know how to be a love like that

~ from David Crowder Band's "Surely We Can Change"

I have to pinch myself at those times I have found my heart drawn out in love, even toward those who have insulted me for my Calvinistic beliefs, and how I find found myself praying for God's blessings to fall afresh on those saints. At that I can only marvel, for that is God's doing, for it is the Lord alone who makes me willing in the day of His power (Psalm 110:3, KJV), so I might welcome all the saints as Christ has welcomed me, delight in all the saints as Christ delights in me, and intercede for all the saints as Christ intercedes for me.

THAT WE MIGHT NOT DESTROY BROTHERLY LOVE

The devil loves division, and he is constantly prowling and seeking to get a foothold to divide us one from another. I'm not saying we shouldn't ever discuss these matters of doctrine for, as I said above, I consider these matters vital –– but there may come certain points in time when we may need to refrain and restrain ourselves like George Whitefield, so that we might not destroy brotherly love. May God give each one of us His Spirit of truth and wisdom tempered with His Spirit of love, humility, patience, and gentleness, always entrusting all the saints to God's keeping ~ II Timothy 2:14-26; Acts 20:32. As we remain watchful and stand firm in the faith, may all we do, may all I do, be done with love ~ I Corinthians 16:13-14... "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" ~ I Corinthians 8:1.

May we have the mind of Christ dwelling within us, that our manner of life would be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so we might stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together, striving side by side, for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27), for the glory of God and the praise and renown of God's name in all the nations, until the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the seas!

~ Karen, S.D.G.

---

¹ Arnold A. Dallimore, "George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival - Volume I" (Banner of Truth Trust:  Edinburgh / Carlisle, PA, 1970, reprinted 2009), 450-452. Dallimore added in the paragraphing to Whitefield's letter, which was originally found in Gilles' "Works," pp. 155-157.

* For more on Calvinism / TULIP / the doctrines of grace, please listen to the Rev. Geoff Thomas' series of sermons on The Five Points of Calvinism at http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceonly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=alfredplace&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Five+Points+of+Calvinism.

Related:

true Calvinism is not
I can't keep walking on eggshells here (more on Revelife, Calvinism, the Body of Christ and self)
Lent IV.-"If you love Me you will love the church"
May the mind and word of Christ dwell in us so we might arise as one man
we are a wilderness and a desolation today (lack of love in the Church | Isaiah 64:10-11)
forgive us for dividing Your Son, our Lord
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when we dwell in unity!
ALL God's people singing, "He reigns" (Letter 28 on assurance & joy)
How can we say we are unified when ... ?
What kind of pony are you asking for for Christmas?
Does oneness in Christ mean . . . ?
Is Satan stirring the pot in your congregation? (and are you helping him?)
an "ici" good-bye | a lesson in warm catholicity
The Gospel and the Lord's table
Happy 500th Birthday John Calvin (some thoughts from John Wesley)
Do you love the saints . . . ALL the saints? (reflections on church hurts)
a Calvinist, a Wesley bobblehead, the holy catholic Church & the communion of saints
Why I write and minister - My credo for being a godly encourager
Profitable Preaching ~ Kenneth Stewart: "And your soul will be a damp squib..." ~ see the 1st portion on doctrine

Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

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Work found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_Whitefield_(head).jpg
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For just over a couple weeks now, I've been out of state helping out a relative. Prior to leaving home, one of my friends shared with me Psalm 86:6 in the ESV. I didn't remember reading it before in that translation:

How wonderfully the LORD has listened to and heard my plea, and poured out grace upon grace! One of the ways God has poured out His grace while I've been away from home is through my being warmly welcomed into the fold of a local church here.

Many of you know I love the doctrines of grace, i.e. - Calvinistic doctrine. And I confess I struggle at times with being gracious and humble about the doctrines of grace! Well, this particular church is of the Wesleyan persuasion... (I want to clarify that this congregation is not at all a part of that modern, specious imitation which denies the great doctrines of the Bible, and turns its back on the wonderful heritage of blood, sweat, tears, and the work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope which was found in the lives and the ministries of John and Charles Wesley.)

