A Message to the Modern Church

Last updated on: March 6, 2018 at 8:00 am by Coyle Neal

A Message to the Modern Church 2018-03-01T14:03:29-07:00 Coyle Neal

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Jodocus van Lodenstein had two things going for him: 1) a Harry Potter-esque name that no doubt hipster parents will shortly be rediscovering; 2) a desire to see true revival sweep through the Netherlands in the 17th century. This desire pours out of the nine sermons collected in A Spiritual Appeal to Christ’s Bride. This book is a part of the “Classics of Reformed Spirituality” series. As noted in an earlier blog post, the goal of this series is “the publication and dissemination of historically important Reformed theological and religious literature originally published in the Dutch language” (From their website).

A Spiritual Appeal to Christ’s Bride is not nearly as dense as the writings of some of van Lodenstein’s Puritan contemporaries (though we are reading it in translation, so I suppose the original Dutch might be the equivalent of 17th century English), but its warmth and passion for revival is every bit the equal of the flame of Puritanism. Over and over Dutch congregations are challenged to return to their roots, to remember that

we did not separate ourselves from Catholicism because it engaged in too many duties and spiritual exercises. It was because it engaged in these things only in an external fashion. We separated ourselves because it was our intent to engage in our duties in a more spiritual manner. (84)

Image source: Amazon.

The Christian life is a whole life, which begins with the heart and flows out to every external action. Sin, therefore, is a serious business and to be warred against continually. Fortunately we are not alone in this war–in fact it is a war that has already been won on the cross. Sin has been defeated and death is dead, if only we will believe it and live the life of faith that we have been called to.

So much any good Christian at any time would confess. van Lodenstein’s further burden is twofold: to remind believers of the tools at their disposal in pursuit of this life and to encourage those who are bogged down in spiritual sluggishness.

The tools of the believer are the Word and the Spirit (inseparable, contrary to the claims of the enthusiasts), supplemented by the sacraments and, in a distant fourth place, the confessions and the catechisms. As one example, when reflecting on communion, van Lodenstein reminds the congregation that as they take the physical food and drink they are to remember that

God has created us in such a fashion that no world, not even ten thousand worlds, could satisfy us. The heart always desires more and more. However, Jesus is mighty to satisfy both our minds and wills by His grace. Whoever eats of Jesus bread and drinks of His waters shall neither hunger nor thirst for all eternity. ..[Earlier].. When a soul is overcome by an evil yearning for sin, this food and drink quench and extinguish such a fire. When the soul is overcome by the evil of discontent, this food and drink teach her the great virtue of being satisfied… Should the soul be plagued with the cancer of heresy… or with the wretched illness of a licentious life, here is found counsel to make him sound in the faith… If someone is dismayed and contrite in heart, here is Jesus to ‘heal the brokenhearted’ (Luke 4:18). There is therefore no malady, as great and old as it may be, but the food and drink we have been given was effectual in facilitating healing. (166)

So think of that the next time you’re participating in the Lord’s Supper!

van Lodenstein’s encouragement to believers who are struggling with a laggard heart is… well… it’s different, particularly when sin is involved (not all spiritual slowness is the result of sin, of course, but some of it is). I have come of spiritual age (or at least spiritual adolescence, I suppose I shouldn’t claim maturity yet) by drinking at the well of Piper, who points us, through Edwards, to the joy and delight of the Gospel as a means of reigniting a flame that has burned low. And I think van Lodenstein would agree with this (just as I think Piper and Edwards would agree with van Lodenstein). But, A Spiritual Appeal to Christ’s Bride suggests a different attitude while fighting for personal revival:

I am not saying that one should not mourn over and strive against sin, for in light of God’s command we must oppose sin with all our might. We sin, however, when we wish to have strength to oppose sin at a time and according to the measure that pleases us. We are then of the opinion that the Lord would be glorified at the time and measure we think best. [Emphasis added]
We must always remember that our goodness does not extend to Him… His thoughts are not our thoughts and our ways are not His ways… In view of this, it has been stated very well that if God had not known that He would be glorified through Adam’s fall, He would not have permitted him to fall. (52)

In other words, if we are struggling (especially with sin), we ought to continue to struggle as per the Lord’s command. We ought not, however, demand that the Lord dance attendance on us while we do so. We will overcome our struggles in His time and not in ours–patience and humility are to be our watchwords, rather than demands for instant victory. And I just feel like that’s not something we hear all that often in the Evangelical world these days–or in the American world for that matter. “Maybe God in His Divine plan wants you to suffer and struggle a bit for His Glory and your good rather than instantly giving you what you want” is not the theme of a best seller. Then again, I don’t read many best sellers these days, so I’ll happily admit my error if I’m wrong.

So in sum, this is an excellent and convicting book. I’m happy to recommend it to those wanting a challenge to live the faithful life of a Christian.

Dr. Coyle Neal is co-host of the City of Man Podcast and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, where he is neither terribly patient nor terribly humble. So far. His wife is working on it.

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