The Greatest Movies . . .

. . . you've never seen.

These two movies are probably the best movies I have ever seen.

I saw Les Miserables directed by Claude Lelouch in an art film theatre in New Orleans in 1996 just after it had been released. I did not want to stop my carousing in the French Quarter to go. But, I am glad I did. The film (not movie) is a loose retelling of Victor Hugo's novel. It is long, at times depressing, but incredibly powerful. It can probably be ordered from Amazon or through Netflix. I looked for a soundtrack while in Paris several years ago but couldn't find one.



Equally moving is To Live directed by Zhang Yimou. It tells the story of a man trying to live in China after the Cultural Revolution. Here is a clip depicting communist Chinese "healthcare":



Can we have some of that here in the United States? More socialized healthcare please. The movie is almost overwhelming. Here, in the US, we are not as exposed to China after communism as we are to Russian history (even that is limited). Very, very powerful movies.

The Last Word

No. Not mine. It is a book by N.T. Wright, subtitled "Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture." It was loaned to me by a friend from the Bible study I attend. I found it to be a well-written and traditional defense of the "authority of Scripture" written from an Anglican perspective. Bishop Wright is the Bishop of Durham in England and I am sure that his leadership and teaching is a breath of Biblical fresh air to the members of the Church of England who actually believe in the Resurection and the reliability of scripture.

Chapter 5: "The First Sixteen Centuries" and Chapter 6: "The Challenge of the Enlightenment" are, by themselves, worth the cost of the book as they give an easily digestible summary of thought about the Bible as various waves of philosophical development have washed against it. Bishop Wright warns against the errors that modernist and post-modern philosophies make in the application of their philosophies to the Word of God and he also warns against the inevitable reactions, which go too far in themselves.

Chapter 7: "Misreadings of Scripture" gives an arguably accurate, though brief, accounting of the political left's and political right's errors in reading scripture in an effort to support political philosophy. Bishop Wright writes (sorry):

However different we may be personally, contextually, culturally, and so on, when we read scripture we do so in communion with other Christians across space and time. This means for instance, that we must work at making sure we read scripture properly in public, with appropriate systems for choosing what to read and appropriate training to make sure those who read do so to best effect. If scripture is to be a dynamic force within the church, it is vital that the public reading of scripture does not degenerate into what might be called "aural wallpaper," a pleasing and somewhat religious noise which murmurs along in the background while the mind is occupied elsewhere.

If every preacher and minister would think about that quote as he prepares his Sunday sermon and worship service, the believer in the pew would be so well served. But the believer in the pew has a job there also, to work at making sure he reads scripture properly in private and that he educate himself on how to do so.

A Caveat: Many Reformed Christians have a bad taste in their mouths for Bishop Wright due to his misreading of Paul on justification which is born out in the New Perspectives on Paul controversy. I disagree with Bishop Wright on that as well. However, that does not mean that he is not profitable to a Christian life in other areas, and this short book is one such area. Here is the lead-in commentary from the June 1st, 2008 White Horse Inn program: The Theology of N.T. Wright.

Thanks to my friend for loaning it to me. I shall return it today along with a copy of R.C. Sproul's Chosen by God for his edification. I read one of yours; you read one of mine.

Finally, here is a link to several reviews of other books by N.T. Wright.

Baseball Blues

On the wall of the original Allen’s Restaurant in Normaltown, in Athens, Georgia, a poster hung on the wall. It was of an overweight groundskeeper asleep in a folding metal chair at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the home of the Atlanta Braves until Tuner Field was built. The caption of the poster was something along the lines of “Atlanta Sports – Catch the Fever.” I searched but could not find an image of that poster anywhere online. If someone finds it, leave the URL in the comments section.

I was in Allen’s on the last day it was in business several years ago. It has since re-opened. I should have offered to buy that poster that day. It was a perfect image for baseball in Georgia. After winning the western division in 1982, the Atlanta Braves went from 1983 to 1990 without making it to the playoffs. In fact, 1983 was the last year the Braves played .500 or better baseball until they won the National League pennant in 1991.

(That night, if I recall correctly was also the night that Georgia whipped Clemson in Athens. My date to the game abandoned me. The date of the girl sitting in front of me left her so we went out and celebrated together. After leaving the FIJI house, things get fuzzy.)

