Because I work in an office, I usually don’t have much trouble writing the correct date after New Year’s Day. Yesterday, January 6, marked the first time I wrote 2014 and then quickly changed the 4 into a 5. Even still, it’s strange to refer to December as “last year.” But last year on December […]
Paraphrasing of C.S. Lewis: Reading the Bible and Popular Christian Books
Some years ago C.S. Lewis wrote an introduction to an English translation of Athanasius’s On the Incarnation, a very, very old book. His introduction addresses old books and modern books, and makes a strong case for having a steady diet of older books. I’ve taken some liberties with Lewis’s work to produce here an address […]
Sunday Reflection: Assurance and Faith
According to the Gospel of John, the first miracle that Jesus performed, inaugurating his three-year ministry, was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. John calls it a “sign.” A sign is a hint, an evidence of a somewhat hidden truth. What was that truth? John reveals it near the end of his […]
Working hard… like regular folk do
Pastors work a lot. According to some studies, pastors work anywhere from 50 to 60 hours a week on average. I’ve seen these statistics thrown about in a couple of ways: 1) to combat the myth that pastors only work on Sundays, and 2) to either throw a pity party for the poor, overworked pastor […]
I Love Seminary!
I love seminary. I’m a non-traditional student: I have a full-time secular job and take one class per semester, usually via the internet (curse you internet fees!). Because of my work and life situation, I can get my education while serving in my church, spending time with my family, and earning a living, all without […]
Who’s to Blame?
I’ve decided to remove my post because I believe I was careless with my words and unintentionally derided Christian homeschooling and Christian private schools. That is not my intention and I myself am quite happy with the education and influence of many Christians who homeschool, have been homeschooled, enroll their children in private Christian schools, […]
Adrian Rogers’ Flub
This is a perfect example why we should judge The Gospel Project for what it says, not for who said what: Adrian Rogers, considered one of the preeminent Southern Baptists in recent history, wrote What Every Christian Ought to Know, a book that has been used in many SBC churches to disciple new believers in the […]
Balancing Acts
We’re constantly barraged with advice to be “balanced.” Elements of Yoga and Buddhism call for an internal balance, and who can forget the yin-yang symbol depicting a flowing balance of light and dark. We’re constantly concerned about having a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, balancing our checkbook, and the balance of power in […]
Double Predestination and My Seat at the SBC Table
I just read an article from Ron Hale on SBC Today dealing with double predestination, called “John Calvin: In His Own Words.” It’s not a very focused article, moving from Calvin’s views on double predestination to an a priori assumption that this view is “monstrous,” to an affirmation of “A Statement of the Traditional Southern […]
Regeneration: I Stand with the BF&M
What is regeneration (being born again)? Although the Baptist Faith & Message defines this word, a new doctrinal statement, A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (“Statement”), has taken a very different understanding. Here’s the relevant section of the BF&M: Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of […]
Exclusive Claims on Traditional Southern Baptist Soteriology?
The next big thing in the Calvinism debate within the SBC has arrived. Ever since it was posted over on SBC Today, “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” has been gathering attention in comment streams and many blogs, including this one. This Statement attempts to define a common […]
A Calvinist Anthem
Though it’s quieted down a lot regarding Lifeway’s The Gospel Project, I thought I’d stoke the fires again. All the concerns about how some subtle Calvinistic influence will confuse church members and cause frustration and discord in otherwise non-Calvinist Baptist churches because of this material are a little melodramatic. After all, I’m quite confident that […]