Nathan White
@NWhite_GA
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Pastor of Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Lookout Mountain, TN, #Chattanooga Covenant College, Westminster Seminary California, and IRBS alum.
Lookout Mountain, TN
Joined March 2009
"Pray and let God worry" said Luther. Why? Because "I've held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I've placed in God's hands, that I still possess.".
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Without being overly simplistic, the Equality Act and the Transgender lunacy we're seeing right now is the direct result of our culture's adoption of Critical Theory and Intersectionality. Why then do some Christians argue that such things aren't a threat to the gospel?.
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I don't know how people stay Christian without regular, faithful, engaged Lord's Day worship each week. Inconsistent attendance is deadly to the soul. And I say this because of what I see within my own heart & life. Corporate worship is food for the soul, within which we starve.
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Yeah, what I saw of the halftime show was nostalgic…. …nostalgic of a time when I was foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice & envy, hated by others & hating one another, loving music that fueled my lusts. But God. .
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I get why some Christians don’t like Trump and won’t vote for him. What I don’t get is why some Christians so intensely hate him given how compatible some of his policies and accomplishments are with the Christian worldview (particularly in comparison to any other candidate.).
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Think of what the American church would look like in the next 30-50 years if we all followed John MacArthur’s example and dedicated our lives to preaching the gospel rather than constantly moving on to bigger and better things. What an example he’s set for us!.
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It's odd that the strongest advocates of patriarchy are often the most anti-government as well. The same command to be 'submissive' is given in both contexts. Why does 'submit' mean the absolute obedience of the wife in the home, but optional obedience to governing authorities?.
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As a pastor, I have to constantly fight the temptation to think that my opinion on indifferent matters is more important than other people’s, and to remember that the pulpit is never the place to speak on such things. A pastor’s voice of authority is limited to scripture alone.
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Christian Nationalism is like socialism: every time it’s been tried it’s ended in disaster, but THIS time it’ll be different!.
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I wonder what our churches would look like if we got rid of programs entirely, and put all our effort into the ministry of the word (public and private) and sacrament. (Hint: they'd be a whole lot smaller, and a whole lot poorer, yet a whole lot stronger).
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May I humbly suggest that the Reformed Confessions and Catechisms essentially address every current issue rocking our world today? Instead of recommending that next book on current events, how about taking people through a careful study of these historic & foundational truths?.
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The Mark Driscoll situation shows us again that unrepentant people will always adapt their theology to fit their sinful lifestyle.
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Biblicism, Theonomy, Legalism = 3 things that sound so right, feel so right, and seem so sincere and pious as exactly what this world needs, but in truth they are an absolute cancer to biblical Christianity.
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We must uphold what scripture teaches about male headship in the home & church, which is a part of the church's distinct witness in our culture. But I wish we'd do a better job of emphasizing the other-worldly nature of that headship as sacrificial, self-giving, servant-oriented.
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Even if you despise Trump, never voted for him, want him silenced and want him gone; if you agree with him on policy (particularly abortion and freedom of religion), it’s only a matter of time until they treat you the same way, and worse.
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Without a doubt: John Owen. I would’ve never made it through a Presbyterian college and seminary had he not laid waste to the Covenant Theology of the Westminster Confession in his Hebrews commentary.
Men, what’s keeping you from becoming Presbyterian?.
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John Calvin on Baptism (Institutes Book IV): baptism serves as our profession of faith before men; John the Baptist & the Apostles performed the same baptism; the Greek word 'baptize' means 'to immerse', and it’s “certain” that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.
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Post-millinialism and dispensationslism ultimately have the same problem: they take OT passages as literal that are intended to to be typological, and they fail to let the NT have priority over the Old.
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So many talk these days about how clear it is that America is 'under God's judgment'. Perhaps. But instead, it could be a sign that God is saving us from ourselves, that He hasn't forgotten us, and that He's in the midst of purifying, strengthening, and blessing His church.