However, from 1991 on, the Braves had a string of 14 division playoff appearances, including five National League Pennants – but only one World Series win. That lone World Series win was what I was thinking about last week when Georgia couldn’t get anything started in game three of the College World Series. So close, yet not close enough. Nevertheless, even though I wish Gordon Beckham could have rallied the troops in that third game, UGA played an exciting CWS and they should all be proud of the team’s accomplishments. I hope Coach Evans promptly gets a fat contract extension in front of Coach Perno. Go Dawgs!

. . . only 62 days until we open with Georgia Southern at home.

Gratiutious Music Post

Unfortunately, many Americans have the idea that no good country music comes from outside the United States. Here are a handful of artists who put the lie to that thought, although its not necessarily "country music" and certainly not Nashville music.

A friend of mine and I drove over to Atlanta from Athens one night to see the Canadian group, Blue Rodeo, open up for Lucinda Williams at the Variety Playhouse. I don't recall exactly when it was but I know Ms. Williams was touring in support of her "Sweet Old World" album.

This is the title track to Blue Rodeo's 1989 album:



While I lived in Atlanta, I went to Smiths Olde Bar to see Australian, Paul Kelly, of whom I had been a fan since high school. I went in and sat at the bar. I ordered a beer and turned to my left and Mr. Kelly was sitting there. I introduced myself, told him I was a big fan and asked him to play a song. He said that if he could remember the lyrics, he would. And he did. Great show.



I (briefly) fell in love in a pub in Cork, Ireland with a girl from New South Wales, Autralia while we talked about Paul Kelly. She couldn't believe an American knew who he was. Her boyfriend couldn't believe that I was hitting on his girlfriend right in front of him. Good international diplomacy.

The incomparable Englishman, Elvis Costello, and his cover of "Good Year For The Roses":



Dig that steel guitar.

Finally, another Canadian, K.D. Lang. All of the albums of hers that I have heard are great. Her first two were great country music. Here is "Trail Of Broken Hearts":



Now, if I simply add the word "lesbian" to this post, I will get all sorts of weird hits since I have K.D. Lang in it. Evangelism by google searches.

Nunn Better (!?!)

Now that Sen. Clinton has so graciously bowed out of the Democratic presidential race, Sen. Obama has presumably begun the search for a vice-presidential candidate. The UPI is reporting that retired Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia may be willing to run if asked.

Regardless of whether it is based in fact, Sen. Nunn has a longstanding reputation for moderate to conservative principles and statesmanship which would be an enormous asset to Sen. Obama's campaign. In 1987, The New York Times ran an article titled "Sam Nunn's Rising Star" that set forth a good argument he should have been running for President then.

Since he has been out of office for many years, Sen. Nunn's public stances on issues are somewhat dated but a limited review of his positions can be seen here.

An Obama-Nunn ticket would be as formidable a Democratic ticket as could be forged. It seems that the only public "scandal" Sen. Nunn has attached to his name is the hearings he held in 1996 to support not changing the "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy. And if one searches for criticism of Sen. Nunn, the loudest voices against him come from homosexuals on the basis of those hearings. Jonathan Capehart, writing in the Washington Post, recently set forth that argument. (The apostle Matthew did not mean it this way but Matthew 7:16 seems to fit: Ye shall know them by their fruits.) It is stunning that there are those on the left who continue to think that Hillary Clinton would be a good choice for vice-president. They cannot comprehend the disdain that those on the right (me included) feel toward Sen. (and President) Clinton.

Obama-Nunn will win. Obama-Clinton will not. It is as simple as that.

Diamond Dawgs!

For the sixth time, the Georgia Bulldogs baseball team will be heading to the College World Series in Omaha. They start out facing top ranked Miami. They are also SEC champs this year for the sixth time, the others being in 1933, 1953, 1954, 2001 and 2004. They won the SEC Eastern Division title in 1955, 1975, 2001 and 2004. They were National Champions in 1990.

