2008-11-11

Justin Taylor: "I've repeated before a dictum I learned from John Piper: much of being a good theologian is about learning to make good distinctions." HT summarizes an essay by Paul Helm (I've summarized the same essay in these notes before). 1. The first important distinction is between consistency, inconsistency, and entailment. 2. The second distinction Helm wants us to see is that, when interpreting theologians and their theology, we must distinguish between what the theologian's words imply, and what he intended by those words. 3. The third important distinction Helm insists on is the difference between a theologian being being committed to a doctrine and committing himself to it. http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/11/paul-helm-on-necessity-of-making-good.html

Similar structure must mean common descent - [except, of course, when it doesn't] http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/11/11/hair-claw-protein.html

Pyro: Phillips draws attention the statements that we don't take to be anything more than formal contradictions on account that it is plain that the author knew what he was saying due to the proximity and content. He then points out that for God, all thoughts are eternal and all thoughts are immediate and simultanoues in His mind [my words]. So given the doctrine of verbal, plenary inspiration, we must note that God knew when the first word was written in Scripture what the last word would be. "And while we mustn't interpret the writers as moved to say something that meant the opposite of what they were meaning to say as led by God, we must interpret what they wrote in light of everything else that God moved all the other writers to write." http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2008/11/biblical-contradictions-and-our-big-god.html

In Colossians 1:5-6, Bird's default is to go to the creation mandate. But then he writes, "in reading over Isaiah just this morning, what I also find fascinating the same image being applied to the redeemed Israel: "In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit" (Isa 27:6) . Taken up from Genesis 1, the progeny of Jesus, the new Adam, are growing and bearing fruit, and obedience to God’s gospel-word is the means by which the old world is colonized by the new humanity of the new creation. In light of Isaiah 27 we could say that the great redemption of Israel that Isaiah predicted with its replanting of Israel produces an abundance of fruit that grows into the entire world." http://euangelizomai.blogspot.com/2008/11/fruit-of-israels-redemption.html

Turretinfan wonders if a recent admission by a bishop that the practice of celibate clergy is based on discipline, not doctrine, will throw a kink in the Catholic-lay-apologists thinking, as they probably don't like to think that it is really a rather arbitrary thing. http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/2008/11/married-priest-movement-on-rise.html

Anti-democratic opposition to proposition 8, endorsed by the officials in power and pressed on in courts using specious claims, mounts following the victory. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2735

Challies meditates on the death of Christ and its effect on the centurion who came to see who He is. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/challies/XhEt/~3/449565569/the-son-of-god.php

9Marks: Things that annoy a 17th century pastor: "It seems that he was frustrated by Christians who made life decisions (like, for instance, where they should live) based on superficial criteria rather than the most important thing: the ability to hear God's Word preached. " http://blog.9marks.org/2008/11/things-that-ann.html

Piper remembers to service and sacrifice of 24.5 million veterans. He looks at John the Baptist's response to soldiers wondering how they should respond to the call to repent. It wasn't to stop being a soldier. The tension there is the same as the tension in any other authority structure in the fallen world. http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1490_Thankful_They_Embraced_the_Risk/

Dan Wallace recommends a monograph that deals extensively with the Granville Sharp construction, among other things. http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/11/granville-sharp%e2%80%99s-canon-and-its-kin/

JT points to an interview with Max McLean regarding his dramatic adaptation of the Screwtape Letters. Those interested in the relation of art of Christianity might find it interesting. [I haven't read it yet] http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/11/interview-with-max-mclean.html

"And we wonder why the Church of England is dying? When the current Archbishop of Canterbury--who was in New York, not far from ground zero during the chaos of September 11, 2001--tells a frightened New Yorker that "God is useless in times like this" we start to get a sense of why the C of E is in such a sad and rapid state of decline. Click here: Rowan Williams: September 11, where the hell was God? -Times Online" ... from the article: "The pilot said to him, “Where the hell was God?” Rowan's answer was that God is useless at times like this. Now that's pretty shocking, but actually what he then went on to unpack is that God didn't cause this and God [was not] going to stop it, because God has granted us free will, and therefore God has to suffer the consequences of this like we do. So in a sense he exonerated God...” [There you go - libertarian free will at work. So much for Amos 3:6]. http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/the-latest-post/2008/11/11/obama-billy-graham-and-other-interesting-stuff-from-around-t.html

Girltalk: Charles Bridges: ""It is faith that enlivens our work with perpetual cheerfulness. It commits every part of it to God, in the hope, that even mistakes shall be overruled for his glory; and thus relieves us from an oppressive anxiety, often attendant upon a deep sense of our responsibility. The shortest way to peace will be found in casting ourselves upon God for daily pardon of deficiencies and supplies of grace, without looking too eagerly for present fruit."" http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2008/11/the-shortest--1.html

Josh Harris: Memorizing ten great Christian hymns: http://www.joshharris.com/2008/11/memorizing_great_hymns_of_fait_1.php

AiG: 1. Mice frozen at -20 C for 16 years have been successfully cloned. Now, DNA decays when frozen - even at extremely low temperatures. Unfortunately, this also applies to human embryos frozen for extended periods of time. 2. Also, hydrocarbon producing fungi have been found. "First, it’s incredible to read about these hydrocarbon-producing fungi, whose biochemistry must be quite unique and which no doubt is another design feature that will be chalked up to evolution. Second, any news of fossil fuel material being produced in front of our eyes is a reminder that such old-age conjecture (e.g., fossil fuels are proof of an old earth) is just that: conjecture based on presuppositions, and certainly not supported by actual scientific observation." 3. Crocodiles live alongside villagers. "there’s quite little other than nomenclature that prevents us from considering them living dinosaurs—remember that when anyone laughs at the prospect of dinosaurs living today! " 4. Read the last part for the latest attempt in abiogenesis - that life may have formed in an ice film from a mixture of ordered and disordered ice structures! http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2008/11/08/news-to-note-11082008

Bird comments on the idea of a wedge between systematic and biblical theology, in that both are methods that must remain in conversation with Scripture and be constantly reforming. http://euangelizomai.blogspot.com/2008/11/desmond-alexander-on-biblical-theology.html