Isaiah 51:7-8 and Van Til

A while ago I found a quote that I really liked, "But now, having seen Him which is invisible, I fear not what man can do unto me." by Anne Hutchinson. Recently (while listening to lectures by Curt Daniel) I discovered that Anne Hutchinson was actually a mystic weirdo which was sort of disappointing to me. However, over the past few months I have really become excited about presuppositional apologetics which was sort of pioneered by Cornelius Van Til. He was pretty solid theology wise (although was a surpralapsarian - which wont mean anything to those of you non-Calvinists). Anyway, I won't turn this into an apologetics lesson - even though I'd like to (although if you're interested, look up "Greg Bahnsen Defending the Christian Faith" on youtube) - I found this quote by Van Til "I am not a hero, but in Christ I am not afraid of what man may do to me"; which is equally cool.

Of course a quote that is unscriptural is pretty meaningless but I think Isaiah 51:7-8 teaches this sort of an idea, it says "Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations."

If you do not consider the thought that "blessed are [we] when men insult [us] and persecute [us] and falsely say all kinds of evil against [us] because of [Christ]... for [our] reward is in heaven..." (Matthew 5:11-12) to be glorious, then you have a big problem. It is said that John Wesley was riding on horseback and reading his Bible when he suddenly realised he had not been persecuted for several weeks. He stopped the horse got on his knees and asked God if his message and life has become so irrelevant that he now receives no persecution. While he was praying a farmer saw him and picked up a brick and threw it at him just missing his nose. John Wesley praised God for the confirmation that he had not grown irrelevant and he got back on his horse and continued his journey. Mark 13:13 says "You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." and 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted". Moreover, consider verse 8, we need not be concerned by the strength that our enemy appears to posses, the righteousness God imputes to us "will be forever".

The text on this image truly inspires me to face persecution without fear or unease but with boldness to "be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might" knowing that "If God is for us, who is against us?"


The image dimensions are 1280x1024 and the font used for the verse reference and the quote text is "Tolkien" and the font for the verse text and "- Cornelius Van Til" is "Papyrus". And yes, the face is that of Van Til.