The Tulip Driven Life

  Government, Law, and Religion in Calvin’s Geneva Taken from: https://www.johnwittejr.com/uploads/5/4/6/6/54662393/a198.pdf Read the following lengthy excerpt on Calvin's Geneva. It is not possible that our Reformed or Evangelical conservative leaders today would regard Calvin and Calvin's Geneva as Christian and faithful, in Church or State Government. Simply ask yourself, would you rather live in Calvin's Geneva, or Modern America? The answer is easy if you think for a moment, are holy, and love the Lord.   "The Protestant Reformation in Geneva began as a revolution in government, law, and religion. On May 21, 1536, two months before Calvin first arrived in Geneva, the city authorities issued a statute renouncing the Catholic Church and its canon law in favor of “the holy Evangelical Law and Word of God.”3 A prince-bishop who had been sovereign in both the political and religious realms was forced to leave. So were most of the members of his entourage, incl...

 By: Thomas F. Booher  Egalitarianism is the heresy that runs through Nation and Church alike today. As such, we don't merely have a theological issue, but a societal one. Indeed, one as basic as "what is a man?" and "what is a woman?" and "what is a family/nation/people?" Getting this right will bring not just a "revival" in our churches, but a full-scale Reformation. That is what so many so-called conservatives, whether political or pastoral, are actually afraid of. This needed reformation will bring a return to hierarchy. But for the "egalitarian conservatives" (sorry for stuttering), hierarchy of any kind -- except for their own elite "credentialed" class which lords itself over the egalitarian flatline masses beneath them -- is the real heresy and demon that has to be kept out of the land. Egalitarianism is defined like this by Merriam Webster Online: Either definition is problematic, though our knee-jerk reaction is ...

  Jay Adams on the necessity of physical fitness for Pastors/Ministers, from volume 1 of Shepherding God's Flock, Chapter 4, Areas of Adequacy: "While God can use anyone with any sort of body to achieve His purposes, ordinarily for the sustained steady labor of the pastorate, the work to which He calls His servant requires a strong, healthy, well-disciplined body [Adams references I Cor. 9:27]. At the very least, one must agree that the minister, who is to be an example in all things, must lead his flock in demonstrating how to care for the temple of the Holy Spirit. Whatever his body's condition, with all its limitations, his task is to hone it to its sharpest edge, making it capable of becoming as effective an instrument in the hand of God as that body can be. Among other things, good eating and sleeping habits as well as other health concerns should play controlling roles in both the planning and execution of scheduling and routine activities. Adequate (not excessive) s...

  When we look at our good works as part of examining ourselves, we are not trusting in ourselves or our "goodness" as the grounds of our salvation, but as an assurance of our salvation. This is because good works are necessary, yet possible only by the saving grace of God having already been given to us through Jesus Christ. It is in and by Christ, as one who is saved by His sacrifice, that a Christian does good works for God's glory. Such good works flow only from those who have already been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. It is a dangerous error within certain churches today, sometimes seen especially in Reformed churches today, that tell you to never examine yourself and your works to determine whether you are saved or not, justified in Christ or not. Their fear seems to be that this will somehow confuse grace and works, and will make people think that we are justified by our works in a meritorious manner. But the Bible speaks very strongly about the necessity of good...

Matthew Henry on true wisdom for salvation, from his commentary on 1 Corinthians 1: "Those methods of divine conduct that vain men are apt to censure as unwise and weak have more true, solid, and successful wisdom in them, than all the learning and wisdom that are among men: "You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, v. 26, etc. You see the state of Christianity; not many men of learning, or authority, or honourable extraction, are called." There is a great deal of meanness and weakness in the outward appearance of our religion. For, (1.) Few of distinguished character in any of these respects were chosen for the work of the ministry. God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. Not the wise men after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for wisdom and learning...

 This is from Henry's commentary on Titus 2. Notice also his opening words, how the minister should preach discerningly, applying God's word to young and old, male and female, each in their stations and conditions of life. These are perennial and needed words for old and young men alike.  To see Henry's words regarding older and younger women, take this link:  https://tulipdrivenlife.blogspot.com/2025/01/matthew-henry-on-duties-of-older-and.html    "Specially and particularly, he instructs him to apply this sound doctrine to several sorts of persons, from v. 2-10. Ministers must not stay in generals, but must divide to every one his portion, what belongs to his age, or place, or condition of life; they must be particular as well as practical in their preaching; they must teach men their duty, and must teach all and each his duty. Here is an excellent Christian directory, accommodated to the old and to the young; to men and women; to the preacher himself and to s...