tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84489580494550772162024-03-14T03:36:26.039-06:00The VoiceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-48185752581602384152012-04-09T14:27:00.000-06:002012-04-09T14:27:01.007-06:00Further Blogging From Sean, Seth, and TomHey all, <i>The Voice</i> is dead. Has been since the latter part of last summer. But that doesn't mean you can't still read fresh articles written by our writers! Thomas Booher still writes at <i><a href="http://tulipdrivenlife.blogspot.ca/">The Tulip-Driven Life</a></i> and Sean Rice has picked back up at <i><a href="http://searchingforacity.blogspot.ca/">Searching For A City</a></i>. Seth Crocker is even putting the starting touches on his new blog, <i><a href="http://aloneincommunity.blogspot.ca/">Alone In Community</a></i>. You can catch either one of us at our respective blogs.<br />
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Shalom!<br />
-SeanSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954658658770883150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-4861309384833774872011-11-25T18:12:00.001-06:002011-11-25T18:28:40.641-06:00The Voice Authors: Where Do They Blog Now?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you are an old reader of <i>The Voice</i>, you will probably not be seeing any new posts here. But, the blogging bug won't go away once it's been caught, so the different authors are still putting up new content at their own sites. <b>Thomas Booher</b> still blogs at <a href="http://tulipdrivenlife.blogspot.com/" style="font-style: italic;">The Tulip-Driven Life</a>, <b>Sean Rice </b>(that's me) is posting mostly apologetics-related content at <a href="http://searchingforacity.blogspot.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Searching For A City</a>, <b>Laura Kovar</b> posts reflections at <a href="http://confusedconvert.blogspot.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Romans24b</a>, and every once in awhile, <b>Ryan Rice</b> still has something to say at <i><a href="http://lifetheologydrpepper.wordpress.com/">Life, Theology, and Dr. Pepper</a></i>. Thanks for reading, it's been super fun running this place. Coolest year and a half ever. Jesus bless.<br />
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<i>-SeanRice.</i></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-54864411684343208692011-08-26T02:25:00.000-06:002011-08-26T02:25:01.053-06:00What They're Saying 08.26.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131f5b485fekma0Z7600074" title="Don't Forget: God's Mission Is A Global Mission" target="_self" href="http://www.edstetzer.com/2011/08/gods-mission-is-global-but-man.html"><span id="zw-131f5b48578EMAH22600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Don't Forget: God's Mission Is A Global Mission</span></a><span id="zw-131f5ad01fd5gTew5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131f59b27674Bw__q600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5b447b1az_Mr_600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5b3be220bw7-600074" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">If you are forming a network, and do not have a denominational international agency with which to connect, don't forget about the nations. Your only engaging in part of the mission of God-- he's on the move through the whole world. God has sent us to the nations, not just our nation.</span><span id="zw-131f5b3be26v35rPR600074" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Here is a photo (for more visit Jay's blog) from our day in Rio with pastors connected to Acts 29 there. </span><a href="http://jaybauman.typepad.com/" id="zw-131f5b3be27B01mdS600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(48, 47, 44); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131f5b3be2bRyoLjA600074" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Jay Baumann</span></a><span id="zw-131f5b3be2elupb8Y600074" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">, who cofounded (with Chan Kilgore) an Acts 29 church in Orlando (CrossPointe), moved to Brazil and founded </span><a href="http://www.restwww.lifeway.comrazil.com/" id="zw-131f5b3be2e5Yz4JT600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(48, 47, 44); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131f5b3be32cKLvv3600074" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Restore Brazil</span></a><span id="zw-131f5b3be35o9u9600074" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">and is the Acts 29 country leader there.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f5acb1f4R4ea1o600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5b5b9c75qc455600074" title="Is Pluralism Really More Tolerant Than Christianity?" target="_self" href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/18/is-pluralism-more-tolerant-than-christianity"><span id="zw-131f5b5b99aey8-38600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Is Pluralism Really More Tolerant Than Christianity?</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5b68310w5A4aD600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5b632e4qROESk600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Very often people hold to religious pluralism because they think it is</span><span id="zw-131f5b632e6vwn9iT600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">more tolerant </span><span id="zw-131f5b632e7ubyruu600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">than Christianity. I’ll be the first to say that we need tolerance, but what does it mean to be tolerant? To be tolerant is to accommodate differences, which can be very noble. I believe that Christians should be some of the most accommodating kinds of people, giving everyone the dignity to believe whatever they want and not enforcing their beliefs on others through politics or preaching. We should winsomely tolerate different beliefs. Interestingly, religious pluralism doesn’t really allow for this kind of tolerance. Instead of accommodating spiritual differences, religious pluralism blunts them.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f5ac6a1eO3Sij600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5b78ca4wArpVA600074" title="Evangelicals And the Homosexual Moral Revolution" target="_self" href="http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Evangelicals-and-the-Gay-Moral-Revolution"><span id="zw-131f5b78c76rNbByI600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Evangelicals And the Homosexual Moral Revolution</span></a><span id="zw-131f5b78c79YRcKZo600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5bd77cfFg2Du600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5bce900ygfaux600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Moral revolutions generally happen over a long period of time. But this is hardly the case with the shift we've witnessed on the question of homosexuality.</span><span id="zw-131f5bce904iHtvru600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> In less than a single generation, homosexuality has gone from something almost universally understood to be sinful, to something now declared to be the moral equivalent of heterosexuality-and deserving of both legal protection and public encouragement. Theo Hobson, a British theologian, has argued that this is not just the waning of a taboo. Instead, it is a moral inversion that has left those holding the old morality now accused of nothing less than "moral deficiency."'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f5ab5e884EJz7l600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5b854beRlcGju600074" title="What Finally Broke Louis Zamperini: The Gospel" target="_self" href="http://trevinwax.com/2011/08/23/what-finally-broke-louis-zamperini/"><span id="zw-131f5b85491ZYBYi600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">W</span><span id="zw-131f5ab5e8a0_07-600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">hat Finally Broke Louis Zamperini: The Gospel</span></a><span id="zw-131f5b85493iP98xG600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131f5ba1a9dkQSon_600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac4ejSvP600074" style="line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 253, 242); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Louis was once a man “unbroken,” but not anymore:</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac53GiGRLh600074" style="line-height: 18px; background-color: initial; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> The bullies he faced in high school in the 1920′s couldn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac56kGpbU3600074" style="line-height: 18px; background-color: initial; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> The injustice done to him by other runners as he raced to beat records didn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac58Kq9U600074" style="line-height: 18px; background-color: initial; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5b9062a5MXIta600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The severe homesickness that accompanied his military service couldn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac5bj4ZUiv600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> His plane crash into the Pacific on May 27, 1943 didn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac5dMfT5KI600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> 47 days drifting on a raft in the ocean couldn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac5fzSV8JU600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> The sharks that attacked him from the water while the Japanese strafed his raft from the sky didn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac61Qf5vu600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Burying his close friend and fellow soldier at sea couldn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac63UeFAjF600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> A typhoon that nearly swamped his raft didn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac67AaYe8J600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> His Japanese captors who taunted and tortured and nearly starved him for two and a half years couldn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac69yx5kW8600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> The mental agonies stirred up by the tortures of “The Bird” didn’t break him.</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac6bvOs42B600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> But in September 1949, at a Billy Graham crusade,</span><span id="zw-131f5b8ac6dXKSnjR600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> the gospel broke him.'</span></p><p id="zw-131f577c273PaEsCz600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f5aafc710N6uef600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131f5be241fr0ujl2600074" title="Was John Calvin Committed to Limited Atonement?" target="_self" href="http://www.credomag.com/2/post/2011/08/definite-atonement-and-calvins-commitments.html"><span id="zw-131f5be23f3cZeFal600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">Was John Calvin Committed to Limited Atonement?</span></a><span id="zw-131f5be23f5J5107600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "> </span><span id="zw-131f5738b5adGHBmD600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">-</span><span id="zw-131f58cca64Rjl36c600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5bb9fc6UklmCm600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5bb3d72JkOdsD600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Calvin did not </span><span id="zw-131f5bb3d746fk8b600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">commit himself</span><span id="zw-131f5bb3d759Wh2j5600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> to any version of the doctrine of definite atonement. This, at least, is what I think. His thought is consistent with that doctrine, that is, he did not deny it in express terms. But (by other things that he most definitely did hold to) he may be said to be</span><span id="zw-131f5bb3d76CKa2L600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">committed to</span><span id="zw-131f5bb3d77U02dgm600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> that doctrine. The distinction is an important one in order to avoid the charge of anachronism. Calvin lived earlier than those debates that led to the explicit formulation of the doctrine of definite atonement in Reformed theology. He did not avow it in express terms, but nor did he deny it. But (I shall argue) in his lifetime he held to certain positions which taken together may presume the doctrine.'</span></p></div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-37436120461834630442011-08-25T02:06:00.000-06:002011-08-25T02:06:00.926-06:00What They're Saying 08.23.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131f5ad027fKiBMLe600074" title="Thomas Booher Goes to [Reformation Bible] College" target="_self" href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/day-452-years-making/"><span id="zw-131f5ad01fcg0yihv600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Thomas Booher Goes to [Reformation Bible] College</span></a><span id="zw-131f5ad01fd5gTew5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131f59b27674Bw__q600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f59b3e309NcaCf600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Our own Thomas Booher is currently attending Reformation Bible College as part of its inaugural class. Here some info: </span><span id="zw-131f58214a1BvawqI600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131f59ad6f0gU4YUF600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">When Dr. </span><span class="caps" id="zw-131f59ad6f4KaGVo_600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-color: transparent; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">R.C.</span><span id="zw-131f59ad6f7DL97v600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> Sproul first laid out his vision for Ligonier Academy and the college that would eventually develop here, he explained the world-changing work undertaken in John Calvin’s Geneva. Looking to that school in the mid-16th century, Dr. Sproul took encouragement for the educational goals he had in mind. It was there in Geneva in 1559, that John Calvin welcomed the first students to the Academy. That work blossomed within a few years as the Protestant refugees came from throughout Europe to learn God’s Word and be discipled for the hard work of reformation.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f5791e61MS9so5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131f58e7d52dy6710600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5acb223cmAYjJ600074" title="Reformed And Charismatic? Horton Doesn't Think So" target="_self" href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2011/08/22/reformed-and-charismatic/"><span id="zw-131f5acb1f4R4ea1o600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Reformed And Charismatic? Horton Doesn't Think So</span></a><span id="zw-131f5acb1f6VoiO0-600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5a5294b8u2yQK600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5a29e83bF2vGB600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">I do not find Grudem’s case for continuing prophecy persuasive. He clearly distinguishes prophecy today from the prophecy that delivered the sacred oracles of Holy Scripture. This is both the strength and the weakness of his position. Grudem believes that the kind of prophecy that is ongoing in the church is distinguished from preaching and teaching by being “a spontaneous ‘revelation’ from God….” (Grudem, </span><span id="zw-131f5a29e85yjrNvL600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Systematic Theology</span><span id="zw-131f5a29e87qfUKF1600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">, 1058)</span><span id="zw-131f5a29e9az9v--600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> In my view, this interpretation introduces a definition of prophecy that is not consistent with its practice in the apostolic church. Nowhere is prophecy distinguished by its spontaneous quality. Furthermore, in spite of his salutary caution against raising such prophecies to the level of Scripture, this interpretation still raises the question as to whether the Spirit issues new revelations that are not already communicated in Scripture. If prophecy is defined simply as Spirit-given insight into Scripture, then is this not synonymous with preaching?'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f585375eJodTUx600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5ac6a4dthfFbx600074" title="The Theological Challenge of Today? Adam and Eve." target="_self" href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/08/22/false-start-the-controversy-over-adam-and-eve-heats-up/"><span id="zw-131f5ac6a1eO3Sij600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The Theological Challenge of Today? Adam and Eve.</span></a><span id="zw-131f5ac6a21g-RK1t600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5a4f018wW1jD600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5a45141fK7jBY600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Every generation of Christians faces its own set of theological challenges. For this generation of Evangelicals, the question of beginnings is taking on a new urgency. In fact, this question is now a matter of Gospel urgency. How are we to understand the Bible’s story, if we can have no confidence that we know how it even begins?</span><span id="zw-131f5a45145sTyBbK600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: 21px; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> In terms of the Gospel of </span><span id="zw-131f5a45150GLaQJc600074" class="" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: 21px; display: inline; width: auto; height: auto; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Jesus Christ</span><span id="zw-131f5a451526kzhlo600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: 21px; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">, the most urgent question related to beginnings has to do with the questions related to the existence of Adam and Eve as as them first parents to all humanity and to the reality of the Fall as the explanation for human sinfulness and all that comes with sin.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131e4093b89w6yDZR600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131f579ce44n3iipt600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131f579ce468GtFVV600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131f58779a59DAH7e600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5ab5eb7rCWXOH600074" title="Why Pragmatism Is Not Enough For Christians" target="_self" href="http://www.challies.com/articles/sinful-means-to-a-glorious-end"><span id="zw-131f5ab5e884EJz7l600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Why Pragmatism Is Not Enough For Christians</span></a><span id="zw-131f5ab5e8a0_07-600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131f5a7a744J7l52F600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5a688f6eZTxq600074" style="text-align: justify; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The strange reality is that God specializes in using sinful means to bring about glorious ends. The Bible is full of examples of this. Through outrageously sinful, treasonous acts committed against the Creator of the universe, the Lord brought about the most God-glorifying act in all of history. Were we to judge this pragmatically, we could excuse the actions of those involved, from the religious leaders who demanded his crucifixion, to the secular leaders who ordered his death and who nailed him to the cross. But the Bible would never allow us to go there; it would never allow us to minimize the horror of such sin.</span><span id="zw-131f5a688fafP0LgW600074" style="text-align: justify; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This means that statements like, “God used it” or “God can use it” or “God will use it” or “Look what God is doing!” are not enough. We need to look to the Bible as our ultimate standard of what is right and what is wrong.'</span></p><p id="zw-131f577c273PaEsCz600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f577c272JgNqS600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><span id="zw-131f57a0a92oyxcJB600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><span id="zw-131f58e3763bdsECf600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131f5aafc9fTup0y600074" title="Huge Online Discussion About Grace and Effort" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/18/gospel-grace-and-effort-roundup/"><span id="zw-131f5aafc710N6uef600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">Huge Online Discussion About Grace and Effort</span></a><span id="zw-131f58e3766IP83bX600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "> </span><span id="zw-131f5738b5adGHBmD600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">-</span><span id="zw-131f58cca64Rjl36c600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5aab2b2O_lvdp600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5a9ca35q-zCoH600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">William B. Evans and Sean Michael Lucas have been engaged in a profitable discussion over at </span><a href="http://reformation21.org/" rel="external nofollow" title="" id="zw-131f5a9ca36S48Sh600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(150, 20, 2); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131f5a9ca3fssNfzm600074" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Reformation 21</span></a><span id="zw-131f5a9ca41l8pJAN600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> on sanctification and the gospel. Here are their exchanges... </span><span id="zw-131f5a9fd44HPx91I600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Rick Phillips also added a helpful and important post summarizing </span><a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/08/seven-assertions-regarding-jus.php" rel="external nofollow" title="" id="zw-131f5a9fd4542hJy600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(150, 20, 2); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131f5a9fd4719uE-600074" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">seven assertions</span></a><span id="zw-131f5a9fd49Dew4AF600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> about the relationship between justification and sanctification.</span><span id="zw-131f5a9fd4cWEuciH600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> As I’ve mentioned before, Kevin DeYoung and Tullian Tchividjian have been engaged in a longer—though less direct—discussion addressing similar issues... </span><span id="zw-131f5aa608ak4bQs600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I am thankful for this iron-sharpening-iron among friends done in a respectful and edifying way.'</span></p></div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-50522807640136307582011-08-24T03:47:00.010-06:002011-08-24T04:30:17.353-06:00Who's Your Role Model? Hopefully Jesus.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p id="zw-131faf9d791hvwJwv600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131faf9d790GE_-2600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2E7amwxPHO-b2n7y5p2214cf8QJcdZyPW6ClkJfYXZbKMl4YVP-xldHqAtw9MnPxF3OM1DEetcLHOXV5RCybiBU9_owsGJe5jdY8uASR4Fk6RHi7js1MO1W_-Bjroj38XDT5slz2RxA/s1600/rolemodel.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 645px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2E7amwxPHO-b2n7y5p2214cf8QJcdZyPW6ClkJfYXZbKMl4YVP-xldHqAtw9MnPxF3OM1DEetcLHOXV5RCybiBU9_owsGJe5jdY8uASR4Fk6RHi7js1MO1W_-Bjroj38XDT5slz2RxA/s400/rolemodel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644357010129673122" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCIl8ssX3A_Ldr7iRHXL-Hg_vbd0_KVp18XJgiPkHvh_dFOegYvMtv0fh7p0VFwZodkrksaKPUJOhT-QS4QNOLeW79XEMWwGhsKKfh1itOyHebysxWtdP_zm1qPXt-4NBfJkSwu9J11I/s1600/CartoonSean.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCIl8ssX3A_Ldr7iRHXL-Hg_vbd0_KVp18XJgiPkHvh_dFOegYvMtv0fh7p0VFwZodkrksaKPUJOhT-QS4QNOLeW79XEMWwGhsKKfh1itOyHebysxWtdP_zm1qPXt-4NBfJkSwu9J11I/s400/CartoonSean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644366347195059538" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span id="zw-131faf9d790GE_-2600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Just this past week, I finally completed my collection of Matthe</span><span id="zw-131faf9d790GE_-2600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >w Henry writings: in addition to a one-volume unabridged edition of </span><span id="zw-131fafb3922c6hY8a600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible</span><span id="zw-131fafb693eu1873A600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, I also ordered </span><span id="zw-131fafbae6cJ__HZE600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The Complete Works of Matthew Henry: Treatises, Sermons, and Tracts</span><span id="zw-131fafc569dRiCKif600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >. After having receiving this treasured out-of-print collection of Matthew Henry's works, I was reading through one of his treatises called </span><span id="zw-131fafdd0760MZRO600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >On the Right Management of Friendly Visits</span><span id="zw-131fafe00d8-BzlC600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, and I felt an awareness that I was sitting at the feet of a wise and learned mentor. He had 4 points of warning, and 4 points of encouragement, on visiting with friends. On the warning side, (1) not to let friendly visits become the waste and consumption of our precious time; (2) not to let them become the gratifications of pride and vain curiosity; (3) not to let them be 'the cloak and cover of hypocrisy'; and (4) not to make them into an opportunity for slandering and 'tale-bearing'. On the encouragements, he wrote exhortations (1) to make friendly visits the proofs and preservatives of brotherly love; (2) to make them the helps and occasions of Christian sympathy; (3) to let them furnish us with matter for prayer and praise; (4) to improve them as opportunities for doing good to the souls of our friends.</span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131fb08e8cbLEGTI1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131fb08e8capkFrX5600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131fb08ed4fqMZafB600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131fb08ed4aS6xlXS600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131fb08ed4a338VDR600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >All of this was great. I also enjoyed an earlier part of the treatise, where he pointed out that truly Christian visits are those made to 'the poor, the widow, and the orphan in their distress' and that we must make sure that our visits aren't only spent with friends.</span></p><p id="zw-131fb0ca02a_8ViQv600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131fb0ca02adPedsk600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131fb0ca37dyq4On600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131fb0ca379TaKS600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131fb1d2eaavLom8w600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Learning From My Mentor's Failures, Too</span></p><p id="zw-131fb1cd011p5hiPt600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131fb1cd0108J853600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >But, as with every mentor, I have also learned to take lessons from Mr. Henry's failures as well as his successes and wisdom. Matthew Henry was a workaholic, and kept up a demanding schedule that injured his already weak health, took large portions of his time away from family, and sent him to the grave at a young 51 years old (born October 1662, died June 1714). When he wrote "</span><span id="zw-131fb126f7aNGeaC-600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >It is not only necessary that part of our time be spent in actual preparation for another world, but all our time must be spent with an habitual regard to it</span><span id="zw-131fb13a5c2jBLqpK600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >' (p.274), one gets the feeling that his grueling 18-hour days, with 7 sermons a week, including study and pastoral visits, was a gross workaholic application of the rule. Towards the end of his life, he spent so much time working that his friends pleaded for the sake of his health for him to stop (p. vii). Here is a quote from an article titled </span><span id="zw-131fb17228fvBp1ok600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The Life of Matthew Henry:</span></p><p id="zw-131fb1767d76L6g1a600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131fb1767d6ozRZ_M600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131fb176b0513GJCN600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131fb176b02IpR1Yr600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0.5000833333333333in; "><span id="zw-131fb176b01D7HsUC600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131fb182bdcM4TYTh600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >'</span><span id="zw-131fb18352d3xYSa600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Henry's health, however, soon became visibly impaired. His friends appealed to him to lighten his schedule, but he would not listen. He believed he had been placed in the vineyard to work, and he was determined to be a faithful servant. He also knew that to stop preaching would do violence to his physical as well as his moral being. SO he continued, "instant in season and out of season," preaching the word at every opportunity until summoned home by his Master. Then he would obey with perfect submission and complete confidence. In June 1714 after visiting old friends in Cheshire, Henry returned home and was suddenly taken ill at Nantwich. He recovered quickly, but the next day he came down with apoplexy. He lay speechless for three hours, then "fell asleep." He was buried in Trinity Church, Chester.</span><span id="zw-131fb1c99da405lvu600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >'</span></p><p id="zw-131fb1cabc0msCbzK600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0.5000833333333333in; "><span id="zw-131fb1cabc09WX-Lx600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131fb1caeecuAoxa600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131fb1caee9zP8sA8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131fb1caee7DUpwpx600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >How Matthew Henry's Failures Point to Jesus</span></p><p id="zw-131fb2e2b65RTq5f0600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131fb2e2b64E0PN4600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Keep in mind, this in no way takes from Matthew Henry's warmth and wisdom. But, like figures of the faith as notable as Abraham and Peter, he was not a perfect man and some of the lessons I take from him have to do with his failings. There is only one perfect Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the failures of those who came before and after Him just point us back towards Jesus as the perfect example, the saviour, the one real hero of the faith. Were there any other perfect people in Church history, we would be tempted to just follow them and forget about the example of Christ. Instead, the failures of those who came before us (Henry was a workaholic; Calvin ruthless; Luther crude and caustic) serve to make us more reliant on the person of Jesus. He was their saviour, and they needed Him. He is also ours, and we need Him too.</span></p><p id="zw-131fb267530PkErmG600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131fb26752fG5cc_k600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131fb2677ebcKrd_F600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131fb2677e86UaCxU600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131fb2677e85yQFag600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >-</span><span id="zw-131fb2ed1fa95VGjW600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Sean</span></span>
