Phillips writes that King Herod the Great believed the Scripture, believed that the Messiah was a real individual who would come, and understood these things, but did not personally embrace Him. It's not that those elements are dispensable - not at all. They are indispensable. But they are not of themselves sufficient. "So it is for many today, including many "evangelicals." They know some true things, they accept some true things, and to a degree they even act on some true things. But that core sin remains, lives, and thrives: pride, the motivator that transformed the anointed cherub into Satan, the Devil." Saving faith must be a knowing fact, an accepting faith, and a repenting pride-crucifying faith. Christ is good news for those who receive Him. King Herod, the believer
Hays writes a post with some humble guidance with respect to breaking pornography addiction. 1) "there’s no reason for the church to engage in ritual self-flagellation about the scandal of porn addiction in the church. Rather, the church has a special mission to address this sin, since the role of the church is to address sin generally." Christians men are also men, held to the same standard as all other men. 2) It's sin with a stigma, making it more secret than perhaps others, particularly for authority figures, who are in a rough sport. 3) Wrong turns: Monasticism (when you deny your desires, you fuel your temptation), Quietism and hyper-charismatic quick fixes. 4) Coping: a) Never despair! If you stay in the game, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. If you throw in the towel, you have nothing to gain and everything to lose. The alternative to perseverence is always a loss. b) Moderation. Don't set expectations that are absurdly high. You can't switch off desire. Moreover, men are wired to find practical and aesthetic features in women pleasurable. "it also goes to the fact that a woman is more than woman. A woman is an ideal. A woman represents the Church. And God has programmed men idealize women because a woman is emblematic of something even greater than herself. Woman as metaphor." "I assume that’s why we traditionally dress the bride as if she’s a queen. For, theologically speaking, every woman is a queen—as a token of the Church she represents. The Bride of Christ." "The problem occurs when a man is unable to reconcile his ideal with reality. The ideal should prepare him for marriage. But he needs to distinguish woman qua woman from woman qua metaphor." "We should try to be whatever our spouse saw in us at the outset. That’s why our spouse chose to marry us. What drew the one to the other. That, of course, goes beyond appearances, but if appearance was a factor, it should not be neglected or taken for granted." c) You need to starve your addiction. That's the grain of truth in monasticism. d) Substitute licit pleasures in place of illicit ones. e) Accountability relationships, with those who share the struggle. Fight together. f) The struggle with besetting sin is an indicator of life (just don't quit struggling). g) Use the various means of grace. h) Keep a diary. Porn addiction. And see this quote. True love waits
Manata goes after Stellman's review of Carson's Christ and Culture. Of note, Manata argues that Carson definitely does not think that only Christians can be moral, or that they are the only ones who can help culture. "to claim that Carson even remotely implies that one needs to “affirm Chalcedonian Christology in order to” do “horizontal goods” is so far from a charitable reading of Carson that only the desire to get off one’s “talking points” can account for this massively distorted missive." Carson doesn't give the impression that Scripture furnishes us with a solid thorough idea of what a godly society looks like. Christ & Culture Revisted Review- Reviewd
Here's a quick survey that shows that belief in the continual incarnation of Christ has been held throughout church history. Jesus' Humanity Throughout History
HT Challies 23): Bush, Cheney comforted troops privately This is a neat story from the Washington Times. "For much of the past seven years, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have waged a clandestine operation inside the White House. It has involved thousands of military personnel, private presidential letters and meetings that were kept off their public calendars or sometimes left the news media in the dark. "
Here's a review by Challies of the book Virtual Integrity, which exists to try to help people maintain their integrity in an internet age - to use the tech wisely. "(1) refresh your values in cyberspace by comparing your online life with your offline life to see if the values you take online are the same you hold in real life; (2) pledge personal online integrity, simply creating and adhering to a pledge that you will maintain your values online; (3) seek trusted accountability to ensure that you will maintain your integrity; (4) apply helpful technology that will protect you and help steer you away from some of the internet's seedy underbelly; (5) balance online and offline life to ensure that you are not being consumed by addiction to the internet; (6) practice humble authenticity through self-examination and by avoiding "virtual cliffs" in cyberspace; (7) become a cyber ambassador for good by extending Christian values and Christian character into cyberspace." Book Review - Virtual Integrity
