Webster’s 1828: Superstition

I am reading through John Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, and I ran across what I thought was an odd usage of the word superstition. I looked it up in the 1828 edition of Webster’s dictionary, and I was very fascinated by the primary definition listed there:

SUPERSTI’TION, n. [L. superstitio, supersto; super and sto, to stand.]

1. Excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; excess or extravagance in religion; the doing of things not required by God, or abstaining from things not forbidden; or the belief of what is absurd, or belief without evidence.

In other words, what we would today term legalism.

Random Thoughts – 9/26/2006

I’ve not been very good about posting lately to my blog, and I’ve been even more lax about having a Random Thoughts posting. So, without further ado…

Election Debate (No, Not for November…)

At this year’s Pastor’s Conference for the Southern Baptist Conference, there was a (friendly) debate on election between Albert Mohler and Paige Patterson. The audio is finally available online. Also, Justin Taylor’s newly redesigned site has a post on a survey done on Calvinism in the SBC.

Lordship Salvation

Pulpit Magazine has started a series on Lordship salvation vs. No-Lordship (a/k/a “Free Grace” or easy-believism) salvation. This was the issue that John MacArthur addressed in The Gospel According to Jesus. The series begins with an intro to the concept of Lordship salvation, and has been followed up by a passage from Zane Hodges, who is a big advocate of the no-Lordship side. The short version:

To put it simply, the gospel call to faith presupposes that sinners must repent of their sin and yield to Christ’s authority. This, in a nutshell, is what is commonly referred to as lordship salvation.

Speaking of the Lordship of Christ…

Phil Johnson has posted a very personal and very moving account of his personal testimony, subtitled “How I Got Drawn into the Lordship Debate.”

Grace To You Coming to TV

Speaking of John MacArthur, I just visited the Grace To You website, and they are announcing that Grace To You will be coming to television starting this Sunday, on DirecTV.

John Chrysostom on Gender Roles

On the Together for the Gospel blog, Ligon Duncan (also Chairman of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood) posts a great passage from John Chrysostom, who lived in the 4th/5th century.

Is Scripture Clear?

SharperIron has a discussion of the perspicuity of scripture, including (clear) scriptural references, and a summary of Luther’s arguments on the subject.

Free Stuff is Always Good

If you use Libronix, Logos, “eBible”, etc. (it’s all the same), then Justin Taylor has some links for you – free John Owen (and Jonathan Edwards) content. (I haven’t downloaded them yet, myself, but I will be!) He also has a collection of links on using the Puritans in your own Bible study. (And if Justin isn’t on your blogroll, let me just say “SHAME!”)

And Last But Definitely Not Least…

One of the best things I’ve read in a while is this discussion from Tim Challies on prayer. Moving, convicting, encouraging, inspiring. Thank you, Tim!

Matthew Henry on Ministering Questions

There is a tendency in the church today to question everything, even the very foundations of our faith – the deity and lordship of Christ, the sovereignty of God, the inerrance of the scriptures.

But these things are indeed nothing new under the sun. Phil Johnson at Pyromaniacs regularly posts selections from Charles Spurgeon about how he, too, fought the same fights against the encroachment of the liberal theologies of his day. Spurgeon understood his place as a minister of the word enough to know that he could not question or reformulate those basics, as shown in today’s dose of Spurgeon:

The old truth that Calvin preached, that Chrysostom preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be a liar to my conscience and my God. I can not shape the truth.

Spurgeon wrote those words in 1858, but they still apply to the church today. I was reminded of the timelessness of these ideas this evening, while reading Matthew Henry’s commentary on 1 Timothy, from the early 1700′s:

As among the Jews there were some who brought Judaism into Christianity; so among the Gentiles there were some who brought paganism into Christianity. ‘Take heed of these,’ says he, ‘watch against them, or they will be the corrupting and ruining of religion among you, for they minister questions rather than edifying.’ That which ministers questions is not for edifying; that which gives occasion for doubtful disputes pulls down the church rather than builds it up.

Do not minister questions. Do not shape the truth. Preach the truth of the gospel, in season and out of season.