At UGA, even though it is the oldest varsity sport, baseball does not have the drawing power of football, but it was always pleasant to waste a spring afternoon by getting off the Milledge bus at Sons of Italy or Steverinos to drink beer and then go to Foley Field to watch a game. Then all I had to do was walk up Baxter Hill to my apartment next to Guthries. On the other side was the original Loco's. Of course, there were always coeds.

Local heroes and Georgia football standouts Buck Belue and John Lastinger were drafted into the Major Leagues. Mr. Belue was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 6th round in 1982, while Mr. Lastinger was an 11th round draft by the Minnesota Twins in 1984. Also, in 1982, Mr. Belue earned the second highest single season batting average of .447 and is exceeded only by football legend Charley Trippi's 1946 single season record of .464.

Go Dawgs and no matter what happens in Omaha, you can rest in the satisfaction of the utter humiliation of Georgia Tech this season. And after all, that is really all that counts.

Worship Woes Part III - Con-temporary

There is a small book, written in 1927 by H. Wheeler Robinson, called The Life and Faith of the Baptists. It is brief description of English Baptist beliefs and practices along with mini-biographies of Baptist believers from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. One of these biographies concerns 12 year old Caleb Vernon who died of the plague. His uncle, William Allen was an officer in the army of General Fairfax and was part of the Windsor Prayer Meeting in April and May of 1648 which called Charles Stuart to task for the blood shed on his account during the English Civil Wars.

According to Dr. Robinson, "Caleb, at four could read the Bible, and at six was apt in doctrine in practice; at seven he went to school, at ten had begun to add Greek to his Latin, and found time for some Hebrew." (p.27 - emphasis added). In other words, Caleb Vernon, at age six, knew what he believed and why he believed it. It was important to his Christian parents to educate him thoroughly in biblical doctrine and theology. This was shortly after the Westminster Confession was completed along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. The London Confession of 1689 would be completed a few years later. It was an age when men, Presbyterians, Baptists, Puritans, lived, fought and died for the simple right to practice and worship in the Reformed faith. It was a faith that was vital, vigorous and victorious.

Currently, it is as if there is a willful ignorance on the part of many believers as to the essential doctrines of the Reformed faith within historically confessional denominations. Whether one realizes it, everyone has a theology and everyone has doctrine. Atheists have a theology: a faith that God doesn't exist. Each Christian has a theology which will be borne out in the Christian's life, or, as Douglas Wilson puts it, lived out at one's fingertips. If it is shallow theology, it will manifest itself.

This evangelical doctrinal shallowness is clearly evident in the ever increasing tendency toward the use of contemporary Christian music in public worship services. This article is the last of three on contemporary music in worship. The first is here, the second is here, or you can read John MacArthur's thoughts on it here and save a lot of time.

I have been thinking about this final part for a long time but was prompted to write it in response to a comment on my post Duet One More Time. I will clarify a few things and then discuss the music.

My commentator wrote:

A hymn is simply a song of praise to our God. That is the only qualification of a hymn. Whether the hymn was written 300 years ago or only 3 is irrelevant. Whether the hymn is in a Presbyterian hymnal is irrelevant. Whether its author is alive or dead is irrelevant. A hymn is simply a song of praise to our God.

That is a good definition. Wikipedia also has an interesting entry on "hymn." But just because a song may be defined as a hymn, it does not follow that it ought to be used in public worship. This is where one's understanding of what public worship is and what it does is crucial. I stand by my position of what worship is as set forth in my previous posts on the issue because it is biblical. Sola scriptura is one of the reformational five solas and I wholly believe it. So did the Westminster Divines as they were drafting the Westminster Confession. The Confession, along with the Directory of Public Worship and the Regulative Principle, is their categorization of biblical truth supported by scripture so that believers have a framework within which to think about scripture. Thus, there is no need to repeat their reasoning and scripture proofs here.

If worship is ascribing worth to God, or as John Piper puts it, as a ". . .way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of his worth," (Desiring God p. 83) then it follows that the music we use to reflect back to God the radiance of his worth ought to be the best. To use less than our best is to have a low opinion of God and a low opinion of worship.

Here in America, Christians are the heirs of approximately six centuries of Christian music and hymnody based on the doctrines of the Reformation. Most contemporary praise and worship music simply is not the best that Reformation and doctrine has produced and is not better than the hymns it is used to displace.

