JT points to the book Southern Baptist Theological Seminary by Greg Wills, which covers the history of the seminary. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Here’s an endorsement from the President of Union University. Dockery on Wills's History of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Challies continues his series on not taking your iPod to church. He attempts to argue that reading the Bible on an iPod is not the same as in print [i.e. it’s not as ‘good’]. He has two main lines of argumentation: i) Linearity – books are usually read front to back, whereas he thinks PDA technology makes one read by jumping all over the place [he seems to be projecting from the usage of reference works into literary works], and that this makes the Bible interactive, more for skimming, etc. in our minds (wrapped up in the ‘worldview’ of electronic devices?). The book lets us have the ‘natural, God-given flow of the text’. The PDA therefore leaves us concerned with accessing rather than applying info. ii) Distraction – an iPod is not a ‘devotional medium’ [why is the book? It is holier?]. Basically, these devices can notify/distract you with audio/visual stimulus, so the book isn’t as distracting. He also thinks that you view the Bible the same way as other things that are used on the same medium (i.e. business or entertainment for PDA’s) [but aren’t books used for business, entertainment, etc.?] We can’t really sit down and enjoy reading the Bible because we could be distracted. “The medium contradicts the message.” He thinks “the book is inherently a better medium for undistracted study of a life-changing text.” Don't Take Your iPod to Church! (Part 2)
Lisa Robinson at Parchment and Pen recalls her time as a Pentacostal/Charistmatic. She argues that the high levels of expectation of miraculous manifestations and greater happenings (not that she ever saw anything that qualified) is driven largely not by a desire for greater theological growth but simply more excitement. We always need more. They seek inward change by way of external manifestations (e.g. the worship band is the catalyst). She briefly discusses the problems with a theology of second baptism - all believers have the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and this sufficiently. She points out that the occurrences in Acts must be understood in God’s over plan of redemption. “All things are summed up in Christ (Ephesians 1:10), all God’s purposes end in Christ (Ephesians 1:9; 3:11), all previous mysteries and plans are revealed in Christ (Colossians 1:26-27; Ephesians 3:5-6), and all instruction is for the purpose of completing every person in complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28). We who claim Christ as Savior have been made complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). That means He is all sufficient.” The insufficiency resides in us: we have sufficiency of the Spirit, sufficiency of Christ, sufficiency of the Word. A Theology of More
Al Mohler comments on Bishop Holloway, who served for years as Bishop of Edinburgh and primate of the Scottish church, and who is agnostic, pointing out that this man, like many, feels that Christianity is up for interpretation, and he has interpreted it all the way down to agnosticism. The truth of the Christian faith, the great doctrines of the Bible, the creeds and confessions of the church -- all these are instantly relativized by a claimed right to private interpretation. He has regularly offended the faithful, promoting various heresies over the years. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3839
DeYoung posts an excerpt from a sermon on Leviticus 18: “God says “I am the Lord” or “I am the Lord your God.” The point is “You belong to me. I delivered you. I chose you. I promised to bless you. I am your God. You are my people. So you ought to live by my rules. You ought to be holy because I am holy.” How you live as a Christian matters a lot to God because you are meant to be a reflection of the God who saved you. You are not your own. The purpose of your life is not your fulfillment, nor your self-expression, nor your sexuality. The point of your life is make much of God by bearing witness to Jesus Christ and by being as much like him as you can. When you sin sexually, the God of the Bible is made to look like a god of the nations. Moreover, we belong to a different country. So even if the world does one thing, we are not to follow. DeYoung takes verse 5 (“You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”) as being the same like as promised in John 10:10, not a matter of earning salvation. God has created the world with a certain moral framework, and operating within it will, ceteris paribus, tend to things going more smoothly. Sin, on the other hand, destroys everything. A Sermon on Leviticus 18-1-30 (Part 3)