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One thing that really shocked me when I first entered pastoral ministry was just how little free time pastors have. Even more shocking was learning that, even during that limited 'time off', the cares and concerns of the flock continue to weigh heavy on a pastor's mind & heart.
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One reason I'm a baptist is because baptism is a sermon on, and a recapitulation of the gospel. Credo-baptism preaches to the world that entrance into Christ's kingdom & favor comes by faith alone, wrought by the Holy Spirit, rather than from cultural or genealogical descent.
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In my experience, never criticize biblicism, pietism, or John Piper --unless you really want to get people going.
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Just a reminder in case you're distracted or uninformed: the current debate over Aquinas/Natural Law isn't really about him or slippery-slopes to Roman Catholicism. Rather, it's about Confessionalism: those who uphold the Reformed Confessions vs. those who want to re-define them.
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Saw an SBC pastor friend on FB teaching and preparing his church for "virtual communion" this Sunday, the Lord's Supper over livestream. It broke my heart, and made me a little angry too.
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In honor of the Shepherds Conference, here I am with John MacArthur, 20 years ago. I’d been recently converted, and I wanted a picture with him because his study bible really helped me understand scripture. My first desire for the ministry began at that conference.
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Worship yesterday, as we finally gathered after 6 weeks of quarantine, wasn’t anything mind blowing or life changing. But it was a day I’ll never forget. The simple, ordinary means of grace in the assembled congregation are precious beyond measure.
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A few thoughts on John Piper’s son:. -PKs are like any other children, except in one way: they’re Satan’s target. -We can’t guarantee or force our children into the kingdom. New birth is always a miracle. -A pastor’s family needs the fervent prayers of his church. 1/4.
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Tonight my church gathered to watch the film, “American Gospel.” It was excellent, and provoked some great discussion. But at one point when Dr. @RScottClark was speaking, a young women leaned over and whispered to me, “he’s scary.” I replied, “imagine taking his exams.” 😂😂.
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Even a simple reading of the Psalms clearly demonstrates that not all fear, anxiety, worry, and depression is a sin. Christians need to be careful not to give people that impression.
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Bunyan says that the Pastor must remember that “his gifts are not his own, but the church’s, and that by them he is made a servant of the church.” Beautiful.
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Paul Washer at the Shepherd’s Conference: “The Reformers didn’t want to be Reformers; they just wanted to be biblical!” . Yes, and what they saw as biblical was formulating what the Bible says into clear, extensive, & detailed Confessions of Faith, alongside the historic church.
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I think that a lot of the #reformed and Christian battles on Twitter are, most of the time, very important issues facing the church, which need to be addressed. I do not think that Twitter is the best or proper place to do so, generally speaking.
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I don’t think many people realize that pastors work 6 days a week and are on call 24/7/365, in addition to the other physical and spiritual rigors of ministry. Properly preparing men for ministry should entail giving them a realistic picture of what to expect.
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A commitment to expository preaching means that many sermons will be seen as ordinary or even boring by some. Few preachers can hit a home run from every passage. So it's easy to see why topical preaching is so popular and attractive. Yet, expository preaching is how people grow.
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Black lives do matter. Police brutality is a real thing. There are real disadvantages for black/minority/poor communities that we can do more about. But police brutality is color-blind, capitalism and privilege is not racism, and all this turmoil has been stirred up by the media.
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I’ve been asked to fill the pulpit tomorrow and preach at a local OPC church while their pastor is on vacation. I’m honored and encouraged by this show of catholicity. We need more of this in confessional circles.
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Mask mandates are the equivalent of TSA pulling grandma aside for “additional screening”. Their efforts don’t accomplish anything —they only annoy and inconvenience. But the theater act makes people feel like they’re safe. And apparently that’s what is important now days.
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I view faithful pastoral ministry not as reading the next book, studying our favorite theological topic, or weighing in on the latest evangelical controversy. Rather, it's simply the ordinary, faithful study of the next passage/text to teach, preach, and apply to Christ's people.