<br /></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-73929056199664532252011-08-24T01:33:00.000-06:002011-08-24T01:33:00.610-06:00What They're Saying 08.24.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131f58ebb4atPbmin600074" title="How Incoming Freshmen Can Glorify God" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/22/the-freshman-15/"><span id="zw-131f58ebac3-mZ5x600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">How Incoming Freshmen Can Glorify God</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d6bacdfd30u33B600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f58214a1BvawqI600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f580c927NCGJfG600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Dining hall food gets a bad rap, but incoming college freshmen don’t seem to have a problem packing on the infamous “freshman 15.” Honoring that tradition, here are 15 ways incoming freshmen (or upperclassmen for that matter) can seek to glorify God as they head off to college this month.' What follows is a variety of spiritual reminders, practical tips, and exhortations to spend the time wisely for the greater good of the Church. Have fun this year!</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f5791e61MS9so5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f58e7d7eoD-dTO600074" title="Francis Schaeffer, Progressive Fundamentalist" target="_self" href="http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2011/08/getting-francis-schaeffer-right/"><span id="zw-131f58e7d52dy6710600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Francis Schaeffer, Progressive Fundamentalist</span></a><span id="zw-131f58e7d54tV_tN_600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f58395e84yuXh600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f58322146LyHBA600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">It has become well-accepted to break Schaeffer’s life up into segments and to characterize him as three different people. There is the young, fire breathing fundamentalist eager to “be ye separate” from the impure compromisers; the artsy, compassionate, bohemian founder of L’abri in Switzerland; and then the old man, brushing off his best instincts and returning to his fundamentalist roots to fight for the doctrine of inerrancy and “Christian America.” While it is possible to reach such a conclusion by looking at his early career and then considering the chronological development of his publications, this book rejects that approach by portraying Schaeffer as a consistent personality throughout.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f57977b2qINsaR600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f585378d0y7QM9600074" title="Marathons In Uganda For Charity 'World Vision'" target="_self" href="http://www.mereorthodoxy.com/marathons-uganda-world-vision/"><span id="zw-131f585375eJodTUx600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Marathons In Uganda For Charity 'World Vision'</span></a><span id="zw-131f57977b5yD11Df600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5867fee3r_vc600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f585f484uSgpfK600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I know, like </span><span id="zw-131f585f48a9328oP600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Matthew Paul Turner</span><span id="zw-131f585f492aneje600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> aptly wrote, that everyone is exhausted with appeals of this sort. And if you have been reading Mere-O for any length of time, you know that this isn’t in our normal purview. We’re a bit more intellectually minded, not because social justice doesn’t matter but because the intellect does, and it gets decidedly less air time.</span><span id="zw-131f585f498DL6bp600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> But mere orthodoxy is not so far from mere praxis, and the early church expanded because they combined works of mercy with rigorous apologetics. While the primary locus of such practice should be within our local communities, the opportunity to do good to our neighbor extends well beyond the boundaries of our country. And that is an opportunity worth considering.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131e4093b89w6yDZR600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131f579ce44n3iipt600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131f579ce468GtFVV600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f58779d43mkSA-600074" title="What We Could Learn From William Carey" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/19/william-carey-at-250/"><span id="zw-131f58779a59DAH7e600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">What We Could Learn From William Carey</span></a><span id="zw-131f58779a8NXqDau600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131f588db94m_r-ZZ600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f58866021QUYi600074" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Trebuchet MS', serif; font-size: 0.9545454545454546em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">William Carey, his wife, Dorothy, and their four children—including a nursing infant—sailed from England on a Danish ship headed for India. Carey never saw his homeland again. He spent the rest of his life in India as a pastor, teacher, linguist, agriculturalist, journalist, botanist, social activist, and statesman of the world Christian movement. He died in India in 1834 with the words of a hymn by Isaac Watts on his lips: “A wretched, poor, and helpless worm, on thy kind arms I fall.”</span><span id="zw-131f5886608s12Tn600074" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Trebuchet MS', serif; font-size: 0.9545454545454546em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Now, two and one-half centuries after his birth, what can we learn from Carey today? There are many lessons to be gleaned from the life of the father of modern missions, but I place these seven principles at the top of the list.'</span></p><p id="zw-131f577c273PaEsCz600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f577c272JgNqS600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><span id="zw-131f57a0a92oyxcJB600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131f58e3793BPqKho600074" title="Homeless Shelters Face Sharp Cutbacks" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/august/homelesssheltercutbacks.html?start=1"><span id="zw-131f58e3763bdsECf600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">H</span><span id="zw-131f57a0a94ZFpFdl600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">omeless Shelters Face Sharp Cutbacks</span></a><span id="zw-131f58e3766IP83bX600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "> </span><span id="zw-131f5738bb4UktPd4600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span><span id="zw-131f5738b5adGHBmD600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">-</span><span id="zw-131f58cca64Rjl36c600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f58d0c8fgoyDsJ600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131f58c2c4d6vq3Vk600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">The state paid Roseland Christian Ministries Center $300,000 a year for staff and food supplies. Three years ago, the budget was slashed to $190,000. Huizenga cut the hours and number of meals. Doors were open just five days a week, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Only one meal was served.</span><span id="zw-131f58c2c50BFMtu8600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> A year later, the state completely eliminated Roseland from its budget. A church in the suburbs stepped forward to help, giving enough money to staff the program for a few months. The hours were even shorter, from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. each weekday. But it was not enough, and in June, Roseland had to shut the doors to the men's daytime shelter.'</span></p></div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-72463627388458895732011-08-23T03:07:00.004-06:002011-08-23T19:59:32.853-06:00Typical, American, Christian Teaching Is Shallow<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLL2BL1CnzTFIGaDDHt_ygddzPW36lZ6w-TGESrEf1gfXwZY21ojFUOuUVBTohrkWJrs3onWe_ICt7jvaRp2rQbKDLJdmerd8flK-2LU61J03tsVllIg60dK2diinXE6NIL3FJYd2HN4/s1600/American+flag.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 647px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLL2BL1CnzTFIGaDDHt_ygddzPW36lZ6w-TGESrEf1gfXwZY21ojFUOuUVBTohrkWJrs3onWe_ICt7jvaRp2rQbKDLJdmerd8flK-2LU61J03tsVllIg60dK2diinXE6NIL3FJYd2HN4/s400/American+flag.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644235253239900146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOji0w_UmfE6KfhTVVP6UVgl8aD2kANFyORVv4wvT2Zbt-7Q5Q7KJ4OJf1__EIrYqF0oCIHiJEbrSaGf97eVlXu5spjYCiE55bXWs6cHblOvPXndw8DjyCWw9AP5utVa97dprliCJJCw/s1600/CartoonThomas.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOji0w_UmfE6KfhTVVP6UVgl8aD2kANFyORVv4wvT2Zbt-7Q5Q7KJ4OJf1__EIrYqF0oCIHiJEbrSaGf97eVlXu5spjYCiE55bXWs6cHblOvPXndw8DjyCWw9AP5utVa97dprliCJJCw/s320/CartoonThomas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643975945399687266" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p id="zw-131f5ccba99Fko7N-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5eaaec232Pb8l600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >I was always taught from my Christian school that God gave man a choice to either obey God or disobey Him in the Garden of Eden. That was God’s master plan, to plant a tree that was forbidden for them to eat of, to test them. It was never really said if God knew what would or would not happen beforehand. The school believed that God was all knowing, so they would have claimed that God knew man would fall if they were pressed, I would assume, but they never addressed that issue. I, and most of the other students, never thought</span><span id="zw-131f5ccb9a2ObJfJt600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span><span id="zw-131f5ccb9aa68fPy_600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >that issue through either. It was an answer we were given, and in my shallow understanding of things, it worked. I was isolated in a Christian bubble, sealed off from the “real world” full of unbelievers and believers with different interpretations, counter-arguments, and rebuttals. In fact, I thought this was the only interpretation for the Christian. I took the school at its word, and thought little more of it.</span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9a5grODS600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5d3d220H9XiPF600074"></span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9bKgpgP600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9b5BUn775600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >A Testament to Poor Teaching In Christian Schools and Churches</span></p><p id="zw-131f5d2c4a4w6lEHQ600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ea94c8uH470b600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >I am sure this is why many Christians struggle when they go to a secular college. They come out of this Christian bubble of Christian schools and churches, where very little doctrine has been taught to begin with, and then they are bombarded with tough questions by skeptical professors and students at universities who know the Bible far better than they do. Soon, some show they were never saved to begin with, and leave the faith they once professed (although never truly possessed), while others, the true believers, are in a state of despair, and begin searching for the answers. But alas, they are already at a severe disadvantage, and by the time they catch up, if they do catch up, they are out of college.</span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9bp4rIlD600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9cb57702600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9bd20BCRG600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >This is a testament to the poor teaching in Christian schools and churches yet again. At the same time, something needs to be said for the student’s lack of interest in Scripture as well. While I was certainly interested in studying the Word and, if I may say so without sounding arrogant, I believe I had more of an interest than many of my peers, nevertheless, my commitment to studying Scripture on my own, to thinking about and asking the hard questions, was greatly lacking. I always perked up during chapel services or Bible class, hoping to glean something helpful, and sometimes I did. But by the time I was in high school, the questions I needed answered were questions that I should have had down pat in middle school. The questions I still didn’t understand were elementary. I was getting some of them in high school, and because I was so shallow in my faith, it seemed helpful. It was helpful, but it was merely scratching the surface. I would have been destroyed by an atheist or anyone who had actually studied the Bible with sincerity and found it contradictory, immoral, absurd, fallible, or uninspired (To this day, I am still playing catch up in those areas). I thought there was little else to Scripture and the Christian faith, but I was wrong. </span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9czRNMRA600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9cpLzuWA600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9c6LdNCM600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >For instance, I had no clue that the Old Testament was full of stories where God commands the Israelites to kill other nations- man, woman, and child. I would be willing to bet there are some in high school or even college reading this who had no idea either until just now. A friend of mine, doubting his faith when I was a junior in high school, pointed this out. He had trouble with the morality of a God who slaughters nations, including children. I had no ready answer. This didn’t sound like the God, or especially the Jesus, that I was accustomed to hearing about from my church or school. I knew there had to be a good explanation, but what that explanation was, I did not know.</span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9dQ0-dqp600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5cfb0bcknMO7F600074"></span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9dvNT9tO600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9ceV7_Stn600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >The Apologetics Lessons Weren't Great, Either</span></p><p id="zw-131f5d55092YMqxFW600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ea7302Amtgo600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Then there was the whole issue of how we know God exists. Again, my science books and science teachers didn’t offer a whole lot, except to say that both evolution and atheism or Christianity and creationism are accepted by faith. That was the grand argument, that it took faith to believe both. True enough, but so what? That doesn’t prove the existence of God. Perhaps they were implicitly stating that God couldn’t be proven. I disagree, now, many years later, but at the time I just took their word for it, that both were accepted by faith, and that the appearance of design indicated that there was a Designer. None of us would have had a chance against an evolutionist, or even someone who simply disagreed. We never explored the logical necessities of God, and I can vaguely remember one of my teachers touching on the moral proofs of God in passing, as if it were an afterthought. You weren’t aware that there were such things as “logical necessities of God” or “moral proofs” of God? Never heard of the cosmological or ontological arguments? I hadn’t either.</span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9d6qlPIT600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5cfec59Vkiyjh600074"></span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9e5cAHeP600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9d7dZHlTf600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >At School, I Learned Little That Was Actually Christian</span></p><p id="zw-131f5d66aa8zQYAPI600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ea5516onbuR_600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >So at Christian school, I learned little that was actually Christian. I didn’t grow in my faith much because there wasn’t much being taught that would enable me to grow. The gospel, the “Americanized” version that is, was the main concern of the Christian school. Get students in, get them saved, and then discipline them so that they will have a passion to get others saved. The name of the game was reproducing, numbers, or so it seemed to me and some of the other students. That was what most chapels were about. To be fair, some chapels and Bible class did teach us a bit, but it was basic facts, like what the temple in the Old Testament looked like, or a quiz on what such and such a verse in Scripture says, or that drinking beer and smoking and having sex outside of marriage was a sin and the rapture was just around the corner. Rather than expounding on the Scripture itself and drawing out its meaning and implications, we mostly got a few lists of things to do, or not to do, if we want to be good Christians.</span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9eVA9QI600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5cff57c68B3hL600074"></span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9fO3TtO8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9dfpy4lN2600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >A Surprise Shock Before We Release You To College Wolves</span></p><p id="zw-131f5d6ea92m0mTqm600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ea3266Qsk1600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Fortunately, that did change a bit my senior year, where we had some good stuff and were exposed to Marxism and postmodernist thought, but prior to that we were encapsulated in shallow Christianity, almost exclusively. That Bible class my senior year, as much as I enjoyed it, was also a rude awakening. It was like the school was saying, “Surprise, there is so much you don’t know about, and we have neglected to teach it to you, but we are going to try to give you a picture of what it’s going to be like just before you are thrown to the wolves at college.” Or, perhaps, my Christian school just assumed that all good Christians go to Christian schools. Bad assumption. By this time, most of my fellow classmates could care less about the “deeper” things of God, and they could barely grasp surface level truths.</span></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9flKU6dH600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5cffefc3M74bM600074"></span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131f5ccba9fVvhWrC600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ccb9e8l3yCgZ600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >The Typical American Gospel Is Shallow, Hollow, and False</span></p><p id="zw-131f5d82d2dKA8a1M600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131f5ea1332ATk1Jx600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;font-size:0.909091em;" >I say all that to say this- the only way I will be able to convince you, the reader, that the typical American gospel is a false gospel, is if you begin to realize that the Christian institutions in America, the schools, and the church primarily, aren’t doing their job. They aren’t really teaching. They are more concerned with the rapture, or if drinking beer is a sin, or sharing wild testimonies, and getting “decisions for Christ,” than they are with growing in the faith. The question needs to be asked, what exactly are we winning people to? Christ, yes, of course. But what does that look like? Just continue being a moral person, telling others about Jesus and how they too can be saved and avoid punishment? Is that really all there is to it? Is it that simple, that basic? I don’t think so.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131f5ea1332ATk1Jx600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;font-size:0.909091em;" >
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f5ea1332ATk1Jx600074" style=" text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">-Thomas</span></span></p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-19567615515356781392011-08-23T01:11:00.000-06:002011-08-23T01:12:19.311-06:00What They're Saying 08.23.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131f578c844uSh8cC600074" title="Do You Tend to Doubt Yourself? Good." target="_self" href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/22/do-you-doubt-yourself-good"><span id="zw-131f578c798Vc_SaI600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Do You Tend to Doubt Yourself? Good.</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d6bacdfd30u33B600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131f5663217G2D5xu600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f565d2a2J33XqF600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">When you’re on the brink of despair, looking into the abyss of darkness experiencing a dark-night of the soul, turning to the internal quality of your faith will bring you no hope, no rescue, no relief. Every internal answer will collapse underneath you. Turning to the external object of your faith, namely Christ and his finished work on your behalf, is the only place to find peace, re-orientation, and help. The gospel always directs you to something, someone, </span><span id="zw-131f565d2a5SErLbW600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">outside </span><span id="zw-131f565d2a6bmPAgr600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">of you instead of to something </span><span id="zw-131f565d2a8VrzR6s600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">inside</span><span id="zw-131f565d2a942Ccgg600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> of you for the assurance you crave and need in seasons of desperation and doubt.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131de30922dh3Wqp-600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f5791e8dXuoKa4600074" title="A French Lingerie Line for 4 Year Olds" target="_self" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/europe/french-lingerie-line-for-four--to-12-year-olds-decried-as-creepy/article2134540/"><span id="zw-131f5791e61MS9so5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A French Lingerie Line for 4 Year Olds</span></a><span id="zw-131d6a7d197bduiT7600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131e414068cu0QDz2600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">Though non-Christian society tends to do well on many social justice issues (poverty reduction; equality among peoples; open access to education and information; foreign aid for those less fortunate than ourselves), their jettisoning of Christian values tends to make them more prone to neglecting other social justice issues: their individualism causes them to neglect the value of families, the right to life of the unborn, and now the moral responsibility not to oversexualize children. A French line just released a line of skimpy lingerie designed for small children, and mothers are buying. This is the culture in which we must increasingly work at sharing the Gospel. I believe that as the culture becomes more depraved and walks farther from Christian values, the need for Christianity among the culture at large will become more apparent.</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131e40834b7-ScVDh600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f57977e0d8oQy600074" title="John Stott: Most Prominent Bachelor" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/augustweb-only/johnstottsingleness.html?start=1"><span id="zw-131f57977b2qINsaR600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">John Stott: Most Prominent Bachelor</span></a><span id="zw-131f57977b5yD11Df600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131f56f52fcm0USX600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f56ec185FJ2ivY600074" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In spite of rumors to the contrary, I have never taken a solemn vow or heroic decision to remain single! On the contrary, during my 20s and 30s, like most people, I was expecting to marry one day. In fact, during this period I twice began to develop a relationship with a lady who I thought might be God's choice of life-partner for me. But when the time came to make a decision, I can best explain it by saying that I lacked an assurance from God that he meant me to go forward. So I drew back. And when that had happened twice, I naturally began to believe that God meant me to remain single. </span><span id="zw-131f56f136bzKXISU600074" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Looking back, with the benefit of hindsight, I think I know why. I could never have traveled or written as extensively as I have done if I had had the responsibilities of a wife and family.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131e4093b89w6yDZR600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131f579ce72SX0C79600074" title="Love a Woman, Not Just Your Idea of Her" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/17/love-the-one-youre-with/"><span id="zw-131f579ce44n3iipt600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Love a Woman, Not Just Your Idea of Her</span></a><span id="zw-131f579ce468GtFVV600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131f57289b676P9zP600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5725862m5HPT600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">After C. S. Lewis lost his wife, Helen, to cancer, he realized he didn’t have a single good picture of her. Maybe that’s hard to grasp in our culture of profile pics from every angle, but he wasn’t upset about it. In fact, he saw the distinct advantage of lacking a quality image of his wife. He wrote:</span><span id="zw-131f571260dGcd6S7600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> "I want H., not something that is like her. A really good photograph might become in the end a snare, a horror, and an obstacle." How could a </span><span id="zw-131f571fb14ztBDwR600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">photo of the woman he loved become a snare? Because in the absence of the real person, he saw his tendency to fill the image with his own fancy. In fact, this was one of the prominent themes for Lewis in </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grief-Observed-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652381/?tag=thegospcoal-20" title="" id="zw-131f571fb16z8xrxL600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; color: rgb(47, 138, 209); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131f571fb1dXbYG7Y600074" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">A Grief Observed</span></a><span id="zw-131f571fb1fjVg6I7600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">. He was terrified at the prospect of shaping Helen into a phantom of his own making.'</span><span id="zw-131f5738b51CzQfWm600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span></p><p id="zw-131f577c273PaEsCz600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131f577c272JgNqS600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131f57a0abfpOY8zU600074" title="Hey Paul and Titus, Where's My Older Woman?" target="_self" href="http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Where-s-My-Older-Woman"><span id="zw-131f57a0a92oyxcJB600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">Hey Paul and Titus, Where's My Older Woman?</span></a><span id="zw-131f57a0a94ZFpFdl600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "> </span><span id="zw-131f5738bb4UktPd4600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span><span id="zw-131f5738b5adGHBmD600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">-</span><span id="zw-131f5738bb5qiKn3o600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span><span id="zw-131f575ca51BMCFpX600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131f5752c943ZU5qm600074" style="line-height: 1.35em; font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">An older woman training me to love and serve my husband and the sweet baby in my womb would be a lovely blessing. But right now, that's not someone God has placed in my life. But I can still be that older woman for someone else.</span><span id="zw-131f5752c986iRqg5600074" style="line-height: 1.35em; font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> For example, I'm currently learning to pursue the younger women in my Community Group, particularly the unmarried or newly married women. Although I've only been married for three years, I have learned a lot in that time! How tragic would it be if I were so focused on "finding my older woman" that I didn't become that older woman and instead kept what God has done in me and my marriage to myself?'</span></p></div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-77097819305784316302011-08-22T01:14:00.004-06:002011-08-22T01:18:06.202-06:00Brother James Got Perseverence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgLv8_N-7jkbyzOPwttylXsshUPGl0_raktk6O_KQbDYdj8URWL4qBef6Mi2UdWs0sMhRDTHj6YEUyFoXDn_QUvRplCRqGkaVYRnzez8Kld6Gtwk997XiYSBtcm0cfhLeyvNIvxOWREE/s1600/boxing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 643px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgLv8_N-7jkbyzOPwttylXsshUPGl0_raktk6O_KQbDYdj8URWL4qBef6Mi2UdWs0sMhRDTHj6YEUyFoXDn_QUvRplCRqGkaVYRnzez8Kld6Gtwk997XiYSBtcm0cfhLeyvNIvxOWREE/s400/boxing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643575539458016354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41zl6J_LXUOOZeXsqFBc0Q8wCR_bcUNfSNfVTl4rwI0EsxLPBAWSuGPqfAztJ_lB1I2-Ard2n2kx9AGKTehZIVA7vnGgaXoGYCMw2WQq2Y-6Ug5wioSt5XZtw9EYXo9QDSa1StZTcTSs/s1600/CartoonNic.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 102px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41zl6J_LXUOOZeXsqFBc0Q8wCR_bcUNfSNfVTl4rwI0EsxLPBAWSuGPqfAztJ_lB1I2-Ard2n2kx9AGKTehZIVA7vnGgaXoGYCMw2WQq2Y-6Ug5wioSt5XZtw9EYXo9QDSa1StZTcTSs/s320/CartoonNic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643575704325417234" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p id="zw-131f040e608IYSGu600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f040e607dqp0gQ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Do you really understand what it means to endure through whatever God leads you to? Do you really know what it’s like to get through the storm as though it were nothing? This, in fact, is what it means to have God’s strength. Consider the words of James: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). Why endure through hardships? Because it makes you mature and complete.</span></p><p id="zw-131f041a6382EuuVZ600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f041a637HSsYlC600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f041a639a0Dvi600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e1401XsBMi600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e1403PWUgq600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Looking Past the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Here and Now</span></p><p id="zw-131f041bdad6GZ5vo600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f041bdadyFLzNS600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">1.</span> </span><span id="zw-131f041255eHgSJIZ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >If you break down the text of this, the same word used to say “trials” in this passage is the same word used to say “temptations” and “tests” in others. So whatever you’re facing – hardships, struggles, anxiety, difficult temptations, addictions, or whatever – you need to look past the here and now and see what’s at the other end: growth, strengthening and perseverance, so that you will become more of the man or woman that God has in mind for you to become.</span></p><p id="zw-131f041b1905xwCt4600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f041b1903fYFUG600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f041b19222aoiS600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e1403FRpXC600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e1404o2VVLY600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Now I know, it will still be difficult, whatever you’re going through. I understand more than you would think what it means to feel as though your life is about to end. Not that you think you’re literally going to die, but whatever it may be – emotional, relational, whatever – I know how it feels to have the only thing that matters to you seem to end. So I would have to ask you: what really matters to you?</span></p><p id="zw-131f0419177Mqbu5600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0419177MhM-7600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f0419179hFcV55600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e1405IS9BbX600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e1406vL9lse600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f04481e4PMacE600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >The Lies That Condemnation Tells Us</span><span id="zw-131f04481fdbdAr8O600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f04397ca51vLuX600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f04397c7-juTuc600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f04397c64LcM1J600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">2.</span> Is it of any wonder to you why the 3rd leading cause of death in America is suicide? What’s the point of suicide? “Because there’s nothing worth living for.” Because the enemy comes to us at our weakest point and tells us these little lies…and we believe him. Do you wonder why you or someone you know was so self-conscious in school? Do you wonder why so many people you know today are still so worried about it? Because of those little lies that we believe. Have you ever felt that way? Like you had to change or achieve something in order to be acceptable?</span></p><p id="zw-131f0418b0535u4pa600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0418b05tHCliQ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f0418b07ms16p600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e1406uFChy8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e1407LjqdMC600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Though it’s very different for men and women, the principal is pretty much the same: “You won’t be cool unless you do this…You won’t be beautiful unless you change this…you won’t be accepted unless you are this…” Do you think God feels the same way about you? Think about this: God formed you from conception (Psalm 139:13-16). He planned who you were to be – what shoes He would have you fill. He, being the most sovereign God, knit you together in intricate detail, so that you would just be…you. Now, if God wanted your skin to be a little darker, or if he wanted your hair or eyes to be a different colour, of if he wanted you to be taller or shorter or bigger or smaller or anything different…wouldn’t he have made you that way?</span></p><p id="zw-131f04184aaPKAQmm600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f04184a9ygUvRg600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f04184aczVOKpn600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e1408DoEMiO600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e1409YXqerP600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f045ecbdGjkJ7600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >Persevering Through Lies and Depression</span></p><p id="zw-131f045da9edgdfm4600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f045da9dPiGeeh600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >This, brothers and sisters, is why it is so important to endure through the hardships. No matter how hard it gets, consider God’s perspective: You are still a child of his, and nothing will ever take you away from him. Want an illustration? Listen to how Paul describes you: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble of hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."</span></p><p id="zw-131f0417ddcaX7OEB600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0417ddcBF-gi600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f0417ddeCVxF6A600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e1409eY_k54600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e140af7bjgQ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >“No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death not life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:31-39).