Reading Journal - Entry #2
Standing on the Promises, Perelandra, and The Trial and Death of Socrates
Welcome back to Notes from the Fray! I have been working through two different books this week and will get to them in just a moment. First, I wanted to summarize my main takeaways from Douglas Wilson’s, Standing on the Promises.
Standing on the Promises: Takeaways
Three concepts stuck with me by the time I’d finished this book: the command of Scripture for me to take responsibility for my children; that, in taking responsibility, there are promises in Scripture to which I can cling in faith; and the emphasis that should be placed on Scripture as the rule in our home. Of course, this post is not long enough to delve deeply into each point but they’re worth expanding a little.
Scripture is clear that I am responsible to bring my children up in the discipline of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Wilson shows in this book that the Old Testament commands to parents are connected to the New Testament commands to parents. March’s full post will be on responsibility in the family so there will be more on this then.
The book also clearly argues that there are many promises for parents in Scripture regarding their children. Wilson makes a good argument that the general created order, established by God, is that parents who are faithful to raise their children in the way Scripture prescribes will see the fruit of that effort; namely, children who follow Him. Obviously, there are exceptions. However, as I’ve heard many times and believe is true, we like to take the exception and make it the rule, which is what I’ve seen and heard in this case, too. Scripture is clear that the rule God has established is that children who are raised in Biblical, godly homes will grow up to serve Him (Proverbs 22:6; 1 Timothy 3:4, 5; Titus 1:6).
Finally, it should be abundantly clear to everyone in the home that Scripture is the final rule and authority. When discipline is necessary, the emphasis is on the transgression of the rule of Scripture and disobedience to God. Obedience to parents is based on their authority over their children, which is founded on Scripture. Wilson draws the helpful distinction between what he calls “house rules” and the moral rules in Scripture, and he recommends that this distinction be made clear to children, as well. A key part of this point that I’ve heard from Wilson before but struck me with new force is that this kind of home culture, where Scripture is the rule, teaches children that the point of discipline is conformity to Scripture. This conformity applies to everyone in the home, parents included. Under this culture, I can apologize to my child and still maintain clear authority because we are all submitting to God’s word; my child by obeying me and I by repenting of sin and using my God-given authority in the home for their benefit.
Now, to the current books.
Perelandra
For my physical book, I’m reading the sequel to Out of the Silent Planet. I mentioned that book last week as the first in C.S. Lewis’s science fiction trilogy. Jen gave the trilogy to me for Christmas, so I’ve been working my way through each novel. I’m about halfway through it and am just getting to what I remember to be the main plot.
So far, it has been thought-provoking. The premise of the story is to imagine what it would be like if there were another planet where the fall hadn’t happened yet, and what would happen if there were a similar time of temptation for the rational creatures God placed on that planet.
Through the dialogue, up to the point to which I’ve read, Lewis explains more of his philosophy, this time focusing on sin and its effects on our thinking and desires. He has also given excellent examples of how smooth and rational temptations can be, which has reminded me not to underestimate the lengths to which my flesh will go to convince me sin is justifiable. I’ve enjoyed it so far and am interested to see how accurately I’ve remembered the rest of the book.
The Trial and Death of Socrates
Finally, the audiobook to which I’ve been listening on my commute has been The Trial and Death of Socrates: Apology and Phaedo. I don’t normally like to listen to this kind of book because so much of it I need to read over again to understand it. However, my available time for reading is such that I often have to choose between getting any kind of reading of the classics completed or waiting until the someday in which I’ll be able to sit down and study a book. My strategy has been to listen to the classics I can, with the intent of reading them later. So far, it has proven useful. By listening to the book, I get a general knowledge and overview of its ideas or story, enough that I can pick up on allusions in other works. Also, when I go back to read it, I reap two benefits: a better remembrance of the content of the book and a better understanding of the book’s ideas.
To the point, I did not process as much of this book as I’d have liked. However, I do remember the general points and believe I’ll be better able to come back to this work later with more understanding. The primary thing that has stood out to me in this reading is the Socratic method of reasoning and teaching. I’ve heard from several sources that it is an excellent way to teach certain subjects and I’m thinking through ways I may be able to apply it to teaching when the Lord provides a teaching opportunity.
That’s all I have for this week! This post ended up being longer than I generally intend these posts to be but I believed it worthwhile to share my thoughts on the Wilson book.
As always, thank you for reading! Currently, my plan is for the long-form post to be released on the first Monday of March. If you know anyone you think might enjoy the newsletter, please share it with them! Also, feel free to leave a comment below to start a discussion.