Back for the 7th Time

This week I am at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT attending the Jonathan Edwards Center’s 7^th annual summer course on Edwards. The focus this year is on Edwards and missions.

There are a couple of reasons for me to bring this up.

First, as you may have already guessed, I will probably not be posting as often as usual this week as I will be focused on doing the reading required for this course (several hundred pages). I will also be working on my PhD thesis (which is also on Edwards) while I am here. Yale has one of the best theological libraries on the continent and is home to 90% of Edwards’ written corpus, not to mention my academic advisors are here. One must take full advantage of such opportunities! =)

Second, to answer that question “is a dead guy from the 18^th century really worth all that time and effort?” Of course, my answer is a resounding “Yes!” Few people in the history of the Church have his caliber of mind and thought and his depth of heart and affection. Do you long to explore the deep things of God? Edwards is your man. Do you long to have your heart sing with love and joy and awe at the beauty and excellency of God and Christ? Edwards is your man. He not only strove to know Christ, he strove to live for God through Christ. Was he perfect, no (who is?), but he is in many ways a great example to follow. He was greatly respected among his peers, so much so that he was practically bullied into accepting the call to be the 3^rd president of Princeton University. He gained a worldwide reputation as a pastor, theologian, and revivalist. He was passionate about missions and worked for seven years as a pastor to the Mohican Indians in Stockbridge. And in addition to all this, he was a faithful and loving husband to his wife Sarah and affectionate father to his eleven children! That is someone worth reading about.

George Marsden’s biography, Jonathan Edwards: A Life is a great introduction to him and his thought. I highly recommend it to you. It is a great biography, let alone a great biography of Edwards.

Remember, you will be the same person you are today five years from now except for 2 things: the people you meet and the books you read. (And considering who I am now, I better get reading!)