</span></p><p id="zw-131f0417790I2nyIi600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0417790Cbsri3600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f04177937awibG600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f03e140axxPdj600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f03e140dkb7xy2600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f04689ccRzkw8600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" >If You Believe In God, Then Do Not Have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fear</span><span id="zw-131f04689e2-bYiSt600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f0466b990Xm5lE600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f0466b96sQKOVJ600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0466b95NCzre4600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >So let me ask you, do you really love God? Is He really enough for you? Does he really satisfy? Then do not listen to these lies, whoever you may be. They are nothing more than just that. Satan is the best sociologist in the world, and he knows when you’re struggling. But if you truly love God, and you truly believe that he is who he says he is, do not fear, for “nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God.” No matter how much the enemy takes from you, and no matter how much you’re struggling, stay strong and endure, for the prize is well worth the struggle.</span></p><p id="zw-131f0471b93dvbG3D600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0471b92gWSiaH600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131f0471d0bCDuRR3600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131f0471d09KCpvzn600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131f0471d08ZWxQF-600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >-</span><span id="zw-131f047263fBM6njv600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >NIC</span></p></span>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-37569542266603870622011-08-19T16:34:00.014-06:002011-08-20T11:43:32.869-06:00Blogosphere: When Christianity Is Idolatry<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittn4D9IbzyJQZV7Lyi0t6y12lfIwTNKWU9UVlEIxYzhNoUQD9YOcPDHT_vhXnt5dmQb_kpu0_iGYOk9-JUuv45hgQ5AuCH-4se9GNh403l-WmDDjRb-DzH_x4_qRZKS-MK_TScrose14/s1600/idol.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 638px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittn4D9IbzyJQZV7Lyi0t6y12lfIwTNKWU9UVlEIxYzhNoUQD9YOcPDHT_vhXnt5dmQb_kpu0_iGYOk9-JUuv45hgQ5AuCH-4se9GNh403l-WmDDjRb-DzH_x4_qRZKS-MK_TScrose14/s400/idol.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642994555365102994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdY-p2IYyLqmfgPDqOhqTS8-gd0di2ONeX9fz2KZHFFBQTgxDT_ihsAjs1r8QH5-8_CAwqWdkq97Gb9VZDGA-NszK10U1FPOdvmH8cFQBCjVQU0hwjGIXBYOXD3LYS3O_NBMI9X3m2n4s/s1600/15142_187947853659_24873958659_3023100_5865239_n.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 76px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdY-p2IYyLqmfgPDqOhqTS8-gd0di2ONeX9fz2KZHFFBQTgxDT_ihsAjs1r8QH5-8_CAwqWdkq97Gb9VZDGA-NszK10U1FPOdvmH8cFQBCjVQU0hwjGIXBYOXD3LYS3O_NBMI9X3m2n4s/s400/15142_187947853659_24873958659_3023100_5865239_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642699415511488050" border="0" /></a><span class="s1" id="zw-131e428b023JtbgK600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >I am standing in front of a church congregation with a microphone in-hand. The pastor had asked me to give a short testimony about when I came to the church and what was going on in my life at the time. Here’s, essentially, what I said: </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><ul id="zw-131e42170c0jy83HH600074" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 40px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p class="p1" id="zw-131e42170c9gfVz_X600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42170cfHNp3PR600074" style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >I came to the church during a confusing time in my life. I was struggling with theological and philosophical ideas and there were some people in the church who understood my questions and helped straighten me out. </span></p></ul><p class="p1" id="zw-131e42170d1Da5fW7600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; "><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131e4231f89NHu_XB600074"></span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42b19e2jiNXAe600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Recollections of Idolatry</span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e4235f5aur2ny600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4235f59buhXC600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Fast forward about five years. I am on a stroll with my wife through a park on a sunny spring day. Out of nowhere I get a revelation. That little speech in front of the church all those years ago was idolatry.</span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e426cf11mmdqKQ600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e426cf11R7bGuO600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131e426cf14P6c_BB600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e42170f2owEewN600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42170fb1FaPOR600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The backstory to that mini-testimony is that a couple years prior, I’d come out of a rebellious, sinful time of my life. I’d gotten “straightened out” but I had never truly faced my sin before my savior. Instead, I’d accepted the counterfeit of deep theological study. I’d fallen for the subtle lie that knowledge of good Christian theology served as my justification.</span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e426c79cExG-p9600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e426c79bcxRrk6600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131e426c79eMttjgZ600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e42170fbveAwxt600074" style="margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px; font: 1em/1.2 Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217115BpNlzW600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >All I’d done was exchange the truth for a lie and served created things for the Creator God (</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421711dvrannY600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Rm. 1:25</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421711fEymVQ600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >). I’d taken a good gift from God and used it for my own purposes of looking good in front of others. If I were to infuse some truth serum into that speech, it would sound a little more like this, “Hi, I am guilt-ridden over some past sin but I’ve pridefully never really faced the fact that my sin is treason against God. So rather than call it sin, I’ll just say I’ve been trying to crack a ‘theological problem’ so you’ll think I’m smart.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421711fEymVQ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >
<br /></span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e428664bBH7AJ600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "> </p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e423ac16MPZaAn600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42af9d4n__JIA600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >When Christianity Becomes Idolatry</span></p><p class="p1" id="zw-131e42171363ZUEPK600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217143--NqDN600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Even good Christian theology can become an idol. When Christian belief is information detached from the substance of Jesus’ objective work on the cross for sinners, it becomes idolatry. Like it or not, you and I are guilty of it. How so?</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421714dpWWbyr600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131e439f832TJMgnV600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><ul id="zw-131e43a3cb4cHvOqq600074" style="list-style-type: square; " type="square"><li id="zw-131e43a3cb5wrTjfS600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e439f82fc5Lhvp600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Do you live for the approval of others in the church? </span></li><li id="zw-131e43a3cc9kMEsip600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217155qLwmyf600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Do you stew over your spiritual performance and personal holiness more than you steep in what God has already accomplished for you in Jesus? </span> </li><li id="zw-131e43a3cd3ph0nbD600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421715c07OYEm600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Are you prideful about your biblical knowledge? </span> </li><li id="zw-131e43a3d20LtS_rC600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421716cd0Rcck600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Do you love to debate finer points of theology with others and get angry when you’re challenged by your views? </span> </li><li id="zw-131e43a3d26dnb5G600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171738nhsw8600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Are you feeling burnt out and joyless in your service to those in the church? </span> </li><li id="zw-131e43a3d2bvP9Lyw600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421717aaSTuxj600074" style="line-height: 23px; background-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Are you uncomfortable with suffering people and find you’re quick to recite Bible verses as a way to avoid awkward, personal engagement? </span><span id="zw-131e43a60e6PG4LTJ600074"></span> </li></ul><p id="zw-131e421717e5AB7j600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217186UZ_P8a600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >If you answered "yes" to any of these, there is a good chance you have taken God’s good gifts and used them for your own selfish purpose. You have used God to make yourself look good through your service, your knowledge, and personal growth. This form of idolatry is hard to detect because the “fruit bearing” looks good to everyone else. Let's face facts though; it's idolatry. </span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131e4240844SVISEn600074"></span></p><p class="p3" id="zw-131e4217197DmxV-t600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42a9c77YpCkDm600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Religion is a Golden Calf </span></p><p class="p4" id="zw-131e42171adxgbtNE600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171b2EEfSBc600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The clearest picture of idolatry in the Bible</span><span class="s3" id="zw-131e42171b4RRQ6Kt600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171b6M5XlMF600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >is</span><span class="s3" id="zw-131e42171b8Km0Wtl600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171baXRBXtF600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >the</span><span class="s2" id="zw-131e42171bb06dHv6600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > Exodus 32 </span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171betbCIr600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >narrative on the golden calf. This narrative isn’t simply a message that pagans, perverts, and addicts need to hear; it's also for religious folk like you and me. When God looked down from the mountain and found his people had crafted the Golden Calf, he wasn’t simply witnessing immoral living. </span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171c1K9voa1600074" style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >He saw a people he had redeemed that had taken his good gifts and used them against him.</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171c2L8Ys9L600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > While it's not explicitly stated in the text, the gold the Israelites used to make the calf was intended for God’s purposes. Later in the narrative we see the leftover gold is used for the building of the tabernacle. Just think about that for a minute. The Israelites used God's gift for their own selfish purposes. In creating the golden calf, the people had committed high treason. Even though the true God had always proven himself faithful, they just couldn’t wait. They needed a God that met them on their terms, a God of their choosing that they could define and control. We’re so quick to judge those primitive, control-addicted Israelites. What we miss in those people are you and me. </span></p><p class="p6" id="zw-131e42171c3yPgT7Y600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42a7d50ZzYzMy600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" ></span><span id="zw-131e43ab6b3fp-cBF600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p class="p6" id="zw-131e43ab6b00FypPY600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e43ab6af-Gmiad600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Hi My Name’s Joe Christian and I’m a Religious Addict</span></p><p class="p8" id="zw-131e42171e0S1EfU_600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171e65OLdTb600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Religion is control addiction. In the appendix to </span><span class="s2" id="zw-131e42171e9EUiP3S600074" style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Redemption</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171efaneOBn600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, Mike Wilkerson comments on a lecture given by David Powlison at the 2008 </span><span class="s2" id="zw-131e42171f2ym7rOt600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >CCEF</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171f9wp9eLw600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > conference titled</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171fcZTZUls600074" style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, The Addict in Us All</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42171feMZfW9N600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >. Religious addiction has a least two components: impression management and escape from sin. </span></p><ul id="zw-131e42171ferwPLM5600074" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 40px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p class="p8" id="zw-131e4217202ZcQmQ3600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217205-0yR9U600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >“Religiosity is about the show, the 'impression management,' and the trappings of religion, but not its faith and certainly not its God. Like any other addiction, religiosity serves as an escape from reality. Are you devastated by the loss of a loved one? 'God is sovereign,' blurts the stoic religious addict, like a knee reflex, and by this he means, 'Don’t feel it; don’t think about it; just detach yourself from it. Since God is sovereign, why should you bother?'</span></p><p class="p8" id="zw-131e4217206Kh3xX600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217208EQReFW600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The religious addict escapes the reality of his own sin too....he justifies himself by the doing of and associating with religious stuff: serving, reading, teaching, praying, and church-going, along with adopting the lingo, aesthetic tastes, and moral lifestyle typical of other religious people. These are his “sacrifices” to gain his god’s favor and retain his righteousstanding. But he is as deceived and rebellious as the Israelites imitating orthodoxy through idolatry.”</span></p></ul><p class="p6" id="zw-131e4217208CsIJIo600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421720cOxkOJI600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42a3f83IiI7lk600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Religion is About Control Amidst Brokenness</span></p><p class="p8" id="zw-131e42172143kTQOb600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421721cwSuf4600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Religion is God-talk we use for our own controlling purposes. We use his word as a defense mechanism against him and other people. It’s a kind of excuse-making for God as if we’re smart enough to know what he’s up to when life is difficult. Its time to face the pain of a broken world without our pre-packaged religious answers. To gloss over our pain and suffering or someone else’s through religiosity is inhumane. We love the story of the cross as a get-me-out-of-hell free card. But nobody wants to face the cross when it’s time to put sin to death, extend love to others in crisis, or come to terms with the brokenness of our world. The problem is, like the Pharisees, we prefer our safe religion over the death of our selfish spiritual aspirations. </span></p><p class="p8" id="zw-131e427bc39bZiyv600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e427bc39gL63P2600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131e427bc3b-4IxXy600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p class="p8" id="zw-131e4247fdflnYQRj600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131e424610fTkoZ1b600074"></span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42a1cc9IK89Ey600074" style="line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Graced Pharisees Called Out Of Slavery </span></p><p class="p7" id="zw-131e421723aw289Ag600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e421723d6l7cgM600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The word Pharisee is synonymous with hypocrite. Many Christians don’t know when they are being hypocritical. Identifying our need to appear religious by spiritual performance or being a Bible know-it-all is difficult because </span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217240b5--Gt600074" style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >doing</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217242uRBtBs600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > religion seems like the right thing to do. It feels good to us and looks good to others, but our religion offends God.</span></p><p class="p7" id="zw-131e429f920s6ciQy600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e429f91fhhFna600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><span id="zw-131e429f922C_QBCL600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p class="p7" id="zw-131e4217242GJofHB600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e42172451L4cHy600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >If this is all true, if you and I are religious addicts and idolaters, we have a big problem on our hands. God’s anger against us is justified in the same way his anger was justified when the Israelites made the golden calf. Now is the time for repentance.</span></p><p class="p7" id="zw-131e4217246nNwJDF600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e4217248g2AUyy600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The good news is when we confess, he is faithful to forgive: </span><span id="zw-131e421724alrXI_600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >1 John 1:9</span><span id="zw-131e421724czhlZQ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fortunately, many of the Hebrews were spared for Moses' sake. We too are spared for Jesus' sake. He is the greater intercessor. Not only does he intercede on our behalf and forgive us our sin, he restores and sustains us. Reaching back to Exodus 17, </span><span id="zw-131e421724fu3kTDq600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >1 Corinthians 7:14</span><span id="zw-131e4217250oR9Wp600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > says the Israelites "drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." </span></p><p class="p7" id="zw-131e4217251Rl5_aE600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.75 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; "><span class="s1" id="zw-131e4217254ipY9TN600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >God has called us out of slavery. We are his treasured possession. While we are faithless, he has remained faithful. Our idols are wrought with the unholy sacrifice of his good gifts. We have crawled up into God’s lap only to slap him. But thanks be to God, rather than punish us, he graces us. And his grace is big enough even for Pharisees like Paul, and like you, and like me. He leads us out, he leads us through, he atones for sin, and he leads us home.</span><span class="s1" id="zw-131e428b02cSLftQ600074" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span></p><p id="zw-131e09ea796qE1DC600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e09ea796XptD56600074" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >-Originally written by Matt Johnson for </span><span id="zw-131e43b62d5A5H3Dt600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span><a id="zw-131e43bbb8485WkD600074" title="The Resurgence" target="_self" href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/19/when-christianity-is-idolatry"><span id="zw-131e43bbb55jRPmA600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The Resurgence</span></a></p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-38382326378257018462011-08-19T15:00:00.000-06:002011-08-19T16:08:45.686-06:00What's the Deal With 'Recommitment?'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELkUQj59ut9RJldAOcIddfrCXQYhSLcDTaEnplf11whsQia64Y47pCbAjBLBmVDWXwcy0e2dVYfEaRpZ5_6IDfMnXLzYSy60r1UtGafNJe7CuYLvERqQSNXK3VZ0wp4a6k9ddvTrPU2Y/s1600/recommitment.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 645px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELkUQj59ut9RJldAOcIddfrCXQYhSLcDTaEnplf11whsQia64Y47pCbAjBLBmVDWXwcy0e2dVYfEaRpZ5_6IDfMnXLzYSy60r1UtGafNJe7CuYLvERqQSNXK3VZ0wp4a6k9ddvTrPU2Y/s400/recommitment.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642447607535717378" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuku9Nw4-UKoETos9D8ADCEqUStYEJdgqEDyp-fA1r6mwVo5o0l_1dH6FU7ztNdAY9q8Qj-oAUa4fgiOijL8VfX4Lieg97Dwoof_q_NUySRy3DToXj7dMZdtpKoXJQ9rXgBt6EQ2LNfo/s1600/Tent+Revival+in+Oklahoma+City+1963.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span></span></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBQUR8kcXOcwhwGytZlBAZ8mCpPTBYq-xS8KYNr_GnO9FOLYDQzA0bktgNVfV03p6ddBoZslbmpstwU98qi5Bd31BtzBIEJQdsAdFQCIJx4sIAFCrySiWtp4Kjk6RXTqQVc-PhObNxw0/s1600/CartoonRyan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBQUR8kcXOcwhwGytZlBAZ8mCpPTBYq-xS8KYNr_GnO9FOLYDQzA0bktgNVfV03p6ddBoZslbmpstwU98qi5Bd31BtzBIEJQdsAdFQCIJx4sIAFCrySiWtp4Kjk6RXTqQVc-PhObNxw0/s200/CartoonRyan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642444675299190466" border="0" /></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:arial;font-size:11pt;"><p id="zw-131d1c0eabcz2_3lV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e09a9640ZRETbv600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">If you ever experienced the awkwardness that is church camp as a youth, no doubt the following scene will make you laugh and possibly cry tears of embarrassment.</span><span id="zw-131e0965efbVH1Abk600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965efcrIb6R2600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Imagine this if you will: thousands of students standing after the evening sermon has been preached by the edgy-yet-somewhat-fundamental speaker that week, some are singing whatever the “invitation song” is, some are looking at their friends, some guy just got the nerve up to tell the girl he’s had a crush on all week that he wants to take her on a nice date after the service, while others are spaced out because they yet again survived sitting through an hour of</span><span id="zw-131e0965efevSvg05600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span id="zw-131e0965f00_u4z_C600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">“boring” preaching without looking at their PSP or other portable gaming device that they were forced to leave behind to attend this “hell”.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f01pckg1b600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f03ByEGs600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">And then, after the “altar call” for salvation has sounded, the hammer drops. The dreaded “recommitment” message is blasted for two reasons;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span id="zw-131e0989b60QNkfAn600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(a)</span><span id="zw-131e0989b64nyGl3P600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>not enough students came forward during the call for salvation, and the camp really wants to pad their numbers, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span id="zw-131e098c1aad-Wr8X600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(b)</span><span id="zw-131e098c1afG88CLE600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the camp leadership wants to make sure all students and leaders have had the chance to be guilted into the self righteous idea that their lives have fallen short of where God’s will for them is because they don’t want to spend their entire summer at a camp where you are treated like underpaid slaves.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f145PfglX600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">“Recommit your life to Him today!</span><span id="zw-131e0965f15whEwYi600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f17q4Qe7Y600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Try harder!</span><span id="zw-131e0965f18jsr1r0600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e09974depWMCv5600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Come forward and MAKE A DECISION!!!</span><span id="zw-131e09974e1ltWwmU600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f1a1d991r600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; font-family:arial;"><span id="zw-131e0965f1dl6wTWy600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f1euB4y6600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span id="zw-131e09ad15dhL3pn0600074"></span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f23DPIvw8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f280Rjr3h600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">God's Kindness Leads to True Repentance</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e09b484dEXnyPA600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e09b484cxpqanz600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Repentance is great. </span><span id="zw-131e0965f2aAUDiCb600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Recommitment not so much.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f2bl28iy600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f2cKx6Gen600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">And there is a </span><span id="zw-131e0965f2dYhX6V600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">massive</span><span id="zw-131e0965f2eFkcCCj600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> difference between the two.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f2eedFzwI600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f2fQN3Wft600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">To understand the differences between these two ideas, we only need to go to one place, Scripture itself.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f30CGQFpS600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f31FD0PF0600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">For starters let’s remember that it’s God’s kindness that leads you to true repentance (</span><span id="zw-131e0965f32Fs9P600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Rom. 2:4</span><span id="zw-131e0965f33Zz6Xg600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">), and He is the source of repentance, not you.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f34esF6m600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f34sVhQP_600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Yes, you may have walked an aisle, said a prayer, and got dunked, but it’s all because the Holy Spirit has hunted you down that you’re here.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f35dl3un600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f37kycrR9600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Ephesians 2:8</span><span id="zw-131e0965f384xubJS600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> says even the faith you have to believe in the Gospel was given to you, so that way you couldn’t boast.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f39eOQ_9600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f3aRQ_79j600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">You have nothing.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f3bCLZ9P600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f3cOb_glk600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Ok, point is made I think.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f3cJJuYi600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f3fyIgjEG600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f3fw7qDN600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f44ibhwk1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span id="zw-131e0965f47_7gDxP600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">The big compare/contrast of this discussion can be summed up in two different texts.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f48UqSG3600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f4aM3GH600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">The first is pretty obvious, 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, </span><span id="zw-131e0965f4bmBXrtg600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”</span><span id="zw-131e0965f4cx66a6f600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f4euLt7Wv600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Notice something if you will.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f4fGzvzEe600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f50ppced7600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">There is a difference between conviction of sin and religious guilt.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f52700m80600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f53lywB600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">I see the most errors in the pulpit over this well-intentioned idea, but see it fall flat on its face time and time again.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f54cRUgDG600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f55tFp7mZ600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Pastors will say they are preaching the Gospel, but when they don’t preach the cross of Christ and say things to guilt an audience into coming forward to “get right with God”, that is where I get angry.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f56WKEHs7600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f57qJdk8y600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Please do not be deceived by guilt.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f57-sKMEo600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span id="zw-131e0965f59rnq44600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f59-l2IN8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span id="zw-131e09cbeac3SfLov600074"></span><span id="zw-131e09cc305CTkBy600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e09cc301Sji3ON600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span id="zw-131e09cc300YEYHr600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';">The Right Conviction Leads to True Salvation</span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f5duUemPT600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f5fpbSy25600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f60q5Lrk600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f66DAKmpN600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f67uiLZY600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f6abimbai600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Second, notice that the right kind of conviction (aka the Holy Spirit) will lead you to true salvation.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f6ba6yeI2600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f6dd-5uY7600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">There is no need to doubt your salvation or faith if you know that you have truly been convicted in your sin.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f6eu1SRaA600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f6eLY9Xav600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">I don’t know about you, but I’m half sorrowful/half joyful over my sin, because I feel the discipline of God over me, and that is great news!</span><span id="zw-131e0965f6fG-pxxW600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f70UdAV-Z600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">That means you’re His (Heb. 12: 5-6). When you understand how repentance is different (and better) from a guilt-driven recommitment, you have no regrets.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f71yprkCk600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f72eAXFSg600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">You sin, yes, but you know that you’re covered by grace, and not by your mistakes or successes.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f74d5WmwC600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f75NZU2fY600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">But your conviction doesn’t come from yourself, the Enemy of your soul, or the world, it comes from God.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f76JhrSNy600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f77iSrHD3600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">What does 1 John 1:9 say?</span><span id="zw-131e0965f78zqONbQ600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f79_4LFf4600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”</span><span id="zw-131e0965f7aGsRqDk600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f7aMtQ_28600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">What a beautiful promise!</span><span id="zw-131e0965f7b4jPsJY600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f7c2gIF5600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Why would we ever settle for anything less than this?!?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f7cp5Fmk8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f7eWO-lGe600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f7fbiq44X600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e09e7376Ht6t4T600074"></span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" id="zw-131e0965f82n4xEq1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f85Q9PH2y600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span></p><p id="zw-131e0965fbclNrrVK600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e0965f87rVS5ZT600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">Recommitment Is About You, Repentance Is About God</span></p><p id="zw-131e09d327bleGh6y600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e09d327axiu_VO600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Quickly, the last text I want to look at is Hebrews 6:1.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f887rSYLc600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f89q-I7l600074" style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”</span><span id="zw-131e0965f8biiiOAf600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f8cu8dqOT600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">If you are constantly being preached to recommit your life to the Lord, or if you feel that is constantly coming at you and not a message of grace and the Gospel, then you are never going to grow into the deeper things of God and you will miss things you were meant to experience as a believer. Here are a couple of things to consider when looking at repentance and recommitment.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f8dSq7Vxe600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f90npwT6600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Recommitment is about you; repentance is about God.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f92tMGlHw600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span id="zw-131e0965f93pR1Ogv600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Recommitment is about pride; repentance is about humility.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f94VR0_tD600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f97ZZlZnI600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Recommitment is about your need to feel better; repentance is about the Cross.</span><span id="zw-131e0965f98QY-259600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"> </span><span id="zw-131e0965f99KccfXk600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Be careful which path you choose.</span></p><p id="zw-131cc36b822gzcF0N600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cc36b821MonqW600074" style=" ;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span><span id="zw-131e09ea799s90sRe600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131e09ea796qE1DC600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131e09ea796XptD56600074" style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">-ryan</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131e09ea796XptD56600074" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">