During one of the weeks I've been here, a visiting preacher presented the local pastor with a John Wesley bobblehead... no kidding.

Gotta share this video I found from the Asbury Seminary Bookstore...

I was aware of the doctrinal differences going in, but I still felt strongly that I should visit this particular church  ... and I can't express to you the multiple blessings, the grace upon grace that God has had in store for me through this congregation. And I can't imagine how much poorer I would have been had I not stepped through those church doors. I've been humbled as I experienced anew and afresh what it means to be part of "the communion of saints." In God's inscrutable and mysterious ways, we know that God Himself sets the members in the Body as HE wills –– members who hold to Calvinistic doctrine as well as members who hold to Wesleyan Arminian doctrine:

I Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

My first Sunday in worship, after already having been blessed through some spiritual conversation and prayer with some of the members, not long into the service, I had to turn in my Bible to David's words from Psalm 31, and I basked in them as I was basking in God's goodness and mercy to me following me all the days of my life, and bringing me to this particular place:

Psalm 31:21 Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city.

I had felt myself to be somewhat a stranger in a strong city. Though I was with family, I was away from my family at home, and away from my Christian brothers and sisters at home, and yet the LORD took me in through this particular assembly of His saints, a group of poor and needy sinners, who along with the Wesleys, along with John Calvin, and along with myself are wholly leaning on Jesus' name and are saved by grace through faith by the New Covenant in the Lamb's precious blood.

Psalm 50:5 "Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."

Every week, this congregation reads through the Apostles' Creed. My times of fellowship with them have helped me to know in greater measure what it means when we say that . . .

In Proverbs 8, we read how the Godhead delighted in one another, and yet the Father, Son, and Spirit also delight in the sons of men, particularly in those whom God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world. (HT for the reference to Proverbs 8:30-31 from Dafydd Morris' message "Why Should Jesus Send His Spirit? Part 2," available at http://www.reformationandrevival.org/pastconferenceaddresses.html)

Proverbs 8:30-31
Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.

Here's a portion of Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on this passage:

His [God's] gracious concern he had for mankind, 31. Wisdom rejoiced, not so much in the rich products of the earth, or the treasures hid in the bowels of it, as in the habitable parts of it, for her delights were with the sons of men; not only in the creation of man is it spoken with a particular air of pleasure (Gen. i. 26), Let us make man, but in the redemption and salvation of man. The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work, 1 Pet. i. 20. A remnant of the sons of men were given him to be brought, through his grace, to his glory, and these were those in whom his delights were. His church was the habitable part of his earth, made habitable for him, that the Lord God might dwell even among those that had been rebellious; and this he rejoiced in, in the prospect of seeing his seed. Though he foresaw all the difficulties he was to meet with in his work, the services and sufferings he was to go through, yet, because it would issue in the glory of his Father and the salvation of those sons of men that were given him, he looked forward upon it with the greatest satisfaction imaginable, in which we have all the encouragement we can desire to come to him and rely upon him for all the benefits designed us by his glorious undertaking.

Just as the Lord Jesus delights in all the saints, those who belong to Christ must do likewise. How can we do any less since we are united to Christ and have Christ's very nature indwelling us through the gift of His Holy Spirit?

Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in You I put my trust.
2 O my soul, You have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You" ––
3 And to the saints that are in the earth,
They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."

Having been born again of incorruptible seed, along with our Savior, we too must delight in, rejoice in, love, and extend goodness to all the saints. How can we not? Are we not all one family? Have we not all been redeemed with the same precious blood of the Lamb of God, made alive from the dead through the operation of the same Spirit, and adopted by the same heavenly Father into the family of God?

