Books, Current Events, Debate, Pop Christianity, Systematic Theology, Theology

An Evangelical Rethink on Divorce?

Given all the recent online debates regarding divorce, I find it very telling, yet sad, that Time Magazine has picked up on the important discussion. Time entitled their recent article: An Evangelical Rethink on Divorce?

I would encourage everyone to read Times article and realize what Time is trying to say about the next generation of Christians regarding all moral issues and how the Bible is ‘re-interpreted’ to fit the individuals view of what they think is just/unjust. Unfortunately, Time hasn’t learned from all this that the Bible is suppose to shape our thinking, instead, Time’s article thinks it’s the other way around. That is the truly sad part about all this.

For those of you who have not been following the debate, here is a summary list of articles and blog entries that have been made by the various participants…

An article by David Instone-Brewer on divorce and remarriage at Christianity Today started the whole debate: “What God has Joined Together: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Divorce?” This article is a summary of his book on divorce and remarriage.

When the article came out, Justin Taylor provided a summary of the article with a chart from Andreas Kostenberger’s book God, Marriage, and the Family.

Since then, there has been a discussion concerning the issue of divorce and remarriage around the blog world. This is a run down of the discussion.

[HT: JT and JG]

Audio Books, Books, Promotionals, Reforming, Theology

Free Audio Book of the Month – The Religious Affections

Christian Audio has their latest free audio book available for download in this new month of November! The book is “The Religious Affections” by Jonathan Edwards. Use the coupon code NOV2007 to redeem this month’s free audiobook download from christianaudio.com.

The Religious Affections

Here’s a blurb about the book:

The Religious Affections: Quite possibly one of the most important books ever written by America’s greatest theologian. Among the questions asked is, “What is the nature of true religion?” “What are the signs of a true revival?” and “How is the heart changed?” Edwards used his pulpit and his leadership of the Great Awakening to pen one of the most challenging and inquisitive books ever written.

Books, Ecclesiology, Promotionals, Reforming, Sacraments, Systematic Theology, Theology

Ben Witherington III – Book Trilogy

Ben Witherington has finally completed his book trilogy on the sacraments of the Protestant church. I have yet to read them, but I certainly hope to one day. Until then, from what I have heard, these books are highly recommended and very helpful for anyone looking to develop their sacramental theology and to be challenged to think outside your own understanding of the Sacraments of Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Word.

Here is the trilogy: Continue reading Ben Witherington III – Book Trilogy →

Audio Books, Books, Church Year, Mp3s, Promotionals, Theology

All Saints Day Weekend Sale @ ChristianAudio.com

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you guys know about the sale that is going on at ChristianAudio.com in celebration of All Saints Day (November 1st). Here are the details…

all-saint-sale

All Saints Day Weekend Sale From November 1st through November 4th we’ll be having a great sale. Please enjoy any audiobooks you pick up during this time.

Our Price: 50% off Digital Downloads

Current Events, Debate, Evangelism, Interviews, Pop Christianity, Prayer Requests, Theology

President Bush attacks the Gospel

1 Comment

Bush: All religions pray to ‘same God’

The link above is the article that was posted by Wordlnet Daily on Oct. 7, earlier this month. In the article President George W. Bush said, “Well, first of all, I believe in an Almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That’s what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace.”

Now, I don’t care how much spin someone tries to put on this statement above. I don’t care how much anyone points out that Bush has done many things to help Christians and to help the pro-life cause. I don’t care how much he says, “I’m a Christian.” It doesn’t matter. During this interview, President Bush attacked the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah, when he said that all religious prayers reach the same God. They don’t!

It is only through the man, Jesus the Christ, that we can speak to “Almighty God.” In the context of telling Christians how to PRAY, the apostle Paul said, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2:5)

Please pray for President Bush. Pray that his eyes will be open and that his ‘politically correct’ heart will be changed and conformed to the Lord and Saviour that he professes to believe in. Pray that he will not be afraid or confused to tell the Islamic world that their prayers do not reach God and that they must submit their prayers to the mediator between God and men. Pray that our President will not further attack the Gospel and condemn himself as unworthy to receive the Kingdom because he refused to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance of a new heavens and a new earth.

I hope that God’s Spirit will change him. But ever since 9/11, Bush has never decided to put Jesus in the center of his Theological system and I don’t know if he ever will again.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Apologetics, Church Fathers, Devotionals, Evangelism, History, New Testament Theology, Reforming, Systematic Theology, Theology, Trinity

Athanasius’ Creed

1 Comment

Whoever wills to be in a state of salvation, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith, which except everyone shall have kept whole and undefiled without doubt he will perish eternally.

Now the catholic faith is that we worship One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is One, the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit; the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated; the father infinite, the Son infinite, and the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet not three eternals but one eternal, as also not three infinites, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one infinite. So, likewise, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty; and yet not three almighties but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son God, and the Holy Spirit God; and yet not three Gods but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; and yet not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be both God and Lord; so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, there be three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten but proceeding. So there is one Father not three Fathers, one Son not three Sons, and one Holy Spirit not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, but the whole three Persons are coeternal together and coequal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Trinity in Unity and the Unity in Trinity is to be worshipped. He therefore who wills to be in a state of salvation, let him think thus of the Trinity.

