A Timely and Encouraging but Awful Sermon

Recently I heard a sermon which I continue to think about. Based on a section of Psalm 119, the visiting speaker did a decent job moving through the passage verse by verse and exhorted the congregation to focus on Scripture, make it central to your life, meditate on it, and so forth. So far so good.

The Dynamics of Perseverance

https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/preserved-god

Leaving aside the misguided (though not unexpected) use of a Winston Churchill quote, the problem with Parsons' argument is that he doesn't define what saving faith is. And interestingly if you get a half-dozen Confessional theologians into a room and ask this question, you'll likely end up with a heated debate and a lack of consensus.

Dead vs. Living Stones

While I'm not endorsing this website, this article recently brought to my attention is a good read.

http://www.apostasywatch.com/TeachingDiscipleship/ArticlesbyApostasyWatch/tabid/57/ctl/Detail/mid/409/xmid/142/xmfid/1/Default.aspx

Just a couple of weeks ago I was teaching on 1 Peter 2 and thinking about the Temple Mount and the Wailing Wall. It struck me in light of the passage that these people are putting their faith in dead stones. The image is striking to me. Our Temple is made of living stone and it must be contrasted with these dead ones. Judaism's devotion to a temple of dead stone is the basis of their rejection of the Messiah. The doctrine of the Living Temple, the very person of Jesus Christ becomes a stumblingblock and occasion for offense.

Biblical Law and Society

I use this example not to 'attack' anyone, but to make a point. There's something to be learned here.

This podcast on Biblical law and society demonstrates the way assumptions can govern discussions. I think of many people I know listening to this and would think it to be a good programme. 'These are good folks,' they would say, 'working out problems and striving toward a good goal'.

Is Taxation Theft?

When Christians ask this question, it's very telling. It's an immediate indicator that they've strayed far from what the Bible teaches regarding the government and how we're to think about it.

Around this time of year there are numerous arguments made by Christians (and Secular Right-Libertarians) that taxation is de facto a form of theft.

The Christian Experience in Romans 7

http://feedingonchrist.com/john-pipers-10-reasons-romans-714-25-christians-experience/

I'm not a big fan of Nick Batzig or John Piper but I certainly appreciated this.

He's right in pointing out that Romans 7 has long been a controversial passage. Is Paul talking about the Christian life, or his pre-conversion experience?

The Fall of the House of Gothard

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/02/28/conservative-leader-bill-gothard-placed-administrative-leave-following-abuse-allegations/

Very interesting. The article also mentions Doug Phillips of Vision Forum. Phillips is the son of the late Howard Phillips a name well known in Theonomic and Christian Right circles.

Three blog posts of interest...

First, a link to a great post regarding war and the Kingdom of God:

http://judahslion.blogspot.com/2013/06/some-men-will-make-money-while-some-men.html?spref=fb

Second, here's a post of interest found over at leadme.org written by Cal who often comments here as well. He's helping to untangle some Two Kingdom theology knots. The terms and the concept are not used in the same way by all and a little history lesson helps to understand it. I think he's largely correct and makes some some interesting points along the way.

In particular he caught my eye regarding the issue of proto-nationalism and why it arose in the West before it did in the East. I love that kind of stuff...it's really interesting in trying to probe the differences between the Latin and Orthodox worlds. Anyway it all ties in together. Make sure you also check out the sequel to this post...

http://leadme.org/why-constantine-two-cities-or-two-kingdoms-part-1/

Third, another blog-post of interest:

https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2013/06/13/the-church-will-prevail/

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