<br /></span></p></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;"></span>ryan ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579496941735289978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-28907055851989170602011-08-19T14:58:00.000-06:002011-08-19T16:09:26.798-06:00What They're Saying 08.19.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131e405c317OvU7gB600074" title="Carlos Montoya: 'Real Men Repent'" target="_self" href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/08/real-men-repent"><span id="zw-131e405c27e3b8UHD600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Carlos Montoya Says, 'Real Men Repent'</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d6bacdfd30u33B600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131e415c8f1sCvZeX600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131e41520ecQx_2TJ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The violent and proud man I once knew was gone, and in his place was a humble and gentle man. A man who still commanded respect, but not through fear. It came through friendship.</span><span id="zw-131e41520eexoJ2aC600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> I’ll never forget the day my dad came to me and confessed his sins against our family and me. He admitted he was wrong in so many areas of his life, and that by God’s grace he would be a better example of what a man truly is. He didn’t only do this with me, but also with so many people he had wronged throughout his life. It was in that moment I learned one of the most important things about being a man.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a href="http://www.patheos.com/community/philosophicalfragments/2011/08/17/is-homosexuality-wrong/" id="zw-131de30925cDIyA0n600074" target="_self" title="Is Homosexuality Wrong? No. And, Yes."><span id="zw-131de30922dh3Wqp-600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Six Characteristics of Spiritual Leadership</span></a><span id="zw-131d6a7d197bduiT7600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131e414068cu0QDz2600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">Note, this is more for leadership teams than for individual leaders. The principles are still good to pick up, though.</span><span id="zw-131de315fe6knaPJY600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131e411242cLgxEBk600074" style="color: rgb(31, 31, 30); line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">There are six things in the word of Joab that I think should characterize every effort at team ministry in the church: (1) humility; (2) diversification; (3) mutual helpfulness; (4) strength; (5) benefit to God`s people; (6) surrender to God`s sovereign guidance.</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131de33ce6aM1pKWa600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131e40834e544Ydz_600074" title="Eleven Theses on Spiritual Gifts for Today" target="_self" href="http://dougwils.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8857:eleven-theses-on-private-spirits&catid=155:private-spirits"><span id="zw-131e40834b7-ScVDh600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Eleven Theses on Spiritual Gifts for Today</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131e4105bb0_t-pe0600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131e40eacfekaZv6H600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">That said, as the masthead of</span><span id="zw-131e40ead02j07HGz600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; "> Credenda</span><span id="zw-131e40ead04-xvWqu600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; "> cheerfully states, the boundaries of our confessional commitments are smaller than the boundaries of our fellowship. I want to be in fellowship with men like John MacArthur and </span><span id="zw-131e40f8413hQYjxE600074" class="" style="border-color: initial; display: inline; width: auto; height: auto; line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">Mark Driscol</span><span id="zw-131e40f8415cXPQAk600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">l, despite the areas of our disagreements. That would include men who have more use for private spirits (showing them spirit footage) than we do, as well as men who have less use for private spirits (like Drambuie) than we do.</span><span id="zw-131e40f8447VGb_lt600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; "> and </span><span id="zw-131e40ead23dDv_lw600074" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">If you read any of this, be sure to read all of it. Or, failing that, if you read only part of it, be sure just to read the parts you agree with, which should help us keep the comments down.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131de3790836l5Vi1600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131e4093bb6ouug6600074" title="Questions You Should Ask Your Spouse" target="_self" href="http://practicalshepherding.com/2011/08/17/what-is-the-one-question-ephesians-522-33-demands-i-ask-my-spouse/"><span id="zw-131e4093b89w6yDZR600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Questions You Should Ask Your Spouse</span></a><span id="zw-131de36ac33l73Wf600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131e40dc9b8vDnLkZ600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131e40d411957dqbj600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This past Sunday, I preached about God’s Design for Marriage from Ephesians 5:22-33. At the end, I had a question for each husband and wife to ask the other as a result of what the text says about marriage. I would argue that because these commands are so clear to the husband and wife, they demand a consistent effort to examine your marriage in light of them. Here are the 2 questions I challenged our people to discuss with their spouse.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccc153389DbJDF600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131de3b6e7dm0c8V600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131e40abd24WcIemm600074" title="Don't Be Hasty to Back Evangelical Politicians" target="_self" href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2011/08/19/the-politics-of-enthusiasm/"><span id="zw-131e40abcf7vrE-Wa600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Don't Be Hasty to Back Evangelical Politicians</span></a><span id="zw-131de3b6e80fQVA_F600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccc31526sEo2rU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131e40ca7fd1PAT5a600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131e40b6cb6-QoZD6600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Reportedly, Governor Perry has close ties with the New Apostolic Reformation group. Rather than rehearse the reports, you can read and evaluate them for yourself, especially the </span><span id="zw-131e40b6cbab0YD600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Texas Observer</span><span id="zw-131e40b6cbbp_LVq600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> </span><span id="zw-131e40b6cc0DuM-y600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">story</span><span id="zw-131e40b6cd2-ReIf600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> </span><span id="zw-131e40c0fd0-pX7YC600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">and the recent </span><span id="zw-131e40b6cddJJk8xZ600074" class="" style="line-height: 19px; border-color: initial; display: inline; width: auto; height: auto; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Rachel Maddow</span><span id="zw-131e40c0fd3ZMLRRG600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> </span><span id="zw-131e40b6ce1EmjO41600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">report</span><span id="zw-131e40bd7e5XHcl9600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">. I’m not suggesting that we should uncritically accept the claims of journalistic neutrality from either source, but this movement—and similar yet less defined sub-groups—will no doubt bring greater disgrace to the cause of Christ in the minds of a biblically illiterate society. You’ll hear more about it in coming months.'</span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-51349423539331356582011-08-18T04:04:00.009-06:002011-08-18T06:00:35.760-06:00The Holy Spirit Is My Fight Coach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelUBX6kqGFxLKJr48ceIHZS54kVzzpGFNzEj71UrppY3C71ITngGrY-GAREYPeKRraB7uaB_STBpm_8WC4pcHxt8UuVQiJSNnBBXYiI9mlqjQj0LNbxHRlijqRTgKkH_3_IWK7cZqH6c/s1600/holyspirit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 638px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelUBX6kqGFxLKJr48ceIHZS54kVzzpGFNzEj71UrppY3C71ITngGrY-GAREYPeKRraB7uaB_STBpm_8WC4pcHxt8UuVQiJSNnBBXYiI9mlqjQj0LNbxHRlijqRTgKkH_3_IWK7cZqH6c/s400/holyspirit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642136073839564850" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv53RPcR6nz-6kp49xqGufC5XHMKtwI66q959sk73Gpy-PHArbJTBfWt8ZKiH68nLkHprgZtHdBA97caPCOyBw2BH4VltVeUxTBQiYFOmNfpA3gIpnQs9DZhdjdSHeI_ADsB5VDb9Vxuc/s1600/CartoonSean.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv53RPcR6nz-6kp49xqGufC5XHMKtwI66q959sk73Gpy-PHArbJTBfWt8ZKiH68nLkHprgZtHdBA97caPCOyBw2BH4VltVeUxTBQiYFOmNfpA3gIpnQs9DZhdjdSHeI_ADsB5VDb9Vxuc/s200/CartoonSean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642136475995582034" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;"><p id="zw-131d1c0eabcz2_3lV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6d7d2c9sCMl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">I own two seasons of </span><span id="zw-131dbe5a1d2IeWiGK600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">The Ultimate Fighter</span><span id="zw-131dbe5b580DRm0Fc600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">, and both of them provide a little entertainment and inspiration whenever my wife is out of the house (she isn't crazy about sports). Some might be offended that I watch the UFC because of the violence or the ring girls or the cussing, but that offense overlooks the main reasons why mixed martial-arts is so attractive to so many serious Christian men: the aspects that we enjoy are the intensity, dedication, and humility involved, and the brotherhood among fighters. These are important aspects in our goal of living a Holy Spirit-driven life. We're flesh and blood </span><span id="zw-131dbf72b8aag2GX4600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">people</span><span id="zw-131dbf737b4xd89vh600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">, and</span><span id="zw-131dbf72b87WY5r5d600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span id="zw-131dbf72b88TJLkNt600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">we need human examples to show us spiritual truths. So when I see how these fighters train and lean heavily on their coaches I gain an understanding about what it looks like to train in godliness and lean heavily on the Spirit. Although </span><span id="zw-131dbf9cb46gZ_600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">bodily training has limited value, and godliness is of value in every way</span><span id="zw-131dbfa626cFGwZBB600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(1 Timothy 4.8), aspects from one can provide helpful lessons about the other.</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131dbfb78a83yjLMh600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span>
<br /><span id="zw-131dc63ac478kI1bo600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">The Holy Spirit Is My Coach</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131dbfbf2bd702Cj_600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">First, godliness is a fight, and it is a battle every day when I attempt to take my sinful flesh and fallen nature and train them to live in the image of God (1 Corinthians 9.25-26). In that fight, the Holy Spirit is my coach (John 15.26) whom the Lord Jesus called the </span><span id="zw-131dc018dfa_vYPBF600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Helper </span><span id="zw-131dc01e56f6ZFWVY600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">who </span><span id="zw-131dc027b3c8TCJtJ600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">guides us</span><span id="zw-131dc029382C-pxax600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(John 16.13). The contestants on </span><span id="zw-131dc030ecafqqq5600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">The Ultimate Fighter</span><span id="zw-131dc0321c1t1_Tq600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>are constantly listening to directions from their coaches while they are fighting in the octagon, and we are to constantly be </span><span id="zw-131dc04d6caEdfzlH600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">led by the Spirit</span><span id="zw-131dc04eb20N5tS10600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>while we fight temptation in our desire to live in holiness (Romans 8.14). This is how He does it: </span><span id="zw-131dc080c4db62_L600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(1)</span><span id="zw-131dc0815a7pSRGX2600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Holy Spirit coaches us by giving instructions (Nehemiah 9.20); </span><span id="zw-131dc1120a1_qTBO600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(2) </span><span id="zw-131dc112b91u-ygzx600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">He changes us into men who will better fight the battle for personal godliness (Titus 3.5); </span><span id="zw-131dc160e85Rkvtz600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(3)</span><span id="zw-131dc16194e_8O0K0600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He equips us with the tools and skills needed to carry out this fight (1 Corinthians 12.1). The Holy Spirit is my Helper and my Coach in the fight to live in God's image. The guys on </span><span id="zw-131dc1a50d2nkKOOt600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">The Ultimate Fighter</span><span id="zw-131dc1a62ffDjJ_h7600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>train hard and follow their coaches in order to get a contract and fame, but we train and follow the Holy Spirit for a more eternal crown of victory (James 1.12).</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131dc1c702aFhC97l600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span>
<br /><span id="zw-131dc63cb72nTsD6s600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">I Struggle To Listen to My Coach</span></p><p id="zw-131dc1d12dcVmpmi7600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc2834feVERpIT600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Second, the rough truth is, because God is Spirit (John 4.24) and doesn't have a body (1 Timothy 1.17), it's tough to remember to listen to Him. We have His Word and that's enough - but we refuse to listen to it (Luke 16.31). Our prayers are intimately guided by the Holy Spirit - but we often refuse to pray (Jude 1.20). </span><span id="zw-131dc24603aOAVfwT600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">It would be insane and foolish for a fighter not to listen to his coach while he's in the cage, but I know my biggest struggle is that I get so involved in the fighting -blogging, evangelism, apologetics, life- that I put my head down and completely forget to listen to the Holy Spirit and refuse to let Him coach me. It's an authority problem. Either I'm submitting to Him or I'm not. Either I trust Him to give me good instructions or I don't. The </span><span id="zw-131dc2a42a1Wd8KIn600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">problem</span><span id="zw-131dc2a4b214yhiP600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is that we're bad at listening to the Holy Spirit and we've got this notion that we can do things ourselves (which is going to get us spiritually killed). The </span><span id="zw-131dc2b61d9OWsDs600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">solution</span><span id="zw-131dc2b6c90o1-hpg600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is to let Him train us through the Word, and then listen to Him during the daily fight through prayer. There's no other way.</span></p><p id="zw-131dc2d284bEH2tP1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc2d284a1yCXVx600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span><span id="zw-131dc2d2b90Zi1p5K600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131dc2d2b8cdPKo8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc63f6a0rCTihQ600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">Getting Into the Octagon With the Spirit</span></p><p id="zw-131dc2e74a6cdHHR_600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc2e74a6yhKaUI600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Third, the Holy Spirit trains us to fight with </span><span id="zw-131dc2efad5vCuQPx600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">intensity</span><span id="zw-131dc2f06beDknU3b600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and</span><span id="zw-131dc2f0c68PkQSou600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>dedication</span><span id="zw-131dc2f1ccbZ63pbu600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">. These are action-oriented words. The Holy Spirit regenerates us with new desires (Titus 3.5), so we use those new desires to fight for holiness. </span><span id="zw-131dc3bee9fqxpLp600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Dedication</span><span id="zw-131dc30faf2XShO38600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is a training word: if you're getting ready for a fight you're going to persevere through cutting weight, practicing your technique, and studying your opponent. As any athlete would tell you, your life will be consumed by training for the sport. The Spirit helps us to dedicate our lives to the fight for personal holiness. He pushes us to memorize Scripture, discipline our bodies, and establish regular habits for our spiritual good. </span><span id="zw-131dc3bd996wu7KMg600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Intensity</span><span id="zw-131dc363b75I3gLJ600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is both a fight and a training word: fighters don't just lift a little, run a little, or punch a little; they hit those weights with an all-consuming drive and throw haymakers like their lives depend on it. With the Holy Spirit coaching us on we are to live </span><span id="zw-131dc37d296ks2Crt600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">spiritual lives of intensity</span><span id="zw-131dc37f2be6tKxhV600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that cannot be called lukewarm (Revelation 3.16) by anybody, memorizing and evangelizing and conquering sin with a drive that eclipses and shapes everything else around us. The Spirit pushes us and guides us into spiritual lives of </span><span id="zw-131dc3b80a8BXMrLL600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">intensity and dedication</span><span id="zw-131dc3bae5braidzx600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">.</span></p><p id="zw-131dc3c044aM4XgmX600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc3c0449BXcrS600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span><span id="zw-131dc3c07a3v79jxM600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131dc3c07a1byZjU600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc642907OU1bpv600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">A Brotherhood of Fellow Fighters</span></p><p id="zw-131dc3c61c1aaeGwk600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc3c61c02wqoN7600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">Fourth, under a good coach, you'll become part of a group of fighters who represent a particular team or gym. That coach gives you a place to belong and connects you to others fighters through him, a sort of brotherhood of mixed-martial artists. The Holy Spirit does this also. The gifts of the Holy Spirit make us </span><span id="zw-131dc3eff839Jyofp600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">one</span><span id="zw-131dc3f04ebtPk3Q5600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12.13) and we are all connected to God and to each other through the one Holy Spirit (John 17.21). Before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for us all to be </span><span id="zw-131dc45ded5Ls7mI600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">one, just as the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father </span><span id="zw-131dc4672e9hujAHe600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(John 17.11). The Holy Spirit makes us all part of one another. Wrapping this all up, the Holy Spirit gives us: </span><span id="zw-131dc47681eKyp0D9600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(1) </span><span id="zw-131dc477bc68F0BTN600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">guidance and instruction; </span><span id="zw-131dc47a3efYBLHf600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(2)</span><span id="zw-131dc47ab05F73g1j600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pushes us in dedication and intensity; </span><span id="zw-131dc480d49f7u8L5600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(3)</span><span id="zw-131dc48150eNWnkmh600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and connects us in Him to a brotherhood of fellow Christians.</span></p><p id="zw-131dc48c890pYjsm1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc48c88fTVUD43600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span><span id="zw-131dc48cb37cMZnpA600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131dc48cb34DPViE_600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc645f3fLmMm9600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;">A Quick Note On Being All About Morality</span></p><p id="zw-131dc49c37e-AWcoY600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc49c37eXXjlLj600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">As a good Calvinist, I've got to be sensitive about making the Christian life seem like a moral pursuit. It's not. The truth is, the Holy Spirit is not </span><span id="zw-131dc4ac155sHGn_G600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">just</span><span id="zw-131dc4ac710qnFaMH600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>our coach. He dwells inside of us (Romans 8.9) and helps us in our weakness (Romans 8.26). He </span><span id="zw-131dc51873c07VmVK600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">regenerates</span><span id="zw-131dc5197cb0G43-N600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>us - that means He takes us as sinful people and does the heavy lifting of changing us so that we can live for God. The message here, as with the Gospel, is not </span><span id="zw-131dc54d14ezpqcYa600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">do this</span><span id="zw-131dc54de5bAR3K9t600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">, but </span><span id="zw-131dc54e888yRMtsP600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">receive Him</span><span id="zw-131dc54f9b9ClNm26600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">. You have not </span><span id="zw-131dc55dc31moZ7r3600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">received the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry out to God, "Father!" </span><span id="zw-131dc56b031UOOwAZ600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">(Romans 8.15). It's not just about following the rules of the Holy Spirit, it's that He heals us of our wickedness and forms us into the Image of God.</span></p><p id="zw-131dc5fd3d1_PiGho600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc5fd3d1aUKDk-600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;"></span><span id="zw-131dc5fd68asDoOxD600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131dc5fd688ONBHQO600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131dc5fd687wNxQSC600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">-</span><span id="zw-131dc5fe242obUzE600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia,'times new roman',times,serif;font-size:0.909091em;">Sean</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131dc5fe242obUzE600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;">
<br /></span></p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-88954454724670072592011-08-18T00:01:00.000-06:002011-08-18T12:52:16.642-06:00What They're Saying 08.18.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131de2c466bwHw0R600074" title="Ethiopian Christians Fight Child Sacrifice" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/august/ethiopiariverdeath.html"><span id="zw-131de2c45d7pUYuCl600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Ethiopian Christians Fight Child Sacrifice</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d6bacdfd30u33B600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131de2db38a1y1Iur600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131de2c8a14NqzKjB600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The healthy infant boy's top teeth came in before his bottom teeth. For this, elders of the Kara tribe in Ethiopia's primitive </span><a class=" snap_noshots" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/august/ethiopiariverdeath.html#" id="zw-131de2c8a179Vo61600074" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; cursor: url(http://cdn.apture.com/media/imgs/crsr/socialLink.png), default; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; clear: none; float: none; display: inline; width: auto; height: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; top: -1px; border-top-left-radius: 2px 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px 2px; "><span id="zw-131de2c8a1fLor6Vr600074" class="" style="border-color: initial; display: inline; width: auto; height: auto; font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Omo River</span></a><span id="zw-131de2c8a216SSt6-600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> region determined that the child must die.</span><span id="zw-131de2c8a23MtuB7600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> The child was </span><span id="zw-131de2ea76cShwSlr600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">mingi</span><span id="zw-131de2c8a26e269Q4600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">—"cursed" according to superstition. With every breath, the elders believed, the boy was beckoning an evil spirit into their village. It was the sacrifice of one child for the good of the entire tribe, a rite that elders had witnessed for untold generations... </span><span id="zw-131de2d26afJpDuY600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">But one small band of Christians in one tribe, along with other supportive Christians, has pledged to protect these cursed children until mingi is no more.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d6a7d195O6qvyy600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131de30925cDIyA0n600074" title="Is Homosexuality Wrong? No. And, Yes." target="_self" href="http://www.patheos.com/community/philosophicalfragments/2011/08/17/is-homosexuality-wrong/"><span id="zw-131de30922dh3Wqp-600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Is Homosexuality Wrong? No. And, Yes.</span></a><span id="zw-131d6a7d197bduiT7600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131de315fe6knaPJY600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131de3106e9Y61jc600074" style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I recently began a series of blog posts on Christianity and homosexuality, and then left off for a while. The truth is that I’ve been dreading writing the next installment — this one — in the series. Absolutely dreading it. Why? Many of my friends, colleagues and former students are homosexual. I respect them, admire them, like them, and love them. They are good people. And while many of them would object to other parts of the series so far, this is the part that will bother them the most. It pains me to think of paining them.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d6a900e3_Ns04G600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131de33ce972vNR1B600074" title="'Reduction' Abortions Make Everyone Uneasy" target="_self" href="http://www.slate.com/id/2301322/"><span id="zw-131de33ce6aM1pKWa600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">'Reduction' Abortions Make Everyone Uneasy</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131de360563QhuEA600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131de34aa49JIFNwB600074" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This is what </span><span id="zw-131de34aa4cNxOksA600074" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">tortures pro-choicers</span><span id="zw-131de34aa4dJoWmN2600074" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">. "I just couldn't sleep at night knowing that I terminated my daughter's perfectly healthy twin brother,"...</span><span id="zw-131de34aa7fNstE3600074" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> "I'd have a much easier time aborting a single baby or both twins than doing a reduction. When you reduce, the remaining twin will remain a persistent reminder of the unborn child. I think that, more than anything would make killing that fetus feel like killing another human, even though it wasn't fully developed. It would feel that way because you would have a living copy of the person you killed."</span><span id="zw-131de34aa81JfqetP600074" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> That's the anguish of reduction: watching the fetus you spared become what its twin will never be. And knowing that the only difference between them was your will.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d4644145RwwI3s600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><span id="zw-131d6ab2716_Cp7WY600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131de3790b4QM_aho600074" title="Are Christians Too Focused On the Gospel?" target="_self" href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/17/is-the-main-thing-the-only-thing"><span id="zw-131de3790836l5Vi1600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A</span><span id="zw-131ccc14667b-ibk1600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">re Christians </span><span id="zw-131de36ac35I-xq6W600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; ">Too</span><span id="zw-131de36b860uwj1bu600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> Focused On the Gospel?</span></a><span id="zw-131de36ac33l73Wf600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131de38a703wKZKu600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131de38003fcGcTR3600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Recently someone I respect asked me, “is it possible that within the ‘gospel-centered movement’ some people are making the main thing the only thing?”</span><span id="zw-131de3800482S5T1q600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131de38004e07dh0z600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">It is a great question, and I think it does point to a problem of unhealthy reductionism among some well-meaning brothers and sisters. I believe this brother was essentially saying, “Look, our people need to know what their hope is before God. This is of first importance. But, they also need to know how to pray, fast, love, give, fight, and serve.” Of course, I agree with this sentiment.