Joel Beeke: Difference between revisions

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According to Beeke, when he was nine years old, he first sensed the presence of God when he felt the powerful comfort of God answering one of his prayers.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 8:01–8:22.</ref> From that time, Beeke began reading books authored by the Puritans that he found in his father’s bookcase, beginning with [[John Bunyan|John Bunyan's]] ''Life and Death of Mr. Badman''. Instead of playing sports with his brothers after school as he was accustomed, Beeke read extensively over the next six months.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 8:23–9:52.</ref> Although he felt conviction for sin at this time, Beeke’s initial interest in theology and spirituality began to wane.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 9:53–10:16.</ref>

In 1967, when Beeke was about fourteen years old, he defended the existence of God before an atheist teacher at Milwood Junior High School in Kalamazoo, but he became troubled that he had no personal relationship with the God whose existence he defended.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 10:58–13:32.</ref> That summer, he joined his brother and his brother’s friend on a road trip to the [[western United States]], hoping to experience a sense of God’s presence by admiring nature.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 13:35–16:01.</ref>

In 1967, when Beeke was about fourteen years old, he defended the existence of God before an atheist teacher at Milwood Junior High School in [[wikipedia:Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]], but he became troubled that he had no personal relationship with the God whose existence he defended.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 10:58–13:32.</ref> That summer, he joined his brother and his brother’s friend on a road trip to the [[wikipedia:western United States|western United States]], hoping to experience a sense of God’s presence by admiring nature.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 13:35–16:01.</ref>

In [[Yellowstone National Park]], while Beeke’s brother and his brother’s friend were searching for lost car keys, Beeke went into his tent and prayed desperately for a sense of God’s presence. When he finished praying, he felt a hard object under his knees and noticed that the keys were under the sleeping bag on which he was kneeling.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 16:02–17:32.</ref> According to Beeke, “For the first time in my life, I felt contact—real contact—with God. It was like God was right there in the car, and right there in my heart. And what instantly happened was I truly became a lost sinner before God. The whole seven hundred miles [to Iowa], and from [[Iowa]] all the way home, I was just weeping, weeping, weeping over my sins. I was lost, and I felt like I was going to hell.”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:33–18:05.</ref>

In [[wikipedia:Yellowstone National Park|Yellowstone National Park]], while Beeke’s brother and his brother’s friend were searching for lost car keys, Beeke went into his tent and prayed desperately for a sense of God’s presence. When he finished praying, he felt a hard object under his knees and noticed that the keys were under the sleeping bag on which he was kneeling.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 16:02–17:32.</ref> According to Beeke, “For the first time in my life, I felt contact—real contact—with God. It was like God was right there in the car, and right there in my heart. And what instantly happened was I truly became a lost sinner before God. The whole seven hundred miles [to Iowa], and from [[wikipedia:Iowa|Iowa]] all the way home, I was just weeping, weeping, weeping over my sins. I was lost, and I felt like I was going to hell.”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:33–18:05.</ref>

Upon returning home, Beeke informed his closest friends that he could not spend time with them until he found God. He spent almost every evening reading the Bible and theological books. Beeke declares that he read every Puritan-authored book in his father’s bookcase.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:49–18:55.</ref>

Upon returning home, Beeke informed his closest friends that he could not spend time with them until he found God. He spent almost every evening reading the Bible and theological books. Beeke declares that he read every [[Puritanism|Puritan-authored]] book in his father’s bookcase.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:49–18:55.</ref>

When he was about fifteen years old, Beeke became convinced that he was [[Reprobation|reprobate]], and that he had no hope of salvation, often crying himself to sleep. In May 1969, when he was sixteen years old, the Kalamazoo Netherlands Reformed Congregation called a new minister, Arie Elshout (1923–1991).<ref>“Church News: Calls Extended,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 5 (May 1969): 2.</ref> Before Elshout arrived in Kalamazoo to begin his pastorate in August 1969,<ref>“Inauguration of the Rev. A. Elshout to the Kalamazoo Congregation,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 9 (September 1969): 4–5.</ref> Beeke wrote to him and informed him of his spiritual struggles and his desire to hear the preaching of the gospel. Through Elshout’s ministry in Kalamazoo, one of Beeke’s brothers experienced conversion. Beeke and his brother began to regularly talk, pray, and weep together as they discussed God and the Bible.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 19:26–23:19.</ref>

