2009-06-01

i) AiG writes that the core, scientific meaning of evolution—changes in gene frequencies and expression in a population over time—is often confused with the popular idea of “molecules to man” evolution over millions of years. Evolutionists routinely point to examples of the former definition (e.g. swine flu) and say it proves the truth of the latter definition. ii) A geological survey has indicated that dinosaurs were alive after the supposed time of their extinction (an asteroid supposedly hit the earth 65 million years ago, and killed them, or so it went). On their grounds, evolutionists were wrong every time they asserted this as fact. iii) The ‘evolving molecules’ experiment doesn’t prove what some may claim – it’s an example of information loss, not gain, via natural selection; the molecules are still RNA molecules, and thus far has no bearing on goo-to-you evolution. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/02/news-to-note-05022009

Pastors should never lose heart in ministry, clinging instead to the God-centred realities that they serve as the means by which God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Himself, that they are not sufficient of themselves, and their sufficiency is in God, and that God commissions His ministers to speak. How to Not Lose Heart in Ministry

While catholic apologist Art Sippo rails on Catholic historian Joseph Lortz as being ‘like Adolph Hitler’ in that ‘both were Luther fans’ and would be embarrassed to be associated with him, Swan points out that Cardinal Ratzinger (i.e. the pope) endorsed J. Lortz. Sippo vs Lortz Revisted

Abraham Piper posts some noted from the CDG conference on a ‘truth-drenched youth ministry’: i) be a truth-drenched exampled (1 Tim. 4:16); ii) have a truth-drenched marriage and family life (1 Tim. 3:4-5) – if a man leads his family well, then maybe he’s fit for ministry; iii) cultivate a truth-drenched staff (e.g. Acts 13:2-3); iv) Preach and teach truth-drenched messages and lessons (Heb. 13:7); v) Develop and implement a truth-drenched vision and philosophy of youth ministry (cf. Prov. 29:18). 5 Foundations of a Truth-drenched Youth Ministry

Payne asks what a pastor would do if due to a pandemic public gatherings of more than three were outlawed for a year. How would ministries of love and teaching continue, etc? What one might do is to take a select group of mature men from the congregation and train them two at a time. Train them very well, teaching them. It would mean a lot of one-to-one meetings, and personal discipling, and training people to be disciple-makers. Would you want to go back, after? Ministry in the year of swine flu

Burk addresses the notion that if God predetermines who is to be saved then the road to conversion (or through sanctification) must be a smooth one, pointing out that backsliding is no more troubling to Calvinism than the example of Peter: His walk was anything but smooth, yet he was chosen by Jesus (John 15:16,19). Jesus would have the final say, praying for Peter (Luke 22:31-32). [I’ll point out that Witherington’s objection at this point simply assumes what God would do if He elected – the speculation of a man isn’t much of an objection]. Calvinist Quibble

Five recommendations for parents and children’s ministries. Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem; Big Truths for Young Hearts, Bruce Ware; Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, Paul Tripp; Parenting by the Book, John Rosemond; Instructing a Child's Heart, Tedd and Margy Tripp. Recommended Reading for Parents and Children's Ministers

Patton writes an obituary for the emerging church (1994-2009), and as a sympathizer, asks why it died: i) lack of tact theory – the EC never took the time to effect slow, wise transformation. ii) the offense theory – what happened was not unlike a disrespectful teenager who thought he’d figured it all out through a series of unadulterated epiphanies (i.e. arrogance). iii) misidentified evangelicalism syndrome – evangelicalism is always reforming, and it isn’t afraid of change. Grace left the emerging building, and they simply mistook evangelicals for fundamentalists. Ironically, the judgmental spirit of the EC toward evangelicalism made them look more like the fundies they were going after. v) Heretical Tolerance Theory: the EC refused to stand for anything. They weren’t friendly  And they basically tossed out orthodoxy, and didn’t land on friendly ground on abortion, atonement, justification, assurance, the exclusivity of Christ, and hell. Obituary- The Emerging Church (1994-2009)

Ware points to three themes from Isaiah 40-46 that demonstrate that God is exclusively and incomparably God. 1) God as Creator (Isaiah 40:18-26) – God created us, He is independent from us, and He does not need us or depend on us, nor is He enriched by us; 2) God as Redeemer (Isaiah 43:1-13) – He is rightful owner of His people, and He displays a particular love in election; 3) God as Sovereign Ruler over Good and Evil (Isaiah 44:24-45:7) – God rules over nature and nations, and He controls both good and evil. Bruce Ware on Biblical Foundations for the Centrality of God