This blog cautions against implicit prosperity teaching by example and neglected emphasis. When preachers rail against it, but leave nothing but generalities and abstracts regarding contentment and generosity, we're left comparing ourselves to others in the pew. Naturally, we'll tend to compare to those with more, not less. While we recognize that God does indeed give good gifts, we must also not neglect the emphasis that this is indeed a time of war, and we should integrate that into our living. Let's be careful not to give approval to wrong desires when we say the right thing, too. God has made all these good things for His glory, which shines most perfectly in Christ crucified, and we should be living in light of this crucifixion. Prosperity teaching without the bling
Doug Powell reminds Christians of the offense of the cross. "Jesus’ birth is a judgment that says we are all guilty before a holy, righteous, and just God, and that we can do nothing to save ourselves from his wrath. Without Jesus we are lost, utterly without hope, condemned. We are in desperate need of a savior. And the idea of a defenseless infant being our savior sprinkles our indictment with a bit of humiliation. Being told your are wrong, lost, helpless, hopeless, and condemned doesn’t exactly make you want to celebrate by running out to buy presents for your friends and family and trimming up the tree." Don't be surprised that the world hates the 'Christ' in Christmas. The Offense of Christmas
Patton gives a reason for why he isn't a charismatic. While theologically open to it, he has never seen it. He also cites a few Scriptures to show the seriousness of miraculous signs as attesting works to prophetic claims, and how dangerous it is to simply presume that you have a word from God. [btw, I share a similar position to Patton's. ] "Moral of this story: If someone claims to speak on behalf of God—if someone claims to have a prophetic gift—you have every right and obligation to demand an attesting sign. As well, if you think you are a prophet—if you sincerely believe that God has called you to such a ministry—you need to tell God that you cannot do so without such a sign. If one is not granted to you, then I would be highly suspicious that you are speaking of your own imagination. I would suggest that you adjust your theology to take God’s word more seriously otherwise your supposed prophetic gift may be causing you to perpetually take the Lord’s name in vain. No small matter." Why I am Not Charismatic (Part 3)- Prophecy and Healings
From Genderblog, for parents: Here's a review of toddler's Bibles. Toddler Bibles Reviewed, Part I
Kauflin recommends some songs to help people glory in Christ this Christmas. "Throughout the morning I tried to help us remember that CHRIST is the meaning of Christmas. I was grateful that we don’t have to sing songs that simply have a Christmas “sound” without the substance." Helping People Glory in Christ at Christmas
This blog draws an analogy between the remarkable survival of several airmen who were stranded out at sea in World War 2 and the sacrifice of Christ on behalf of His people. A Christmas Rescue
Jay Adams: "What is, is what ought to be from the perspective of God’s decretive will. What He decrees, is, and will be. What is not, is what ought to be from the perspective of God’s directive will." Is What Is What Ought To Be-
Jay Adams rants about people who say, "it is about time someone said/did something," and yet, well, do nothing. Don’t Ask Me
Humour from Manspeak: Is Santa really a man? Here's some anecdotal evidence to the contrary. Is Santa Really A Man-
Tom Ascol is a repenting Scrooge about Christmas (that is, rejecting it on account of cultural decadence and extravagance). "have no controversy with my fellow believers who do not wish to celebrate the holiday while fully rejoicing in the miracle of the incarnation. "He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it" (Romans 14:6). I hope that they will extend the same consideration to me and others who will celebrate with friends and family in a couple of days." A Repenting Scrooge, Larry Norman and Christmas Time
Turretinfan: "It is reported that religious leaders in Ethiopia are pushing for a constitutional ban on homosexuality (link). While it is great that a nation would condemn sin, governmental action is not enough. The church needs to be active in preaching the true Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ." Homosexuality and Ethiopia
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