2009-05-12

Mohler comments on the unbelieving presuppositions underneath Tom Krattenmaker's article, Fightin’ Words, which seeks to celebrate "a year of retreat and retrench" for conservative Christianity. Krattenmaker quotes Ehrman, bringing out supposed contradictions, and without argument, at that, while simultaneously claiming – and this is no joke – that Ehrman’s efforts to debunk the Bible need not be taken “as insults against God or bids to prove the Bible false.” Everyone comes to the Bible with intellectual dispositions and presuppositions, and the unbelieving mind, which de facto rejects the Scriptures as true, is no different. One such quoted contradiction is the allegation that Jesus didn’t speak as God in Matthew – which is facile, given that He used the “I say to you” formula, and He controlled the weather, etc. [I will also note that Krattenmaker does so while praising Ehrman for going after ‘literalistic’ readings – which is a fairly obtuse comment for an educated individual given the literalism applied to bring out so called ‘contradictions.’] The article also points to a new book by Borg and Crossan. They don't like what Paul writes in his letters about the roles of men and women, about homosexuality, and any number of issues, so naturally, they invent the idea that, well, this wasn’t in Paul’s originals. Mohler concludes: “Tom Krattenmaker's column is certainly illuminating.  But what it illuminates is what Tom Krattenmaker, Bart Ehrman, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan believe about the Bible, and thus about Christianity.  Consider yourself illuminated.” http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3597

AiG writes that while Darwin was apparently never a believer in biblical Christianity, he had significant problems with the concept of a loving God and all the suffering and disease that he saw around him. Evolutions appears to have offered him an alternative for reckoning with the presence of such things.  http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/au/darwins-sad-legacy-april

Patton sees an analogy between the closing of the canon, which de facto closed (i.e. in contrast to the idea that it was declared closed) simply because inspired books were no longer being written (and only after this do we step in with a theological explanation and say it was because soteriological history was completed), to the de facto cessation of the spiritual gifts due to an exhaustion in purpose around the first century. Patton argues that, though he has been on missions trips worldwide, been to many churches, etc. he has never witnessed any of the supernatural sign gifts, nor does he have any good first-hand testimony – an account of a healing isn’t the issue at hand, since everyone agrees that can happen. It is the gifts that are in view. “God in a box” arguments put God in a box – usually because they insist that God does move in a certain way, rather than admitting He is free to do as He wishes. God doesn’t wait on you to believe, either – i.e. His plans aren’t hindered while He’s waiting for us to catch up. He didn’t wait for Paul to believe. Why I am Not Charismatic (Part 8)- I am a De Facto Cessationist

Turretinfan shows that Augustine’s commentary on Psalm 34 does not support transubstantiation, regarding the phrase “carried in His Own Hands” which Augustine understood thus: “He commended His Own Body and Blood, He took into His Hands that which the faithful know; and in a manner carried Himself, when He said, “This is My Body.” – the phrase ‘in a manner’ is Latin "quodam modo", which is something not referenced in a literal sense, and moreover, to understand this phrase as transubstantiation would be to take it literally, when the commentary on the surrounding verses takes them metaphorically, i.e. To take it literally is out of step with the context. Response to Albrecht on Augustine on Psalm 34

Challies has some comments on the MacArthur criticism of treatments of Song of Solomon. First, there is a dangerous over-emphasis on sex in the churches that may be obscuring the Gospel. Second, the handling of the text to which MacArthur refers is downright troubling, as the Song is used as a springboard for sexual advice, when the particular meaning is debated. Moreover, the Song isn’t like didactic literature but an obviously veiled and figurative picture of marital love and intimacy. The writer is as far from explicit as he can get, indicating that the veil is intentional. To turn it into a how-to manual for sex is to miss the forest for the trees. We aren’t told what the metaphors mean, but rather the beauty of marital passion is in the eye of the beholder. Missing the Forest for all the Trees

Carolyn Mahaney exhorts parents to be proactive – first, to be unified as parents [think about this - how can Christians marry unbelievers knowingly?]. Be discerning – actively study your kids, looking for sin. Be dramatic – cut off ungodly ties if necessary, break the peace of the home when need be, cut off privileges. You want your children to reap the sweet fruit of repentance. And always accompany dramatic action with clear explanations. Proactive Parenting

First, then, we ought to believe that Christ cannot be properly known in any other way than from the Scriptures; and if it be so, it follows that we ought to read the Scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them. Whoever shall turn aside from this object, though he may weary himself throughout his whole life in learning, will never attain the knowledge of the truth; for what wisdom can we have without the wisdom of God? – John Calvin (Calvin’s Commentaries; John 5:39)  We ought to read the Scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them