Adams writes about the foolishness of venting anger, which, contra Freud, is not a good idea: “ Proverbs 29:11: A stubborn fool fully ventilates his anger, but the wise, holding it back, quiets it.” Ventilation

Commenting on the recent murder of a notorious abortion doctor, JT quotes Piper who writes that the war on abortion will not be won by bullets, but by brokenness and humility and sacrifice. Yet, if he really was a murderer, how can we object to his murder? (e.g. thug killing a toddler – isn’t it justified to shoot him?). JT links to a detailed article by Koukl and another by R.P. George. We are a nation of laws, and lawless violence begets lawless violence. Tiller was acquitted by a jury of his peers. “We do not teach the wrongness of taking human life by wrongfully taking a human life.” The Abortion War Will Not Be Won by Bullets

The home-schooling movement in the US is growing (1.5 million kids) – and this growth is not merely due to moral and religious reasons. Homeschooling Grows

Greg Koukl points out why pro-lifers do not endorse the murder of abortionists. “It simply does not follow that if one believes that abortion is murder then he would advocate killing individual abortionists. What follows is this: He would work to end the wholesale killing as expediently as possible. It doesn't follow he would kill abortionists. It follows that he would do whatever he can to stop the killing as quickly as possible. Now, that may or may not entail the shooting of individual abortionists. The answer to that question would depend on other considerations.” He appeals to military tactics, etc. which aim at taking out the machinery of war (in this case the economics, legislation, social situations, etc), where targeting an individual would actually hinder the war effort. Now, at the foundation, if a fetus is human, it deserves the same legal protections and sanctions as every other human. Every argument brought against the humanity of the fetus has failed miserably. http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5390

Calvinism is flourishing in China. Chinese Calvinism Flourishing

Hays writes on some comments by an evangelical on the murder of abortionists. Hays cautions against two errors: a blanket condemnation of vigilantism, and the moral equivalence of every human death. It’s trivial to think of examples within most ideologies (save pacifism) which run counter to this. Evangelicals can sometimes resort to trying to shame their opponent into agreement, and Hays calls people to do better than this, to reason with them. Rhetoric of shame silences dissent, but is ineffective. God does not hold individuals morally and personally responsible for either preventing or requiting all of the evils deeds done around the world. At the same time, Hays rejects waxing poetic over the death of a baby murderer – why should a Christian be morally outraged over such a death? There’s no duty to play avenger, either, since one usually isn’t the injured party. Hays rejects the pious nonsense that Christians have a duty to pray for a murdered abortionist, or his widow. “We should have no more sympathy for Tiller’s wife than we have for the wife of a Mafia don who lives large on her husband’s ill-gotten gain, then is grief-stricken when her husband is gunned down by a rival mob boss.” And shedding tears for a murderer and his complicit wife, and the pastors and parishioners who validated his evil profession, seems somewhat unfitting when one can’t spare a tear for the countless victims. Moral clarity on the life and death of George Tiller

Barry at Solapanel has a helpful rubric: “Fight for what is right. (truth) Argue for what will work. (strategy) And keep quiet about everything else. (preference)” What kind of discussion is this-

JT quotes an interesting point from CT on the treatment of Jon and Kate: “Sexual immorality—whether actual or merely suspected—caught our attention, but the materialism, narcissism, and exploitation of children that preceded it was largely overlooked.” Evangelicals and the Making of Jon and Kate Plus Eight

Phillips writes that the “distinction is that Tiller actually killed babies, while Obama and his enablers are simply there making sure that Tiller and his kind have the protection and respectable veneer of law to do so… the man who had no respect for human life is murdered by a person who had no respect for his life. While one can see a Biblical irony to it, that fact does not provide moral "cover" for the murderer.” Phillips condemns the murder in unqualified terms. What Tiller needed was the Gospel, not a gun. And the forces of death will use this no matter the circumstances. Tiller- Bad man, bad end, bad deed

San Diego county is backing down and not forcing a study to get a permit – it would appear that they are concerned about traffic and parking and some overzealous officer may have gone beyond his bounds. San Diego County Backs Down

Hays has a short and striking comparison of Dahmer and Tiller by way of quotes of their deaths. Live by the sword, die by the sword