Ephesians 4:4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Once again, here are Matthew Henry's words on those verses in Psalm 16 (boldface mine):

3. If God be ours, we must, for his sake, extend our goodness to those that are his, to the saints in the earth; for what is done to them he is pleased to take as done to himself, having constituted them his receivers. Note, (1.) There are saints in the earth; and saints on earth we must all be, or we shall never be saints in heaven. Those that are renewed by the grace of God, and devoted to the glory of God, are saints on earth. (2.) The saints in the earth are excellent ones, great, mighty, magnificent ones, and yet some of them so poor in the world that they need to have David's goodness extended to them. God makes them excellent by the grace he gives them. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour, and then he accounts them excellent. They are precious in his sight and honourable; they are his jewels, his peculiar treasure. Their God is their glory, and a diadem of beauty to them. (3.) All that have taken the Lord for their God delight in his saints as excellent ones, because they bear his image, and because he loves them. David, though a king, was a companion of all that feared God (Ps. cxix. 63), even the meanest, which was a sign that his delight was in them. (4.) It is not enough for us to delight in the saints, but, as there is occasion, our goodness must extend to them; we must be ready to show them the kindness they need, distribute to their necessities, and abound in the labour of love to them. This is applicable to Christ. The salvation he wrought out for us was no gain to God, for our ruin would have been no loss to him; but the goodness and benefit of it extend to us men, in whom he delighteth, Prov. viii. 31. For their sakes, says he, I sanctify myself, John xvii. 19. Christ delights even in the saints on earth, notwithstanding their weaknesses and manifold infirmities, which is a good reason why we should.

Valentine's Day is coming up in just a few days, and I'd like to close with some of the apostle John's words from chapters 3-5 of his first epistle. These are some of the toughest and most challenging words in all the Scripture when it comes to Christ's commandment that we love one another as He has loved us (John 13:31-35; see also John 17:20-26). John's words serve to demolish any and all lame and feeble excuses we (I) might raise, and they turn all our (my) puny, fleshly, and fluffy conceptions of what love is on their heads. Love all the saints! Rejoice in all the saints! Delight in all the saints! Show goodness to all the saints! How?! Wholly impossible with man! Wholly impossible with Karen! But possible with God! Our God is the God all the saints! And our God is the One who works in us to will and to do His good pleasure. And what is God's good pleasure:  that we love and delight in and rejoice in and extend goodness to the saints –– all the saints. May the resurrection power of Christ work in us to keep His commandments. Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

I John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment...

I John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also...

I John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Thank You and bless You, LORD, for listening to and answering my pleas for grace and showing me grace through Your Body. Thank You for encouraging my heart and knitting me together in love with these dear saints. I continue to find that Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds, Your mercies are new every morning, and Your grace abounds to this chief of sinners, and along with David Brainerd, You never fail to raise up friends in every place You have called me in Your perfect way and in Your appointed time:

"O how kind has God been to me! how has he raised up friends in every place, where his providence has called me! Friends are a great comfort; and it is God that gives them; it is he makes them friendly to me. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.'"

God of grace, continue to grant me grace upon grace so I might treasure and hold a catholic Spirit, and delight in, rejoice in, love, and extend goodness to all the saints, just as you treat me... not as my sins deserve!

• Reasons for Thanksgiving - part 6: Christian friends
• we are a wilderness and a desolation today (lack of love in the Church | Isaiah 64:10-11)
• "Lord, please send a brother or sister to help me." (The Good Samaritan parable redux)
• May the mind and word of Christ dwell in us so we might arise as one man
• forgive us for dividing Your Son, our Lord
• ALL God's people singing, "He reigns" (Letter 28 on assurance & joy)
• Behold, how good and pleasant it is when we dwell in unity!
• I can't keep walking on eggshells here (more on Revelife, Calvinism, the Body of Christ and self)
• an "ici" good-bye | a lesson in warm catholicity
• Lent IV.-"If you love Me you will love the church"
• a prayer for my sister in Christ
• Do you love the saints . . . ALL the saints? (reflections on church hurts)

Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Photo credit: Image grabbed from the YouTube video, found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2uqLY9eRw