Jesus was never easy to figure out. John 11 tells the story of one of Jesus’s greatest miracles, but also of some very strange behavior on the Savior’s part. Lazarus, the brother of Jesus’ close friends Mary and Martha, was very sick; near death. But when Jesus got word, he promptly did nothing, waiting a couple of days to leave for Bethany. When he finally arrived at his friends’ home, they were mourning their brother who had been in the grave for 4 days. And they were very confused; almost accusatory. “If you have been here, my brother would not have died,” Martha said. She knew of the … [Read more...] about A Time to Mourn
Archives for 2013
The United States of Nancy Grace?
The recent George Zimmerman trial and verdict has highlighted to me an unpleasant side-effect of living in the 24-hour news channel culture. We are in danger of becoming a nation of pundits - of self-appointed experts on everything! I can't watch Nancy Grace. She gets a few facts, prejudges a situation, then tenaciously trumpets her position as if it is black and white - clear beyond dispute. She may be the worst of the worst, but the cable news channels are filled with her ilk. Bill O'Reilly. Rachel Maddow. Sean Hannity. Lawrence O'Donnell. Chris Matthews. And the radio airwaves bristle … [Read more...] about The United States of Nancy Grace?
The Inheritance of the Meek
One Sunday an elderly man, an Apostle named John, was carried away in a vision given to him by the Holy Spirit. After being instructed to write down what he had seen, he turned and saw a figure walking among seven golden lampstands. He was dressed regally in a long robe and a golden sash, white hair and piercing eyes that looked like flames of fire. His voice boomed like the sound of mighty rushing waters. Demonstrating his authority, he held seven stars in his right hand; demonstrating his power, a sharp, two-edged sword proceeded out of his mouth, and demonstrating his divinity, the glory of … [Read more...] about The Inheritance of the Meek
Who is Guilty of Adam’s Sin? A Centrist Response to Adam Harwood, Part 3 of 3 (by Ken Hamrick)
Dr. Harwood rightly advises, We don’t want to build a theological system on a single text. Also, we want to avoid eisegesis (reading our theological pre-commitments into the text). So, we’ll broaden the investigation by examining the inherited sinful nature view through the lenses of biblical theology, systematic theology, and historical theology. I would caution that neither do we want to build a theological system on a single, narrow question, such as whether or not God holds each man guilty for Adam’s sin. Unfortunately, this seems to be what he is doing. Broadening the investigation … [Read more...] about Who is Guilty of Adam’s Sin? A Centrist Response to Adam Harwood, Part 3 of 3 (by Ken Hamrick)
Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor Challenge – Are You In?
Tony posted an article yesterday about his weight loss. One more reason to hate the guy - jealousy! This is a struggle I've had since I stopped running marathons back in my seminary days. I am fat. Way fatter than I ever thought I would be. I have been a successful dieter, but never been able to keep the weight off. As Tony pointed out, being fat is NOT good. It drains our energy for ministry. It causes health problems - according to some reports, it is nearly as damaging as smoking. It can damage our testimony to others. It costs everyone. A representative of Guidestone told … [Read more...] about Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor Challenge – Are You In?
How Disney & India Taught Me That I Was Wrong About Our Need For Institutions – Part One (by Alan Cross)
Well, at least partially wrong. Or, perhaps I have taken good things a bit too far without thinking of the whole picture the way I should. Yeah. That sounds better than just saying "I was wrong." Perhaps I am now just better seasoned and wiser because I know more about how much I didn't understand before and can now apply good truth in a better way. Yeah, I like that better. This has been an interesting summer for us so far. We went to Disney World in June and then to the beach in Florida to hang out with friends last week. This week, we are having Vacation Bible School at our church and I … [Read more...] about How Disney & India Taught Me That I Was Wrong About Our Need For Institutions – Part One (by Alan Cross)
A Not-Guilty Verdict, A Restless Nation: Was Justice Served?
Let's admit a fact. Not a single one of us knows what happened that fateful night when George Zimmerman encountered Trayvon Martin. We know that a young man died, but none of us knows whether George Zimmerman intended to kill Trayvon or whether he was defending himself. None of us really knows. You don't. I don't. The prosecutors don't. Even the jury doesn't. George Zimmerman is the only person on earth who really knows what happened that night. Of course, God knows and eventually full justice will be done here. We know that. Until then, we have to live in the realm of uncertainty. I would … [Read more...] about A Not-Guilty Verdict, A Restless Nation: Was Justice Served?
Who Is Guilty if Adam’s Sin? A Centrist Response to Adam Harwood, Part 2 (by Ken Hamrick)
By dismissing as insignificant the Augustinian principle of a spiritual participation of all men in Adam’s sin, Dr. Harwood (with agreement of both Calvinists and Traditionalists) discards that which offers the most hope for bringing Southern Baptists closer together (and closer to the Biblical truth) on this issue. Currently, the standard Calvinist position is that all are born under the condemnation of the imputed sin of Adam, and the only alternative they see is a denial of the union of the race in Adam. As well, the Traditionalists position is to deny imputed guilt by denying the union in … [Read more...] about Who Is Guilty if Adam’s Sin? A Centrist Response to Adam Harwood, Part 2 (by Ken Hamrick)
How Much Did the SBC’s Racial Past Contribute to America’s Moral Collapse? – A Comment from Alan Cross
Alan Cross posted a comment yesterday on my "sixty year decline" post. It made a point worthy of its own discussion. Here is the comment, in its entirety. All of this begs the question of whether or not our expansive growth in the postwar decade of 1945-1955 was God’s work or simply a shift in culture – or perhaps a combination of the two? Everything that was stable and conservative exploded in American in those 10-15 years. Then, we had the great unraveling because the children of the “Greatest Generation” largely rejected their values and saw them as hypocritical. We had our chance to … [Read more...] about How Much Did the SBC’s Racial Past Contribute to America’s Moral Collapse? – A Comment from Alan Cross
The SBC’s 60 Year Decline! Beyond the Blame Game
At the most peaceful and drama-free SBC in recent memory, there was one bit of news that had things stirred up - a fresh set of evidence that the SBC's statistical decline was not just a blip. It is a real problem. We are a shrinking denomination. One seminary professor has described it as a "free-fall." While that may be hyperbole, it is not wholly inaccurate. And, of course, as soon as the statistics were published, the blame-game began. It ought to surprise no one that bad news like this is used to point the bony finger of blame within the SBC. We see it all the time in Washington. The … [Read more...] about The SBC’s 60 Year Decline! Beyond the Blame Game