Thank Christ today for raising up men who take his Word seriously. Today we celebrate one such man: Martin Luther. I love the 5 sola's of the reformation. I was thinking lately about 'sola scriptura,' and how important it is. I was talking to Alicia about how vast Scripture is. I came to Southern thinking I had a good handle on the Bible. I was wrong. I have learned an amazing amount this past year and a half about the depth and breadth of Christ's word. I have learned much, but at the same time I have realized how much I have to learn. That is the beauty of God's Word. It is deep enough for a child to wade in, and deep enough for an elephant to swim.
Here is a link to Piper's great message on Luther.
10.31.2007
10.28.2007
Emergent Arrogance
I am all for seeing the kingdom expanded, and for a missional ecclesiology, but I am not for the emergent church. Many times they claim to be more humble than traditional Christianity, but when you are unclear about the things that God has made clear, you have become the epitome of arrogance in the guise of false humility. Doug Pagitt is a key leader in the emergent movement, right beside McLaren. I am not a huge fan of Way of the Master, or this interviewer in particular, but this interview shows Pagitt's ambiguity. Or listen to the main clip here. The scariest part is when Pagitt says that God will interact in judgment with all people in the same way. The context was concerning a Muslim. Granted, the interviewer did a poor job understanding him, but to make that kind of statement is dangerous. Christ has already brought those who have trusted through the judgment. Judgment for followers in Jesus Christ will be completely different than judgment for those who disobey the gospel.
(HT: Reformissionary)
(HT: Reformissionary)
10.25.2007
Good Lookin' Out: Piper on N.T. Wright
I didn't plan on pointing to more resources quite yet, but the sale ends in 10/31/07. Desiring God is showing generosity once again. They are selling Piper's latest book for $5. Its called 'The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright.' It releases in early November. This book won't be for everyone, but if you are aware of or interested in the current justification controversy, this will be one to add to your library. If not, you may just want to save your $5. Here is a 7 part interview with Piper concerning the book.
10.23.2007
Good Lookin' Out: Keller Book
I thought it might be useful to post about forthcoming books every month or so. The first is due out on Valentine's Day 08'. It is by Tim Keller and its called 'The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism.' I cannot speak highly enough of Tim Keller. He is a very able and insightful preacher to postmodern people. I providentially visited his church while in NYC a couple of years ago. Up to that point, I had never heard of him. He is partly why we are now at the church we are at. Our elders have learned much from the elders at Redeemer. Anyway, I am sure the book will be excellent, and may be the 'Mere Christianity' of our time. Here is the table of contents:
Introduction – All doubts are leaps of faith
PART 1 - The Leap of Doubt
1. There can’t be just one true religion.
2. A good God could not allow suffering.
3. Christianity is a straitjacket.
4. The church is responsible for so much injustice.
5. A loving God would not send people to hell.
6. Science has disproved Christianity.
7. You can’t take the Bible literally.
Intermission
PART 2 - The Grounds for Faith
8. The clues of God
9. The knowledge of God
10. The problem of sin
11. Religion and the gospel
12. The (true) story of the cross
13. The reality of the resurrection
14. The Dance of God
Epilogue – Where do we go from here?
Read his own thoughts concerning the book here.
Introduction – All doubts are leaps of faith
PART 1 - The Leap of Doubt
1. There can’t be just one true religion.
2. A good God could not allow suffering.
3. Christianity is a straitjacket.
4. The church is responsible for so much injustice.
5. A loving God would not send people to hell.
6. Science has disproved Christianity.
7. You can’t take the Bible literally.
Intermission
PART 2 - The Grounds for Faith
8. The clues of God
9. The knowledge of God
10. The problem of sin
11. Religion and the gospel
12. The (true) story of the cross
13. The reality of the resurrection
14. The Dance of God
Epilogue – Where do we go from here?
Read his own thoughts concerning the book here.
