The Inaugural Post

“So, why title this blog ‘Footnotes’?”

Iain Murray wrote of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “[He] used to advise us not to quote others unless we were sure we could not say it so well ourselves” (John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology, ed. Burk Parsons, Reformation Trust, Orlando, pg. xvi).

“OK. . .  Again, why title this blog ‘Footnotes’?”

The “unofficial theme passage” for this blog is Ecclesiastes 1 – especially verses 13, 14, and 17.  In the North American context it seems as if every thing possible has been written or said about the Christian faith, all I can really add to the conversation are footnotes and quotations. 

“That’s all well and good, but if nearly everything seems to have been written or said about the Christian faith, why say or write anything more at all?”

With respect to conversation in general, it is the disinterested, non-concerned, and un-invested person who passively takes in conversation like an idle bump on a log.  The disinterested person carelessly takes in chatter in order to ward off silence or boredom.  To this person there is almost no difference between watching a b-rate cable documentary on the history of sand and conversing with another living breathing human being.  But, I am not a disinterested, non-concerned, careless, un-invested person – especially when it comes to the Christian faith.  I am interested in the Christian faith; I am concerned about the Christian faith; I care deeply about the Christian faith; and, because of the sovereign saving grace of God, I am totally invested in the Christian faith.  Therefore, I am compelled to engage in the greater “conversation” of the Christian faith.

In Philippians 4:8, Paul writes, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV).  Notice that Paul gives this exhortation in a letter that is famous for its call to joy and rejoicing.  Those people who’s lives are marked by a joy that is active and worshipful are most likely those who’s thought-life is best described by Philippians 4:8.  And, conversely, those who's thought-life is best described by Philippians 4:8 are most likely those who’s lives are marked by a joy that is active and worshipful.  

We Christians in North America are truly blessed with an abundance of resources such as books, journals, magazines, videos, mp3’s, conferences and more (sure there is a lot of errant and unhealthy material out there, but there is a lot of truly good stuff out there as well).  When I “think on these things”, I am moved to be so much more than a passive consumer: I am moved to worship.  I want to celebrate the good things God has blessed us with – in particular good books, teaching, articles and the like.  And, as it has been said, worship is not complete until it is expressed.  So, this blog is an opportunity for me to give expression to the worship that takes place in my times of personal study, reflection, meditation, and devotions.  This is my opportunity to engage the broader Christian conversation with a footnote here and there.

My practical encouragement/exhortation/application: don’t just consume a lot of “Christian stuff”; be engaged and do so with an eye to worship.  When you read good Christian material, when you converse about the Christian faith, do so with an awareness that your reading and conversing is an opportunity to worship.