2009-03-06

Hays defends Turretinfan's anonymity in light of TF writing against pseudonymity: Sometimes pseudonymity and anonymity are morally equivalent, e.g. if a writer is using a transparent pseudonym it's equivalent to anonymity. But oftentimes, pseudonymity is a deceptive practice, as it tries to trade on the authority of respected figure whose name is being co-opted for that purpose, like a low-tech form of identity theft. This is the practice in spurious patristic writings which TF was addressing. Anonymity

Here's what might happen if Galatians were published in Christianity Today... today. http://sacredsandwich.com/archives/2781

With the caveat that Jesus greater than Mohammed because He is the God-man stated, Turretinfan repeats a question to Muslims, namely, how can Mohamed be called the greatest prophet? The question provides evidence from the Koran itself to document the idea that, even based solely on the Koran, Jesus was a greater prophet than any other prophet. Please consider reading and thinking about this question before you answer (link). Question for My Muslim Readers

Turretinfan lists the number of errors made by Albrecht in his misquotation of Pseudo-Athanasius as Athanasius: Aside from the English translation of Gambero, no scholar has been produced who views this work as authentic, and none back up Gambero. "Virtually all the scholarly references to this work identify it as Pseudo-Athanasius - and even the few that do not use that designation call it a "homily attributed to Athanasius" rather than trying to pass off the work as authentically Athanasian." No End in Sight for Misquotation of Athanasius. Here is another post documenting the misrepresentations and errors. T-fan even adds Angelo Gila, who is not only a doctor of theology, whose doctoral thesis was a study of the Marian writings of Severus of Gabala, but Mr. Gila is also a Servite friar - a friar in the order of the Servants of Mary - as well as a resident of the Turin area of Northern Italy. In a scholarly article published in the "Theotokos" (one of Mr. Albrecht's favorite words) journal, (Theotokos VIII (2000) 601-631), at page 613, Mr. Gila correctly identifies this work as Pseudo-Athanasius. Still Misquoting Athanasius as Steve Ray's Assistant Fails Again

Lot's of links and summaries here: e.g. "Obama administration to reverse Hippocratic oath? Instead of "You must do no harm," the 0-vision would appear to be,"  "Global warming? A card-carrying scientist just told Congress it's bunk. Well, a whole lot of card-carrying scientists say it's bunk. His actual words were that it is "propaganda, masquerading as science." Again, many say the same. The MSM just doesn't like telling you." You must do harm.""  09

Bird passes on a recommendation from BDAG and New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity, and makes this interesting comment: "While theologians debate what it means to be in the "image of God" the designation was a royal title in ANE literature and to attribute it to humanity, as happens in Genesis 1 and 9, is perhaps to say no more than humanity is royal in God's eyes." Friday is for Ad Fontes - NDIEC

Adams points out that in counseling, 1) What God requires must be insisted upon. 2) That insistence can be made with loving concern or with a rod (sometimes the latter is necessary). 3) God’s people are “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Make sure every counselee knows precisely what God’s word teaches about his situation - because that is the source of all hope. There Are Ways

Phil Johnson gives this recommendation of Mohler's message at the Shepherd's conference: "Mohler passionately and eloquently defended authority, certainty, and the necessity of proclaiming biblical absolutes that go against the grain of these pathologically relativistic postmodern times. He noted how common it is today for preachers to "curl their exclamation points into question marks." He decried the tendency of so many who approach unpopular truths with the attitude: "I know that's what the text says, but don't panic. We'll find a way around this." Mohler was at his very best." As One Having Authority

Adams points to the antithetical nature of God's word. For example, the Law "taught one thing primarily: in all of life there are only two ways between which you must two choose: God’s way and all others." The Bible is shot through with antithesis. There is in it good/bad, true/false, heaven/hell, lost/saved, Christians/non-Christians, right/wrong, truth/error, sin/righteousness, the narrow and the broad roads, the wide and strait gates. This is in contrast to the modern idea of continuum. Antithesis

Here's an interesting point that in Scripture, Paul doesn't tell people to delay in dealing with nefarious folk in the churches, and so allow them to multiply destruction. It's dealt with immediately, and lacking repentance, the individual is out. (cf. Titus 3:10) Schism