When he was about fifteen years old, Beeke became convinced that he was [[Reprobation|reprobate]], and that he had no hope of salvation, often crying himself to sleep. In May 1969, when he was sixteen years old, the [[Kalamazoo Netherlands Reformed Congregation]] called a new minister, Arie Elshout (1923–1991).<ref>“Church News: Calls Extended,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 5 (May 1969): 2.</ref> Before Elshout arrived in Kalamazoo to begin his pastorate in August 1969,<ref>“Inauguration of the Rev. A. Elshout to the Kalamazoo Congregation,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 9 (September 1969): 4–5.</ref> Beeke wrote to him and informed him of his spiritual struggles and his desire to hear the preaching of the gospel. Through Elshout’s ministry in Kalamazoo, one of Beeke’s brothers experienced conversion. Beeke and his brother began to regularly talk, pray, and weep together as they discussed God and the Bible.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 19:26–23:19.</ref>

After arriving in Kalamazoo, Elshout visited Beeke’s immediate and extended family. He spoke to Beeke’s maternal grandfather, who had struggled with assurance of faith his entire life.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:00–17.</ref> As Beeke’s grandfather expressed his spiritual struggles, Beeke recalls Elshout saying, “For you too, Mr. Van Strien, there is a way of escape in Jesus Christ through faith in Him!”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:32–39.</ref> Beeke declared that Elshout’s words pricked his heart “like a lightning bolt.”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:44–46.</ref> According to Beeke, "God spoke those words into my heart with power and authority, and for the first time in my life I could believe the gospel, embrace the gospel. . . . I saw with vivid clarity that Jesus Christ suffered for me, died for me in His passive obedience, had taken my place to pay for my sins, and that in His active obedience He obeyed the law for me, so He was perfectly righteous, and there was nothing I had to do but simply receive Him. . . . I was just overwhelmed with the gospel—its freeness, its fullness, its glory, its beauty. . . . My hands were up in the air; I was just praising God and the tears were streaming down my face."<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:45–25:50.</ref>

Almost immediately after his conversion, Beeke lost his natural shyness and began to [[Evangelism|evangelize]] his neighbors door-to-door.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 27:00–24.</ref> Beeke described how he first sensed a powerful inward call to preach the gospel in the summer of 1969, though he initially tried to resist this call because of his young age and shy disposition. While reading the autobiography of [[Charles Spurgeon|C. H. Spurgeon]], however, Beeke thought he must quit high school and to begin preaching, encouraged by Spurgeon’s youthfulness when he began his ministry. However, Beeke’s father and his minister, Arie Elshout, encouraged him to wait. During these years, Beeke regularly read the Bible and theological books until past midnight.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 28:00–31:51.</ref>