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I’ve never understood why this argument is made, as it only makes sense if you presuppose their position. For, whether or not children were included, what it means to be included, & the relation between the old & new covenants are the very matters of dispute. Begging the question
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A new fundamentalism is on the rise and I don’t really see it as a good thing. 100 years ago a generation of fundamentalists arose in response to the rise of naturalism, Protestant liberalism, etc. Now the same knee-jerk reaction is happening in response to CRT, BLM, SJW, etc.
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Yeah I'm concerned about the woke/CRT/cultural threat to the church these days. But I'm equally if not more concerned about the current theological debates concerning the doctrine of God, natural law, and hermeneutics. These are perhaps an even greater threat to the church.
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I have a joke about infant baptism, and I’m going to give it to you whether you like it or not.
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I have an idea: in order to finally abolish what we all hate, we need to band together and refuse to give a 5-star rating to any book with end-notes. No exceptions. Are you with me??.
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My disagreements with Dispensationalism are not so much because of their views on the end times and a future for ethnic Israel. Rather, it's their hermeneutic: heavy biblicism, inconsistencies with Biblical Theology, and failure to follow apostolic methods of interpretation.
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Josh Harris lashing out because his sinful lifestyle isn’t accepted in Christian circles is as old as the New Testament. Nothing offends natural man like a holy God. Apostasy always boils down to morals —without exception.
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Every. Single. Time. I study the doctrine of God, a) I’m humbled by how much I don’t know about Him, and b) I’m astounded about how relevant/practical/far-reaching the implications are.
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FALSE GUILT: the church is not responsible for the sins of the culture, neither is it our responsibility to fix them. And yet, at the same time, neither is it OK to be indifferent about them. But our fight is a spiritual battle with spiritual weaponry.
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Never understood why folks get angry that the 1689 London Baptist Confession states that the Pope of Rome is “that antichrist”, but don’t seem to care that Rome at Trent pronounces a long list of Anathamas upon all those who hold to basically any Protestant reformed doctrine.
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I wish it was still the norm to bury departed saints on church grounds. It makes church membership, the reality of sin, and the hope of the gospel all the more real and striking. And what an enduring testimony to future generations as well. Now, so often, the dead are forgotten.
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If regeneration comes through infused righteousness, as if it’s an “instrument of imputed righteousness,” from which follows repentance, faith, & justification, then it cannot be true that “God justifies the ungodly.” For with the infusion of righteousness we wouldn’t be ungodly.
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A major reason we believe in Confessionalism is so we don't have to fight and die on every hill every time someone comes up and says, "but the bible says this!".
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It’s far easier to stand on a street corner and scream at unbelievers to repent, and to travel around the world evangelizing, than it is to love your spouse, family, and church day after day after day, in good times & bad, faithfully & persistently until the Lord calls you home.
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What we've longed for, labored for, and prayed for over the past 2+ years is becoming a reality. God is good.
One month from today will be a historic day in our brief history. CRBC will become official - no longer a church plant, but a church planted, by the grace of God. Join us for a special day of worship and celebration of God's goodness!
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-His story isn’t finished. He’s wavered & returned before. We must be ready to welcome repentance. -This is evidence that the battle is fierce, Satan plays dirty and for keeps. Deconstruction from false religions are not a thing. -Let God be true though every man a liar. 4/4.
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The Pharisees were the first biblicists: they missed what's intended by the commandments like 'thou shalt not kill', they rejected John the Baptist because he wasn't literally Elijah, they failed to see that the Messiah was both David's son and his Lord, etc. Don't be like them.
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This might be a good time to remind folks that: even John Calvin argued that baptism serves as one's profession of faith before men; credo-baptism appears in scripture, was the dominant practice of the early church, and has always been around for professing adults.
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Advice I’ve received from several older, experienced pastors: I regret not being more gentle with the wayward in my church when I was a younger pastor. I’ve regretted times that I’ve been too hard on some, but have never regretted being too gentle and patient.
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This is why the first century Jews rejected Jesus. His life, and death, and resurrection, and session (Messianic rule) didn’t fit their literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies.