Piper has some advice on maintaining unit amidst differences. i) Don’t gossip (Grk. whisperer – the emphasis is on the fact that it needs to be surreptitious – gossip feeds the desire to be seen as right without playing by the rules of love). Rather, identify evidences of grace and speak them to each other and about each other. Criticize directly – if there is a need (Rom. 12:8). Assume the best motive in others (Rom. 14:6). Consider the magnificent things that are held in common. “Let’s be more amazed that we are forgiven than that we are right. And in that way, let’s shape our relationships by the gospel. (Eph 4:32-5:2).” The team of leaders doesn’t have the luxury of going their own way, but must work together to talk and write and argue and debate and refine our positions until we reach as large a consensus as we can on the major issues. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/3819_What_I_Said_to_the_Pastoral_Staff_About_Unity_Amid_Differences/

Genderblog has a further summary of Baucham’s book What He Must Be… If He Wants to Marry My Daughter. i) He must be a Christian – Baucham addresses objections to this (e.g. but he treats me good, he’s an answer to prayer, etc.). He must be able to lead his family and lead like Christ. Headship doesn’t relegate women to second class status, but rather holds them in the highest esteem. He must be committed to having children, and he must be a “protector, a provider and a prophet/priest.” If you don’t have a daughter, make one of these men. What He Must Be...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter, Part II

Here’s a book recommendation from Genderblog: Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth (Crossway, 2004). Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth - Now More Accessible

Phillips writes something worth quoting: “If an elect person were finally and actually to leave Christ, he would be damned; and... If a reprobate (non-elect) person were vitally to exercise repentant faith in Christ, he would be saved. However, neither can do either; which is to say: If any professor finally leaves Christ, he was never elect; and... If any denier exercises repentant faith in Christ, he is not reprobate.” reprobation- discuss

Haykin says, “Clothing is far more important than our “casual” culture would like to admit. Clothing can never be equated with piety (1 Peter 3:3-4), but nor is it negligible, as the New Testament indicates (see 1 Timothy 2:9-10). It reflects inner attitudes.” He links to Don Whitney’s advice on the subject. Clothing

Haykin provides some interesting and insightful quotes from Booth’s ordination sermon on the aim of preaching. Some quotes from Booth’s ordination sermon on 2 Cor 4-2

JT post a transcribed excerpt from a message by Russ Moore. “Satan will give up his authority over the external rule of the nations in exchange for keeping the power of accusation… Satan ultimately has a power that is not found most importantly in moral decay or in cultural chaos. His power is in the authority to accuse.” Satan doesn’t mind family values or social justice or even a Christian worldview. So long as you’re preaching against everything (whatever it might be) but not the Gospel, he’s fine with it – he’ll even allow you to gain it, including the sanctity of marriage, env. proection, orphan care, etc. – because the Gospel is the only thing that takes away his power to accuse and condemn. Moore- The Devil Votes Christian Values

Trueman: “A church service involving clowns or fancy dress or skits or stand-up comedy does not reflect the seriousness of the gospel; and those who take the gospel seriously should know better. Frankly, it is more appropriate to liberal theology which does not take the gospel, or the God of the gospel, seriously. Serious things demand serious idioms.” Carl Trueman on Moronic Worship

Interestingly, there is the possibility that the National Library of Russia contains some unregistered manuscripts, “Gospels with commentary,” of the NT. Greek New Testament Manuscript on Display at National Library of Russia

Patrick Chan points out that there is no de facto reason why anyone should be obligated to objective morals, if, granting for the sake of argument, they existed in an atheistic universe. Virtue ethics

JT points (he hasn’t read it yet) to a new book on capitalism and Christianity. The book argues that capitalism, despite recent detractors, is fully consistent with Jesus' teachings and the Christian tradition, and the best hope for renewed economic vigor, while refuting the two competing messages so often afflicting the church, namely, that wealth is bad and causes much of the world's suffering, or, that wealth is good and God wants you to prosper and be rich. Money, Greed, and God- Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem

Cheng of Solapanel writes against the instinct to hide parts of God’s character, such as His wrath against sinners, on account that it is marketing suicide, as it were, and excusing this by saying that the Bible reserves its worst words for religious insiders. After much thoughtful reflection on the Psalms, Cheng is humbled by seeing that it is not wrong to take joy in judgment, and that this instinct is profoundly wrong. Psalm 53 is an example, and Paul even quotes it in the NT. What is clear is that salvation from our enemies entails that our enemies are destroyed. The problem is that we don’t understand God’s salvation. So fight this instinct, and tell people that we all stand under the judgment of God. Hit me with a Psalm!

Hays is “fascinated by the moral logic of claiming that it’s impermissible to subject a high-value terrorist to sleep deprivation to extraction information which would save innocent lives, but it’s permissible or even obligatory to conduct a military campaign with the express purpose of killing terrorists.” Man-caused disasters

Turretinfan writes that the mistranslation used to support the veneration of Mary, that she was “full of grace” appears only in translations based on the Vulgate, and in no others. The Greek simply isn’t conveying this: the sense is that some special favour or blessing has been showed to Mary, and in this case, this blessing is Jesus in her womb. Moreover, this is an undeserved favour. Veneration of Mary Debate - Thoughts on Reflection - Part 4

Bayly has some updates on the ongoing issue of ordained female deacons in the NY presbytery. He also calls the PCA back to the simplicity of obeying Scripture on this issue. The state of the PCA union- woman deacons and the local option