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccc153389DbJDF600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d6acae4fRYoizP600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131de3b6eachvoiWG600074" title="Communion Is Not Meant For Worthy People" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/12/its-meant-for-sinners/"><span id="zw-131de3b6e7dm0c8V600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Communion Is </span><span id="zw-131d6acae51IWvl-G600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Not Meant For Worthy People</span></a><span id="zw-131de3b6e80fQVA_F600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccc31526sEo2rU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131de3ac83evpP0600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131de3a73cdVJWyBe600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This emphasis on the Lord’s giving can sometimes be obscured by the way that we approach the Lord’s Table. Taking our cue from 1 Corinthians 11:28</span><span id="zw-131de3a73d2OEXlwj600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">, we rightly wish to “examine” ourselves so that we do not take the Supper in an “unworthy manner.” But we distort this passage if we begin to think that it calls for worthy </span><span id="zw-131de3a73d5zEZ23u600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">recipients</span><span id="zw-131de3a73d66ap8B2600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">, rather than worthy participation, at the Lord’s Table.'</span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-49720291259586679352011-08-17T02:36:00.009-06:002011-08-17T02:55:51.759-06:00Amillenialism, Anyone? (The Basics)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeOJPbdbR0vxfJNcqQMIA1m4veWRbP_1XMbsXXr7jURXSdkFURmDP9AiSSAdol0Z2YlydPvUJ_wegJlzriEO5h78gubXTqyxH5m5UDKDx92j6PU0qpJzMNTa0Zzhl6FlZqHJIUfzcsVc/s1600/endisnear.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 639px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeOJPbdbR0vxfJNcqQMIA1m4veWRbP_1XMbsXXr7jURXSdkFURmDP9AiSSAdol0Z2YlydPvUJ_wegJlzriEO5h78gubXTqyxH5m5UDKDx92j6PU0qpJzMNTa0Zzhl6FlZqHJIUfzcsVc/s400/endisnear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641741314344746146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HWSh6FzOSzdATMGzIKfaeQ8ubPCavILSAL4hAk3J1S_1namjjTG30UP4ljkWz_Jeiu5Q_qOqnOGYOC2-x3ZK7C1FV7ajQBIAcyU6nRAIAu9c-kO7hfIAE3Hu4MdPL2cNSz9x2YAvtFs/s1600/CartoonRyan.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HWSh6FzOSzdATMGzIKfaeQ8ubPCavILSAL4hAk3J1S_1namjjTG30UP4ljkWz_Jeiu5Q_qOqnOGYOC2-x3ZK7C1FV7ajQBIAcyU6nRAIAu9c-kO7hfIAE3Hu4MdPL2cNSz9x2YAvtFs/s400/CartoonRyan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641741526035090002" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p id="zw-131d1c0eabcz2_3lV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6d7d2c9sCMl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >This is the first post of a series on Christian beliefs about the Last Days. The first view we are going to look at is Amillennialism. I actually appreciate this view mainly because it is the most simple view of eschatology. Also, many popular theologians hold fast to this view, including such prominent figures as J.I. Packer and Sam Storms. One quick note: I used</span><span id="zw-131d6d7abccj80kuy600074" style="color: rgb(49, 49, 49); text-align: justify; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Introduction-Biblical-Doctrine/dp/0310286700" id="zw-131d6cec8dcf30QQY600074" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(25, 22, 148); "><span id="zw-131d6cec8e0_ohjh600074" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Wayne Grudem’s </span><span id="zw-131d6cec8f8UuKP9r600074" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Systematic Theology</span></a><span id="zw-131d6cec8faFyFxG0600074" style="color: rgb(49, 49, 49); text-align: justify; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span><span id="zw-131d6d78942gJXBI1600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >for a good majority of research, as well as a video entitled, </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/an-evening-of-eschatology" id="zw-131d6cec8fbmTq29600074" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(25, 22, 148); "><span id="zw-131d6cec8feov22i600074" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; font-style: italic; font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >An Evening Of Eschatology</span></a><span id="zw-131d6d739ffyBZD2G600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, that was filmed at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN and hosted by pastor John Piper. If you are interested, at the end of this study, I’ll put out some further reading you can do if eschatology interests you further.</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d81d35s3DND600074" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >The Problem Text At Hand</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d86794G3TXzl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >We’re going to come back to this text a number of times during our study, but I want to show it now so we can see why amillennialists hold to their theory:</span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d6cec90f4kwDDb600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0px; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6d2237c9X36fJ600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d6d22379FrcLMB600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d6d22379q1SjsG600074" style="text-align: justify; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.</span><span id="zw-131d6cec919GTIl600074" style="text-align: justify; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
<br /></span></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><span id="zw-131d6cec919GTIl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >-Revelation 20:1-6</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p id="zw-131d6cec92eqzK3A600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d6cec931b8xyl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6cec931b8xyl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >On the surface this view looks very promising. To quote Mr. Grudem, “According to this position the passage in </span><span id="zw-131d6cec932fg4yVY600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Revelation</span><span id="zw-131d6cec934efCMz600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > 20.1-10</span><span id="zw-131d6cec935qnk7u600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > describes the present church age. This is an age in which Satan’s influence over the nations has been greatly reduced so that the gospel can be preached to the whole world. Those who are said to be reigning with Christ for the thousand years are Christians who have died and are already reigning with Christ in heaven.”</span><span id="zw-131d6cec93dDgLMC6600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > This is the basic belief of Amillennialists. When you boil it all down to its simplest form, that’s what they believe.</span></p><p id="zw-131d6d1896dwiHDq1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d8cd63mkGSeu600074" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Some Distinctions to Keep In Mind</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd137AQ3KNb600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >In the view of Amillenialism, the thousand years of Christ's reign is currently happening. Also notice that there is no tribulation as Premillennialists and Postmillennialists ascribe to. The third important thing to notice is there is only one resurrection (more on that in a minute). Both the believers in Christ and unbelievers in Christ are raised at the same time. Directly after the resurrection is the eternal state (New Heavens and New Earth, New Jerusalem). Now it is time to look at some of the arguments from Scripture why Amillennialists believe the way they do.</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d9282aR1-ts600074" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Arguments For Amillenialism</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d6c5303xqf_5600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The first argument that Amillennialists make is they feel that Satan is currently bound to the extent that </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd142-C19I600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Revelation 20:2-3</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd146sqSOKt600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > says he is. “According to the Amillennial interpretation the binding of Satan in verses 1-2 (of </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1470coGr600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Revelation 20) is the binding that occurred during Jesus’ earthly ministry. He spoke of binding the strong man in order that he may plunder his house (</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd14aKMJ-kL600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Matthew 12.29</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd14di7Scni600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >) and said that the Spirit of God was at that time present in power to triumph over demonic forces: ‘If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you’ (</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd159eF07EE600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Matthew 12.28</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd161IVORbJ600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >). Similarly, with respect to the breaking of Satan’s power, Jesus said during his ministry, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven’ (</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd16cFSxTDd600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Luke 10:18</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd16fm07O9C600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >)” (pg. 1115).</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d974b8PeqOtX600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The second argument for Amillennialism is that Amillennialists hold that there is only one resurrection. They explain the “first resurrection” described in the </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd17a0-tnK5600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Revelation 20</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd18192TTTq600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > passage as “going to heaven to be with the Lord. This is not a bodily resurrection but a coming into the presence of God in heaven. In a similar way, when verse 5 says, ‘The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended,’this is understood to mean they did not come into God’s presence for judgment until the end of the thousand years’” (p. 1115). And to quickly point out, Amillennialists also believe the “first resurrection” can mean Christ’s resurrection, and the believer’s participation with Christ in that by means of</span><span id="zw-131d6d6df77ZFkC1P600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span id="zw-131d6d60bb6e64iGW600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >salvation.</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd188bfRkCy600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The third argument for amillennialism is that if there were a “future millennium, the very idea of 'glorified believers and sinners living together' is too difficult to accept” (p. 1116). This is a good point, and I pondered this myself when examining all views of the millennium in preparation for these posts. To quote Berkhof, “It is impossible to understand how a part of the old earth and of sinful humanity can exist alongside a part of the new earth and of a humanity that is glorified. How can perfect saints in glorified bodies have communion with sinners in the flesh? How can glorified sinners live in this sin-laden atmosphere and amid scenes of death and decay?”(p. 1116).</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd191YrUnJp600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Lastly, the millennium seems to have no intended purpose. “Once the church age has ended and Christ has returned, then what is the reason for delaying the start of the eternal state?"</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d9f8a0NfplNG600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';" ></span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6d9ef6c0EAbiZ600074" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Arguments Against Amillenialism</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd19bjHqm4X600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >So now that the arguments have been made for Amillennialism, let’s look at the rebuttals. In regards to argument one, this idea that Satan is bound in the current church age so that the gospel can spread unhindered is a little far fetched for me to believe personally. I have two simple points of rebuttal:</span>
<br /></p><ol id="zw-131d6ccd1a9vWbWny600074" style="text-align: justify; "><li id="zw-131d6ccd1aa-sWWH600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1add-5xan600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >An unobservant person can take a look at the current state of the world and see that Satan is not being bound, but is the main thrust of evil and sin in the world.</span><p id="zw-131d6ccd255DanGh600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 29pt; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1afkqyGvj600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span></p></li><li id="zw-131d6ccd1b0twcH600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1b4e_zSTF600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >2 Corinthians 4:4</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1b6zhym7r600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > says “ In their case (speaking of those who are perishing) the god of this world (emphasis mine)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (ESV).” That doesn’t sound to me like Satan is bound. You could just as easily point to </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1b9Ak844A600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Ephesians 6:11-12</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1beQoIIdT600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1c2PPlJ0N600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >1 Peter 5:8-9</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1c4t51np7600074" style="line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >, as well as other New Testament texts.</span></li></ol><p id="zw-131d6ccd257ENlV0B600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1c6G4aftv600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Secondly, amillennialists try to insist that the Scriptures only teach one resurrection on the argument that the Bible is vague on this matter. However, you cannot simply ignore Revelation 20 on this. It says there will be a first and second resurrection, implying therefore, that there will be a second. “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” (</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1c7W-CWXt600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Rev. 20:5-6</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1cc8al1y600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >). This passage makes it clear: if you are not in the “first resurrection”, then you are included in the “rest of the dead”. And if you are a part of the “rest of the dead” then there is a clear, definite teaching on two resurrections. FYI, other passages that amillennialists try to use to justify one resurrection are normally implications as opposed to truths. See </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1cfkF7Jg1600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Daniel 12:2</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1d39pvVlY600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > and </span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1d5ZMqCKD600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >John 5:28-29</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1d8dWZY4600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > for specific examples.</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd1dfOurd3k600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Thirdly, in the matter of glorified believers and sinners on the earth together is indeed hard to imagine, but the main evidence is Jesus. He spent forty days post-resurrection in a glorified body teaching and speaking to people. Also, remember after Christ’s death, there were those who were dead who were raised alive (</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1e3D2X6E4600074" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Matt. 28:17</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd1e6f23iQh600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >). For some reason that story never made it on to the felt board in Sunday School when I was a kid. Weird. The idea is odd, but not out of the realm of possibility.</span>
<br />
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd1edQLHBpE600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Fourthly, the purpose of the millennium may indeed lay a mystery until Christ’s return, but even if that is the case, isn’t God trustworthy enough to know what He’s doing? Grudem summarizes this point in three ways:</span></p><p id="zw-131d6da7a79PUBGEA600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6da7a79G8Uxwl600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ></span>
<br /></p><ul id="zw-131d6ccd1f2AJckHZ600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; "><li id="zw-131d6ccd1f3opfucc600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1f4TfNq2600074" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >God uses the millennium to “show the outworking of God’s purposes in the structure of society, especially the structures of the family and civil government.”</span></li></ul><ul id="zw-131d6ccd1f5d9dLYi600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; "><li id="zw-131d6ccd1f5GtJB4q600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1f7QY9N2j600074" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The millennium will further vindicate God’s righteousness (towards those who will rebel against God in the end).</span></li></ul><ul id="zw-131d6ccd1f8okzUYs600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; "><li id="zw-131d6ccd1f8kuruvo600074" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span id="zw-131d6ccd1fan6Me52600074" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The millennium will reveal “God’s good pleasure to unfold his purposes and reveal more and more of His glory gradually over time.” (p. 1121)</span></li></ul><p id="zw-131d6ccd25aCuhYHH600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6d9aaadI28loA600074" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" ></span><span id="zw-131d6da6a580Bo8mM600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d6da6a54MZipsf600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d6da6a532m5Wbr600074" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1em;" >Wrapping It All Up</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd203DvDx6_600074" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >So that’s Amillennialism, and I spell it wrong every time I type it! Hopefully by the end of this entire discussion on eschatology, we come back to a point we harp on a lot at The Voice: READ YOUR BIBLES. You can’t disagree with what you don’t know, and you only look ignorant when you make proof texts as your arguments. I know my personal Bible study has been enriched by this study, and as we move on to the other views of eschatology, it will become vital that we are rooted in truth as we try to explain things the way the Apostle John unpacks them, as well as how we interpret these passages. I pray that Christ would find us faithful to His word, and we echo the words of John where He says, “Come, Lord Jesus!” May Your kingdom come on this earth as it is in heaven Lord. For Your beautiful name in all the earth, come.</span>
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d6ccd25bTtEA0b600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /><span id="zw-131d6ccd209Rdef2G600074" style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >-</span><span id="zw-131d6ccd20aFhaAsB600074" style="text-align: left; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >ryan</span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-42000150601916430072011-08-17T01:59:00.001-06:002011-08-17T01:59:55.504-06:00What They're Saying 08.17.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131d6a69365qZeNI4600074" title="A Discerning Man, Not a Drunken Frat Boy" target="_self" href="http://www.gty.org/blog/B110808"><span id="zw-131d6a692d5Qok82z600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A Discerning Man, Not a Drunken Frat Boy</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d6bacdfd30u33B600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span id="zw-131d45c54f7vTW1Pt600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131d6b93a1al6r9Yy600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Biblical manliness is about authentic character. It’s not about bravado, and it’s not about boyishness. Going out into the woods with a bunch of other men, putting on war paint, making animal noises, telling scary stories around a campfire, and then working up a good cry might be good, visceral fun and all, but that has nothing to do with the biblical idea of manliness.</span><span id="zw-131d6b93a1fg8FTxw600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Real manliness (“mature manhood”—</span><span id="zw-131d6b93a23IudHsZ600074" style="text-decoration: none; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Ephesians 4:13</span><span id="zw-131d6b93a25eSSyMo600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">) is defined by Christlike character... </span><span id="zw-131d6b93a29PalBFL600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">When the apostle Paul writes about the characteristics of true Christian manhood in Ephesians 4, he focuses on one vital mark of spiritual maturity: “That we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (v. 14). You want to be a man as opposed to a little boy? Grow up in your grasp of the truth.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131d45e325c-nnGm5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131d6a7d1c9pw0T0y600074" title="First Rule of Good Apologetics? Fight Fair." target="_self" href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/do_islams_critics_read_the_koran_20110816/"><span id="zw-131d6a7d195O6qvyy600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">First Rule of Good Apologetics? Fight Fair.</span></a><span id="zw-131d6a7d197bduiT7600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> When you don't argue fairly as a Christian, you'll never be able to convince anyone of the Gospel. Case in point: using the Qu'ran's 'Kill them whenever you meet them' (2:192) verse out of context to prove that Muslim scriptures promote violence; those who have studied the Qu'ran know that, in context, this verse applies to reclaiming stolen lands. It's maybe an important verse to bring up the next time someone starts talking smack about the Crusades, but not so much for proving that Islam is a religion of hate. -SEAN</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d46344afb70KeS600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131d6a90110YQwn2s600074" title="Girl Lost Faith Listening to Christian Music" target="_self" href="http://www.dennyburk.com/the-girl-who-lost-her-faith-listening-to-ccm/"><span id="zw-131d6a900e3_Ns04G600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Girl Lost Faith Listening to Christian Music</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131d6b83fe1h1Fpgw600074" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131d6b7e92c2nKwH600074" style="border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Staying relevant in late consumer capitalism requires highly sophisticated resources and the willingness to tailor your values to whatever your audience wants. In trying to compete in this market, the church has forfeited the one advantage it had in the game to attract disillusioned youth: authenticity. When it comes to intransigent values, the profit-driven world has zilch to offer. If Christian leaders weren’t so ashamed of those unvarnished values, they might have something more attractive than anything on today’s bleak moral market.'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d4644145RwwI3s600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131d6ab2742YNrSmR600074" title="A More Constructive Slant on Happiness" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/august/realhappiness-aug11.html?start=1"><span id="zw-131d6ab2716_Cp7WY600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A More Constructive Slant on Happiness</span></a><span id="zw-131ccc14667b-ibk1600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131d6bf9c7aaqG5d600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131d6bfb680U_OcU5600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">We understand life and liberty as foundational, but </span><span id="zw-131d6be24cednIaqN600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">happiness</span><span id="zw-131d6be24cfJ1IdJn600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">? The problem with happiness as it is defined today lies in the little word </span><span id="zw-131d6be24cfCs-q1p600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">hap</span><span id="zw-131d6be24d1FMLId600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">, chance. Happiness is circumstantial. It depends on what happens to give us pleasure or fulfillment. But the founders understood happiness in the classical sense of what the Greeks called</span><span id="zw-131d6be24d2uZDggy600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">eudaimonia</span><span id="zw-131d6be24d2LeomEu600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">, that is, the result of a life well lived, a life based on truth and virtue... </span><span id="zw-131d6bf42e1981xyC600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">Real happiness flows from character and comes to those, as Jesus said, who are poor in spirit, merciful and meek, and who hunger and thirst for righteousness and peace.</span><span id="zw-131d6bf4318zwwmlL600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'</span></p><p id="zw-131ccc153389DbJDF600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131d4675edfkFoLrt600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span><a id="zw-131d6acae7cGB25T600074" title="What Hath Evangelicals to Do With Councils?" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/16/what-to-do-with-creeds-and-councils/"><span id="zw-131d6acae4fRYoizP600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">What Hath Evangelicals to Do With Councils?</span></a><span id="zw-131d6acae51IWvl-G600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccc31526sEo2rU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131d6bd2a41XBufdH600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131d6bcca9d_BB_xj600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Since we’ve concluded that the creeds and councils don’t have </span><span id="zw-131d6bccaa0nkA5W600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">ultimate</span><span id="zw-131d6bccaa1e5HBH600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> authority, which is ascribed only to Scripture, do they have any authority at all?... </span><span id="zw-131d6bbc446xuCMX600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">So evangelicals who stand on the full authority of the Bible and hold to God’s providence and faithful presence with his church should take seriously the creeds and councils. Our impulse should be to assume their truthfulness as we continue to test their biblical fidelity. If this generation takes seriously its value of community, then we won’t neglect this great community of saints spanning 2,000 years.'</span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-32759211454580370362011-08-16T03:27:00.008-06:002011-08-16T03:51:26.584-06:00An American Gospel That Heals No Wounds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_p3eDKxbq24TZxZcJUiXmk4UPjUgvCb8UXPDBEWRt8Pdo5YkxDglPhgjOLbxmxKNuEZzQIuzhThPKgKiCbWCBdRQXnyV7f3T6EljGmm0F2NWW9qwGRcGQ_V2I6ZOaXetjWUl_MvLNjI/s1600/American+flag.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 639px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_p3eDKxbq24TZxZcJUiXmk4UPjUgvCb8UXPDBEWRt8Pdo5YkxDglPhgjOLbxmxKNuEZzQIuzhThPKgKiCbWCBdRQXnyV7f3T6EljGmm0F2NWW9qwGRcGQ_V2I6ZOaXetjWUl_MvLNjI/s400/American+flag.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641383348209781778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjGrPnL_VsO9wIla8ICp7wMdJnHwjn4c_XsvBweQZog307CrHpKD69mh1GaZUQV9braQAV3jZ1U5GNQPCntbj_EFZdocj6590cYHnfgnj0JvLFUZ1k33E8H21Z6H44OZIV30CH0E-drs/s1600/CartoonThomas.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 107px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjGrPnL_VsO9wIla8ICp7wMdJnHwjn4c_XsvBweQZog307CrHpKD69mh1GaZUQV9braQAV3jZ1U5GNQPCntbj_EFZdocj6590cYHnfgnj0JvLFUZ1k33E8H21Z6H44OZIV30CH0E-drs/s400/CartoonThomas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641383712490673282" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p id="zw-131d1ca898alPejo600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cfb24cgOJFDV600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Talk to a typical Christian in the United States, and you will soon realize that, despite their claims to loving God and desiring to see others saved for Jesus, they don’t know a whole lot about the Bible. If you asked them how a loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful God could allow evil and possibly be considered good, you are sure to get a confused glazed-over look on many faces, because most American Christians have never even considered such a question before. They may appeal to the free will of man, but the question remains, “How can a supposedly loving God, who is all powerful and knows all things, allow evil?” God made man with a free will, thus allowing the entrance of sin into the world. How can God do that? With that question, I would have just stumped the vast majority of American Christians.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898as6O8Ma600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cb1628egTD8P600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898bijX0nv600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1ca8948M99Gjb600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >When Interest In the Bible Fades Away... At Eleven</span></p><p id="zw-131d1d6312a-v4yZM600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1d6312a8WMUq1600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >You see, for my whole life (twenty-one years) I have grown up in a Presbyterian church and attended a basically Baptist Christian school from K-5 to graduation. In both cases, I have found the instruction to the congregation, and to the children, to be wanting. Further, I found that few young people were truly interested in the things of God, of knowing Him more deeply, past the age of eleven or twelve. I have several theories for why that is so, but the one that seems most obvious is that God loses his relevance by the time you are eleven or twelve or thirteen. What does God matter when you have reached puberty and you are becoming a more social creature? What does God matter beyond a few cutesy Bible stories like Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Joseph and the coat of many colors, Daniel in the lion’s den? Neat stories, for kids. But you aren’t a kid at eleven or twelve or thirteen anymore.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898baH_v3t600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cb02f5taqmv_600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898cueaZ02600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1ca8955GOrv9600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Oh I know, believe me, I understand. There is more to the Bible than stories like that. After all, there is the gospel. And therein lies the problem- nobody is teaching the gospel to young children anymore (or the adults for that matter). Sure, you may hear in Sunday School that Jesus loves you, and will care for you, and that you should be kind to Jesus and learn about Him out of gratitude. You may even hear that God should be obeyed, and no doubt moralism wins the day in the teaching of our youngest children at church, and in the Christian schools.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898c8C3GU600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1caef61lJr8aZ600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898e8fqJn4600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1dabcfepdZ20x600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >You Don't Need Jesus To Be A Moral Person</span></p><p id="zw-131d1d8186eHgt3YI600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1d8186dHknY_p600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >But you don’t need Jesus to be moral. You don’t need anything to be moral really. Most people strive, by their very nature, to be morally upright people. What are the odds that your son or daughter is going to turn out to be a murderer, or rapist, or thief? Not that great. As long as you tell them about prison and teach them to be nice and respectful, voila, you have your typical human being, the outside of the cup not looking too bad at all.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898esQokd-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cade5717DRb600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d1ca898fn1xw9600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1ca89812CQin600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The church has basically attached this moralism to Jesus Christ and called it the gospel. Don’t believe me? Walk into a church and see what they preach. Is it not essentially that, if you trust in Jesus, try and follow Him and what He says to do, and believe that He loves you and cares about you and died for you, then you will go to heaven? That is what they preach, no matter what special effects or outer garments they try to dress the message in. It is nothing more than a gospel on morality, intermixed with some emotional appeals to how Jesus loves you and calls you to be the best human being you can possibly be, and that without Jesus, life just isn’t quite complete.