Tom Wright, Scriptural Authority, and Monogamy

Is polygamy in the bible prescriptive? Deut 21:15-17 does seem to be a bit of a problem: Tom Wright, Scriptural Authority, and Monogamy | Jesus Creed:

Third, the NT is stricter at times the OT — and this undercuts the argument that the OT was law and the NT grace and soft.

Why? That’s his fourth point, and it’s the critical one: the project of God in God’s mission for the world is to restore creation into new creation, and the original creation was the marriage of one man and one woman.

Sinned in a Literal Adam, Raised in a Literal Christ

I thought Keller in Reason for God conceded to some of evolution (maybe I should re-read it): Sinned in a Literal Adam, Raised in a Literal Christ – The Gospel Coalition Blog:

If you don’t believe Adam and Even were literal but realize the author of Genesis was probably trying to teach us that they were real people who sinned—Paul certainly was—then you have to face the implications for how you read Scripture. You may say, “Well, the biblical authors were ‘men of their time’ and were wrong about something they were trying to teach readers.” The obvious question is, “How will we know which parts of the Bible to trust and which not?”

Biblical Theology and Church Picnics

Churches should have picnics as they have to do with God: Biblical Theology and Church Picnics - Desiring God:

If picnics don’t have to do with God we may as well close up shop. Either all we do has to do with God or he is not God. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do (like picnics), do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Revising the Baptism Services (Again)

This links to a PDF about changing the Anglican baptism service... Revising the Baptism Services (Again)

The problem with Covenant Theology is that infant baptism makes sense for children of believing parents, but as Anglicans we are required to baptise children when often we do not have confidence that the parent(s) are within the covenant community. This is a tension felt by clergy and laity alike and is part of the reason for the discontent amongst evangelicals about infant baptism. It leads to a curious situation in some churches where those on the fringe or outside the church bring their children for baptism whilst believers within the church do not

12 Ways to Glorify God at Work

Some good advice for me (especially as I read blogs at work): 12 Ways to Glorify God at Work - Desiring God:

5. Grow in your skill-set, work hard, and strive for excellence.

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men (Proverbs 22:29).

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

“I am the Antichrist!”

What would you do if a new person in your bible study announces that they were the anti-Christ? Articles | “I am the Antichrist!” | Phillip Jensen:

Our newcomer to Bible Study back in 1975 was not the anti-Christ for he did not deny Jesus. He believed Jesus was the Son of God, come into the world to die and rise for our salvation. He had just left his accommodation in the Prince of Wales Mental Health Unit and was deeply confused about his own state before God. Satan’s emissaries are far more likely to come in subtle and socially respectable sheep’s clothing – academics, journalists, politicians, neighbours, clergy, or celebrities. You can recognise them by the lies they tell about Jesus.

The humanistic Jesus

If you can't trust what the New Testament says when it says Jesus rose from the dead, can we nevertheless trust the New Testament when it teaches that Jesus told people to turn the other cheek? It's the same book.

- dangerous idea: The humanistic Jesus

Connecting Church & Home

I am not sure if they will put the audio up, but this conference could have some helpful resources for parents: SBTS – Connecting Church & Home – Overview:

God has called parents and church leaders to be involved in their children’s spiritual formation

Why do you work for the Anglican Church?

A good post by an old (friend and) minister who is now in Brisbane: Why do you work for the Anglican Church? | Dipendente aka jkdinale:

I believe God can still turn the Anglican church around, the problem though is that if everyone jumps ship there is going to be no one left for when the Spirit moves through the Diocese. I pray every day i may last the distance, run the race and see the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane preach Jesus crucified and risen rather than this anglo-catholic-liberal-progressive crap that is coming out at the moment. I also pray there may be more guys and women committed to the Bible who choose to stay and minister within the Anglican church.

Francis Chan on Making Disciples and Knowing Christ

A good clip by Chan on the Holy Spirit. Why do we need the Comforter if we are comfortable? Francis Chan on Making Disciples and Knowing Christ - Desiring God

False Prophets, False Teachers, and Real Trouble: The Case of Harold Camping

Al Mohler surveys a few things wrong with Harold Camping: AlbertMohler.com – False Prophets, False Teachers, and Real Trouble: The Case of Harold Camping:

Harold Camping has refused all correction and all efforts to persuade him to cease his false teachings. He left a major denomination and cast out on his own. He has received delegations of concerned theologians and major Christian leaders, but he has resisted all efforts and repudiated accountability to the church.

He is the classic example of a false teacher and a false prophet, about which the Bible has so much to say. And yet, some Christians have suggested that his errors should go uncorrected and his false teachings should be tolerated, just because he is a old man.

Tom Wright, Scripture and God’s Authority

At the start of this year I read something Write wrote on scripture, this books seems to be saying the same idea. Its worth thinking about: Tom Wright, Scripture and God’s Authority | Jesus Creed:

When Wright comes to sum up his entire argument, on pp. 115-116, he says this: The authority of Scripture is “a picture of God’s sovereign and saving plan for the entire cosmos, dramatically inaugurated by Jesus himself, and now to be implemented through the Spirit-led life of the church precisely as the scripture-reading community.” Thus, the “authority of Scripture” is put into action in the Church’s missional operations. Scripture, he says, is more than a record of revelation and was never simply about imparting information — it is God’s word to redeem his people as God works out his plan for the entire created order. And you may know how the Bible teaches what Tom calls a 5-Act play: creation, fall, Israel, Jesus, Church. We are in the 5th Act now.

Gay safe sex posters removed from Brisbane bus stops

The video/audio on this story is quite good, especially the end. Gay safe sex posters removed from Brisbane bus stops:

HIV campaigners are outraged the safe sex promotion featuring a fully clothed, hugging gay couple has been pulled from Queensland bus shelters by Adshel.

The Hermeneutics of Continuity and Discontinuity

Read in context and not with a hermeneutical assumption: The Hermeneutics of Continuity and Discontinuity « Expository Thoughts:

Put another way, continuity and discontinuity in a given area should be a post-exegetical conclusion, not a pre-exegetical assumption. Otherwise, the one who looks at Scripture through the lens of continuity will tend to deny legitimate points of discontinuity, and the one who looks through the lens of discontinuity will tend to deny legitimate points of continuity.

What Do You Mean When You Talk about Christ in the Old Testament

A helpful article that shows ways to point to Jesus in the Old Testament: What Do You Mean When You Talk about Christ in the Old Testament? – The Gospel Coalition Blog:

As I went through my list of examples of how the Old Testament points to and prepares us for Christ, I realized what was needed was every note-taker’s dream: a numbered list. So I went to the experts—those practitioners who have taught me the most about seeing Christ in the Old Testament—and looked over their lists.