Engwer asks regarding canonical discussions and inspiration, What does "all things" in John 14:26 refer to? What does it mean to be "guided into all the truth" (John 16:13)? It seems much of what is said here could or should be applied to Christians generally (e.g. 1 John 2:24, 27, 3:11, 2 John 6). He quotes Carson, who points out that the context shows that this chiefly applies to the disciples and can only derivatively be applied to Christians. Basically, in an attempt to find immediate significance for the church at large the unique elements of the eleven disciples’ ministry( as those who mediate the transition in salvation-historical developments) are largely ignored. John 14-16 (Jesus’ communication of His revelation to the world through the apostles) addresses a distinct context from 1 John (the life of Christians). John 16:13 promises knowledge of things to come, something not all Christians experience. We know much of what happened after the events of John 14-16 and we ought to let that bear on our interpretation – we should not read it to think that the apostles have the same relationship with the Holy Spirit as average Christians. What does “all things” or “all the truth” mean? Not omniscience. There are two themes: the guidance of the Holy Spirit and prophecy (John 16:13), both of which are connected to Scripture (2 Peter 1:21). John, being one of the disciples, fulfills Christ’s promise in writing it: He testifies, he is guided by the Spirit of truth and so speaks the truth, and he knows of much more than he’s recorded. So Keener, who says that John’s Gospel argues for its own inspiration. Engwer concludes by observing that the trend in the earliest records is that if a document is apostolic, it is Scripture. Canonical Implications In John's Gospel
Walton writes, regarding Ruth’s promise in 1:17, “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried,” that Ruth is committing to care for Naomi’s body after death (a selfless commitment) in light of the ANE concern for proper burial. Ruth commits to her identity in Naomi’s family in perpetuity. Ancient Burial Practices by Dale Manor
Genderblog reviews Reading Your Male by Mary Farrar, which aims to help a woman "understand and influence [her] man's sexuality." This book is not about a man’s felt needs but aims to promote the kind of woman who will accomplish this influence for the glory of God – a man ultimately needs a woman who is grounded in the Lord, not in him. i) Women always influence men’s sexuality, for good or bad. ii) She explains the fight against sexual temptation that every man faces, not merely in day to day sin, but in the ‘feminization of men.’ i.e. men are shrinking back in the churches. Nothing cripples a husband's manliness more than the self-focused, critical, manipulative, Amazon-type woman. The main concern is not just a happy husband, but a holy husband. Reading Your Male- An Invitation to Understand and Influence Your Man’s Sexuality, by Mary
While evolutionists may mock Christians because the Bible has a talking serpent and donkey (not magic, btw), the Bible actually explains reality (e.g. sinfulness of man), and evolution is left ill-equipped and laughable. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/22/feedback-talking-snakes-magical-trees
Turretinfan argues that because God is the ultimate and only infallible source of information, and revelation from God is the only possible means of certainty, and perspicuity is important to certainty, the Scriptures uniquely provide propositions that are infallible and knowable. “nothing can be known with absolute certainty aside from what is taught in Scripture [or General Revelation] or what is properly deduced from Scripture [and/or General Revelation].” http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/22/feedback-talking-snakes-magical-trees
Broughton Knox reminds Christians that they must remember to Whom it is they pray, namely, the sovereign Creator God, as He is so often praised in Scriptural prayers. We must also remember that in Christ, like Him we are related to God as children to a loving Father. He is our Father in heaven. Mysticism and so-called wordless prayer is not prayer at all, for in this form of mental activity there is no relationship acknowledged, nor is there recognition as to the character of the One to whom we bring our prayers. Knox’s seven principles of prayer (Part II- Recognition)
Here’s a short description of the remarkable innovation that enabled GM to soar in the 50’s and then the “We know everything and don’t need to change”, management complacency and arrogance, and the union’s lack of moderation of demands in light of a competitive world, rather asking for job banks, etc. that led to GM’s downfall. What Went Wrong with General Motors – A Short History
Deconstruction is the “Interpretive method that denies the priority or privilege of any single reading of a text (even if guided by the intentions of its author) and tries to show that the text is incoherent because its own key terms can be understood only in relation to their suppressed opposites.” Philosophy Word of the Day – Deconstruction
