2008-12-21

Manata writes that while he isn't opposed to two kingdom theology, its advocates often make it difficult to accept. "it seems they're more skilled in rhetoric and maligning the opposition, than in arguing for the position in any relevant way." He then comments on an article by Stellman than that seems to make the argument that Obama inviting Rick Warren to deliver the prayer means the "Christian right" was wrong about Obama being such a 'pinko progressive' president. Yet, Stellman neglected to point out that Obama also invited Joseph Lowery - the polar opposite. Better Dead Than Red

Hays takes apostate Ed Babinki to task for his production of hackneyed arguments against Christianity and general ignorance. e.g. Ed goes for the Servetus connection with Calvin, Nazi's and Christianity, etc. Mister Ed

Engwer cites some material to show that December 25 was probably borrowed as a date by pagans, not the other way around, and that Constantine and the Roman church didn't institute it to counter paganism: "the pagan festival of the 'Birth of the Unconquered Son' instituted by the Roman Emperor Aurelian on 25 December 274, was almost certainly an attempt to create a pagan alternative to a date that was already of some significance to Roman Christians. Thus the 'pagan origins of Christmas' is a myth without historical substance....Thus, December 25th as the date of the Christ’s birth appears to owe nothing whatsoever to pagan influences upon the practice of the Church during or after Constantine’s time. It is wholly unlikely to have been the actual date of Christ’s birth, but it arose entirely from the efforts of early Latin Christians to determine the historical date of Christ’s death. And the pagan feast which the Emperor Aurelian instituted on that date in the year 274 was not only an effort to use the winter solstice to make a political statement, but also almost certainly an attempt to give a pagan significance to a date already of importance to Roman Christians." December 25 And Paganism

Hays responds with some good thoughts on the idea, 'why didn't God save this person, or heal this amputee?' Notably, he points out that the Bible is full of stories of God's people suffering and dying (let alone those who are not His people). To the idea that people would believe if God did this, "i) God doesn’t want everyone to believe in him. ii) There is more to Biblical faith than the bare belief that God exists. Healing an amputee doesn’t make an amputee a true believer. It may simply make him regard God the way he views a politician: “What have you don’t for me lately?”" He shall give his angels charge over thee

Spurgeon reminds us that Christ is the King of His church, and no civil magistrate anywhere, anytime, has any authority over her dealings. They may presume to do so, and make laws to govern the church, but we must dash them upon the rocks. If we break civil laws in upholding the commands of Christ, we may be judged by those laws as individuals, but Christ's church must never yield (e.g. in excommunicating people). Christ Alone Is Lord of His Church

Piper writes briefly about his wedding and marriage after 40 years. On Our 40th Wedding Anniversary

White's year in review: Year in Review

Challies gives a negative review of Incomprehensible Demoralization on account of (among other things) "the fact that the gospel is almost entirely absent from this account." "While Combs ascribes his victory over drugs and alcohol to God's grace, never does he describe the power of the cross or the power of God's forgiveness. Never does he preach the gospel as God's power over sin. He turns often to Alcoholic Anonymous' Big Book but never does he quote the Bible." Book Review - Incomprehensible Demoralization

Challies gives a quote and comment that contains a warning on having so much information that we can't be bothered (to put it into use or sift it or digest it). Things Vaguely Comprehended

Carson warns against wasting the good technology we have, dwindling our time away with useless information and music. Carson on Technology

JT has a post on Governor Ryan and the Willis family. Governor Ryan, the Willis Family, and the Pursuit of Biblical Forgiveness

Trueman has some wise words for Christians as we approach freakdom in the public eye. "There are two temptations here which must be resisted at all costs. The first is to compromise biblical standards. The mainline denominations and seminaries are already doing this... [many work to] create an environment where to be opposed to homosexuality is regarded as irrational, implausible bigotry. This can only be resisted in two ways: mindless anti-gay bigotry built on hatred, which is sinful and unbiblical; or a vigorous commitment to high biblical standards of morality." "The second temptation is to become what the pro-gay left are saying we are already: hatemongers. It is vital we remember that nobody can be reduced simply to their sexuality." Carl Trueman

Here's a critique of the ESV on why it shouldn't become the standard English translation. (a 'how to make a good thing better' kind of critique, it seems). "This paper is a constructive critique of the ESV and an encouragement for its committee to make a good translation much better by doing a thorough review and revision of its English style and idiom. Critical questions we will ask include: (1) Does this translation make sense? (2) If comprehensible, is it obscure, awkward or non-standard English? Would anyone speaking or writing English actually say this? " In sum: (1) First, that translations from across the translation spectrum are helpful tools for students of the Word. (2) My second point is the more controversial one (at least for some people). It is that "literal" does not necessarily mean "accurate." Anyone who has ever learned a second language quickly learns that trying to be literal often results in awkward, obscure or inaccurate language. [I read some of the criticisms in the paper - a quick sampling showed some are warranted, while others seem a little more overboard] http://zondervan.typepad.com/files/improvingesv2.pdf. Koine English for Koine Greek by Mark Strauss