2009-04-01

From Challies: "A new study by Christopher W. Crowe, an economist for the International Monetary Fund, found that during the last two housing booms in the United States, regions with high concentrations of evangelicals saw lower gains in home prices and less volatility than similar regions with fewer evangelical residents." Did Evangelicals Curb the Housing Bubble?. HT: 1)

Phillips points out that we are a pathetic mess. Physical ailments of all sorts pull us down, etc. and we are a massive work in progress. We live in an already/not-yet tension: We “who've placed repentant faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are saved, justified, forgiven, sanctified, adopted, baptized, indwelt, loved, blessed, seated, adopted, owned by God” and even past-tense ‘glorified’, so sure is that. But we mustn’t under-emphasize the ‘not-yet’, as we still struggle with the flesh and await deliverance. But one day we will see Christ and be like Him, and that is our hope. One day we won’t be like a bad orchestra warming up, but a great symphony. Pathetic, but (thank God) not forever

Swan recommends Turretinfan’s research on the quote attributed to Luther that “Justification is the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls.” It is certainly Luther-esque (cf. "This doctrine [justification] is the head and cornerstone. It alone begets, nourishes, builds, preserves, and defends the church of God; and without it the church of God cannot exist for one hour..."), and it is too hasty to concede (e.g. Mohler) that “the first recorded use of this formulation is found in Valentius Loescher, who in 1718 used it to correct the Pietists.” T-fan has shown that it does go further back. Justification- The doctrine upon which the church stands or falls

Whitney gives ten questions to help one benefit from a conference/event: “What's the single most important truth I have learned at this conference/event? "What's the most important thing in my life that will be different or I will attempt to change as a result of attending this conference/event? What's the next step I should take to incorporate this change into my life? What's the single most important resource I should acquire at or after this conference/event? When will I begin to read/listen to/utilize this resource? Who is one person at this conference/event with whom I should discuss this conference/event? Who is one person after this conference/event with whom I should discuss something from this conference/event? Who is the one person at this conference/event I most need to encourage? Who is someone who has helped to organize or serve at this conference/event who deserves a word of gratitude and would be encouraged to know of the impact of this conference/event in my life? What's one thing I should pray about for myself and for others as a result of this conference/event?” http://www.biblicalspirituality.org/10qconf.html

Piper points out that a difference between heaven and hell isn’t that certain ethic groups will be in one and not the other, but that all groups will be in both (Romans 2:9), and in hell the racial fury will reach its maximum, while in heaven God’s design in ethnic diversity will exist in joyous harmony (Romans 2:7). “Everyone who loves racial diversity and racial harmony will call all ethnic groups everywhere to believe on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Racial Diversity in Hell

Here’s an interesting comment in the ongoing Presbyterian debate over Paedocommunion from Doug Wilson on 1 Cor. 10:17: “I cannot see any way to read that text which does not identify the entire body with the entire loaf. And all forms of paedobaptist exclusion of some baptized members from the Table are a refusal of bread to bread.” HT: The Bread is the Body

“Those interested in how Calvinists handle 2 Peter 2:1 will enjoy this overview from Desiring God. For a more detailed study, see this paper from Alpha and Omega Ministries.” Points of Interest

Swan summarizes a debate over whether Luther changed Romans 3:28 to say "faith alone." Of note, a few Roman translations do the same, and there was no infallible decree from the magisterium on that passage at that time, so he wasn't going against the church! http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=2806

Patton confesses that he is a manipulator. Manipulators i) always make themselves the victims; ii) wisely (shrewdly?) redirect conversations so that true statements about them have no rhetorical impact; iii) strain out others gnats and secretly swallow camels; iv) convince self and others of self-righteousness based on small things; v) manipulators manipulate themselves. Once a manipulator has taken such a turn, it is almost impossible to make them see the truth. How do they sleep at night? They’re always the victim, permitting a self-satisfaction in a twisted self-righteousness. Confession Time . . . I am a Manipulator

Hays interacts with some Eastern Orthodox proponents over the criterion of truth. i) To the idea that a local council can anathematize so long as they agree with the Apostolic teaching of the church, Hays points out that this merely pushes the problem back and begs the question as to how that criterion is identified. ii) If the criterion of truth is true teaching doesn’t that make the content its own criterion? iii) To the idea that the ‘consensus patrum is generally pretty clear’, how is a church father identified? How is the entirety of tradition identified? How is orthodoxy distinguished? iv) To the idea that bishops, synods, and fathers can potentially speak infallibly concerning the original content of the Apostles’ teaching insofar as they members of God’s body (the Head of which is Christ), did the OT patriarchs+prophets grasp Scripture (e.g. Ezra?) – and how does this exclude laymen? A denial of a formal procedure or mechanism is a tacit admission that the EO notion isn’t objective. t did the church always believe? EO solutions are viciously circular or viciously regressive. In search of the criterion of truth

Adams has some interesting reflections on getting old, in that one doesn’t perceive himself as older – but the body is noticeably less comfortable, and you recognize the same person. Youth and Age

Commenting on Ezekiel 33:33, Adams asks, even if “pulpit entertainment isn’t your prime concern in attending church, even if you aren’t a sermon taster travelling about from church to church (or from Bible conference to Bible conference ) in search of beautiful singing and skillful playing from the pulpit, isn’t there at least a touch of this attitude in you?” Beautifully Singing Preachers

To the question, “What does Africa give?” this journalist says that they give nothing but AIDS! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/challies/XhEt/~3/352629215/friday-miscellania-8.php

Tom Schreiner's NT theology sounds like a good read. He takes a thematic approach to the text and he sees the magnification of God in Christ as the central theme. http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/08/interview-with-tom-schreiner-on-nt.html

A Romanist alleges that Luther disagreed with Zwingli on faith alone. There is also a quote of Luther's understanding of James and Paul (namely, James is arguing for justifying the genuineness of faith.) Also, it has a brief note on the origin of 'double justification.’ http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/swiss-vs-luther-on-faith-alone.html

You aren't safe from adultery. David – a man after God's own heart, who wrote inspired Scripture, prophesied, and was king - he did it. How much more you? http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DGBlog/~3/352603218/

Pastors aren't the ministers. Pastors 'equip the saints for the work of ministry.' He's the pastor. Everyone else is the minister! http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2008/08/things-pastor-isnt-minister.html

Luther resisted compromise. We are to obey God rather than man, to be pure, unadulterated, to hold fast to the truth and not give one inch. http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/07/30/no-compromise/

The Harris brothers' book 'do hard things' is generally good, calling teens to be men and be excellent. Its weakness is that many of the 'hard things' are political in nature. http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/07/31/do-hard-things/

It took persecution to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, and the apostles didn't get their act together until two chapters later, when, in Acts 10, we see Peter receiving a vision telling him to preach to them! The point of the post is that if you desire to preach Christ to someone, you don't need the permission of the institutional church to do so. http://solapanel.org/article/anonymous_mission/#When:23:00:01Z