2009-03-08

There was a shooting at First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois, killing the senior pastor. Pray for First Baptist Church of Maryville, Ill. See here as well. "I don't think we need to analyze whether the church does everything exactly as we might wish before we "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). This is a shattering tragedy in their lives. Let us pray that the hearts of our brothers and sisters in Christ are comforted, and that Christ and His Gospel are exalted, in this sad situation. And let us pray for Pastor Winters' widow and children. Also pray for the murderer's conversion, for his sake (Matthew 5:44); and for his execution, for the sake of God's glory (Genesis 9:5-6), for justice's sake (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14), and for society's sake (Ecclesiastes 8:11)."  Baptist Pastor in Illinois shot and killed during service

An economist writes about the potential impact of Obama's economic radicalism. Title: Obama's Radicalism is Killing the Dow. It concludes: "On the growth effects of a large expansion of government, the European social welfare states present a window on our potential future: standards of living permanently 30% lower than ours. Rounding off perceived rough edges of our economic system may well be called for, but a major, perhaps irreversible, step toward a European-style social welfare state with its concomitant long-run economic stagnation is not." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123629969453946717.html

Hays writes that on the Christian pilgrim's progress, death doesn't mean one gets left behind. Rather, he goes right to the finish line. Also, the unbeliever walks by sight rather than faith, so he can't see the destination over the last row of hills. That's where they part ways. Pilgrim's progress. See here as well. The ship's manifest (everyone boards the ship, everyone's name is on the manifest, but is your name in the book of life?)

Hays points to problems with theistic evolution and old-earth creationism as mediating positions. "It’s difficult to isolate evidence for the antiquity of the earth from evidence for the origin of life and emergence of species. The chronology and biology tend to move in tandem. " Often they do concede an evolutionary sequence - but its hard to distinguish an evolutionary sequence from an evolutionary process. There is also a randomness to the fossil record. Agreement with evolution only confers an apologetic advantage if there is compelling evidence for it, and none against it - otherwise, his position is in danger of being as weak as macroevolution. It’s logical for the Christian to choose the option with the most Scriptural support, and defend it on whatever other grounds are available. Old-earth creationism

White responds to one of Hitchen's arguments, which White argues that an evidential approach is weak to respond to. Hitchen's asserts 1) a long time between the rise of homo sapiens and the rise of monotheism (he just asserts it); 2) he simple asserts a version of history and the past, without evidence, and adopts a modern arrogance of 'look how wise we are now.' 3) He just calls the message of Christ foolish and in the wrong place (he calls it a 'human sacrifice'). He calls God a "pitiless totalitarian power." Hitchens talks about slavery a lot, but he is ironically one of the most enslaved people around. Hitchen's knowledge of biblical Christianity is pitiful, but he seems to aim to continue in this ignorance, since his whole argument is aimed at tapping into the rebellious sinner's hatred for God. Hitchen's is the epitome of the God-hater depicted in the Bible (Romans 1). White points out that a denial of God is a sinful act of rebellion. These are unapologea, without a defence. Man knows about God from creation - some take that as meaning outward creation, some take it as the conscience, White takes it as both - and this leaves people without excuse. Exchanging the glory of God for lesser things can be done whether clothed in piety or atheism. The Christopher Hitchens Argument from the Debate with Frank Turek

JT points to a large collection of audio on worship from Southern Seminary. Lectures on Worship

Spurgeon says that "there is no true confession where there is not a changed spirit and a transformed life, or rather the confession is such as shall suffice to condemn the man out of his own mouth, and send him out from God's presence a revealed pretender... If grace does not make you to differ from your own surroundings, is it really grace at all? Where there is not a thorough separation from the world, there is cause to fear there is no close union to Christ." What Kind of Confession Do You Make-

Hays points to some quotes from Dawkins, and writes: "It’s striking to observe that, by his very own reckoning, Dawkins’ religious doubts coincide with the exact time in life when he encountered a pedophile priest. Inside the body of an aging Oxford Don is an angry 9-year-old who’s still lashing out at Christianity in the person of a long-dead Latin teacher." Dawkins' inner child