T-fan writes that Dura Europos is not typical of the early church, and that many folks who bow down to paintings and statues are unconcerned with history stuff, appealing to a unique place like Dura Europa where (evidently) even the Jewish synagogue was highly decorated (although in a style borrowed from the Roman pagans). We know pretty much nothing of Christians in that location and time. Even the decorations at this site are not icons/statues, but murals. There were items like icons, but they were from the local temple of Mithras. Dura Europos and the Early Church
AiG discusses the fraudulent, organized hype behind the Ida fossil. i) the dramatic “missing link” conclusions presented to the public were not present in the scientific paper, having been removed during the peer review process. ii) one of the paper coauthors admitted, “There was a TV company involved and time pressure. We’ve been pushed to finish the study. It's not how I like to do science.” iii) the better journalists and more skeptical scientists responded in just the opposite way, accusing the study authors of “cherry picking” which facts to highlight. “It’s not a missing link, it’s not even a terribly close relative to monkeys, apes and humans, which is the point they’re trying to make,” said Chris Beard, a curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. AiG also discusses the English rats supposedly ‘evolving’ and claims regarding evolution and flowers [who knew that the aimless, random, mindless entity of evolution could ‘innovate’ – anybody else notice how much evolution is anthropomorphized… almost deified??] http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/23/news-to-note-05232009
Patton talks about the importance of our own attitude in our lives. Attitude
Mathis writes that God put it in the Book and means it to be for "our instruction" (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4). Hebrews goes so far as to mention Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah in his faith hall of fame (Hebrews 11:32). While Judges is full of strange heroes (a reluctant farmer, a prophetess, a left-handed assassin, a bastard bandit, a sex-addicted Nazirite, among others), such as some of us were (1 Cor. 6:11), and though imperfect, we can indeed learn from their faith. Learning from Flawed Faith
Hays writes that Christian theology has the concept of possible worlds, grounded in divine omnipotence (usually derived from 1 Sam 23:8-14 and Mt 11:21-24). While connected to Molinism by some, even Craig admits they merely prove counterfactual knowledge. Supralapsarian Calvinism is predicated on the idea of possible worlds, possible due to omnipotence and omniscience. God chose to instantiate one of these possibilities to manifest the wisdom of his mercy and justice to the elect. God answers David regarding a possible outcome, and this indicates that counterfactually speaking the world isn’t open-ended. Not all scenarios are equally possible, and it seems there is just one outcome per scenario (not within a scenario). Moreover, the question is answerable, indicating that imagination of alternate possibilities is not merely imaginary, but inheres in the mind and might of God. There’s an extramental truthmaker corresponding to David’s imagination. Interestingly, Christian theism makes possible worlds metaphysically feasible in a way that secular SF scenarios cannot. The road not taken
AiG provides a number of quotes indicating the sketchiness of the claims relating to Ida, and how it is fed by media pressure and hype, despite the scientific community’s disapproval of the claims regarding the fossil and human evolution. “[W]hat sets this episode apart from the norm is the extent of machinations involved to hype this discovery before the public.” http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/21/ida-real-story
Tripp answers the question, “What is the greatest hindrance to cultivating community in the American church?” He says, “frenetic western-culture busyness.” The value of western culture isn’t possessing but acquiring. That’s why the rich guy doesn’t stop. We have an unbiblical understanding of success: “Our kids have to be skilled at three sports and play four musical instruments, and our house has to be lavish by whatever standard.” One “can't fit God's dream (if I can use that language) for his church inside of the American dream and have it work.” Tripp talks about walking places instead, getting rid of most of our stuff. Stuff needs maintenance, grabbing our hearts, schedules, and time. All those things that aren’t de facto evil complicate our lives to keep our from the kind of community we need. What Hinders Community-
T-fan refutes an argument from one aiming to support the papacy that Simon meant grain of sand and that Jesus was saying that Peter was turned from a grain of sand into a rock (i.e. Peter). He shows that i) Peter became something of a surname that took the place of his natural name, but didn’t do away with it (hence ‘Simon Peter’), Finally, Simon doesn’t mean ‘grain of sand’ but ‘heard.’ What does Simon mean- and did Peter replace Simon -
Here’s a credo as a Christian woman on Gender Blog. My Credo as a Christian Woman
