This is a great article that you should take note of. I have dad some contact with the California chapter of NOW and it has encouraged me to write a series of post on abortion and the beginning of life.
Tune in
The original LA Times article is here
Stand to Reason has a review – LA Times Asks the Right Question
I am always looking for ways help Christian friends learn more about who they are and how to grow in their relationship with the Lord. This whimsical test from Upper Room is humorous and informative.
My profile:
You are a Sage, characterized by a thinking or head spirituality. You value responsibility, logic, and order. Maybe that’s why you were voted “Most Dependable” by your high school classmates. Structure and organization are important to you. What would the world be like without you? Chaos, that’s what! Your favorite words include should, ought, and be prepared. What makes you feel warm and fuzzy? Like Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof it’s tradition! tradition! tradition!
Because you love words, written or spoken, you enjoy a good lecture, serious discussions, and theological reflection. Prayer for you usually is verbal. You thrive on activity and gatherings of people, such as study groups. Sages on retreat likely would fill every day with planned activities, leaving little time for silence or solitude.
We need Sages for your clear thinking and orderly ways. You pay attention to details that others overlook. Sages make contributions to education, publishing, and theology. You often are the ones who feel a duty to serve, give, care, and share with the rest of us.
On the other hand, sometimes you seem unfeeling, too intellectual, or dry. Can you say “dogmatic”? You may need to experience the freedom of breaking a rule or two every now and then. God’s grace covers Sages too, you know!
Spiritual Types Test.
How do you interpret Scripture? What are the rules you follow to understand what the Bible meant then and how it should be applied today?
These are just two of the questions one asks when learning hermeneutics. This discipline applies to all ancient literature but is under attack by those contemporary philosophers that promote ‘personalizing’ the text. That is, it means whatever it means to you. This is of course the logical extension of post-modernism into the arena of literature.
Biblical interpretation requires higher standards and more rigorous discipline from believers. We are not free to ‘personalize’ a text in this way. Moses, Paul, and Isaiah had something to say and we need to grasp what they meant, not merely what we want.
Scot McKnight has developed an interactive quiz along with Christianity Today. I suggest you take the test and reflect on what your score means for your personal walk with Christ and your commitment to Scripture.
BTW – I scored 52 which makes me Conservative in my approach to Scripture
Inspired by my eldest son and recent posts by my friends Barry and David, I plan to make a series of posts dealing with the Doctrine of Election.
Early in this discussion we must agree on a few items to have a meaningful dialogue.
Two terms we will have to engage are ‘paradox’ and ‘antinomy.’ Paradox is a a literary device used in story telling. It refers to an apparent contradiction. When Jesus says, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all,” Mark 9:36 NIV, He is using paradox. Even an immature believer understands the concept.
Antinomy is another matter entirely. It means the mutual incompatibility, real or apparent, of two laws. It is a term used in logic and epistemology. The contradiction is not just apparent, it is profound and irreconcilable.
The issues we face in election are not merely paradoxical. They go deeper than that. They may, in fact, be characterized by antinomy. If the bible presents flatly contradictory viewpoints, from our perspective, it does not mean that God cannot completely resolve the matter based on His superior knowledge.
Enough for now. Tell me why I am right or wrong.
Also, Barry has a great quote from Charles Spurgeon at his blog.
Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.
This is a great resource. You should check out Todd Johnson’s Center for Global Christianity.
To love God as He ought to be loved, we must be detached from all temporal love. We must love nothing but Him, or if we love anything else, we must love it only for His sake.
St. Peter Claver
café theology.
Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on #Islam and Embraces #Christianity
From the page: “The son of a Hamas MP who is also the most popular figure in that extremist Islamic organization in the West Bank, a young man who assisted his father for years in his political activities, has become a rank-and-file Christian. A few seconds later, he is savoring his meal, explaining that he hasn’t been eating much recently because of financial problems. During the past week he has been living with the friend, a Christian, of course, whom he met at church. ‘Without him,’ he says, ‘I would have become homeless.’ ”
Mosab Hassan Yousef is an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary story. He was born the son of one of the most influential leaders of the militant Hamas organization in the West Bank and grew up in a strict Islamic family.
Now, at 30 years old, he attends an evangelical Christian church, Barabbas Road in San Diego, Calif. He renounced his Muslim faith, left his family behind in Ramallah and is seeking asylum in the United States.
Read the rest of the article – Prodigal Son.
Additional excerpts from Fox News
While unexpected, this is a fascinating step by Muslims in Jordan.
Adnkronos International (AKI) is reporting that in the mosaic-rich town of Madaba, a Mosque has been dedicated to Jesus Christ in a bid to boost dialogue with Christians. Verses from the Muslim holy book, the Koran, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ have been inscribed on the facade of the mosque.
According to their source, the pan-Arab daily Al-Quds al-Arabi, a local moderate Osama Abu al-Walid is quoted as saying: “Calling Madaba’s new mosque after the son of the Virgin Mary is an important initiative to improve dialogue in our town, whose Christian and Muslim population coexists, …”
Local imam Jamal Safarati is further quoted to say: “In this way, we want to emphasise that Jesus is also our prophet and is loved by all Muslims.”
Read the rest of the article here.
Here is a really good article on how Christians should respond to the news that Gov. Palin’s daughter, Bristol, is pregnant.
Being pro life means we want young women to turn away from abortion. We want them to choose life for their babies. Being pro life means we accept the fact that young women (teenage girls) get pregnant when they are not married and/or not ready to have children and we help them make a good decision.
This should not become a political football. It should be an act of compassion for Bristol and her baby.
The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing.
– St John of the Cross
café theology.
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