I believe David is David. Golaith is Golaith. Israelites are Israelites and Philistines, Philistines. The narrative was the public affirmation of David as God's rightful king of Israel. The whole "finding Jesus" in every OT text hermeneutic is the bane of modern evangelicalism.
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Saying that a church is incomplete or unfaithful because they lack ethnic diversity is over-realized eschatology. We ought to desire ethnic diversity. We ought to repent if we prohibit such diversity. But Christ builds His church. And ultimate diversity awaits the eternal age.
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Just finished taking the ladies in my church through Machen’s “Christianity and Liberalism.” It’s a classic, a must-read, and just as relevant as ever.
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Moscow and their Psalm-singing. GCC and MacArthur. Capitol Hill Baptist and their lawsuit. And all I see on Twitter is polarization, tribalism, and demonization among Christians toward the other side. 2020 has ruined Twitter.
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Christians who quietly & regularly love/do good/pray for our enemies, forgive those who sin against us, practice radical generosity, and faithfully evangelize, do more than all the voting, political action, virtue signaling, and marching down the street carrying a sign, combined.
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I'm baffled by how so many pastors claim that we've all been guilty or complacent regarding racism. It's just abuse of the office to speak in such broad terms. Are we all also guilty of abortion and homosexuality? Those are pretty systematic too.
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Believers should not be shaken or surprised by #exvangelicals and those who #deconstruct from the faith. For the scriptures repeatedly warn of this reality, even detailing the greed and sexual immorality that characterizes them. Acts 20:29; Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc., etc.
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What is it that grounded me, gave me clear, theological answers, and changed the entire trajectory of my Christian life? When I discovered the Reformed Confessions and embraced them as a doctrinal guide rather than the nuances and fads of men and personalities. 2/2.
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It's disturbing to watch Christians who speak with great caution & nuance about abortion in how there is no one solution, even supporting the voting for pro-abortion Democrats. but who now speak definitively & objectively about gun violence claiming the truth is on their side.
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We often speak of God’s attributes as if they were ‘properties’ or qualities added to God’s essence, when in fact they are just the essence itself diversely represented. - Turretin.
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@ParticularKiff @RScottClark When I was in dispensational circles, they used to tell me the exact same thing. This is why the argument for physical land is essentially the same for the argument for a physical seed. My reasons for not being Dispy are essentially the same reasons I'm not a paedobaptist.
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The NT requirement for baptism does not change based upon age or their relationship to family or church. This creates two doctrines of baptism, signifying two different things. Rather, the NT requirement for baptism is one in the same for all: a credible profession of faith.
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I wonder if the Apostle Paul, who wrote so much on Jew-Gentile relations in the church, lacked the proper credibility to speak on such issues since he was such a privileged Jew, instead of one who experienced the disadvantaged plight of the gentiles. 🤔.
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Today my wife and I celebrate 15 wonderful years of marriage. God's word has proved true: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD."
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Twitter has been wild these last few weeks. I’ve discovered that I’m not a Christian if I: allow my wife to wear yoga pants, believe that Tim Keller is with the Lord, enjoy playing video games with my children, continue to shop at Target… what’s next?.
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Here's a pro-tip for those with theological aspirations: unless someone important (like your pastor or professor) is consistently urging you to start a blog or a podcast, pursue a Ph.D, plant a church, street-preach, or pursue ministry. the better and wiser play is to hold off.
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Tonight I’m meeting with 8 men in my church to discuss part 1 of The Marrow of Modern Divinity. Specific topics:. 1. Legalism and Antinomianism .2. Law-Gospel distinction.3. Justification vs Sanctification.4. Covenant Theology: how similar Marrow is to Baptist CT. Anything else?.
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If Ezekiel’s temple is a physical, earthly temple in a future millennial age, then Christ as the temple with the living water flowing from His riven side is really just a type pointing to that antitype. One of the tragic consequences of dispensationalism.