==Education==

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 According to Beeke, when he was nine years old, he first sensed the presence of God when he felt the powerful comfort of God answering one of his prayers.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 8:01–8:22.</ref> From that time, Beeke began reading books authored by the Puritans that he found in his father’s bookcase, beginning with [[John Bunyan|John Bunyan's]] ''Life and Death of Mr. Badman''. Instead of playing sports with his brothers after school as he was accustomed, Beeke read extensively over the next six months.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 8:23–9:52.</ref> Although he felt conviction for sin at this time, Beeke’s initial interest in theology and spirituality began to wane.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 9:53–10:16.</ref>
-In 1967, when Beeke was about fourteen years old, he defended the existence of God before an atheist teacher at Milwood Junior High School in Kalamazoo, but he became troubled that he had no personal relationship with the God whose existence he defended.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 10:58–13:32.</ref> That summer, he joined his brother and his brother’s friend on a road trip to the [[western United States]], hoping to experience a sense of God’s presence by admiring nature.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 13:35–16:01.</ref>
+In 1967, when Beeke was about fourteen years old, he defended the existence of God before an atheist teacher at Milwood Junior High School in [[wikipedia:Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]], but he became troubled that he had no personal relationship with the God whose existence he defended.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 10:58–13:32.</ref> That summer, he joined his brother and his brother’s friend on a road trip to the [[wikipedia:western United States|western United States]], hoping to experience a sense of God’s presence by admiring nature.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 13:35–16:01.</ref>
-In [[Yellowstone National Park]], while Beeke’s brother and his brother’s friend were searching for lost car keys, Beeke went into his tent and prayed desperately for a sense of God’s presence. When he finished praying, he felt a hard object under his knees and noticed that the keys were under the sleeping bag on which he was kneeling.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 16:02–17:32.</ref> According to Beeke, “For the first time in my life, I felt contact—real contact—with God. It was like God was right there in the car, and right there in my heart. And what instantly happened was I truly became a lost sinner before God. The whole seven hundred miles [to Iowa], and from [[Iowa]] all the way home, I was just weeping, weeping, weeping over my sins. I was lost, and I felt like I was going to hell.”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:33–18:05.</ref>
+In [[wikipedia:Yellowstone National Park|Yellowstone National Park]], while Beeke’s brother and his brother’s friend were searching for lost car keys, Beeke went into his tent and prayed desperately for a sense of God’s presence. When he finished praying, he felt a hard object under his knees and noticed that the keys were under the sleeping bag on which he was kneeling.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 16:02–17:32.</ref> According to Beeke, “For the first time in my life, I felt contact—real contact—with God. It was like God was right there in the car, and right there in my heart. And what instantly happened was I truly became a lost sinner before God. The whole seven hundred miles [to Iowa], and from [[wikipedia:Iowa|Iowa]] all the way home, I was just weeping, weeping, weeping over my sins. I was lost, and I felt like I was going to hell.”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:33–18:05.</ref>
-Upon returning home, Beeke informed his closest friends that he could not spend time with them until he found God. He spent almost every evening reading the Bible and theological books. Beeke declares that he read every Puritan-authored book in his father’s bookcase.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:49–18:55.</ref>
+Upon returning home, Beeke informed his closest friends that he could not spend time with them until he found God. He spent almost every evening reading the Bible and theological books. Beeke declares that he read every [[Puritanism|Puritan-authored]] book in his father’s bookcase.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 17:49–18:55.</ref>
-When he was about fifteen years old, Beeke became convinced that he was [[Reprobation|reprobate]], and that he had no hope of salvation, often crying himself to sleep. In May 1969, when he was sixteen years old, the Kalamazoo Netherlands Reformed Congregation called a new minister, Arie Elshout (1923–1991).<ref>“Church News: Calls Extended,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 5 (May 1969): 2.</ref> Before Elshout arrived in Kalamazoo to begin his pastorate in August 1969,<ref>“Inauguration of the Rev. A. Elshout to the Kalamazoo Congregation,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 9 (September 1969): 4–5.</ref> Beeke wrote to him and informed him of his spiritual struggles and his desire to hear the preaching of the gospel. Through Elshout’s ministry in Kalamazoo, one of Beeke’s brothers experienced conversion. Beeke and his brother began to regularly talk, pray, and weep together as they discussed God and the Bible.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 19:26–23:19.</ref>
+When he was about fifteen years old, Beeke became convinced that he was [[Reprobation|reprobate]], and that he had no hope of salvation, often crying himself to sleep. In May 1969, when he was sixteen years old, the [[Kalamazoo Netherlands Reformed Congregation]] called a new minister, Arie Elshout (1923–1991).<ref>“Church News: Calls Extended,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 5 (May 1969): 2.</ref> Before Elshout arrived in Kalamazoo to begin his pastorate in August 1969,<ref>“Inauguration of the Rev. A. Elshout to the Kalamazoo Congregation,” ''Banner of Truth'' 35, no. 9 (September 1969): 4–5.</ref> Beeke wrote to him and informed him of his spiritual struggles and his desire to hear the preaching of the gospel. Through Elshout’s ministry in Kalamazoo, one of Beeke’s brothers experienced conversion. Beeke and his brother began to regularly talk, pray, and weep together as they discussed God and the Bible.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 19:26–23:19.</ref>
 After arriving in Kalamazoo, Elshout visited Beeke’s immediate and extended family. He spoke to Beeke’s maternal grandfather, who had struggled with assurance of faith his entire life.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:00–17.</ref> As Beeke’s grandfather expressed his spiritual struggles, Beeke recalls Elshout saying, “For you too, Mr. Van Strien, there is a way of escape in Jesus Christ through faith in Him!”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:32–39.</ref> Beeke declared that Elshout’s words pricked his heart “like a lightning bolt.”<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:44–46.</ref> According to Beeke, "God spoke those words into my heart with power and authority, and for the first time in my life I could believe the gospel, embrace the gospel. . . . I saw with vivid clarity that Jesus Christ suffered for me, died for me in His passive obedience, had taken my place to pay for my sins, and that in His active obedience He obeyed the law for me, so He was perfectly righteous, and there was nothing I had to do but simply receive Him. . . . I was just overwhelmed with the gospel—its freeness, its fullness, its glory, its beauty. . . . My hands were up in the air; I was just praising God and the tears were streaming down my face."<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 24:45–25:50.</ref>
 Almost immediately after his conversion, Beeke lost his natural shyness and began to [[Evangelism|evangelize]] his neighbors door-to-door.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 27:00–24.</ref> Beeke described how he first sensed a powerful inward call to preach the gospel in the summer of 1969, though he initially tried to resist this call because of his young age and shy disposition. While reading the autobiography of [[Charles Spurgeon|C. H. Spurgeon]], however, Beeke thought he must quit high school and to begin preaching, encouraged by Spurgeon’s youthfulness when he began his ministry. However, Beeke’s father and his minister, Arie Elshout, encouraged him to wait. During these years, Beeke regularly read the Bible and theological books until past midnight.<ref>“Testimony of Dr. Joel Beeke.” 28:00–31:51.</ref>
 ==Education==