10.17.2007
Christ as Last Adam
One of my classes this semester is all about the work of Christ. Obviously, this has caused me to do some major reflection on all the many beautiful facets of the cross-work of our Lord. The substitutionary nature of the atonement has been under attack of late from all kinds of critics, both within and without evangelicalism. There have been many able responses affirming penal substitution. In my opinion, this has caused evangelicals to neglect the other aspects of the atonement. Can you think of a good Calvinistic work on the Christus Victor theme (Christ's victory over the principalities and powers)? For my paper, I wanted to focus in on some neglected aspect. Here is the bare-bones outline of my 24 page paper:
I. Eschatology
Eschatology is not simply the study of last things. A better definition is "the direction and goal of God’s active covenant faithfulness in and for His created order” (Brower). It is not an exaggeration to say that eschatology is the heart of the Bible, starting in Gen. 3.15. All that the prophets looked forward to has come with the first coming of Jesus Christ. They did not realize that the Messiah would have 2 comings. Christ's life, death, and resurrection ushered in the last days (Heb 1.2, 1 Cor 10.11, Gal 4.4, etc).
I. Adam
--A. The Old Creation
Adam is the head of the old creaion. He is given dominion, and called to represent YHWH as his divine image (Gen 1.26-28).
--B. Adam as Image/Son
The ancient near Eastern context would have been familiar with 'image' terminology. When a king conquered an area, he'd set up an image. The king was considered the image of a god. He represented the god on earth. When anyone saw the image, they would recognize that a certain king representing a certain god, had conquered and ruled that area. God is making a statement in creating humanity in his image. Humans cover the whole earth. God is saying that he rules and owns the whole universe. Humans are to represent YHWH's rule on earth.
Image is also tied to Sonship, so that Adam can be called the son of God (Gen 5.1-3, Luke 3.38).
--C. Edenic Cov.
Adam was head of the creation, as the covenantal head. In creating, God made a covenant with his creation. This is clear from the language used when God confirms the covenant made with Noah (Also see Hos 6.7, Jer 33.19-26, Rom 5.12-21)
II. Christ
--A. Christ as Eschatological Adam
See Rom 5.12-21, 1 Cor 15.21-22, 45-47.
--B. The true and obedient Son
Christ is the true image of God (2 Cor 4.4, Col 1.15). Christ undoes the work of Adam. The phrase “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil 2:6b) hearkens back to Genesis 3:5 (you will be like God) and the temptation of the first image-bearers. While the first Adam attempted to grasp equality with God, the last Adam did not use his equality with God for his own advantage but made himself nothing, for our sake.
The NT attests throughout that Christ is the Son of God. After the geaneology tracing Christ back to Adam (Lk 3), Luke then narrates Christ's temptation in the wilderness. Unlike Adam, Christ is successful in the wilderness. Where Adam failed, Christ is victorious.
--C. New Creation
Christ inaugurated the new creation with his resurrection. Easter morning was the first day of the new order. His work is cosmic in scope, and is renewing the entire creation. His redemption does not stop with individuals. His work will restore us to Eden and beyond.
--D. New Covenant
Christ death and resurrection initiates the new covenant, promised by the prophets. The Mosaic Covenant was only temporary. Christ is the last Adam, true seed of Abraham, new Moses, and David's greater Son. All the covenants find their fulfillment in him.
This new covenant brings with it a new humanity, whose sins are forgiven and are filled with the promised Holy Spirit. Christ is the true Israel, and by virtue of our faith-union with him, we are the true Israel (Gal 6.16, 3.29).
Christ restores his people to true humanity so that we love God, love our neighbor, and are good stewards of the earth. His resurrection is the guarantee of ours, the firstfruits. We are to be a kingdom of priests to the world as we wait for his return when he will return the cosmos to its original intention. We will reign with him in the new heavens and new earth.
I. Eschatology
Eschatology is not simply the study of last things. A better definition is "the direction and goal of God’s active covenant faithfulness in and for His created order” (Brower). It is not an exaggeration to say that eschatology is the heart of the Bible, starting in Gen. 3.15. All that the prophets looked forward to has come with the first coming of Jesus Christ. They did not realize that the Messiah would have 2 comings. Christ's life, death, and resurrection ushered in the last days (Heb 1.2, 1 Cor 10.11, Gal 4.4, etc).