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1ce9ee10fvDuJ600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea232uO7H1y600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8d7u-NaQ-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cf8c5as879Xo600074" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Now, do we really need Jesus Christ as a life coach, pleading with us to do what is right? Of course not. Buddha fits that bill just as well, probably better. So did Gandhi. The only thing that Jesus offers in this moralistic gospel that Buddha and Gandhi cannot, of course, is everlasting life, forgiveness of sins. So the reward is better if you choose Jesus’ version of morality, and that’s the sweet piece of the pie that you have been missing, and can only be found in Jesus. After all, you get the Creator of the universe to swoon over you, make you His Son, save you from torment in hell, and grant you everlasting life where you get to strum harps and bounce off clouds all day. That may be why Jesus’ version of morality has usually won out over Gandhi and Buddha’s. Plus, Jesus has a Book, boosting His credibility.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8d8e_4Gdl600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea83c9DtoMF600074" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8d9t8RTJV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d1db05543EUEDx600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1db05543EUEDx600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >The Difference Between Moralism And The Gospel</span></p><p id="zw-131d1d998b9LciTav600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1d998b8J2ZX46600074" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >And that’s it- that’s basically all the knowledge that most Christians have in America. Have a good day, I’ve just articulated American Christianity to you. They will preach to you this gospel of morality, offer you eternal life if you trust that Jesus died for your sins, on condition that you choose to live for Him and stop living for sin and for yourself. They couch the whole repenting business in easy-to-swallow terms of course, making it sound like you are getting a steal of a deal, something for nothing. That however, is not the case, which is evident if you read the last two sentences. The grievous error, above all else in this American gospel, is that it has placed the emphasis of being saved on a life-altering, self-sacrificing, morally commendable decision and commitment of men rather than the life-altering, self-sacrificing, perfect obedience of Jesus Christ to the law of God.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8daUpY7LS600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea84eOkoA61600074" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8dbOrBjtk600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d1cea84fOEjrkW600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea84fOEjrkW600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >A Short-Changed American Gospel That Doesn't Save</span></p><p id="zw-131d1db5d619H1yFX600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1db5d60zsK_nX600074" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >In other words, we have short-changed Jesus. We have made Him an enabler to save man, depending on what man chooses to do. Instead of proclaiming salvation through Christ alone, we have </span><span id="zw-131d1cea851vk2W_s600074" style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >claimed</span><span id="zw-131d1cea852Ucy1HY600074" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > that we are proclaiming salvation through Christ’s work on the cross alone, all the while preaching salvation by a decision to be obedient to Christ by our own willpower, which is clearly another gospel and understanding of salvation altogether.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8dcFDNy1j600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1d3451332nZ0R600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8ddp57ITy600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea85dr_XCoT600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >What gets taught is that Christ has done His part, He has done everything He can do. His death was an expression of His love for you, now you need to express your love for Him by choosing Him over sin, and then you will be forgiven. So, strum up the soft guitar music, dim the lights, everyone bow their heads and close their eyes, and let’s get down to business, shall we? Are you ready to make that all important decision for Christ? Choose Him, deny your sins, pray that He will come into your heart, and then you can know you are saved. Oh, and make sure you walk down to the altar and fill out this card, that’s very important.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8ddbP8Q0600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8ddSIJNIu600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea866zaTic9600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Oh and one more minor thing, make sure for the rest of your life you don’t fall away from your decision for Christ, because, after all, </span><span id="zw-131d1cea8681QVTXK600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >the reason God saved you is because you chose Him, not because He chose you.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8demV-kVq600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8deRfBI8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea870sPEorO600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Sounds Positive, But It's<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mediocre<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>News With a Smile</span></p><p id="zw-131d1dc09b0WxiWop600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1dc09afKB129H600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Is that good news? I mean, the only good news in that is if you add “I love Jesus” to your set of beliefs, you will get into heaven, while the rest of the world, ignorant of that phrase, will live equally, if not more moral lives than you, yet miss out on heaven and wind up in hell, a place of everlasting destruction where the fiery wrath of God is poured out forever. Awesome news, that is. You get heaven in exchange for your morality and your belief in Jesus loving you and dying for you, while the rest of the world gets hell for striving to follow (by and large) the same precepts that Jesus taught. Their great sin was doing it in ignorance of the name of Jesus. You, however, were fortunate enough to hear of Jesus and therefore you get heaven.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8de1nGmz8600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8dftKrNc_600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea878t2kWH6600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >I don’t think I am misrepresenting American Christianity at all by saying this. There are exceptions, of course. There are those who still preach the true gospel. They are called monergists, and most of them are Calvinists. They follow the teachings of Jesus, of Peter, and Paul, and they don’t compromise on the gospel. They are more concerned about preaching the true gospel than how people will react if they don’t like what the gospel says. They are more concerned about proclaiming a Savior that actually saves and a God who sovereignly dispenses His grace and chooses who He will save, rather than making man the author of their own salvation by saying their salvation is up to their free will ability to give up their sin and clean up their acts.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8dfylrONE600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8dfCg2m1J600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea880yDJIr600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Enter, the Calvinist Gospel of Grace</span></p><p id="zw-131d1dde658fCmtUb600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1dde658IoogLJ600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Calvinists proclaim that only God’s grace can save you, and then actually preach the gospel of grace rather than a gospel of works and morality, unlike most other strands of churches and preachers today. They preach salvation as a supernatural work of God whereby the Holy Spirit gives new life to spiritually dead souls, sight to blind eyes, hearing to deaf ears, so that the gospel can and will be received with rejoicing and thanksgiving, rather than as a command for man to do something so that they can earn God’s favor and get out of hell. Calvinists preach a gospel that tells you what Christ did to save you. The typical American gospel tells what Christ did so that you can either do something, or believe in something, and through that belief or action, or both, you </span><span id="zw-131d1cea882Fmh6Z600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >can be saved.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e0e2qyU2600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e0CpFTdR600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea88adrxK-q600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The difference is night and day. This American gospel, the one I grew up with before I became a Calvinist at eighteen years of age, told me to have faith in my own faith if I wanted to be saved, instead of having faith in the finished work of Christ alone for my salvation. The American gospel told me that Christ didn’t actually save me on the cross, because I still had to give Him my life and choose to live for Him before I could be forgiven. The result, of course, is that one can never be sure when he or she has placed </span><span id="zw-131d1cea88bihOQNl600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >enough</span><span id="zw-131d1cea88ckHsfRf600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > faith in their own faith and works. One can never be sure one has done </span><span id="zw-131d1cea890Ktb8Ew600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >enough</span><span id="zw-131d1cea8916TGbPr600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > in obedience to Christ and His commandments to know that he or she is committed to Christ sufficiently to receive forgiveness. The tricky thing, as I have already said, is that this gospel is presented in such pretty wrappings that you don’t realize everything is contingent upon your ability to uphold your commitment of service to Christ and faith in Him.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e1__sF3x600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e1n_VkFV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea899S93sT6600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >That Nasty Contradiction, That Horrible Inconsistency</span></p><p id="zw-131d1df57b0N1-0K6600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1df57afrVkNa600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >The question undoubtedly becomes this: If I must commit my life to Christ and His ways to be saved, what constitutes saving commitment? If in a few weeks, a few months, or a few years from now I fall away from my commitment and start sinning like nobodies business, was I ever saved in the first place? Do I simply need to rededicate my life to Christ, redouble my efforts? And say I do rededicate, what happens when I struggle and stumble again? I saw many students at Christian school rededicate their lives to Christ, multiple times. Many have fallen away from the faith altogether, and understandably so. Christ claims to offer rest, that His yoke is easy and burden is light. This American gospel, however, is a heavy yoke that no one can bear.</span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e11p8h-1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e2hZ_qmt600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea8a04fXNQ1600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >That is the vicious cycle that I want to break everyone away from, and only the true gospel, the gospel of Calvinism, and the Calvinist’s God, can do that. For many who are not Calvinists, that will sound extreme. Surely, you may think, Calvinism cannot claim a monopoly on the gospel? Surely there is room for interpretation? If that is what you are thinking, I think by the end of this writing you will be persuaded differently, if you are open to the truth of Scripture. Can a non-Calvinist truly be a Christian? Yes, but don’t let out your collected breath just yet. The yes is a qualified yes. The qualification is </span><span id="zw-131d1cea8a1R9e_8d600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >only</span><span id="zw-131d1cea8a2viygj600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > if the non-Calvinist Christian is affirming a contradiction, an inconsistency. And this great contradiction and inconsistency will malign your efforts to serve Christ, and it will diminish your joy as a Christian. Maybe you think you are quite happy and comfortable as a Christian. Maybe you are, but when you get that nasty contradiction, that horrible inconsistency cleared up, I guarantee you you’ll be happier than ever before. </span><span id="zw-131d1cea8a377hLzh600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e2sLY5a600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></p><p id="zw-131d1cea8e3qPTcp600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131d1cea8abKOn02L600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Let's End This Post Where We Began</span></p><p id="zw-131d1e18600_0YcTv600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d1e185ffOFAKfB600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >Before I close this chapter, let’s return to the question I opened with. How can God be a kind and loving God if He is all-powerful and all-knowing, yet allows evil? God also claims to know the end from the beginning, so He cannot claim ignorance. God knows what will happen; He knew Adam and Eve would fall into sin, yet He let it happen anyways. Why? The curse of sin, the fall of man, all the pain, suffering, death, and hell that ensues, is a result of God’s plan for man as much as it is man’s plan to disobey God, if, after all, Ephesians 1:11 speaks the truth when it says that God works all things according to the counsel of His will. Some skeptics and atheists say that this makes God, if He were to exist, a moral monster. The reason why most Christians have yet to ponder such a question is quite often due to their lack of interest in the Bible and the deep things of God, or it may be that they have been so indoctrinated into a lacking belief system, a non-Calvinist belief system, that they cannot recognize the real questions anymore.</span><span id="zw-131d1cea8acw76I600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" > </span><span id="zw-131d1cea8adMyCzQV600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia,'times new roman',times,serif;font-size:0.909091em;" >Many live in a “Christian bubble,” where their friends are primarily other Christians, being taught the same shallow and flawed teachings.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d1cea8adMyCzQV600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" >-<span style="font-style: italic;">Thomas</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131d1cea8adMyCzQV600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">
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<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:15px;" ><span id="zw-131d1cea8adMyCzQV600074" style="text-indent: 0.5in; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:0.9090909090909091em;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This post was originally posted </span></span><span><a href="http://tulipdrivenlife.blogspot.com/2011/08/calvinists-god-replacing-americanized.html">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> at Thomas' main blog, The Tulip-Driven Life</span>
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<br /></p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-1599884821451775202011-08-16T03:00:00.000-06:002011-08-16T18:19:08.331-06:00What They're Saying 08.16.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><a id="zw-131d45cd3c6Mktcn600074" title="God Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Body" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/august/godhasplanforbody.html?start=1"><span id="zw-131d47017a6wRspn5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">God Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Body</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> - </span><span id="zw-131d45c54f7vTW1Pt600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"</span><span id="zw-131d45c54f9-8B2em600074" style="line-height: 20px; font-style: italic; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Evangelicals desperately need, then, an ordered account of how Scripture informs our understanding of the human body and its uses. But with few exceptions—like James K. A. Smith and Amos Yong—evangelical theology is still playing catch-up. As Westmont College theologian Telford Work recently pointed out in these pages, the theology of the body is one of evangelicalism's least developed doctrines."</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><a id="zw-131d45e3288FaIO_J600074" title="A Friendly Critique of Liberal Christianity" target="_self" href="http://www.patheos.com/community/euangelion/2011/08/15/liberal-christianity-a-critique/"><span id="zw-131d45e325c-nnGm5600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A Friendly Critique of Liberal Christianity</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> - </span><span id="zw-131d46dcbdfmIuIYT600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"</span><span id="zw-131d468dd0by3hGU600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The world looks on with a crooked smile as the liberals acclaim their entire concurrence with all the values of the left-wing intelligentsia. The intelligentsia embarrassingly acknowledge their concord with the theological left, they thanks the theological liberals for affirming all of their values, but bid them adieu as they do not need any religious tokens at this time. Tragically theological liberalism claims to offer patronage to a group of intellectual who no longer want it."</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><a id="zw-131d46344dbpbwc4k600074" title="Can An Individual Interpret Scripture?" target="_self" href="http://www.koinoniablog.net/2011/08/2-pet-120can-an-individual-interpret-scripture-monday-with-mounce-repost.html"><span id="zw-131d46344afb70KeS600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Can An Individual Interpret Scripture?</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> -</span><span id="zw-131d46d93b3T19jTR600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131d46d1efdBrh4qp600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"</span><span id="zw-131d46cb38200w62E600074" style="line-height: 19px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">2 Pet 1:20-21 are important verses for our doctrine of Scripture, and so it should come as no surprise that there are some differences of opinion on the meaning of the passage... </span><span id="zw-131d46cf144RHxLsp600074" style="line-height: 19px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">As is so often in Greek, the original language gives us the range of interpretive options, but usually it is context that makes the final decision. Greek is not a magic key that reveals the one and only possible interpretation; otherwise we wouldn’t have endless supplies of Greek commentaries."</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><a id="zw-131d4644178qZB93a600074" title="'My Purpose Here Is Not To Convert You'" target="_self" href="http://trevinwax.com/2011/08/16/my-purpose-is-not-to-convert-you/"><span id="zw-131d4644145RwwI3s600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">'My Purpose Here Is Not To Convert You'</span></a><span id="zw-131ccc14667b-ibk1600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- </span><span id="zw-131d46f8580_Gyg600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"</span><span id="zw-131d46ec22bn6ao600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The gospel is for </span><span id="zw-131d46f9a13JelZZJ600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">everyone</span><span id="zw-131d46f9a161dNgDb600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">. </span><span id="zw-131d46ec22eqfeuw9600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">It is a radically inclusive message. Though the world balks at the exclusive claims of Christ, we rush forward with the inclusive news that He is Savior of </span><span id="zw-131d46ec230xOccCH600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">all </span><span id="zw-131d46ec2417RcoO600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">the world. If I fail to proclaim this message, I am not really following Jesus. Instead, I’m just cloaking 21st century ideas in traditional Christian garb.</span><span id="zw-131d46ec2438mtI__600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> What would have been the better way for this pastor to handle his conversation with the imam? It would have been better to say something like this..."</span></p><p id="zw-131ccc153389DbJDF600074" tbsid="default" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><a id="zw-131d4675f0cMVpTjS600074" title="Resources For the Muslim-Christian Dialogue" target="_self" href="http://www.9marks.org/blog/now-available-muslim-christian-dialogue"><span id="zw-131d4675edfkFoLrt600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Resources For the Muslim-Christian Dialogue</span></a><span id="zw-131ccc31526sEo2rU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> - </span><span id="zw-131d470402eAqv0_8600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">"</span><span id="zw-131d469e9afdKVM5G600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Anyabwile himself is a former Muslim, which gives him a unique perspective on the specific challenges that so often hinder Muslims from understanding and believing the gospel. This helps Anyabwile to present the gospel in a manner which is most clear and winsome to Muslims. In fact, many Muslims have commented that the Muslim-Christian Dialogue contains the most clear, thorough explanation of Chrisitanity they have ever heard. </span><span id="zw-131d46a42b3XTuNyM600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">We gladly commend the Muslim-Christian Dialogue as a useful resource for engaging Muslims with the good news of Jesus Christ. For information on how to purchase and use these resources, check out their website at </span><span id="zw-131d46a42b6ZiP2II600074" style="line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">www.MuslimChristianDialogue.org</span><span id="zw-131d46a42b7rczIh600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">."</span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-68247267480125159832011-08-15T00:51:00.009-06:002011-08-15T01:28:22.617-06:00Brother, Can I Get A Testimony?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWOuWHIBkDKIHfVFVCp_QNpU9Gg6YMFcX2sevPGK-yEoJzYqayyBKYyw0PTulFWPstThyphenhyphenEvZGxHs0gVaR6s746YbnLdHIH6Yrz83CgnBXok-YRokfoI6ZsAcvD1Ho_hm8Vft9NxPshpk/s1600/testimony2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 639px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWOuWHIBkDKIHfVFVCp_QNpU9Gg6YMFcX2sevPGK-yEoJzYqayyBKYyw0PTulFWPstThyphenhyphenEvZGxHs0gVaR6s746YbnLdHIH6Yrz83CgnBXok-YRokfoI6ZsAcvD1Ho_hm8Vft9NxPshpk/s400/testimony2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640971863568719986" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphI9s-h_7xoL_tQuqOmfLct8foAKAtzsWd_P9ZNsC0D2ROTsG0kLY7cHF98HveK0kcUBxZwUWdahWGBPmP63XWp6SukL94zUD9qGm-kL448liVaD6DIar4ewuGRXxcDKNEqf1GrINx8c/s1600/CartoonNic.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 102px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphI9s-h_7xoL_tQuqOmfLct8foAKAtzsWd_P9ZNsC0D2ROTsG0kLY7cHF98HveK0kcUBxZwUWdahWGBPmP63XWp6SukL94zUD9qGm-kL448liVaD6DIar4ewuGRXxcDKNEqf1GrINx8c/s400/CartoonNic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640972036136153330" border="0" /></a><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-131cb5822d5AkjDV600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cc5587485ytnKX600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; ">I don’t know many things. I don’t know much about science or history, I don’t know much about biology or archaeology. To be fair, I don’t know much about theology. All too often have I expected myself to have a perfect defense for any theological argument I could get into; likewise have I expected the same of others. But so often, all we have to rely on is our own experience with God.</span></p><p id="zw-131cb599259LMFC-600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb599258cTNTtX600074" style="font-family: 'arial narrow'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb59925beTBswL600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131cb5822dbCUn9ie600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb5822ddOfYrMZ600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">The Story of a Simple Man</span></p><p id="zw-131cb5ac221k3usTt600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb590309GDCSk8600074"></span><span id="zw-131cc5558c0TnwHcm600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">I had heard a story of a man who was not the kind of man I would strive to be. He was a mature man who slept with girls who had barely turned 18. He was an alcoholic and got drunk almost every night. He was emotionally abusive to his children and ex-wife, and he shut himself away from his family. Then he found salvation and his life turned around. He never touched alcohol again. He frequently tried to reestablish connections with his ex-wife and his children, but was unsuccessful. He finally got a chance to meet with his immediate family, all nonbelievers. When they talked to him, they began to mock him for giving his live to Christ. He was not a theologian. He was not schooled. He had only been going to church for a couple weeks. These were well-educated people in his family that all had reasons to not believe in God.</span></p><p id="zw-131cb597ea5XyX714600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb597ea47xY5m0600074" style="font-family: 'arial narrow'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb597ea7RnGL2C600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131cb5822ddmhf2yy600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb5822deycz41S600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">The Beautiful Power of Testimony</span></p><p id="zw-131cb5b3d4dq0b51b600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cc54c6d8pCL8P600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">But the point of the story is not simply the example this man gave – it is much more profound than that. As the story goes, this man’s family began to make more fun of him because he didn’t know facts about Jesus’ life. He didn’t know that Jesus only lived 33 years. He didn’t know that Jesus only spent three years in ministry. He didn’t know that Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert. He just dimply didn’t know about Jesus’ life. But that’s not what stopped his family dead in their tracks. When they were hurling all these insult at this man, he stopped to think for a moment and simply responded, “You know…I don’t know anything about Jesus. But I do know what He’s done to me.”</span></p><p id="zw-131cb59c3ddroqo5600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb59c3dcsEJOCe600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb59c3deq9vn_600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131cb5822de9LqaH600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb5822e0ApbN0P600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">This is the beauty of testimony. You can have all the theology in the world to back up your points, but if there is no heart in it, and there is no personal change in it…what’s the point? Consider the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:7-26. It says, “A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.’</span></p><p id="zw-131cb5964f5qXbUX600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb5964f5shZAHW600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb5964f7y59vY-600074"></span><span id="zw-131cb5822e1MiVmJ7600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb5ba28eVmCah600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131cb5ba28b58MnbE600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb5ba28bydqEGb600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">So here we have a Samaritan woman who basically knows nothing of God. She is a sinner and has had five husbands, and she is shacking up with her boyfriend. She’s just a woman getting by on her life without God. Then Jesus comes in and stops her. He reveals her past to her. She has no knowledge of this man who has just told her about her life. She didn’t even know his name. All she knows is that he knew how sinful she was, and this Jew came to spend time talking to a Samaritan…so she goes and shouts, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” And we’re told that all in the town came to Jesus.</span></p><p id="zw-131cb595bfeo4LqoD600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb595bfeGmXF6M600074" style="font-family: 'arial narrow'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cb595c004XyIEk600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131cb5822e2Y6Dl-y600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cb5822e2T2KB84600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">What You Have Is Your Own, Personal Testimony</span></p><p id="zw-131cb5c2e000mbro8600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131cc55c140Jbm0kG600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">So what’s the point? “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony: ‘He told me all that I ever did.’” It’s not about getting a perfect testimony. It’s not about detailing your theology to a point. You know what it’s about? “This is what He’s done to me.” That’s the point of your testimony. Not just to share it among other believers so that they can know you better. Of course it’s good for fellowship, but that’s not the point of it all! The point is that God gave YOU a testimony. If you get knowledge, then great. If you get revelation, then great. But what you have is your own, personal testimony. You have what Christ has done to you and through you. And that is what will show people the true power of God. Not your arguments.</span></p><p id="zw-131bd46a5530PUve1600074" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span id="zw-131bd46b137mBbXTf600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; "></span><span id="zw-131bd41e819BR2XQX600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131cc36b8264kanrj600074"></span></p></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">-Nic.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-131cb5822d5AkjDV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">