Sholl at Solapanel writes that biblically “‘rest’ is a concept concerned with enjoying the blessings of God and worshipping him, untroubled by invading foes or the fallen creation.” He notes in Nehemiah 9:36-37 that although that are back in Jerusalem, have a largely rebuilt wall, working hard to reinstitute religious life, and all this in the Promised Land, they are slaves. Why? Because of their sins. With sin all the physical stuff will never confer rest. “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:27-30) Where are we looking for rest-
Challies briefly sums up Henry Blackaby’s presentation at the reFocus conference. He said things like, "If you are not clearly, unmistakably hearing from God, it is your heart that is the problem. When you test your heart, honestly and carefully, see if you are hearing regularly, constantly from God." He was trying to call pastors to listen to God to see if he would be raising them up to use them to call this nation to repentance. Challies talks about the oddity of the conference: “On Tuesday the three keynote speakers were Voddie Baucham, Flip Flippen and John Piper. The message proclaimed by Baucham and Piper was radically different, opposite even, to the message shared by Flippen. Today we begin our day with Henry Blackaby and end the day with John MacArthur. And again, these men would be polar opposites when it comes to an issue as critical as authority, of sola scriptura.” Do people not even see the contradiction? reFocus Conference (V)
While Scripturalists try to leverage Calvin, Pike points out that Calvin “differentiates between knowledge that lost men have and knowledge that would be gained from nature were it not for the sinful effects of Adam’s fall. These are obviously two very different things, yet Calvin had no trouble using the same word (“knowledge”) for both concepts.” Calvin held that one gained real knowledge through the senses, speaking of the knowledge of God being revealed clearly in creation, yet more intimately and vividly in His word. When Calvin taught sola scriptura and responded to the Romanists, he limited the use of the term ‘knowledge’ to knowledge of Scripture. But he had a variable idea of knowledge. Correcting a Misquote of Calvin
Hays notes that Gordon Clark’s assertion that a man is just a set of propositions (i.e. he is what he thinks) means that man is purely mental entity. According to this idealistic anthropology, men don’t have physical bodies; they’re merely mental projections. This means that Jesus never become incarnate or was crucified or resurrected. The hypostatic union is just the Son with a human soul. Another implication is pantheistic idealism, since God is creator, and man is therefore a collection of divine thoughts. Clarkian monophysitism
Manata writes, “Greg Mankiw points out the failed (for the nth time) vision of liberal elites in this post on women and declining happiness. How many times do liberal visions and ideologies have to slam into the rock of empirical disconfirmation for people to get it?” I am woman, hear me...mope-
Mohler writes that America is still deeply divided over abortion, with an unsettled conscience, even 35 years after its legality. Only 22% believe that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances. That means that fully 60% of Americans are opposed to removing all legal restriction to abortion -- a stunningly large majority. The best that Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, can offer is: "I am pretty confident that Americans really don't want Roe v. Wade overturned." Hardly a profound defence for abortion as a basic right. Apparently younger Americans are increasingly pro-life. It seems that the pro-choice movement is losing ground, not gaining. The frustration of pro-choice leaders is starting to show. They have little reason to be confident. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3831
Here are some benefits of life without a TV. i) avoiding commercials/fueling the consumer mentality. ii) Better time usage. iii) Protection of children. iv) avoiding narcissism, bad ethics, and poor reasoning. v) Enhancement of aesthetic sense. http://wisdomandfollyblog.com/2009/06/15/some-benefits-of-life-without-television/
Creation.com points to the Lihir gold deposits, which are challenging conventional thinking that gold deposits only form over long periods of time. Two New Zealand geologists estimated that 24 kilograms (53 pounds) of gold are being added to the Ladolam deposit every year. Other geologists are quoting saying that it could have formed extremely rapidly (i.e. in the time it took Mt. St. Helens) or even in a cataclysmic event, rather than 55000 years. Creation.com suggests Noah’s flood as an explanation. http://creation.com/rapid-gold-deposit
Spurgeon challenges pastors who would think to substitute things for Scriptural teaching when times seem ‘unsuccessful’. Are we also to have a substitute for bread?—and healthier drink than pure water? To hope ever to bring sinners to holiness and heaven by any teaching but that which begins and ends in Jesus Christ is a sheer delusion. Let Us Preach Christ!