I. Adam
--A. The Old Creation
Adam is the head of the old creaion. He is given dominion, and called to represent YHWH as his divine image (Gen 1.26-28).
--B. Adam as Image/Son
The ancient near Eastern context would have been familiar with 'image' terminology. When a king conquered an area, he'd set up an image. The king was considered the image of a god. He represented the god on earth. When anyone saw the image, they would recognize that a certain king representing a certain god, had conquered and ruled that area. God is making a statement in creating humanity in his image. Humans cover the whole earth. God is saying that he rules and owns the whole universe. Humans are to represent YHWH's rule on earth.
Image is also tied to Sonship, so that Adam can be called the son of God (Gen 5.1-3, Luke 3.38).
--C. Edenic Cov.
Adam was head of the creation, as the covenantal head. In creating, God made a covenant with his creation. This is clear from the language used when God confirms the covenant made with Noah (Also see Hos 6.7, Jer 33.19-26, Rom 5.12-21)
II. Christ
--A. Christ as Eschatological Adam
See Rom 5.12-21, 1 Cor 15.21-22, 45-47.
--B. The true and obedient Son
Christ is the true image of God (2 Cor 4.4, Col 1.15). Christ undoes the work of Adam. The phrase “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil 2:6b) hearkens back to Genesis 3:5 (you will be like God) and the temptation of the first image-bearers. While the first Adam attempted to grasp equality with God, the last Adam did not use his equality with God for his own advantage but made himself nothing, for our sake.
The NT attests throughout that Christ is the Son of God. After the geaneology tracing Christ back to Adam (Lk 3), Luke then narrates Christ's temptation in the wilderness. Unlike Adam, Christ is successful in the wilderness. Where Adam failed, Christ is victorious.
--C. New Creation
Christ inaugurated the new creation with his resurrection. Easter morning was the first day of the new order. His work is cosmic in scope, and is renewing the entire creation. His redemption does not stop with individuals. His work will restore us to Eden and beyond.
--D. New Covenant
Christ death and resurrection initiates the new covenant, promised by the prophets. The Mosaic Covenant was only temporary. Christ is the last Adam, true seed of Abraham, new Moses, and David's greater Son. All the covenants find their fulfillment in him.
This new covenant brings with it a new humanity, whose sins are forgiven and are filled with the promised Holy Spirit. Christ is the true Israel, and by virtue of our faith-union with him, we are the true Israel (Gal 6.16, 3.29).
Christ restores his people to true humanity so that we love God, love our neighbor, and are good stewards of the earth. His resurrection is the guarantee of ours, the firstfruits. We are to be a kingdom of priests to the world as we wait for his return when he will return the cosmos to its original intention. We will reign with him in the new heavens and new earth.
10.13.2007
Facebook & Narcissism
Facebook is blowing up. I have a profile, but am not a 'user.' I typically only log on when my email is prompted by a friend request, or message or something. I have often wondered how self-centered the site really is. You will recall that Narcissus was the fellow who fell in love with his own reflection. I find the site helpful for a couple of reasons, namely keeping up with old friends. But I also find a lot of negatives.
I read a great article this week about facebook in a recent Time Magazine by Joel Stein. He writes, "In the pre-internet days, neither of us would have even thought of calling each other friends. We'd have called ourselves friends of friends who met once and yet, for some reason, kept sending each other grammatically challenged, inappropriately flirty letters with photos of ourselves attached. Police might have gotten involved. . . . Its weird that I know more about you than I do about actual friends I hand out with in person." Would a real life friend "call me up and say, 'Hey! Guess what? I have a bunch of new pictures of me'? Or tell me he'd colored in a map of all the places he'd ever been?"
He continues, "I'm sure social networks serve many important functions that improve our lives, like reconnecting us with old friends and finding out if people we used to date are still good-looking. And social networks all have messaging functions, which would be an excellent way to send information if no one had invented e-mail. But really, these sites aren't about connecting and reconnecting. They're a platform for self-branding. . . . We're not sharing things we don't want other people to know. We're showing you our best posed, retouched photos. We're listing the Pynchon books we want you to think we've read all the way though. We're allowing other people to write whatever they want about us or our walls, unless we don't like it, in which case we just erase it."