<br /></span></span></p></div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-41298522318089413772011-08-15T00:02:00.001-06:002011-08-15T03:42:52.456-06:00What They're Saying 08.15.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-1309a7a00941Bl9yU600074" tbsid="default" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><a id="zw-131cca23893UDNU7600074" title="Lopez-Anthony Split Over Scientology" target="_self" href="http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/08/14/lopez-anthony-split-on-differences-over-scientology/"><span id="zw-131cca237f8QM6fve600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; ">Lopez-Anthony Split Over Scientology</span></a><span id="zw-131cca23f9f4w6gHk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; "> - </span><span id="zw-131ccb153fceR_nWz600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">I didn't even know Jennifer Lopez was into Scientology. It's the fad religion of hollywood superstars (more so than Kabbalah), has a sketchy history of </span><a id="zw-131ccaaa7eehcwT1q600074" title="forming large-scale plots to cover up information about itself" target="_self" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White"><span id="zw-131ccaaa7a8mfhAoG600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">forming large-scale plots to cover up information about itself</span></a><span id="zw-131ccaaa7ac2OTsyk600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">, is responsible for </span><a id="zw-131ccae3b49cLjRTs600074" title="turning Tom Cruise into Billy Graham's evil doppelganger" target="_self" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cruise#Scientology"><span id="zw-131ccae3b19zdgcpn600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">turning Tom Cruise into Billy Graham's evil doppelganger</span></a><span id="zw-131ccae3b1buLUrj6600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; ">, and probably has a massive role to play in a lot of Hollywood political activism. Be in prayer for Lopez, Anthony, their kids, and those who have been mislead by the Church of Scientology.</span></p><p id="zw-131ccafd866gbjoVp600074" tbsid="default" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131ccafd865lIFaF600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; "></span><a id="zw-131ccb1dd016IRY8B600074" title="Mugabe's Party Terrorizes Christians" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/augustweb-only/zimbabweanchurches.html"><span id="zw-131ccb1dcd5WdREQM600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; ">Mugabe's Party Terrorizes Christians</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb1fb6ccQvGgQ600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; "> - Zimbabwe's Christians are being killed for helping the hungry (mostly because this acknowledges that people </span><span id="zw-131ccb38025V9GCqj600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; ">are</span><span id="zw-131ccb3845e_PSyML600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; "> hungry in Zimbabwe, which President Robert Mugabe's political party sees as criticism). As of right now the ruling ZANU PF is targeting, harassing, interrogating, and reportedly murdering members of churches that refuse to support ZANU PF over the opposition MDC party. Be in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, as well as thankful for the freedom we have to express our faith politically.</span></p><p id="zw-131ccb79358oxj2DZ600074" tbsid="default" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131ccb793583PQ-EI600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131ccb8735dFWg0qE600074" title="Ripping the Use of 'Dominionism'" target="_self" href="http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2011/08/dominionismists/"><span id="zw-131ccb8732fKnr25o600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">Ripping the Use of 'Dominionism'</span></a><span id="zw-131ccb87a03qYNX0b600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; "> - This is more of an American issue. Some have recently decided to discredit Christian politicians by using the term 'Dominionism' to suggest that Evangelicals are trying to infiltrate and take over American institutions. In this piece, Jeremy Pierce looks at some of the facts and shows this line of thinking for the conspiracy theory that it really is. Jesus said the world would hate us, so it's no wonder this kind of treatment is being handed out to Evangelicals who gain prominence in the secular sphere.</span></p><p id="zw-131ccbd1d47ir2ntc600074" tbsid="default" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131ccbd1d47YQBFxD600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; "></span><span id="zw-131ccbd9100KHV_iI600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131ccc14694ulRF-G600074" title="How to Boast In the Lord Jesus" target="_self" href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/08/10/how-to-boast-in-jesus"><span id="zw-131ccc146652sw5bU600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">How to Boast In the Lord Jesus</span></a><span id="zw-131ccc14667b-ibk1600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "> </span><span id="zw-131ccbda9adVgS-I7600074" style="font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; ">- Mars Hill pastor Jamie Munson just wrote a really encouraging post on how to make our lives All About Jesus. The checklist goes: (1) Recognize it's all about Jesus; (2) Enjoy accomplishments but don't take the glory; (3) Learn from disappointments but don't dwell on them; (4) Seek and practice humility and repentance; (5) Redeem the gifts, desires, and passions you've been given; (6) Embrace and participate in the work and mission of Jesus.</span></p><p id="zw-131ccc153389DbJDF600074" tbsid="default" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; "><span id="zw-131ccc15338QlG7I600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; "></span><a id="zw-131ccc30d22IutRa600074" title="Yeshua, the Man From Galilee" target="_self" href="http://yeshuaincontext.com/2011/08/greece-rome-israel-3/#comment-5795"><span id="zw-131ccc30cf7f6Y0L600074" style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: 1em; ">Yeshua, the Man From Galilee</span></a><span id="zw-131ccc31526sEo2rU600074" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 0.9090909090909091em; "> - Yeshua In Context (YIC) is a fantastic blog, put out by a Messianic Jewish Rabbi named Derek Lehman. I don't agree with all his stuff but his passion is to help us understand the Jewish-Greek-Roman context of Jesus' ministry. Far from being scholarship for Bible nerds, this is devotional material that helps bring the human existence of our Savior to life.</span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-9963341586107622722011-08-12T03:27:00.005-06:002011-08-12T04:29:32.556-06:00Though Men May Deceive One Another<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPI-rQ2Cx4PhwX3UtMEMXp50KuurbqOowZz2TXfSp319op4M_CyNQTkoReo-s72D2-X1vooYYSOGPs2jwioLJd_o9xiT0uJ2-xio2P7M2G6PuB-fjzJvQIc-QIraQltqnIKEINNobYq8/s1600/temple_herod_03.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 646px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPI-rQ2Cx4PhwX3UtMEMXp50KuurbqOowZz2TXfSp319op4M_CyNQTkoReo-s72D2-X1vooYYSOGPs2jwioLJd_o9xiT0uJ2-xio2P7M2G6PuB-fjzJvQIc-QIraQltqnIKEINNobYq8/s400/temple_herod_03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639904091733047970" border="0" /></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:15px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThJXNmD8iuNA1W8SFrap8QGyoXZDzXCZG9J4VWKPEMjHKkoiMHztkP7VtTDreQzhyphenhyphen2OOoHXCnORzPbnJtqgAu443fwBMuanE1ty-QcJbQzbn7iQJ4gFd8PCqHAjezam7WZB7OnoPkh5k/s1600/MatthewHenry_Voice.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 92px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThJXNmD8iuNA1W8SFrap8QGyoXZDzXCZG9J4VWKPEMjHKkoiMHztkP7VtTDreQzhyphenhyphen2OOoHXCnORzPbnJtqgAu443fwBMuanE1ty-QcJbQzbn7iQJ4gFd8PCqHAjezam7WZB7OnoPkh5k/s400/MatthewHenry_Voice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639899013978431954" border="0" /></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; "><p id="zw-131bd3fafc1D9GU5o600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd4da070CmPGK600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1em;"><span height="0" width="0" id="z-cursor-start-6291572"></span>It is common for those that are furthest from God to boast themselves most of their being near to the church. In Jeremiah 7:1-15 they are haughty because of the holy mountain (Zephaniah 3:11), as if God's mercy were so tied to them that they might defy his justice. Now to convince them what a frivolous plea this was, and what little stead it would stand them in,</span></p><p id="zw-131bd3fafc2IHacNG600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd42b61cLJaJ_a600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';">1.</span><span id="zw-131bd4de4ea0enNzu600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;"> God shows them the gross absurdity of it in itself.</span><span id="zw-131bd421de254_jWI600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If they knew any thing either of the temple of the Lord or of the Lord of the temple, they would think that to plead this way, either in excuse of their sin against God or else in arrest of God's judgment against them, was the most ridiculous and unreasonable thing that could be.</span></p><p id="zw-131bd449c97E1P6sI600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd4de4f04JRRp0600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';">God is a holy God; but this plea made him the patron of sin, of the worst of sins, which even the light of nature condemns, Jeremiah 7:9, Jeremiah 7:10.</span><span id="zw-131bd44c920Wjz64c600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131bd4380f1guiHeU600074" style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd4e76f8EVFbsr600074" style="font-family: 'arial narrow'; ">“What,” says he, “<i>will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, be guilty of the vilest immoralities,</i> and which the common interest, as well as the common sense, of mankind witness against? <i>Will you swear falsely,</i> a crime which all nations (who with the belief of a God have had a veneration for an oath) have always had a horror of? <i>Will you burn incense to Baal</i>, a dunghill-deity, that sets up as a rival with the great Jehovah, and, not content with that, <i>will you walk after other gods too, whom you know not,</i> and by all these crimes put a daring affront upon God, both as the Lord of hosts and as the God of Israel? Will you exchange a God of whose power and goodness you have had such a long experience for gods of whose ability and willingness to help you you know nothing? And, when you have thus done the worst you can against God, will you brazen your faces so far as to come and <i>stand before him in this house which is called by his name</i> and in which his name is called upon - stand before him as servants waiting his commands, as supplicants expecting his favour? Will you act in open rebellion against him, and yet herd among his subjects, among the best of them?</span></p><p id="zw-131bd46c73baiGjX2600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd46c73a-EbmGe600074"></span><span id="zw-131bd46c73cnxrclx600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131bd460ef0cyIYN600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd460eef_iRw9Q600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131bd43bf12JUvI7Q600074" style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd4e95c17Oujti600074" style="font-family: 'arial narrow'; ">By this, it should seem, you think that either he does not discover or does not dislike your wicked practices, to imagine either of which is to put the highest indignity possible upon him. It is as if you should say, "<i>We are delivered to do all these abominations.</i>” If they had not the front to say this, <i>totidem verbis - in so many words</i>, yet their actions spoke it aloud. They could not but own that God, even their own God, had many a time delivered them, and been a present help to them, when otherwise they must have perished. He, in delivering them, designed to reduce them to himself, and by his goodness to lead them to repentance; but they resolved to persist in their abominations notwithstanding. As soon as they were delivered (as of old in the days of the Judges) they<i> did evil again in the sight of the Lord</i>, which was in effect to say, in direct contradiction to the true intent and meaning of the providences which had affected them, that God had delivered them in order to put them again into a capacity of rebelling against him, by sacrificing the more profusely to their idols. Note, Those who continue in sin because grace has abounded, or that grace may abound, do in effect their idols. Note, Those who continue in sin because grace has abounded, or that grace may abound, do in effect make Christ the minister of sin. Some take it thus: “You present yourselves before God with your sacrifices and sin-offerings, and then say, <i>We are delivered</i>, we are discharged from our guilt, now it shall do us no hurt; when all this is but to blind the world, and stop the mouth of conscience, that you may, the more easily to yourselves and the more plausibly before others, <i>do all these abominations</i>.”</span></p><p id="zw-131bd40b12bbqCZz600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd40b121ROGLt600074"></span><span id="zw-131bd4556307X2vc600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';">His temple was a holy place; but this plea made it a protection to the most unholy persons</span><span id="zw-131bd455633YfTvI600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131bd457f0dpEb01Q600074" style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd4eedd0P0hJVm600074" style="font-family: 'arial narrow'; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">“<i>Has this house, which is called by my name</i> and is a standing sign of God's kingdom of sin and Satan - <i>has this become a den of robbers in your eyes?</i> Do you think it was built to be not only a rendezvous of, but a refuge and shelter to, the vilest of malefactors?” No; though the horns of the altar were a sanctuary to him that slew a man unawares, yet they were not so to a wilful murderer, nor to one that did aught presumptuously, Exodus 21:14; 1Kings2:29. Those that think to excuse themselves in unchristian practices with the Christian name, and sin the more boldly and securely because there is a sin-offering provided, do, in effect, make God's house of prayer a den of thieves, as the priests in Christ's time, Matthew 21:13. But could they thus impose upon God? <i>No: Behold, I have seen it, saith the Lord</i>, have seen the real iniquity through the counterfeit and dissembled piety.</span></p><p id="zw-131bd48ef985iWajk600074" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd48ef97faiIoP600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;"></span><span id="zw-131bd48f331Xy8TzR600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131bd48f32emp3tLQ600074" style="text-align: center;font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span id="zw-131bd490e02qWxVSZ600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family: 'arial narrow'; font-size: 1.09091em; "><b>Note, Though men may deceive one another with the appearances of devotion, yet they cannot deceive God.</b></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd490e02qWxVSZ600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.09091em;">
<br /></span></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:arial;font-size:15px;"><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131bd490e02qWxVSZ600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.09091em;">-</span><span id="zw-131bd490e02qWxVSZ600074" style=" ;font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.09091em;">Matthew Henry, from his <span style="font-style: italic;">Commentary on the Whole Bible</span>, on Jeremiah 7.1-15</span><span id="zw-131bd490e02qWxVSZ600074" style="font-style: italic; font-family:'arial narrow';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;">.</span><span id="zw-131bd45b841vmjhmj600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span><span id="zw-131bd4efe78q8Fuow600074"><span height="0" width="0" id="z-cursor-end-6291572"></span></span></p></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-83302561581112993272011-08-12T02:23:00.001-06:002011-08-12T02:23:40.494-06:00What They're Saying 08.12.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-131b5829e48MpidCV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131bd066e3fOISYGy600074" title="Thoughts On A Libertarian Christianity" target="_self" href="http://theamericanscene.com/2011/08/09/the-cause-of-all-the-trouble"><span id="zw-131bd066e0cKR7yNR600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Contrarian Thoughts On A Libertarian Christianity</span></a><span id="zw-131bd066e0cKR7yNR600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5829e4bjKA0u7600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b5829e4edcAC600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span class="" id="zw-131bd05aade1D_TL3600074" style="line-height: 1.2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">Alan Jacobs writes, with more than a little irony in his voice, '</span><span id="zw-131bd048e4bCLb7q600074" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 19px; font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">I think Andrew has finally convinced me. And as I have thought more about this I have finally realized whose fault all this is: </span><span id="zw-131bd048e5bmFQOTD600074" class="" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 19px; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline; width: auto; height: auto; font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">Martin Luther King</span><span id="zw-131bd048e5dxAo8wt600074" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 19px; font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">. He could have stayed in his prayer closet instead of politicking; he could have attended to his own failures as a Christian, which of course were many; he could have forgiven white Southerners instead of judging them. But no. He became an "outside agitator," marching into ordinary American communities and telling them that their local laws, and indeed in some cases federal laws, were not to be obeyed — and why? Because they conflicted with </span><a href="http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html" id="zw-131bd048e5eya3yq6600074" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(186, 4, 17); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131bd048e62dUooE-600074" style="color: rgb(186, 4, 17); line-height: 19px; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">the law of God!</span></a><span id="zw-131bd048e9fDGeL_4600074" style="line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">'</span></p><p id="zw-131b58323f4GeqCr600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1994/january10/hatfield-stealinggodsstuff.html" id="zw-131b58323f4-L54pm600074" target="_self" title="From the Vaults of Christianity Today, Mark Hatfield Calls for Theological and Ethical Thought on Biotechnology"><span id="zw-131b58323f6ZcSHhm600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131b58323f6ZcSHhm600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a id="zw-131bd0ae9d0NJduQ600074" title="Mark Roberts With An Encouragement to Rest In God's Grace" target="_self" href="http://www.patheos.com/community/markdroberts/2011/08/08/so-get-going-already-and-start-stumbling/"><span id="zw-131bd0ae9a3Nysfag600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Mark Roberts With An Encouragement to Rest In God's Grace</span></a><span id="zw-131b58323fapWl2Lz600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b58323fc8bgHY600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span class="" id="zw-131bd0bda90TqIEDE600074" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">'</span><span id="zw-131bd08fce1dAVeB600074" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">If you do much reading of books on business or leadership, you’ll soon be encouraged to fail. Popular books and the gurus who write them are always touting failure: “We should be free to fail.” “We should celebrate failure.” “Success only comes through much failure.” Etc. etc. etc.</span><span id="zw-131bd08fcf5SqUDFw600074" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "> Still, much of our world hasn’t learned this less. Not our business. Not our schools. Not even ourselves, if you’re anything like me. My inclination towards perfectionism, one might almost say my obsession with perfectionism, makes it extremely difficult for me to be willing to fail... </span><span id="zw-131bd098d647_-e1x600074" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; ">I find it interesting that Christians, who supposedly live their whole lives on the basis of God’s grace, are sometimes the most perfectionistic and the least open to failure. Why do we live with such fear, rather than in the freedom of God’s grace?'</span></p><p id="zw-131b583242ag_NH-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/09/divine-sovereignty-and-human-responsiblity-on-the-road-to-emmaus" id="zw-131b583242a42qXT_600074" target="_self" title="Does Your View of God's Sovereignty Include These Verses?"><span id="zw-131b58324296G-y600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131b58324296G-y600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a id="zw-131bd0de54a3nva5j600074" title="Men and Women Both Dropping Out of Church" target="_self" href="http://www.georgebarna.com/2011/08/comments-on-the-august-1-barna-update-%E2%80%9C20-years-of-surveys-show-key-differences-in-faith-of-america%E2%80%99s-men-and-women%E2%80%9D/"><span id="zw-131bd0de51cDLGr8600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Men and Women Both Dropping Out of Church</span></a><span id="zw-131b58324296G-y600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5829e80QzdEy600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131ae6d8252xwHioH600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131ae6d8252xwHioH600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131ae6d8252xwHioH600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://www.truewoman.com/?id=1730" id="zw-130b613e179ReAw18600074" target="_self" title="and 4."></a>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-1309a796701OIy3Bx600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><span id="zw-1309a7967025TMu8f600074" style="font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></p><p id="zw-1309a796702Cqc7aP600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-1311d37d0dbLgU6L600074" style="font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; "></span><span id="zw-131bd0d9b76fCyyIs600074" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; ">'</span><span id="zw-131bd0ce256B3tId600074" style="vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; ">All of this raises questions about the tenor of church proceedings. Many have noted that the typical Christian church exudes a female vibe, in aspects ranging from type of music to common language to the nature of the primary events. If women become less of a mainstay in what occurs within churches, will ministries respond by increasing the male-friendliness of the proceedings? As women become less front-and-center, will men be pressured to upgrade their church involvement?</span><span id="zw-131bd0ce25av2beZH600074" style="vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; "> Eras of change such as that in which we live today demand alert and courageous leadership to understand the times, know what to do, and engage in bold action.'</span></p><p id="zw-1309a7a6147LVsvI600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a href="http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2011/05/something-odd-about-the-founder-of-project-reason/" id="zw-1309a7a6148EOFOC600074" target="_self" title="Evangel's Tom Gilson weighs in on a debate between (Atheist) Sam Harris and (Christian) William Lane Craig in, "Something Odd About the Founder of Project Reason.""><span id="zw-1309a7a614bA5Bh6d600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/phoenix_diocese_to_publish_online_list_of_pedophile_priests_20110618/#When:23:20:27Z" id="zw-130a5794c0ccNKd_e600074" target="_self" title="Catholic Priests in Phoenix, AZ, establish a website to publicize the identities of pedophile priests"><span id="zw-130ab2ffca25EmmUY600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/six-truths-on-christian-involvement-in-society?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+DGBlog+(DG+Blog)" id="zw-130ab314121IfKCST600074" target="_self" title="Desiring God Lists 6 Truths on Christian Involvement In Society"><span id="zw-130ab3140ecxMZcrV600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/06/20/an-excellent" id="zw-130b617ed15OvgAJ4600074" target="_self" title="On a related note, Jennifer Smidt at The Resurgence writes "An Excellent Wife Is Forged, Not Found""><span id="zw-130b617ecdflql0p600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/why-read-about-the-beheading-of-christiansG+Blog)" id="zw-130bc4e7c4fuNGY5S600074" target="_self" title="John Piper thinks we should watch a video of a Christian being beheaded"><span id="zw-130bc4e7c15qBtC88600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.csntm.org/" id="zw-130f3d01a717KtXiy600074" target="_self" title="The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts is giving away free audio and video content on iTunesU. As an aside, iTunesU is an excellent source for information and education, and I recommend it warmly to everyone. The free courses from Berkeley and MIT are fantastic."><span id="zw-130f3d01a584LJkCK600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Female-Beauty-Matters" id="zw-13118dc7da52cqoFg600074" target="_self" title="Mary Kassian Writes a Long Post on Why 'Female Beauty Matters'"><span id="zw-13118dc7d5eH4XVh9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-13118dc7d5eH4XVh9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/tag/william-cwirla/" id="zw-1311d3cfc06otvhZ9600074" target="_self" title="The White Horse Inn Has a Great Blog Series on 'Basic Apologetics' - It's Worth Reading All of the Posts"><span id="zw-1311d3cfbc5508shF600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-1311d3cfbc5508shF600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/13/the-issue-under-a-lot-of-issues" id="zw-1312a30ca0dAqYO5d600074" target="_self" title="Mark Driscoll Writes About Gender and Sexuality, 'The Issue Under A Lot of Issues'"><span id="zw-1312a30c9c95tfYZZ600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-1312a30c9c95tfYZZ600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/07/which-morality-whose-hypocrisy.php" id="zw-1313d183149uHehRp600074" target="_self" title="Playing a Neat Little Game of Plank and Speck, Carl Trueman Throws the Hypocrisy Card Back At Those Who Like to Deal It"><span id="zw-1313d1830f8jBfox9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-1313d1830f8jBfox9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/27/why-going-to-rehab-wont-fix-it" id="zw-1316d3d68d6u7fyZq600074" target="_self" title="Mike Wilkerson on Amy Winehouse, and What Going to Rehab Won't Fix"><span id="zw-1316d3d8ad8sTAsqP600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-1316d3d8ad8sTAsqP600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://trevinwax.com/2011/07/28/the-idols-we-worship/" id="zw-131725d9130Dx6ENR600074" target="_self" title="Over at Kingdom People, Joel Writes a Great Post On the Idols We Worship"><span id="zw-131725d90cdBSeOg600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131725d90cdBSeOg600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/07/29/sin-in-1-john/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29" id="zw-13177b6e880mi1Jpg600074" target="_self" title="Justin Taylor Interviews the Apostle John - It's Actually Really Good"><span id="zw-13177b6e810jj-T5D600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-13177b6e810jj-T5D600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/01/misfocused-focus-on-gospel-centeredness/" id="zw-131872b59b0iJP0pJ600074" target="_self" title="Having a Misfocused Focus on 'Gospel Centeredness'"><span id="zw-131872b5938CvLTt600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131872b5938CvLTt600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/02/you-asked-did-god-change-at-the-incarnation/" id="zw-1318c5d8cbeaKkVud600074" target="_self" title="John Starke Answers, 'Did God Change At the Incarnation?'"><span id="zw-1318c5d8c32zT_mUz600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-1318c5d8c32zT_mUz600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/03/dont-waste-your-calvinism/" id="zw-13193f41decK3IF-k600074" target="_self" title="Jared Wilson: 'Don't Waste Your Calvinism'"><span id="zw-13193f41d49TZbHpS600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-13193f41d49TZbHpS600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/08/praying-in-the-whirlwind.php" id="zw-1319bdbc025GoJRId600074" target="_self" title="Don't Neglect Prayer When Life Gets Too Busy"><span id="zw-1319bdbbf7beDy--5600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-1319bdbbf7beDy--5600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-1319e6dba77CS3N600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-1319e6e2b5bjfrgE6600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5783969Z4FM5t600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5836c19QWTJdg600074"></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b5836653hAwsw600074"></span><span id="zw-131b57ee4adqRxhiD600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b57ee4adqRxhiD600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a id="zw-131bd0f4bcevUWuNe600074" title="Enough About Us Already: Our North American Protestant Obsession With Being Loved By the World" target="_self" href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2011/08/09/enough-about-us-already/"><span id="zw-131bd0f4b7c1W_4vL600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Enough About Us Already: Our North American Protestant Obsession With Being Loved By the World</span></a><span id="zw-131b57ee4b1Ysl08J600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b57ee4b1Ysl08J600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b57ee4b3JV3ETE600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><span id="zw-131b57ee4b4dy65T600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131b57ee4b4FQXOL600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131bd10720386qwam600074" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2; font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131bd1013d0DPFN5K600074" style="line-height: 19px; font-style: italic; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">There’s a long history of American Protestants wanting the approval of their neighbors. For a good part of our nation’s history, respectable denominations with roots in the Reformation surrendered their confessional peculiarities for a generic evangelical witness. A lot of this had to do with evangelism: wanting to reach the population of declining practicioners of the faith. Churches, with their distinct catechism, forms of worship, and government, were eager to reach nominal members as well as Native Americans and Africans, slave and free. Yet a lot of it had to do with cultural hegemony. Having fought off the Leviathan of Rome, the new Christendom would come only with the stripping away of doctrinal distinctives that divide activistic Protestantism. Especially after the Second Great Awakening, “deeds, not creeds” became the mantra.'</span><span id="zw-131bd100af8ISJX4J600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b5838d3fTZJ4S-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131b5838d43Znm97i600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a id="zw-131bd112640qASf3X600074" title="How To See God's Hand In Your Suffering" target="_self" href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/how-to-see-gods-hand-in-your-suffering"><span id="zw-131b5838d43Znm97i600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">How To See God's Hand In Your Suffering</span></a><span id="zw-131b5838d43Znm97i600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5838d43Znm97i600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b5838d452V4XzB600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span class="" id="zw-131b5838d47fj6FOY600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Quoting John Flavel, </span><span id="zw-131bd120f77aNv6gO600074" class="" style="line-height: 1.2; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Desiring God</span><span id="zw-131bd123dc2tWdypS600074" class="" style="line-height: 1.2; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'s Jonathan Parnell gives a list of 6 ways to see God's hand in suffering. Rather than quote them here, I figured I would just get you to check them out. This is a very encouraging and Biblical post. I commend it to you. -SEAN</span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-56578369630239735322011-08-11T04:52:00.010-06:002011-08-11T05:11:37.495-06:00Why Jesus Is My Hope and Peace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK10_i-42fF2LJXLbNPzU1e_AqjedVMYerwFScxi_XZPM7avW_atk8q64h0jKB6tVzbk9RuClbDdaqIgkanDrmYcV-Z_9MEtR7oq3UIoX9Nfv_coQXba4GbkNaifr3bT0qEkQDz0-zqE/s1600/jesusfish.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 644px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK10_i-42fF2LJXLbNPzU1e_AqjedVMYerwFScxi_XZPM7avW_atk8q64h0jKB6tVzbk9RuClbDdaqIgkanDrmYcV-Z_9MEtR7oq3UIoX9Nfv_coQXba4GbkNaifr3bT0qEkQDz0-zqE/s400/jesusfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639549854451468130" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;" ><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); direction: ltr; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; "><p id="zw-131b87d7256d6Z9XG600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXLTT82PdAoekvA_Vrohva2y_85JRvCL0L0-kF3zIOKC-poivgLOLE3pBYryakfXS0VVwdT2pg68R_EYfYu-n9NhiXajKk-i90eBoCfTKcugy0VNxhQ2303NjxxKah6WGBQcpJBGFcm0/s1600/CartoonNic.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXLTT82PdAoekvA_Vrohva2y_85JRvCL0L0-kF3zIOKC-poivgLOLE3pBYryakfXS0VVwdT2pg68R_EYfYu-n9NhiXajKk-i90eBoCfTKcugy0VNxhQ2303NjxxKah6WGBQcpJBGFcm0/s400/CartoonNic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639550059731532290" border="0" /></a><span id="zw-131b850e3c8Rb76yR600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >How easy is it to rely on God? I can’t count the number of times that he has had to show me just how weak I am in order for me to rely on his strength once again. What’s so odd is that the feeling is so refreshing; it’s a shock that I act like I don’t want it more. God’s love is amazing; it’s indescribable to say the least. Once I get another taste for this goodness, I just want more.</span> <span id="zw-131b87d7255jbMhzG600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I’ve had plenty of time to reflect upon my life recently. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and posting it openly for all to see it was no easy step. And naturally, it brought up a lot of things in my past that I really didn’t want brought up. Needless to say, it became quite the hindrance on me. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been dealing with my past, and how to forgive myself for the things I’ve done. But there remained one fundamental problem: I was relying on myself to get past everything.</span></p><p id="zw-131b8502648zPuM7V600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b8502648e9gpIx600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" ></span><span id="zw-131b850264aCq-p2c600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea8fbls24J600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea8fdZ8yEqX600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Only Our God Can Pay For Sins
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b87df00cIoBRCd600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I have this nasty habit of trying to handle things on my own. When I recognize that my past sins are causing me to lose focus and get drawn down, I tend to try to take care of it myself. But I recognized something last night: I was unable to sleep, so I read through some scripture, and I finally just understood it. It wasn’t as though God was speaking to me verbally or anything. I just finally understood the</span><span id="zw-131b87df00cIoBRCd600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" > truth about it.</span> <span id="zw-131b87ea14fNcm4Dr600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >It’s not only that God is the only one who can pay for sin – he is also the only one who can forgive it. That’s why forgiveness is evidence of someone having the Spirit – because without God’s grace in one’s life, there is no way to truly forgive in the first place. Let me clarify what I mean…</span></p><p id="zw-131b8500c52_g2CQ3600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b8500c52o7nzSw600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" ></span><span id="zw-131b8500c54T0Raor600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea8ffs6N7UP600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;" ><span id="zw-131b78ea8fdZ8yEqX600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >How Can We Forgive If We Have Not Been Forgiven?