Adams argues from the truth that knowing hearts is God’s business—not ours, that "There are people in counseling who think that they can read the hearts of their counselees so as to learn what “idols” they have in their hearts. That is an impossible task, and should not be pursued." Man looks at actions and listens to the words of others, when he counsels. The Heart of the Matter

While good stewardship must not be ignored, Adams writes that Paul, in contrast to environmental extremism, says that the things that the world holds sacred, to the Christian, are but items that God has provided for our use. "His point is that when they are “used up” that’s OK (assuming they were used in a responsible manner). It is no great tragedy to deplete the supply of fossil fuels, for a species of unusual fish to become extinct, or for the wolves to be banned from lands where they attack and destroy herds of cattle and sheep." The unbeliever knows nothing of the world to come, so his worldview necessitates a struggle to preserve this one above all. Environmental Extremism- A One World View

Commenting on the WCF saying that God has not parts nor [emotions], Adams argues that God doesn't have emotions, for God would have to have a body, because emotions are bodily states. They have to do with adrenalin running through the veins or not, and so forth. But God is a Spirit, that is, a Person without a body. As Jesus put it in Luke 24, a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones (i.e., a body). The Bible also talks about God’s arm not being shortened so that He can’t save. It talks about His eye. He is called a “rock, a fortress, a shield.” We are told that “under His wings we are come to trust.” He isn’t a cosmic chicken! All of these are figures of speech designed to help us understand something about God by setting them forth in human terms. Emotions-

With regard to designer babies, Challies points to the evidence from studies of our consumer culture that endless choice bring endless regret and discontent; when we have fewer options, we are able to have more confidence in the choice we eventually make. When we customize our children, we will think of them differently; we will have to think of them differently. "What would cause us to believe that the ability to choose our child's hair color, eye color and other traits is going to make us happier with the child? Does not the very fact that we can make such choices open the possibility that we will then be able to regret the choice?" Endless customization also leads to discontent because it raises our expectations. Children are being turned into commodities. When Technology Outpaces Morality

Janelle of Girltalk points out that the criteria of eligibility for help for widows that Paul gives doesn't stop there, for it outlines the life and character of godly women. i) Not one mere trait will do, for she must be devoted to good works - “energetically and diligently giving herself” to them. ii) It's every good work. Not just the easy ones. "Good works are what she is giving her life, energy, time, and heart to. Good works are what she is all about." Devotion to good works is her life - everything else is just details. Devoted to Good Works

Nicole points out that these good works are deliberate deeds to help others, not works to earn acceptance before God. And God has already given women a todo list: Bringing up children, Showing hospitality, Washing the feet of the saints, Caring for the afflicted. Good Works To Do

The NEXT conference has replaced the Josh Harris's New Attitude conference - if you're interested, check it out: NEXT is All About Jesus

Piper provides a lengthy quote from John Duncan ("rabbi" Duncan, as he was called) to answer the question, how shall we preach to those who cannot come to Christ, but must come? (The Bible tells us we are so sinful we are morally unable to please God (Romans 8:7); that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6); Yet salvation is by faith, and we are called again and again in Scripture to believe (Acts 16:31).) Some have man do all, and God do none; others have God do all, so that man need do nothing. "But if we preach that sinners can't come, and yet must come, then is the honour of God vindicated, and the sinner is shut up. Man must be so shut up that he must come to Christ, and yet know that he cannot. He must come to Christ, or he will look to another, when there is no other to whom he may come; he cannot come, or he will look to himself. This is the gospel vice, to shut up men to the faith." Rabbi Duncan Preached to Those Who Couldn't Come

Piper gives his ideas as to how the two ideas that seem to be in the Bible, that God will visit the iniquity of fathers on their children, and that the children will not suffer for the iniquity of their father, fit together: 1) The sins of the fathers are punished in the children through becoming the sins of the children. (Exodus 20:5; cf. Numbers 14:18) 2) Because of God’s grace, which is finally secured by Christ, the children can confess their own sins and the sins of their fathers and be forgiven and accepted by God. (Leviticus 26:40-42; Exodus 34:6-7). http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/3664_How_God_Visits_Sins_on_the_Third_and_Fourth_Generation/