Sadly, I think Stein is right on. You become your own press agent with these sites. To write that "Blake is tired of studying" assumes that someone cares what Blake is doing. Otherwise I would not let the world know. Wonder why you never see, "John just finished disrespecting his parents" or Kim just finished an hour long argument with her husband and wants a divorce." Multiple personalities are created. You try to look fun, hip, hot, holy, or whatever to create a false persona, like playing dress-up. Of course blogs can be self-serving as well.
Josh Harris has a good post on why he only lasted a week on Facebook. He lists the fact that its addictive, he doesn't need another reason to stare at a computer screen, and he needs to read more. Here is another in his own words:
I read a great article this week about facebook in a recent Time Magazine by Joel Stein. He writes, "In the pre-internet days, neither of us would have even thought of calling each other friends. We'd have called ourselves friends of friends who met once and yet, for some reason, kept sending each other grammatically challenged, inappropriately flirty letters with photos of ourselves attached. Police might have gotten involved. . . . Its weird that I know more about you than I do about actual friends I hand out with in person." Would a real life friend "call me up and say, 'Hey! Guess what? I have a bunch of new pictures of me'? Or tell me he'd colored in a map of all the places he'd ever been?"
He continues, "I'm sure social networks serve many important functions that improve our lives, like reconnecting us with old friends and finding out if people we used to date are still good-looking. And social networks all have messaging functions, which would be an excellent way to send information if no one had invented e-mail. But really, these sites aren't about connecting and reconnecting. They're a platform for self-branding. . . . We're not sharing things we don't want other people to know. We're showing you our best posed, retouched photos. We're listing the Pynchon books we want you to think we've read all the way though. We're allowing other people to write whatever they want about us or our walls, unless we don't like it, in which case we just erase it."
Sadly, I think Stein is right on. You become your own press agent with these sites. To write that "Blake is tired of studying" assumes that someone cares what Blake is doing. Otherwise I would not let the world know. Wonder why you never see, "John just finished disrespecting his parents" or Kim just finished an hour long argument with her husband and wants a divorce." Multiple personalities are created. You try to look fun, hip, hot, holy, or whatever to create a false persona, like playing dress-up. Of course blogs can be self-serving as well.
Josh Harris has a good post on why he only lasted a week on Facebook. He lists the fact that its addictive, he doesn't need another reason to stare at a computer screen, and he needs to read more. Here is another in his own words:
I found that it encouraged me to think about me even more than I already do--which is admittedly already quite a bit. . . Without any help from the internet I'm inclined to give way too much time to evaluating myself, thinking about myself and wondering what other people think of me. If that egocentrism is a little flame, than Facebook for me is a gasoline IV feeding the fire. I need to grow in self-forgetfulness. I need to worry more about what God is thinking of me. I need to be preoccupied with what he's written in his word, not what somebody just wrote on my "wall."
Am I saying that all should leave facebook and those who stay are inferior? Not at all. I don't intend on leaving, yet anyway. I'd just exhort believers to be careful, weigh motives, and be good stewards of time (read, pray, love your family, share the gospel, work well and hard, all for the glory of God).
10.09.2007
Plantinga Coming to Southern
For all those who live in or around the Ville, Dr. Alvin Plantinga is coming to Southern Seminary on Oct. 23-25th. This man has done more than any philosopher since Aquinas in gaining a hearing from those with a Christian worldview. His work has been extremely significant, especially in the field of epistemology. Here is the schedule:
Tuesday @ 11:30: Science and Religion: Why does the debate continue?
Wednesday @ 10: Divine Action in the World
Thursday @ 11:30: Evolution versus Atheism
Also, if you read this today, don't miss Mark Dever at 5pm in Broadus Chapel speaking on "The Marks of a Healthy Church."
