My name is Mark Peterson. The three most important facts about me are as follows: I am a Christian, a Husband and a father of two. In addition, I am an Elder at LaGrange Baptist Church and I teach a Life (Sunday School) class of Senior High boys. I am a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2003) and Purdue University (1993).

My greatest desire is to see the Church of my Father and His Son, my Lord grow and flourish in Grace. It is with that goal in mind that I write my blog. My thoughts are for the people of God, those found and those yet still lost. Their focus is to promote spiritual growth and healthy unity in the body of Christ, in order to promote the gospel throughout the world more effectively.

Why “Taking Heaven by Storm”

I first encountered the idea in a book by a Puritan preacher named Thomas Watson. The title of that book is “Heaven Taken by Storm”. Watson draws the basis for this book from the text of Matthew 11:12, which in the King James version reads, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” This text is similar to Luke 16:16 where Christ says that since the time time of John “the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it.” The idea captured by Watson is that the kingdom of heaven is of such great value and importance to the Christian that he approaches it like a soldier doing whatever is necessary to enter into it.

Now, some good commentators raise into question Watson’s interpretation of Matthew 11:12 They argue that the text, more likely, has a negative sense in which the kingdom of heaven is being attacked, and it is violent men who attack it not men who violently strive to enter in. They even question whether it is appropriate to interpret Matthew 11:12 and Luke 16:16 in light of one another.

Part of this interpretive trouble stems from a concern that Watson’s interpretation of the passage lends to a view of works salvation; that to get into heaven you have to earn it. However, this was not Watson’s intent or belief. As I understand it, Watson believed that the bible taught that the kingdom of heaven was of such value and import that rational men would stop at nothing to enter in; they would make heaven the sole focus of their lives and the singular pursuit of their existence. In fact, this was, according to Watson, exactly the effect of John the Baptist’s ministry in the lives of those who heard him preach.

It is my desire to be so consumed by heaven that the prospect of entering there would animate my entire life and that my every word, thought or deed would be aimed at achieving heaven. I want my life to be one of pressing forward to finish the race into which Christ’s blood entered me and gives me assurance of finishing. Taking nothing for granted, I wish to make heaven the object of my everyday passion. However, I don’t just desire this for me. I desire this singular focus; this violent intensity for God and His Kingdom to be yours too, and that is why I write and seek other means of ministry – to see you storm heaven’s gates as well.