Richard Sibbes on the ‘Weak and Small Beginnings of Grace’ (Part III)
by Deek Dubberly on April 29, 2010
in Biblelife, Book, theology
I’m reading my way through Richard Sibbe’s, The Bruised Reed, as a part of Tim Challies’ online book discussion dubbed, “Reading Classics Together.” Here are a few thoughts I posted related to week 1’s reading and week 2’s. Below are my musings for this week’s reading. This week’s reading of chapters 4 and 5 center upon God’s patience with us and our consequent patience with others. Chapter 4Sibbes’ refers to the young, immature believer as “a smoking flax.” He gives example after example of how Christ will not quench the small amount of burning that creates the smoke in the life a Christian, however weak, because of his mercy and care for those whom he has lit on fire. In turn, the ’stronger’ Christians should neither hinder nor snuff out the burnings of weaker Christians. Christ’s forbearance and inexhaustible patience with his redeemed is the example to all believers of how to deal with other Christians. Sibbes sets the mark high for Christians working with one another to maintain unity and fellowship. He writes:
Chapter 5In the fifth chapter Sibbes directly addresses the subject of legalism among professing Christians. He points out that some endeavor to,
This is legalism in the most classic sense. In response Sibbes writes that,
This was my favorite sentence of the book so far—the loveliness and power of unadorned truth. What a thought! There is so much application there for how we as Christians share God’s truth with every relationship in our lives. Our attempts to contextualize the gospel may in fact be robbing it of its beauty and strength. So be careful. Don’t get me wrong, contextualization is good and necessary and biblical, but I fear its a word and idea that is often hid behind for fear of confronting secular culture with the truth of God’s Word. I believe Sibbes had that sort of fear in mind as he wrote these words. Sibbes’ expends the rest of chapter 5 discussing various ways for stronger Christians to bear with weaker Christians. It is very helpful and encouraging reading. God has used it to breed patience and mercy in my life in very tangible ways this week in a number of different relationships. For that I am grateful. Thanks and An InvitationA special note of thanks to Becky, Kevin, and Lisa who stopped by last week and left me a comment saying they were reading along. I encourage you to click through the links in their names to check out their thoughts on this week’s reading. Anyone else who’s found my site and is participating in Challies’ “Reading Classics Together” please let me know you’re out there. |
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Thanks for doing this. I read the quote you had today and it was encouraging . . the part that it would be a good contest . . . I look forward to meeting you at some point in person!
I am finishing up a manuscript with Moody in the next month. I would appreciate your prayers.
That same quote has helped me as well. Sibbes is the man!
I’m praying for your manuscript work. May God’s truth shine in and through your words in the most compelling and accessible way possible.
I’m reading this book too and found your page through Challies website. I appreciated your thoughts today. Like you, I think Sibbs had a great point when he spoke of, “the loveliness and power of unadorned truth.” If only we would treat God’s Word as the powerful truth that it is! Thank you for posting your comments on these chapters.
Hey Aubrey. I appreciate you stopping by and letting me know you’re reading along. I clicked through to your site. The artwork there is beautiful. Keep up the great work!
Oh boy, I really messed up here. I typed in the wrong website in my last comment. So sorry! It should have been hummingbirdcreek.wordpress.com. That’ll teach me to comment on things as I’m running out the door. Although that other website appears to have lovely artwork, I can take no credit for that at all. Sorry for the mix-up.
Haha! Too funny, Audrey. I clicked through to your real site and left a comment. I couldn’t have summarized this week’s reading better myself.
I’m so glad you pointed this out:
“the loveliness and power of unadorned truth” because I probably skimmed right over it in my reading. That is one of the beauties of reading “together”–we learn from each other. I appreciate hearing your thoughts.
How lovely that you’ve already been more patient and merciful because of your reading! May the Spirit continue to move all of us to such action.
Hello again, Lisa. Appreciate you stopping by again this week. Its a pleasure reading along with you. God bless.
Deek,
Appreciate the comments and the quotes (lots of really good ones in these two chapters). I found this one helpful as a pastor:
“We must neither bind where God looses, nor loose where God binds, neither open where God shuts, nor shut where God opens. The right use of keys is always successful.” (page 28)
Blessings as you serve Him and as we continue our reading together.
Thanks, Kevin. And yes, there were a lot of great quotes in this week’s reading.
Deek,
I am coming back from a trip, and I wanted to read what you all had to say on these chapters!
That phrase about the contest, isn’t incredible how he says that we must: “labour to…”
Being Christians has to do with labouring…
May His grace abound in us as we labour in our sanctification this week.