If you live in or around Lexington, N.T. Wright will be there on Nov. 13-14. Here is the link.
10.05.2007
The Challenge of Pluralism II
Earlier, I mentioned that Christianity is inherently exclusive. I thought it might be good to expand on this for clarity sake. I mentioned that today the common mindset is that no one religion is true. People use the analogy that we are all climbing the same mountain, and there are many paths that eventually reach the top. After all, even Oprah says there couldn't possibly only be one way! Sadly though, many Christians believe the same thing. Even Billy Graham has compromised the gospel. One wonders why he has used all the time and energy he has trying to convert people to Christianity, if their own religion or lack thereof would have been sufficient to get them to heaven in the first place. Billy, and Joel say the answer is in God's hands not ours. The only problem is that God has revealed himself quite clearly on this very issue.
Also today the popularity of the emergent church is ever increasing. I actually have a lot of agreement with some of the insights of the emerging church, but not the emergent movement (McLaren and the Emergent Village guys). This is really nothing new though. Friedrich Schleiermacher, the father of liberal theology, was doing the same thing 200 years ago: compromising Scripture in order to better engage culture. The difference is the new guys are no longer engaging modernism and now they sport goatees.
The fact of the matter is that the Christian faith is clearly exclusive. When you take Scripture on its own terms without imposing a foreign (usually man-centered) worldview on the text, you will see that God alone provides salvation and restoration and he does so through the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the center of all history, and he will wrap it all up at the end and establish the new earth. Three texts are explicitly clear:
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Acts 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
1 Tim 2:5: For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Those who care more about pleasing men than pleasing God can try to twist them as they may, but it is very difficult to do so without having to do exegetical cartwheels around these texts. Faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for inheriting the new creation. Jesus does not save people without their knowing it, contra Billy Graham. People complain that this message is arrogant, and narrow but we cannot compromise the teachings of Jesus to please people. Jesus himself told us the way is narrow and those who find it are few (Matt 7:13-14). We must understand 'fairness' in a God-centered way. Will we take him at his word, or construe a Jesus in our own image who fits into the postmodern context easier? Christians, know the Christian worldview deeply and read the newspaper with a Bible right beside you. Master the meta-narrative that Scripture presents. This message must be taught, and shared, with fear and trembling, and with tears in our eyes.
Also today the popularity of the emergent church is ever increasing. I actually have a lot of agreement with some of the insights of the emerging church, but not the emergent movement (McLaren and the Emergent Village guys). This is really nothing new though. Friedrich Schleiermacher, the father of liberal theology, was doing the same thing 200 years ago: compromising Scripture in order to better engage culture. The difference is the new guys are no longer engaging modernism and now they sport goatees.
The fact of the matter is that the Christian faith is clearly exclusive. When you take Scripture on its own terms without imposing a foreign (usually man-centered) worldview on the text, you will see that God alone provides salvation and restoration and he does so through the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the center of all history, and he will wrap it all up at the end and establish the new earth. Three texts are explicitly clear:
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Acts 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
1 Tim 2:5: For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Those who care more about pleasing men than pleasing God can try to twist them as they may, but it is very difficult to do so without having to do exegetical cartwheels around these texts. Faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for inheriting the new creation. Jesus does not save people without their knowing it, contra Billy Graham. People complain that this message is arrogant, and narrow but we cannot compromise the teachings of Jesus to please people. Jesus himself told us the way is narrow and those who find it are few (Matt 7:13-14). We must understand 'fairness' in a God-centered way. Will we take him at his word, or construe a Jesus in our own image who fits into the postmodern context easier? Christians, know the Christian worldview deeply and read the newspaper with a Bible right beside you. Master the meta-narrative that Scripture presents. This message must be taught, and shared, with fear and trembling, and with tears in our eyes.
10.02.2007
Creation Museum
Yesterday, we had the privilege of visiting the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY near Cincinnati. No matter your particular view of origins, I highly recommend you going to visit this museum. It is amazing on so many levels. Here is a link to the website with a commercial, and here is a short article by our very own Dr. Moore about his experience, and here are a few more pics.
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