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For decades the church has eschewed weekly observance of the Supper, responsive readings, and corporate prayers in worship. And we wonder why so many speak of 'worship' as simply the singing? Perhaps this is because it's the only portion of the service where they're fully engaged.
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There's a vocal contingent in my church who believe the 1689 LBCF is exactly right in stating that the Pope of Rome is "that AntiChrist" . and I couldn't be happier.
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G3 Conference - come say hello to me and Dr Renihan at the IRBS Theological Seminary booth.
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If your view of gender roles/norms, human sexuality, or racism are not informed and guided by the 2,000 years of church history on these subjects, then it's undoubtedly deficient. It's frightening to see how many believe that we're the first generation to get these things right.
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Big news for us, in what has been a very difficult decision. But I've longed for this day for quite some time.
One of the blessings of having a large building is that we have enough space to spread out and observe social distancing guidelines. Given this, we're resuming Sunday Worship services this Sunday, May 3rd --though we will continue to live-stream the sermons on our Facebook page.
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When I was stuck on the strict literal-grammatical-historical interpretation train, one thing that always bothered me was that almost nobody in Church history knew how to rightly interpret scripture until the modern age.
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BTW - Once, during a Q&A with Steve Lawson on Ps. 1, I suggested that Christ was the Blessed Man here as He both modeled this obedience and suffered the cutting off of the unrighteous, and Lawson openly mocked me. Don't force Christ where He isn't, Lawson said. ☹️.
Thread on Psalm 1: A) The blessed man is first described negatively as *never* walking, standing, sitting in unrighteousness, implying every time without exception. Positively, the delights of his heart (Deut. 6:5) are in God and His revelation, by which his entire life is lived.
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Consider all the sin going on in 1st Corinthians: Divisions; Sexual immorality; Abuse of the Lord's Supper/spiritual gifts, etc. Yet Paul doesn't open with threats about the final judgment. Rather he says that God "will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord.".
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Can you believe it? Something so simple, ordinary, boring, plain, and routine in the eyes of the world, but the Triune God has bound Himself by promise to descend & meet with His people tomorrow, through the pouring out of the Spirit and the giving of Christ in Word & Sacrament.
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Contrary to the @CTmagazine article, you know the best thing you can do for your Christian ‘witness’ here? Not wearing your political convictions on your sleeve so you don’t put an unnecessary roadblock in front of loving or winning over your neighbor to Christ.
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“When the Apostle Paul calls for order rather than disorder or frenzy in the worship of the church, he’s not quenching the Spirit, but seeking what the Spirit alone can give.” Ed Clowney.
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Far too many Christians laugh off the so-called 'worship wars' as petty disputes over style, traditional vs. contemporary, seen as much ado about nothing. But there's no doubt that corporate worship shapes our understanding about God & the Christian life more than anything else.
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Dr. @tomascol teaching on biblical worship at the General Assembly of the Georgia Association of Confessional Baptists. Excellent!
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👇🏻😍 - Amazing.
Here are some pictures of our new ceiling work - it's beautiful! Come see it! We thank God for all of those who contributed to our building fundraiser, which made this a reality.
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Samuel Rutherford said that just as we cook soup in a big pot but serve it in little bowls, preachers should study with human scholarship but preach with utter simplicity. Excellent advice. Though we certainly see an emphasis on the latter today, to the neglect of the former.
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Social Justice: “We have long been endeavoring to reform the nation by moral preaching. With what effect? None. We must change our voice. We must preach ‘Christ & Him crucified.’ Nothing but the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” -G. Lavington, recounted by John Newton.
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I’m thankful for technology and the ability to open up God’s Word to the people in my church. And I’m thankful for the encouragement I’ve received from so many today. But man, no question, today was pretty miserable compared to a normal Lord’s Day.
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“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting”- John 18:36.
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Pastors telling their people point blank "be anxious for nothing" in relation to Covid-19 borders on pastoral abuse. What a way to produce false guilt and suppress natural instincts under the threat of Law, rather than letting those feelings come out to be treated by the gospel.
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