Tim Keller's new book out in October. This short book is meant to do no less than lay out the essentials of the Christian message, the gospel. It can therefore serve as an introduction to the Christian faith for those whoa re unfamiliar with it or who may have been away from it for some time. This volume is not just for seekers, however. Many lifelong Christian believers feel they understand the basics of the Christian faith quite well and certainly don't think they need a primer. Nevertheless, one of the signs that you don't grasp the unique, radical nature of the gospel is that you think you do. Sometimes long-time church members find themselves so struck and turned around by a fresh apprehension of the Christian message of grace that they feel themselves to have been essentially "reconverted." This book, then, is written to both curious outsiders and established insiders of the faith, to both the people jesus calls "younger" and "elder" brothers in his famous Parable of the Prodigal Son
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Prodigal God: Christianity Redefined Through the Parable of the Prodigal Sons
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Dobson accuses Obama of 'distorting' Bible
Dobson accuses Obama of 'distorting' Bible
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement's biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.
The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.
The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.
"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.
Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy — chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application."
"Folks haven't been reading their Bibles," Obama said.
'Deliberately distorting'
Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament.
"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology," Dobson said.
"... He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."
Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for Obama's campaign, said in a statement that a full reading of Obama's speech shows he is committed to reaching out to people of faith and standing up for families. "Obama is proud to have the support of millions of Americans of faith and looks forward to working across religious lines to bring our country together," DuBois said.
Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism for Obama's argument that the religiously motivated must frame debates over issues like abortion not just in their own religion's terms but in arguments accessible to all people.
He said Obama, who supports abortion rights, is trying to govern by the "lowest common denominator of morality," labeling it "a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution."
"Am I required in a democracy to conform my efforts in the political arena to his bloody notion of what is right with regard to the lives of tiny babies?" Dobson said. "What he's trying to say here is unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe."
The program was paid for by a Focus on the Family affiliate whose donations are taxed, Dobson said, so it's legal for that group to get more involved in politics.
Possible visit
Last week, DuBois, a former Assemblies of God associate minister, called Minnery for what Minnery described as a cordial discussion. He would not go into detail, but said Dubois offered to visit the ministry in August when the Democratic National Convention is in Denver.
A possible Obama visit was not discussed, but Focus is open to one, Minnery said.
McCain also has not met with Dobson. A McCain campaign staffer offered Dobson a meeting with McCain recently in Denver, Minnery said. Dobson declined because he prefers that candidates visit the Focus on the Family campus to learn more about the organization, Minnery said.
Dobson has not backed off his statement that he could not in good conscience vote for McCain because of concerns over the Arizona senator's conservative credentials. Dobson has said he will vote in November but has suggested he might not vote for president.
Obama recently met in Chicago with religious leaders, including conservative evangelicals. His campaign also plans thousands of "American Values House Parties," where participants discuss Obama and religion, as well as a presence on Christian radio and blogs.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25343812/
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Six Marks of Repentance - Thomas Boston
Thomas Watson identified six characteristics of real repentance, based closely on Psalm 51.1-12
These characteristics can provide the template for our prayers.
1. Sight. “My sin is always before me” (v. 3). No one can truly repent without the Holy Spirit enabling us to see the reality of our sin.
2. Sorrow. “Against you, you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight” (v. 4a). Repentance involves genuine sorrow over sin, the way it has grieved God, and what it has cost him. False repentance is sorrow over the consequences of sin, the way it has grieved you, and what it has cost you. Self-pity may appear to be repentance, but it is not.
3. Responsibility. “You are proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge” (v. 4b). Real repentance makes no excuses, shifts no blame, takes full responsibility, and readily accepts any consequences without complaint. This is true confession — agreeing with the judge.
4. Humility. “Surely I was sinful at birth… ” (v. 5). In real repentance there is a change in one’s whole attitude towards oneself. You become dependent on God and others. The myth of self-sufficiency is shattered.
5. Hatred. “What is evil in your sight” (v. 4). If there has been real sorrow for sin (and not just its consequences) you will come to hate the sin itself. Watson says it is to unmask our sin and to see it as the “most misshapen monster” that it is.
6. Change. “Grant me a willing spirit” (v. 12). If the other five elements are present, you will forsake the sin. Its power over you will be weakened and you will at least make progress out of it.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Apotheosis of the Study Bible - Philip Ryken
Over the past week I have had the opportunity to review advance proofs of the ESV Study Bible that is planned for publication in October of 2008. Although I have not participated in this project, I have watched it unfold with great interest and anticipation. From what I have seen so far, I believe it will be the world's best complete single-volume resource for reading, studying, and teaching the Bible.Posted by Phil Ryken
Some readers will be aware of my enthusiasm for the Reformation Study Bible, especially the edition with the English Standard Version. "The gold standard for study Bibles," I have called it. Some will also be aware of my involvement with the Literary Study Bible that Crossway published last fall. I will continue to recommend both of those resources. However, the ESV Study Bible includes some of the best features of those study Bibles while at the same time providing a lot more.
Needless to say, the ESV Study Bible features the English Standard Version, which I believe to be the best English Bible translation for family discipleship and church ministry. Finally the ESV has the full-fledged study Bible that it deserves.
The ESV Study Bible was produced by a team of leading evangelical scholars--all of them experts in the Bible and its theology, and all of them committed to the inerrancy of Scripture. The theological orientation of the team is Reformed, with broad representation from institutions across the evangelical landscape. As one would expect, there is a wealth of grammatical, cultural, theological, historical, and archaeological information in the articles, book introductions, and verse-by-verse notes.
In addition, there are two excellent features that are absent from most other study Bibles: genre notes highlighting literary features of the Bible (produced by my father, Leland Ryken) and biblical-theological notes showing how the history of redemption finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ (produced by Westminster Seminary's Vern Poythress). Both of these factors - the literary and the redemptive-historical - are critical for a complete understanding of the Bible, and it is exciting to see them incorporated into this project.
The ESV Study Bible makes a big impact visually. Exceptional attention has been given to producing new maps, charts, and visual illustrations of places in the Bible. These stunningly beautiful images will draw readers back to the study Bible again and again, giving them a deeper understanding of the physical geography of the Old and New Testaments.
I look forward to seeing the whole ESV Study Bible when it is finished, and to studying its notes more carefully. But what I have seen so far leads me to believe that Crossway is producing the apotheosis of the study Bible.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
New website ReformingChristianity.com- Resources for the reforming Christian
Welcome to the ReformingChristianity.com "Netvibes Universe"! I have created this new resource to help people find excellent Reformed teachings, blogs, podcasts, etc. that are available on the world wide web. The site will be an ongoing work-in-progress. I also am the author of Jordan's View, a blog that features original articles and also extensive resources, all from a Reformed Christian (doctrines of grace) perspective. more...