Phil Johnson uses the Taliban’s use of infrared patches to appear as friendlies to US aircraft as an analogy for the wolves in sheep’s clothing in the churches. After preaching on John 10:1-5 he was challenged by a man who claimed is was useless to try to distinguish the wolves from the sheep. Johnson fears that this attitude pervades the churches, as anyone with a few Christian badges is accepted. Let Us Preach Christ!
Union with Christ doesn’t diminish imputation but allows it. From William Tyndale: “and by thy good deeds shalt thou be saved, not which thou hast done, but which Christ has done for thee; for Christ is thine, and all his deeds are thy deeds. Christ is in thee, and thou in him, knit together inseparably. Neither canst thou be damned, except Christ be damned with thee: neither can Christ be saved, except thou be saved with him.” William Tyndale on Imputation and Union with Christ
Michael Horton is interviewed by CBN news regarding his book, Christless Christianity. He makes the statement loud and clear that many Christians are using Jesus as a mascot, for therapy, for their own causes. And above all that, they are not proclaiming Him as the way, the truth, and the life. He goes after health and wealth, saying that we are not promised the best life now (materially speaking). Indeed, the church is dying from theological vacuity. People say their biggest problem is that they aren’t happy. But their biggest problem is that they are under the wrath of God. God doesn’t exist to make you materially happy now. You exist to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/the-latest-post/2009/6/22/michael-horton-interviewed-by-cbn-news.html
Iain Campbell has some comments on Peter Masters’ attack on the new Calvinism. A thing is not a sin just because Masters doesn’t like it. This sweeping attack on professing Calvinists is entirely unhelpful: “if there are specific issues of heterodoxy or heteropraxy, let's hear them, and debate them. But let's not put all our tulips in the one basket and condemn everyone by association.” Calvinism and Worldliness (Iain D Campbell)
AiG points out that Samuel was sleeping in the tabernacle, not the temple, and that there isn’t a conflict here, but only a difficulty in translation. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/06/22/contradictions-sleeping-in-the-temple
Genderblog provides quotations from sermons by John Kimbell, who points out that the sin of idleness is so serious because it is driven by a disregard for others. It’s a heart absorbed with self, and an idle person cannot be bothered with the needs of others, and is more willing to cause trouble and burden for others to facilitate the pursuit of their own selfish desires. It’s not coincidence that Paul goes after fathers in Eph. 5. “The heart of fatherhood is spending yourself, your time, your energy, your labor, your strength, to provide for and instruct and bless your family. Let’s not be idle, dads.” Don’t settle for simply not causing trouble. Your job is to lay down your life. Do Not Grow Wearing in Doing Good
T-fan quotes the pope, who said (to someone) that "Padre" Pio had a "total willingness to welcome the faithful, especially sinners,” and observes the category error in thinking that ‘sinners’ are only those with especially serious sin. T-fan connects this to a catechism which says, “He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners” which is erroneous because while Christ is the only intercessor for all men, He is not the intercessor for each men, and also, all are sinners, and being ‘especially’ a sinner is no limitation on intercession. Category Fail(ure) - Especially Sinners
Mounce briefly discusses the four words in Greek for ‘love’. Of note, αγαπαω (αγαπη) was a colorless word without any great depth of meaning: “All those great talks you have heard about αγαπη love being an undeserved love for the unlovely really has nothing to do with what the Greek word meant in the Koine. Rather, the word was infused with God’s love and so after the first century carried the biblical nuances of God’s love.” φιλεω overlaps in meaning with αγαπη as well (e.g. John 21:15-17, where Leon Morris has proven that John likes synonyms and variations do not necessarily have any great meaning). Everybody Needs a Little Love (Monday with Mounce 39)
No comments:
Post a Comment