2009-04-24

AiG looks at the question of the natural means by which the animals could have lived on the ark. While it is possible to appeal to miracles, it isn't necessary to show that such answers easily address what are really trivial answers. i) The ark could have held 16000 animals with standard laboratory spacing (even the largest dinosaurs would be small as newborns); ii) They could have eaten compressed hay, while carnivorous dinosaurs could have eaten dried meat/self-cocooned fish; iii) the animals required only emergency care, and 8 people could have fed/watered (e.g. piping water in via bamboo) 16000 creatures if necessary; iv) Simple non-mechanical ventilation and convection would be sufficient to provide air; v) up to 12 tons of animal waste would have been produced daily, but providing slotted floors or sloped floors, permitting the waste to collect, would have enabled the 8 people to remove it without too much difficulty. Lethal gases like methane would not accumulate in hazardous levels, since it is lighter than air. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n2/caring-for-the-animals

Adams argues that the coming of the Son of Man spoken of by Jesus is the coming of the Son to the Father, not the second coming of the Son to the earth, based on the image and allusion to Daniel 7. Wrong Directions

This post asks whether Christians have applied an inconsistent sexual ethic, speaking of those who support Miss California as a voice in opposition to homosexual marriages, while ignoring the reality that the whole competition really is an excuse to boost ratings and gain viewers by providing gorgeous scantily clad women for men to objectify and enjoy. The Other Miss California Controversy

Mohler argues that, which sustainability may be threatened in some limited areas of the globe by dense populations, the far greater danger is underpopulation. The UN now predicts that the world population will begin falling by 2040, with a trend toward depopulation appearing in Europe, Asia, and now Latin America. The UN thinks that nearly half of all remaining population growth will be another 1.2 billion old people, with the worldwide supply of children falling within 15 years. A stable standard of living depends on a steady flow of young people entering the work force and contributing. Without new workers, an aged population cannot sustain itself, as childlessness puts great strains on the entire system of care-giving upon which both individuals and the society in general depend. This childlessness (1/5 of baby boomers had no kids) is from lifestyle choices. The contraceptive mentality, where children are a choice often not chosen, is maladaptive behaviour. And pets don't exactly substitute. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3502

Mohler points to an observation that "As the "welfare state" expands, the church recedes as the source of needed charity and social services. " Many young adults are avoiding marriage and children, which were formerly driving factors in increasing church attendance, since people sought out guidance. The delay of marriage is the primary driver of secularization, and the unnatural extension of adolescence comes with many consequences. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3478

Turk points out that Paul told Titus to appoint elders - not priests - in every town, and that these elders were to be inherently trustworthy, not infallible. Paul thought elders have a duty to be faithful to the word, not to innovate or the 'draw fresh energy' from councils (e.g. like Trent, according to the CCC). "Paul wasn’t building an organ of infallible transmission in calling Titus to call trustworthy men: he was instructing Titus to establish elders who would be a hedge against the natural tendency of men to corrupt the teaching of God’s word." Establish Elders [1]

Adams points to Luke 16:16, briefly arguing that preaching has changes with the advent of Christ, with the law and prophets preaching until the coming of Christ, and with His advent, the kingdom is now preached, and every passage in OT and NT is interpreted with NT eyes. From the Days of John

Greg Bahsen wrote that formerly, many colleges required courses in philosophy, but since this has been dropped, 'America’s colleges have been turning out graduates with little interest or proficiency in clear thinking, consistency, cogency, and depth of insight regarding a world-and-life-view.' He rejects the reading that Col. 2:8 is telling people to de facto avoid philosophy, but rather it warns about philosophy - and a particular kind of it at that. Paul is warning against the empty and vain, the opinions of men, and that thinking predicated on the elementary principles of the world. Paul could have nothing to do with philosophy that did not begin with Christ and that was not according to Christ. So, we study philosophy to beware of misguided thinking and to commit ourselves to true thinking about man and the world. Everyone has a philosophy, and we should consider what philosophy is implicitly taught to children and students in every other course, and adopt an explicit philosophy predicated on Christ. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/03/25/beware-of-philosophy

This is a lengthy paper to the following effect from AiG: i) certain features of the “Upper Cretaceous” period correspond closely with the biblical account of the Noachian Flood around day 150. (ii) the concept of the geological column is not robust over small distances, and (iii) that there is independent support to the RATE studies that show that the earth is young. iv) A consequence of this geoscientific study is that geology is a powerful visible witness to the testimony of the Bible, and such facts should therefore be used in evangelism. Specifically, the real fossil record, rather than the constructed geological column, disproves evolution. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v2/n1/chalk-and-upper-cretaceous-deposits