Here are two examples suggested by my commentator: Chris Tomlin's "Indescribable" and "How Great is Our God."

First, "Indescribable" is a study on the majesty of God as revealed through nature.

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
INCOMPARABLE, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Aside from its repetitiveness, it is not bad but it is theologically incomplete. Therefore, is it best or are their other hymns which address the same topic - the majesty of God as shown through natural revelation? No, it is not best and several better hymns come to mind but I will focus only on Isaac Watts' "The Heavens Declare Thy Glory Lord," written in 1719:

The heav’ns declare Thy glory, Lord,
In every star Thy wisdom shines
But when our eyes behold Thy Word,
We read Thy Name in fairer lines.

The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days, Thy power confess
But the blest volume Thou hast writ
Reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.

Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand:
So when Thy truth begun its race,
It touched and glanced on every land.

Nor shall Thy spreading Gospel rest
Till through the world Thy truth has run,
Till Christ has all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.

Great Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Bless the dark world with heav’nly light;
Thy Gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments right.

Thy noblest wonders here we view
In souls renewed and sins forgiv’n;
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make Thy Word my guide to Heaven.

Both of these songs are meditations on, or adaptations of Psalm 19. However, not only is Watts' hymn lyrically better, it is a fuller presentation of Psalm 19 in that it addresses not only natural revelation but also revelation through the Law. Of Psalm 19, John MacArthur writes:

This psalm is . . . the most concise and direct treatment of the sufficiency of Scripture in all the Bible. This psalm conveys to us the significance of divine revelation. The first half . . . describes general revelation. God is revealed in his creation. . . . But while general revelation is sufficient to reveal the fact that God exists, and to teach us something about his attributes, nature alone does not reveal saving truth. The point of the psalm is the superiority - the utter spiritual perfection and all-suffciency of Scripture as our one true and infallible guide in life. (Think Biblically pps 28-29.)

In other words, we will never "fall to our knees" and worship God based solely on what we observe in nature. Yet, Mr. Tomlin's lyrics suggest we can and will. However, Paul, writing in Romans 1, says that it is in the Gospel that the righteousness of God is revealed "from faith for faith." When confronted only with nature, Pagans worship the creature and not the Creator. Undoubtedly, Mr. Tomlin did not mean to suggest that general revelation brings one to saving faith. He simply wrote a song about the beauty of nature but his assertion of our response to that beauty is theologically wrong and therefore, "Indescribable" is inadequate for public worship.

Next is Mr.Tomlin's "How Great is Our God":

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

This song is better but is it the best we can offer to God in the public worship service as praise for His majesty? No. Simply compare the lyrics to "Immortal Invisible, God only wise" by Walter Chalmers Smith from 1876:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, Almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

In those five verses, a much fuller view of the Father and of the Son is given when compared to Mr. Tomlin's song, no matter how many times one repeats the chorus. Once again, the old is far superior to the new. And it is the superiority that matters, not the age. I am sure there are songwriters, writing today, who are creating theologically sound and weighty hymns and worship songs which will be accepted in the "canon" of worship music and will stand alongside the Psalter and the wonderful works of Isaac Watts, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and John Newton.

Two final thoughts: Here, I am concerned with evangelical churches in the West. I would not expect that African or Asian or other non-western churches use western music or lyrics in their worship services. They have traditions within their own cultures that have produced what is culturally "best" for them and so long as the worship music is theologically sound and represents the best of their culture, those traditions should be embraced.

Finally, as a practical matter, the songs of Mr. Tomlin, and most contemporary praise and worship music I have heard is ill-suited for congregrational singing. They are breathy, effeminate and weepy and contrary to the God ordained differences between men and women. If the evangelical church wants to run its men away, it simply should continue to employ songs which make men feel that they must leave their manhood at home when they go to worship. One beauty of many old hymns is that musically they are written for men and women in parts that encourage heartfelt and unabashed singing. A perfect example is "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" when sung to the DIADEM tune because the refrain has the wonderful men's part.

The evangelical church, particularly in America, needs to educate itself on the old ways of worship: worship music that has a high opinion of God, both lyrically and musically. To do less it to betray the Reformers who lived and died to pass along the Reformed faith.