<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea9003aMoK600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >You cannot do anything about which you know nothing. For instance, I can’t be given the tools to knit and be told to knit, because I have not learned how by someone who does. Likewise with everything, even forgiveness. How can we forgive anyone if we have not been forgiven first? But even still, we cannot truly forgive anyone without God’s graciousness in our lives that drive us toward forgiveness. And that’s why it’s such a problem for us to try to handle anything on our own, even something as fundamental as forgiveness – I was relying on my own strength to forgive myself when I wasn’t even prepared to accept God’s forgiveness for me.</span></p><p id="zw-131b84ffbfatMNFjm600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b84ffbfaP2jAS600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" ></span><span id="zw-131b84ffbfc9CZl8w600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea901j37Nta600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea902B2qNzc600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Paul wrote, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive” (Colossians 3:13). I just had a problem with forgiving myself instead of another. But that’s the beauty of it – the simplicity is profound. I can’t forgive myself on my own strength; it must come from him.</span></p><p id="zw-131b84fec2fllu1Zj600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b84fec2fJ-0pq_600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" ></span><span id="zw-131b84fec31VmvSCP600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea902TXKrpY600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea906sO2zZL600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'arial black', 'avant garde';font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Now I Am Released From Bonds of Guilt
<br /></span></p><p id="zw-131b87f6ae9wMPZpd600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b87f6ae8tIVdN2600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >So now I am released from the bonds of guilt that held me down. Of course I can’t deny my past, lest I make the same mistakes in the future. But I’m not held down anymore. I’m free to live and grow, without the guilt and the shame. Jesus has taken them from me, and now I am free.</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea906eDX-p2600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="zw-131b78ea9177HWlLf600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea9177HWlLf600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Now I can get carried away.</span></p><p id="zw-131b84fc7d3B7NVVk600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b84fc7d27jXhM600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" ></span><span id="zw-131b84fc7d5gTKKE5600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea917KAz-6600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea918uPrvAp600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" ></span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea919xx95L_600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea91aVBpuk600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >You are the open door to freedom</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea98fzqe9Hc600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea91es4yVzR600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >You are the only hope I have</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea921czOLNo600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >The reason in my reason</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea924YHmpZZ600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >The only thing that lasts.</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea9273o6nP8600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >How could I begin to settle</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea92ajz8taq600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >When all within me longs</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea92dxcngn6600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >To step into the shelter</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea92ffWW-WF600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Of Your everlasting arms?</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea930pLJkRG600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea931iIAjM2600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna get carried away</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea991DTyYt1600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea93584-eOS600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna get tossed by Your waves</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea938h_OIW600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I don't care where or how deep</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea93aF6bpDp600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I'm gonna jump in with both feet</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea93dTIQ0fG600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna get carried away</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea93f9zPfpp600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna get lost in Your ways</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea9420-p4Iq600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna be held by Your truth</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea9447cUjj0600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna behold all of You</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea947wSOK8U600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I'm gonna be all Yours today</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea94aFMwAmn600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I wanna get carried away</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea94aaKxm6Z600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea94bgK7Nq8600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >You are the wisdom of the ages</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea992gp75BF600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea94eJBrTUO600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >You are the one who stays the same</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea954btLScX600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >The power in the wind</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea957BG2Unk600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >The scent left by the rain</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea95aT5U1V600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >How could I begin to make it</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea95d364af600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >If all I had was me?</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea95fqg7ldA600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Just take me as I am Lord</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea962ELfK2D600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >And sweep me out to sea.</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea962JUoCKV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea963HExs9U600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >Some say You're far away</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea992L0_upg600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b87d3fedbiAjTY600074"></span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea966wm45Zz600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >But I know You're here with me</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea968acVLCt600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I could go anywhere</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea970XLwK1e600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >And still You'd be there with me</span>
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea974kn34IT600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I know You're here with me.</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea974H_CXlo600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b78ea975KMlJr4600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >I’m carried…I’m carried away…</span></p><p id="zw-131b78ea9933cmby-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; ">
<br /><span id="zw-131b78ea977s7T8o-600074" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;font-size:1.0909090909090908em;" >-<span style="font-style: italic;">Nic Laughter</span>
<br /></span></p></div></span></span>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-44082412976872906322011-08-10T01:00:00.000-06:002011-08-10T15:06:53.182-06:00How Can I Be Responsible If I'm Predestined?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_4sPMYXYaUzNR7lFgSLGOERwj61p-aHwseZQ6JyVjRdWFMPRgJeN_iFclvkvb3RRa334k0om33WNWj7Gk3GUYP0YyA5DR4wNl21Kt7MT6nLYPse9C2eECftkJiG-x-QWBeiLj2a4r_Q/s1600/potter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 643px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_4sPMYXYaUzNR7lFgSLGOERwj61p-aHwseZQ6JyVjRdWFMPRgJeN_iFclvkvb3RRa334k0om33WNWj7Gk3GUYP0YyA5DR4wNl21Kt7MT6nLYPse9C2eECftkJiG-x-QWBeiLj2a4r_Q/s400/potter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639113762467027810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSidDzWfT2wQSor_tEeP2_OKEJNqCOmqIuyRDdx-XnpKnV48y7JxpcHxyEnK6WJozVRr2oam_kKCItdGXRZ6vX6MMACm_C7UwsqeeHSIg1i-WDft6b-OFucDoC7BSJxTojKDRDZtZNJBk/s1600/CartoonThomas.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSidDzWfT2wQSor_tEeP2_OKEJNqCOmqIuyRDdx-XnpKnV48y7JxpcHxyEnK6WJozVRr2oam_kKCItdGXRZ6vX6MMACm_C7UwsqeeHSIg1i-WDft6b-OFucDoC7BSJxTojKDRDZtZNJBk/s400/CartoonThomas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639111625469720978" border="0" /></a><div id="zw-131b237a284r9DtK_600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div id="zw-131b2f3aaf2YyMilH600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2fef033gKmpr600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">This question seems to be one of the main objections to Calvinism. Today I was trying to answer this very question for some scoffing skeptics. Their argument was essentially that if you cannot do anything except that which God predestined, then it is God and not you who is responsible for your actions. How that logic follows, I am not exactly sure. They argue that we do not really have a choice to do something that God has not predestined, which is true enough. I can only do that which God has chosen that I would do. For them, this is tantamount to not having a will whatsoever, and to being God’s puppet.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3aaf6wbF0Y600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3aafaU_EOCB600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b2f3aafcUEcdFT600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3aafcL_V4zJ600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3aafe8I51sf600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We Have Freedom Within His Plan</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3aaffmOVlWS600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab00Ra9aB_600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; ">We are not puppets, in one sense at least. We are clay to be sure, being molded by God for His own purposes; some are destined to damnation, and others to salvation (</span><a class="lbsBibleRef" reference="Romans 9.14-24" version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%209.14-24" id="zw-131b2f3ab01lRd1HC600074" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab073x6XXe600074" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; ">Romans 9:14-24</span></a><span id="zw-131b2f3ab08JAIBGq600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; ">). We have no say in this, one way or the other. The difference, however, from being a mere puppet, is that we are living puppets if you will, living clay. Pinocchio. We are real. We do have wills. Not a free will, meaning, not free to do that which is outside of God’s sovereignty, His predestined plan. Yet our will is free to do that which we desire to do. Whatever I want to do, that I do. And what I want to do, is what God has predestined that I would do.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab09BRCu-w600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab0bowAmG6600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab0cHRqvK600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab0cWK9Av6600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab0eKSMZZ2600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab0cWK9Av6600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab0eKSMZZ2600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">We Choose Sin, and God Doesn't Stop Us</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab0efTvw5600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab10H3WFeZ600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">What I want to emphasize, is that my desiring sin isn’t a desire that God gives me. He merely decrees that I will sin, that I will desire whatever I do desire, but He doesn’t actually plant that sinful desire in me. It is I, however, who create the sinful desire in my heart. It is a native desire that I create, not a foreign desire implanted into me from God. So yes, I am executing God’s predestined plan when I sin. And </span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab12G3Qmft600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">yes, I am freely choosing the sin when I do it.</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab131gJQvH600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "> That is the key to understanding Calvinism. We do what God predestines, because we want to do it. Our wanting to do it, is due to our own heart desires. God did not</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab1cYVmPN600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">cause</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab1e5PPh_8600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "> us to desire the sin that we desire by putting evil into our hearts, </span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab1fqU_T5R600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">He chooses to allow those evil desires to exist</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab21B0WdpN600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">.</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab22zbgt83600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">We cause ourselves to desire the sin that we desire. That cannot be repeated enough.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab23joIAdl600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab25L7H32E600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab270Po9Vv600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab25L7H32E600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab270Po9Vv600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">That Holy Mystery of Free Will/Predestination</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab274w1EkD600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b2f3ab44UGNqT3600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab467UGGH600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">Yet, God still predestined that we would desire the sin that we commit. How does God do this? I do not know. I place this particular ability of His, His sovereign, predestining ability, in the same category as the trinity and His ability to create out of nothing by the power of divine fiat. Which is to say, we cannot know how God does this, but we</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab48RUV_oA600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "> can</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab4amgrdmd600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "> know why we cannot know. The reason we cannot know, is because the power of creation, the ability to exist in the form of a trinity, and the power to be sovereign and predetermine all things, including living things, is a power that belongs to God alone. It is part of what makes God, God. It is part of the otherness of God.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab4aJTIuMy600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab4fwDrJqJ600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab52ZtQCxS600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">
<br /></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab4fwDrJqJ600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab52ZtQCxS600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">A man and wife come together, and a child is formed, but even that we do not really understand. The miracle of life cannot fully be explained. Even if we learn how to create babies in a lab, we are still using the means that God gave us; it is still the sperm and the egg doing what they were designed to do to create life. The fact remains, though, that even though we cannot understand this, or duplicate this, it still happens. The same is true with the sovereignty of God over all things, including human actions and the fall of man.</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab54GOlGjS600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "> The skeptics also tried to argue that if God is able to stop sin, then He should, otherwise He is evil. I turned that argument on them and said if that were true, then human beings should wipe out the human race- we should wipe ourselves out. We should kill each other, since we are evil and, after all, we have the power to stop the evil that we do. At the very least, we should kill our children under this logic, since we are in part responsible for their existence, and we know that they are bound to do something wrong.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab54qyw1Hn600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab55f66Eg2600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab55lB46-600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab560u4uEc600074" style="color: black; text-align: justify; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b2f3ab57aDumE600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab58bQuPgV600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab590GsgzL600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; ">God Has No Obligation to Regenerate Us</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab59kWLFcO600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab5bxeO3iH600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab5evfBb3g600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">The truth is, God is not obligated to create only if what He creates doesn’t experience punishment, or doesn’t do what is evil. We want to limit God to only being allowed to create us if He creates us for what we want, and not what He wants. But God is clear, that the creation has no right to say to the Creator, “Why have you made me like this?” (</span><a class="lbsBibleRef" reference="Romans 9.20" version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%209.20" id="zw-131b2f3ab5eikqNmI600074" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab60Pq8FuH600074" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; ">Romans 9:20</span></a><span id="zw-131b2f3ab61h5O84b600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">). This was the hardest truth, initially, for me to swallow when I became a Calvinist. I had a man-centered view of God, at least in this area. God could send me to hell, but he couldn’t create some, and potentially me, for hell, just to glorify Himself. I thought that was evil of God. Then I read Romans 9 and I couldn’t argue that this was what Scripture taught, and what God had done. Soon I realized that either I must accept this or reject God altogether.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab62ANc511600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab65PEY5bV600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab65pU6dl600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab67Pa424600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b2f3ab68AqRhJT600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab68Nxf8qm600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab6e7tGP5q600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I have come to see that there is no unrighteousness with God when He creates some for destruction, because God is free to create for whatever purposes He sees fit. He gets glory from punishing sinners. We are made to glorify Him, some to glorify His grace and mercy, some His righteous wrath and justice. Some will face eternal punishment, justly so, and some will receive salvation and forgiveness, not because they deserve it, but rather to demonstrate God’s grace and mercy. That’s just reality, and we cannot logically argue against that. There is no unrighteousness with God. We do what we want to do, and we store up the wrath of God by desiring and acting upon our sinful desires. But in the end, our unrighteousness will demonstrate the righteousness of God, either by giving us the hell we deserve or by offering a substitute to pay for our sins.</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab70v2UrZ5600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab7ar_rXj4600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; ">
<br /></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab70v2UrZ5600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab7ar_rXj4600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; text-align: justify; ">One Last, Brief, Personal Word</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab7a3-peeY600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab7epO6Fjj600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">When I sin, I know it’s me who desired the sin, and not God causing me to desire it. I know I deserve the full wrath of God. And I also know that God has predestined every single thing that I do, including the sin I commit. I see mystery in this, but not contradiction. And I can live with the mystery, because I can rest in the fact that this mystery is something that man cannot understand, cannot fathom, at least this side of heaven. This is precisely what Paul says in </span><a class="lbsBibleRef" reference="Romans 11.33" version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2011.33" id="zw-131b2f3ab7fVR4qwR600074" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab811WeGh8600074" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; ">Romans 11:33</span></a><span id="zw-131b2f3ab82Au75C5600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">, is it not?</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab7a3-peeY600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab82Au75C5600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">
<br /></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab83Ua45WL600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab83EUCNSo600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab83A-u8rf600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab85Ua45v7600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab8905-1600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab8a2qKG-y600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab8bFMVk3G600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b2f3ab8clJdua600074" style="text-align: justify; "></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab8cac8x9X600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab8enlAhgt600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">-</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab90zUG88O600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; ">Thomas</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab91_qohB9600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab93wtUal6600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-indent: 0.5in; "></span><span class="z-cursor-spacer" id="zw-131b2f3ab96ksZtNo600074"></span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab960adVjY600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab98Fz28s600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; "><span class="Apple-style-span">---------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div><div id="zw-131b2f3ab98KjZvU600074" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="zw-131b2f3ab9a_ijiL600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; ">When he's not blogging as part of the team at </span><a href="http://thevoice403.blogspot.com/" id="zw-131b2f3ab9aXdRA7x600074" target="_self" title="The Voice" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131b2f3ab9cdf286_600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; ">The Voice</span></a><span id="zw-131b2f3ab9efjiD7C600074" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; ">, Thomas also runs</span><span id="zw-131b2f3ab9fpqI8Do600074" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; "> </span><a href="http://tulipdrivenlife.blogspot.com/" id="zw-131b2f3ab9fErNlLe600074" target="_self" title="The Tulip-Drive Life" style="color: rgb(25, 22, 148); cursor: pointer; "><span id="zw-131b2f3aba1c-A7nr600074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; ">The Tulip-Drive Life</span></a><span id="zw-131b2f3aba3c8VHR4600074" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; ">.</span></span></div></span></span></div>Thomas F. Booherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11736735827849283028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448958049455077216.post-91768361741654067562011-08-10T00:03:00.000-06:002011-08-10T15:08:28.988-06:00What They're Saying 08.10.11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p id="zw-131b5829e48MpidCV600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131b5829e49r182AP600074" title="Christian Hope and Evangelism Is Renewed In the Face of UK Riots" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/09/christian-hope-and-the-uk-riots/"><span id="zw-131b5829e4bjKA0u7600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Christian Hope and Evangelism Is Renewed In the Face of UK Riots</span></a>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b5829e4edcAC600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span class="" id="zw-131b5829e50q8UES600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131b5829e52ng0KFz600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">How are Christians responding? There is a strong call to prayer. But as Oliver Cromwell used to say to his troops, we must trust in God and keep our gunpowder dry. Many have been reaching out to offer help with clear-up operations. This is also a time to reach out with compassion to neighbors who may be very worried at this time. It is also an opportunity to reach out to local officials and for communities to rally together.</span><span id="zw-131b5829e53aPFWpw600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> Our nation has sought to marginalize the church. In these troubled days, doors are opening up for the gospel in word and deed, and there is a renewed openness for the voice of the church to be heard.'</span></p><p id="zw-131b58323f4GeqCr600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131b58323f4-L54pm600074" title="From the Vaults of Christianity Today, Mark Hatfield Calls for Theological and Ethical Thought on Biotechnology" target="_self" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1994/january10/hatfield-stealinggodsstuff.html"><span id="zw-131b58323f6ZcSHhm600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">From the Vaults of </span><span id="zw-131b58323f8q8USIL600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: italic; ">Christianity Today</span><span id="zw-131b58323fapWl2Lz600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">, Mark Hatfield Calls for Theological and Ethical Thought on Biotechnology</span></a>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b58323fc8bgHY600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span class="" id="zw-131b58323ffhU9jwf600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">'</span><span id="zw-131b5832400Ufo9Bo600074" style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">It finally happened. Researchers at George Washington University successfully cloned human embryos last October. The experiment, the first of its kind to be reported, was intended to enhance current </span><span id="zw-131b5832402hXqDGU600074" style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; ">in-vitro</span><span id="zw-131b58324035J2nc600074" style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; "> fertilization methods. The result, however, has reinforced our greatest fears about biomedical research: It can—and will—do anything, regardless of moral or ethical questions. It is time to insist that a deliberate and careful process be established to guide biomedical technology.'</span></p><p id="zw-131b583242ag_NH-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><a id="zw-131b583242a42qXT_600074" title="Does Your View of God's Sovereignty Include These Verses?" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/09/divine-sovereignty-and-human-responsiblity-on-the-road-to-emmaus"><span id="zw-131b58324296G-y600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Does Your View of God's Sovereignty Include These Verses?</span></a><span id="zw-131b5829e80QzdEy600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131ae6d8252xwHioH600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131ae6d8252xwHioH600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131ae6d8252xwHioH600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://www.truewoman.com/?id=1730" id="zw-130b613e179ReAw18600074" target="_self" title="and 4."></a>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-1309a796701OIy3Bx600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><span id="zw-1309a7967025TMu8f600074" style="font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></p><p id="zw-1309a796702Cqc7aP600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-1311d37d0dbLgU6L600074" style="font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; "></span><span id="zw-131b5824d3bY3Nvpb600074" style="font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131b580f3bcxGUO6600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Can your theology account for the consistency of all three of these verses from Luke 24—divine veiling, human culpability, and divine revealing?</span><span id="zw-131b580f3c0fONPON600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> v. 16 But </span><span id="zw-131b5815effH3A9h600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">their eyes were kept</span><span id="zw-131b581897dVFFNao600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">from recognizing him.</span><span id="zw-131b580f3cbIOyGv600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> v. 25 And he said to them, “O </span><span id="zw-131b580f3cf605Lu5600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">foolish</span><span id="zw-131b580f3d1pYCljs600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> ones, and </span><span id="zw-131b580f3d61XEv30600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">slow of heart to believe</span><span id="zw-131b580f3d9VZAsTs600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> all that the prophets have spoken!”</span><span id="zw-131b580f3dbOMhB3c600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> v. 31 And </span><span id="zw-131b580f3dddCxazO600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">their eyes were opened</span><span id="zw-131b580f3dfNSJC9Z600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">, and they recognized him.'</span><span id="zw-131b581ee42afkOzD600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-1309a7a6147LVsvI600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a href="http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2011/05/something-odd-about-the-founder-of-project-reason/" id="zw-1309a7a6148EOFOC600074" target="_self" title="Evangel's Tom Gilson weighs in on a debate between (Atheist) Sam Harris and (Christian) William Lane Craig in, "Something Odd About the Founder of Project Reason.""><span id="zw-1309a7a614bA5Bh6d600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/phoenix_diocese_to_publish_online_list_of_pedophile_priests_20110618/#When:23:20:27Z" id="zw-130a5794c0ccNKd_e600074" target="_self" title="Catholic Priests in Phoenix, AZ, establish a website to publicize the identities of pedophile priests"><span id="zw-130ab2ffca25EmmUY600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/six-truths-on-christian-involvement-in-society?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+DGBlog+(DG+Blog)" id="zw-130ab314121IfKCST600074" target="_self" title="Desiring God Lists 6 Truths on Christian Involvement In Society"><span id="zw-130ab3140ecxMZcrV600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/06/20/an-excellent" id="zw-130b617ed15OvgAJ4600074" target="_self" title="On a related note, Jennifer Smidt at The Resurgence writes "An Excellent Wife Is Forged, Not Found""><span id="zw-130b617ecdflql0p600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/why-read-about-the-beheading-of-christiansG+Blog)" id="zw-130bc4e7c4fuNGY5S600074" target="_self" title="John Piper thinks we should watch a video of a Christian being beheaded"><span id="zw-130bc4e7c15qBtC88600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.csntm.org/" id="zw-130f3d01a717KtXiy600074" target="_self" title="The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts is giving away free audio and video content on iTunesU. As an aside, iTunesU is an excellent source for information and education, and I recommend it warmly to everyone. The free courses from Berkeley and MIT are fantastic."><span id="zw-130f3d01a584LJkCK600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><a href="http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Female-Beauty-Matters" id="zw-13118dc7da52cqoFg600074" target="_self" title="Mary Kassian Writes a Long Post on Why 'Female Beauty Matters'"><span id="zw-13118dc7d5eH4XVh9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-13118dc7d5eH4XVh9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/tag/william-cwirla/" id="zw-1311d3cfc06otvhZ9600074" target="_self" title="The White Horse Inn Has a Great Blog Series on 'Basic Apologetics' - It's Worth Reading All of the Posts"><span id="zw-1311d3cfbc5508shF600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-1311d3cfbc5508shF600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/13/the-issue-under-a-lot-of-issues" id="zw-1312a30ca0dAqYO5d600074" target="_self" title="Mark Driscoll Writes About Gender and Sexuality, 'The Issue Under A Lot of Issues'"><span id="zw-1312a30c9c95tfYZZ600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-1312a30c9c95tfYZZ600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/07/which-morality-whose-hypocrisy.php" id="zw-1313d183149uHehRp600074" target="_self" title="Playing a Neat Little Game of Plank and Speck, Carl Trueman Throws the Hypocrisy Card Back At Those Who Like to Deal It"><span id="zw-1313d1830f8jBfox9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span></a><span id="zw-1313d1830f8jBfox9600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; "></span><a href="http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/27/why-going-to-rehab-wont-fix-it" id="zw-1316d3d68d6u7fyZq600074" target="_self" title="Mike Wilkerson on Amy Winehouse, and What Going to Rehab Won't Fix"><span id="zw-1316d3d8ad8sTAsqP600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-1316d3d8ad8sTAsqP600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://trevinwax.com/2011/07/28/the-idols-we-worship/" id="zw-131725d9130Dx6ENR600074" target="_self" title="Over at Kingdom People, Joel Writes a Great Post On the Idols We Worship"><span id="zw-131725d90cdBSeOg600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131725d90cdBSeOg600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/07/29/sin-in-1-john/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29" id="zw-13177b6e880mi1Jpg600074" target="_self" title="Justin Taylor Interviews the Apostle John - It's Actually Really Good"><span id="zw-13177b6e810jj-T5D600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-13177b6e810jj-T5D600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/01/misfocused-focus-on-gospel-centeredness/" id="zw-131872b59b0iJP0pJ600074" target="_self" title="Having a Misfocused Focus on 'Gospel Centeredness'"><span id="zw-131872b5938CvLTt600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131872b5938CvLTt600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/02/you-asked-did-god-change-at-the-incarnation/" id="zw-1318c5d8cbeaKkVud600074" target="_self" title="John Starke Answers, 'Did God Change At the Incarnation?'"><span id="zw-1318c5d8c32zT_mUz600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-1318c5d8c32zT_mUz600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/03/dont-waste-your-calvinism/" id="zw-13193f41decK3IF-k600074" target="_self" title="Jared Wilson: 'Don't Waste Your Calvinism'"><span id="zw-13193f41d49TZbHpS600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-13193f41d49TZbHpS600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/08/praying-in-the-whirlwind.php" id="zw-1319bdbc025GoJRId600074" target="_self" title="Don't Neglect Prayer When Life Gets Too Busy"><span id="zw-1319bdbbf7beDy--5600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-1319bdbbf7beDy--5600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-1319e6dba77CS3N600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-1319e6e2b5bjfrgE6600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5783969Z4FM5t600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><span id="zw-131b5836c19QWTJdg600074"></span><span id="zw-131b5836653hAwsw600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span><a id="zw-131b57ee4aao3bbn600074" title="Christian Belief and Practice Drops Way Down In Every Ethnic Group" target="_self" href="http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/510-major-faith-shifts-evident-among-whites-blacks-and-hispanics-since-1991"><span id="zw-131b57ee4adqRxhiD600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Christian Belief and Practice Drops </span><span id="zw-131b57ee4aflTyzG8600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: italic; ">Way </span><span id="zw-131b57ee4b1Ysl08J600074" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Down In Every Ethnic Group</span></a>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b57ee4b3JV3ETE600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><span id="zw-131b57ee4b4dy65T600074"></span></p><p id="zw-131b57ee4b4FQXOL600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2; "><span id="zw-131b57ee4b6kgj5Iu600074" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">While</span><span id="zw-131b57ee4b800K0hz600074" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> around 80% of North Americans identify as Christians, the beliefs and practices that should come with that are dropping rapidly. Yesterday we saw how church attendance, Bible reading, and belief in the Bible is in freefall even among Evangelicals; today the bad news comes in by racial groups. Hispanic faith and practice tends to drop in each area by about 20 percent or more, while whites are dropping out a little less rapidly, with faith and practice among blacks dropping the least (but still dropping). The real story is that there are no gains. Christianity in North America, even among self-described Christians, is in dramatic decline. Because of this we should pray for, and increase our missionary efforts in, the 'reached' world of the United States and Canada.</span><a id="zw-131b57ee4f0aG3YDe600074" title="Christian Hope and Evangelism Is Renewed In the Face of UK Riots" target="_self" href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/09/christian-hope-and-the-uk-riots/"><span id="zw-131b57ee4f00Foo1c600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span></a><span id="zw-131b583875c6jCLGy600074"></span><span id="zw-131b582c980Td57xE600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p><p id="zw-131b5838d3fTZJ4S-600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 1.2; "><a id="zw-131b5838d40slXrti600074" title="Of Humble, Simple Exclusivism, and the Charge of Self-Righteousness" target="_self" href="http://apprising.org/2011/08/09/inclusivism-why-i-make-the-radically-counter-cultural-claim-that-jesus-is-the-only-way/"><span id="zw-131b5838d43Znm97i600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); ">Of Humble, Simple Exclusivism, and the Charge of Self-Righteousness</span></a>
<br /></p><p class="" id="zw-131b5838d452V4XzB600074" style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; line-height: 1.2; "><span class="" id="zw-131b5838d47fj6FOY600074" style="line-height: 1.2; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">'</span><span id="zw-131b5838d49vJkCag600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">How can I be arrogant when Christ my Lord humbled himself to become a human and die a brutal death on a cross because of my wickedness? The Christian gospel destroys arrogance and self-righteousness. </span><span id="zw-131b5838d4aQqicJW600074" style="line-height: 18px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.0909090909090908em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">All other religions and philosophies actually promote arrogance and self-righteousness. Every system promises eternal life to those who do really good. Whether it is to follow the eightfold path, to keep yourself free from bad karma, to observe the five pillars, to eat all the right organic foods, or to perpetuate your clan by surviving as the fittest; all other religions teach that you get spiritual, you get righteous, you get the good life through trying harder. So, if you have attained some level in these systems, you have only yourself to congratulate.'</span><span id="zw-131b583ab50jkmlxI600074"></span><span id="zw-131b559b774yRWLvP600074" class="z-cursor-spacer"></span></p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922652724607532192noreply@blogger.com1