Patton posts some questions that surface as common objections to attending church (e.g. why can't I just meet with Christian friends, why can't I support those who are labouring in teaching that I benefit from, why can't I just listen to podcast sermons, I'm tired of being judged for not going to church, etc.) Why Even Bother Going to Church-

Asking “is five point Calvinism a new intolerance?” does nothing constructive, merely bringing heightened emotions to a subject that should be addressed prayerfully and biblically. When looking at the factors affecting the spread of Calvinism, one should consider that people exposed to Calvinism are going to their Bibles to see if it's true. Calvinism offers the grandest view of God. "The SBC’s history has shown that she went from being conservative to liberal, and then back to conservative again.  How did this happen?  Southern Baptists in the churches asked the question, “What does the Bible say about the Bible?”  Could it be that the SBC, which has went from being Calvinistic to non-Calvinistic, will once again return to her roots by Southern Baptists in their churches asking the question, “What does the Bible say about the gospel and salvation?”  May we always be a people of the Book who submit our traditions to the Book and derive our doctrines from the Book." Southern Baptists and Calvinists- A Response to Elmer Towns (Part 3)

Mohler is glad to see the surge in the return to a desire to plant churches among young pastors, while also observing that pastors who will shepherd existing churches faithfully are desperately needed. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3510

When Christ appears, we shall be like Him. While we don't know exactly what that entails, it will be glorious and will be pure, and it is certain. Purity by Expectation

JT points to a sermon where Spurgeon makes the following point: Even the apostle, with all his benefits, was concerned about books. Even the apostle read. Spurgeon applies this principle to preachers who presume to preach without premeditation or preparation, and to all preachers in general. They need to read substantial and good theological material, and the best uses of their leisure time are reading or praying. "Bring the books!" Spurgeon- Yet He Wants Books!

Carson gives twelve lessons for the scholar as a frustrated pastor. Of note, "Fight with every fiber of your being the common dichotomy between objective study of Scripture and devotional reading of Scripture," beware applause, don't do lone ranger scholarship, pray and work, and be at least as interested in the work of others as in your own work. Carson- Twelve Lessons for the Scholar as (Frustrated) Pastor

Another great-looking book is due out soon: The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament, by Andreas J. Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles L. Quarles. "Between this volume and Carson and Moo's standard, An Introduction to the New Testament, evangelical students are very well served indeed!" The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown

Here's a number of messages by Richard Gaffin on union with Christ. Richard Gaffin- Lectures on the Mystery of Union with Christ

For those interested in current events, see Phillips hither and tither: "One of Americans' most cherished, Constitutionally-guaranteed rights is the right to free speech. Regular readers will be unsurprised to note that Democrats in Congress are hard at work to relieve us of that right." "More on "torture": IBD notes today's Dems' hypocrisy. Meanwhile, a tape of real torture makes for horrid reading. The Obama administration doesn't want you to know the life-saving information obtained by the tactics. Voters may not be buying the Dems' tactics." 09 — duty to die, Obama caving, Miss California, and more!

Responses to grace in the Canons of Dordt: "God does not owe this grace to anyone. For what could God owe to one who has nothing to give that can be paid back? Indeed, what could God owe to one who has nothing of his own to give but sin and falsehood? Therefore the person who receives this grace owes and gives eternal thanks to God alone; the person who does not receive it either does not care at all about these spiritual things and is satisfied with himself in his condition, or else in self-assurance foolishly boasts about having something which he lacks. Furthermore, following the example of the apostles, we are to think and to speak in the most favorable way about those who outwardly profess their faith and better their lives, for the inner chambers of the heart are unknown to us. But for others who have not yet been called, we are to pray to the God who calls things that do not exist as though they did. In no way, however, are we to pride ourselves as better than they, as though we had distinguished ourselves from them." Fourth Head of Doctrine, Article Fifteen

DeYoung notes John Stott's point in The Cross of Christ that substitutionary atonement isn't just a theory of the atonement. He looks at the four principal New Testament images of salvation, taken from the shrine (propitiation), the market (redemption), the court of law (justification) and the home (reconciliation), and points out that each highlights a particular aspect of our need, and that salvation is, in each aspect, of God's love and initiative. And substitutionary atonement is the foundation of each of these. It cannot be done away with. "It is rather the essence of each image and the heart of the atonement itself." Substitution Is Not a Theory of the Atonement !