But it is necessary to eternal salvation that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The right faith therefore is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man. He is God of the substance of the Father begotten before the worlds, and He is man of the substance of His mother born in the world; perfect God, perfect man subsisting of a reasoning soul and human flesh; equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. Who although He be God and Man yet He is not two but one Christ; one however not by conversion of the Godhead in the flesh, but by taking of the Manhood in God; one altogether not by confusion of substance but by unity of Person. For as the reasoning soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life eternal, and they who indeed have done evil into eternal fire.

This is the catholic faith, which except a man shall have believed faithfully and firmly he cannot be in a state of salvation.

Apologetics, Books, Current Events, Debate, Eschatology, New Testament Theology, Pop Christianity, Theology

Harry Potter is Jesus?

3 Comments

The articles:

j.k. rowling

Harry Potter Author Reveals Books’ Christian Allegory, Her Struggling Faith

Additional Info: J.K. Rowling outs Dumbledore!

The Analysis:

Well, I have to say that I am somewhat shocked at this news about the final book in the Harry Potter series. Even though I have enjoyed the movies, I consistently saw a strong affirmation of the pagan occult and witchcraft which made me nervous of recommending them to others. But, after reading the first article referenced above, I ask this question to all of us… Should we now recommend Harry Potter? My answer is as follows.

[NOTE: Do not read further if you are reading the books and don’t want the ending to be ruined. If you are waiting for the movies, you might not care if the ending is ruined, since knowing about it will be extremely relevant to our cultural context and discussions with non-Christians who love these books.]

If you read about the article above, an amazing reality about the Harry Potter books (particularly the last book) comes to light for us… Harry Potter is a Messiah figure in which the climax of his life results in the resurrection of all those dead that he dearly loved!

Now, as happy as I am to affirm the Christian allegory found in this ending, I must say that the author, Rowling, does not do full justice to the Biblical portrait that I believe a book author, writing from a Christian worldview, should. Now, I’m only commenting on this article and I have not read the books and I will not say anything past what she reveals in the interview found in the article of reference…

Rowling offers us two Biblical references on the tombstones of Harry Potter’s parents. One is 1 Cor. 15:26 and the other is Matt. 6:21. They read respectively as follows:

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This means that Harry Potter has defeated death by defeating his great enemy, Voldemort. And Harry Potter’s heart seems to have always been with his family since his greatest memories were about them and those memories were the source of all his strength in magical power.

But what’s the problem here? I know, Rowling never meant for them to be a grand Christian story. I just want to point out why we have to be critical of the Harry Potter story and help others to realize that just because the author reveals that the ending of the book is a Christian allegory doesn’t mean that we need to embrace it as a Christian novel series like C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien…

The problem is that Rowling struggles with her own faith in the resurrection and doesn’t have a fully Christocentric worldview. And as far as I can tell, her Christian allegory was not nearly as powerful as the guarantee that God promises about resurrection, new creation, and the eternal life to come.

God has promised us, in Jesus the Messiah, that he will not only give us resurrected bodies, but will actually re-create the universe, in which all sin and evil of men will be cast out, and only God and His people will enjoy a new heavens and a new earth for ages upon ages to come. From Rowling’s interview, I can only gather that she doesn’t realize the implications of her own belief in resurrection. There is no mention of a new universe in which there is no more death, instead, it seems that Harry is simply able to bring his parents and friends back to life. (Now, since I haven’t read the last book, I might be missing something, but does this resurrection mean that Harry, his parents and friends will never die???)

What about everyone else in the world? Is everyone perfected in goodness and freedom? Or is the world to go on as it is with only Harry’s parents and friend alive once again and able to spend time together and enjoy the rest of their natural lives only to die once again?

Well, needless to say, I’m sure that some of those answers are not dealt with in the final book by Rowling. But the fact remains that Rowling never intended to write a fully Christian novel series with all the Biblical and Redemptive Historical consequences one would expect of the Narnia series and Lord of the Rings.

So, am I happy or sad? I guess both. I’m thankful that Rowling has admitted to some Christian theology being written into her books, but I’m also sad that her own conclusions in the book are weak and local and not strong and global. This should give all of us great opportunities to talk with non-Christian friends about the Christian story as it relates to Harry Potter and hopefully those conversations will glorify God and spread His Gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Please think about these things and let me know what you think about this news of Harry Potter and Jesus of Nazareth. How are they different? How are they the same? Are you and your family and friends ready for the resurrection?

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Biblical Theology, Eschatology, Interviews, New Testament Theology, Promotionals, Reforming, Testimonies, Theology

You Were Made for Earth: An Interview

Trevin Wax over at the Kingdom People blog has conducted a great interview with Michael Wittmer. I encourage everyone to go read it and think about what Dr. Wittmer has to say. Also, Dr. Wittmer has written a book that I’m now very interested in buying. It is called:

Heaven Is a Place on Earth: Why Everything You Do Matters to God

Continue reading You Were Made for Earth: An Interview →

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons