Slanted Scripture for Social Media?

Jen Wilkin threw the Christian social media world a curve with her post last year, "Beware the Instagram Bible."  Recently she was interviewed and discussed ways that the social media platform can favor a slanted or incomplete picture of the Bible's message.  This raises great questions for every Christian to consider:  What presuppositions (self-imposed) or pressures (from external influences) are getting in the way of our believing and sharing "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27)?  And how does a given forum of communication (e.g., social media) tilt conversations in one direction or another?  What are the unwritten rules about things you "can" and "cannot" say?

The Jordan Peterson Phenomenon

Tony Reinke interviews Alistair Roberts about the ideas and impact of Jordan Peterson.  I appreciate how this overview steers listeners away from simplistic responses by pointing out that Peterson's message both resonates with certain Christian ideas and yet also deeply contradicts key foundations of Christianity.  Helpful, as well, is the way Roberts addresses questions about what the church can learn from the impact Peterson is having in today's world.

The De-Conversion Playbook

Michael Kruger provides a very helpful overview and analysis of the "de-conversion playbook" followed by numerous post-evangelical leaders as they seek to justify revisionist readings of Scripture and draw still-evangelical Christians to follow their lead into progressive enlightenment.  Kruger's penetrating analysis centers on Jen Hatmaker's recent interview with Peter Enns and Jared Byas.

Kruger's conclusion:

In the end, there’s no doubt Hatmaker’s de-conversion story will be persuasive to our postmodern world.  And I am sure some will adopt her newfound theology as a result.

But, upon closer examination, it is rife with problems.  While claiming to be non-judgmental, she declares the fruit of those who believe in traditional marriage as “rotten.”  Despite her insistence that the Bible should be read without certainty, she offers all sorts of dogmatic claims about what the Bible teaches. While claiming her views are due to a deep study of Scripture, she offers only simplistic explanations for the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality, while disregarding 2000 years of church history.

Yes, we should not settle for pat answers.  But, sometimes the Bible does give clear answers. And when it does, we should be willing to listen and receive them.

About Preaching

Sam Storms has a very thoughtful article on why preaching has fallen on hard times, including some direct challenges both to the preacher and to church communities as well.

On Theological Diversity in Early Christianity

Michael Kruger cuts through the fog in the discussion about the supposedly radical theological diversity in and around the early church.

Affirming Biblical Authority

Don Carson's recent article in Themelios is terrific--good, challenging, urgent words for all believers to consider:  "Subtle Ways to Abandon the Authority of Scripture in Our Lives."

Questioning Christian Slogans

Michael Kruger has a helpful series of posts on "Taking Back Christianese," where he looks closely and critically at what people seem to mean when they say various stock spiritual phrases.  Like "it's not my place to judge" and "America is a Christian nation" and "preach the gospel--use words if you have to."  All in all, an excellent reminder not to just pass along the going religious slogan.

Jen Hatmaker Veers Away from Biblical Teaching

Justin Taylor offers summary comments and links to four articles that respond to Jen Hatmaker's recent decision to speak out in favor of same-sex marriage.

Tim Kaine's Careless Hermeneutics

Trevin Wax responds to Tim Kaine's reckless reading of the Bible.  Kaine's approach provides a classic illustration of how not to read--not just how not to read the Bible, but how not to read, or even to think.  No doubt Kaine would cry foul if anyone handled his words in this kind of sloppy, manipulative way.

Are Old Testament Promises to Israel Applicable to Gentile Christians?

In his "Look at the Book" video lab, John Piper explains why it is valid--and urgent--for Gentile Christians to take OT promises, such as Isaiah 41:10, as applying to them.  The line of reasoning presented here has far-reaching implications for how Christians handle the Word of God.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).

"Seek the Welfare of the City"

Stephen McAlpine makes a strong and urgent case for what it means for Christian communities to love the cities where God has placed them.  "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7).

Reasons to Worry!

Justin Taylor has a terrific post giving many of the foolish "reasons" Christians worry--he also points to God's Word in response to our anxieties.

"Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10).

The Vatican Says No to Evangelizing Jews

Bernard Howard has written a helpful article reviewing the recent (and misguided) assertion of the Vatican that evangelism of the Jewish people will no longer be conducted or supported.  Howard rightly reaffirms the basic biblical teaching that faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is necessary for salvation for Jews and for everyone else.

The Old Testament and Homosexuality

What are we to make of the Old Testament stipulation that homosexual activity is a capital offense (e.g., Leviticus 20:13)?  John Piper offers a tremendously helpful summary of reasons why Christians believe that homosexuals should NOT be killed for their conduct. 

Biblical Illiteracy in the Church

Al Mohler laments the spread of biblical illiteracy not just in Western society, but in the church:  "We will not believe more than we know, and we will not live higher than our beliefs. The many fronts of Christian compromise in this generation can be directly traced to biblical illiteracy in the pews and the absence of biblical preaching and teaching in our homes and churches."

Loving God's Word

I appreciated Steve Fuller's blog post about the treasure we have in the Word of God, the Bible.  He draws attention to a video of a group of Chinese believers receiving their first Bibles--take a look.

Some may call this kind of love for the Scriptures "bibliolatry," but the charge misses the point:  this is not worship of a book but the adoring and trusting devotion of believers for the Lord who speaks to them in his Good Book.  No need to try and drive a wedge between God and his revelation.
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Paying Attention to God

Taking God seriously--wise words from a senior saint:
Taking God Seriously - J.I. Packer from Crossway on Vimeo.
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Bible Reading Plan

Plan now to begin the New Year in God's Word!  If you don't have a plan to read, you're planning not to read.

I've found that reading the Bible through over a two-year period can be "just about right."  That is, the pace is swift enough to allow one to keep both the beginning and the end in mind, yet slow enough to allow some reflection on what the Lord has to say.  On this plan you'll read two chapters most days, and only one on weekend days.  All in all, about 15 minutes a day will do it.  But beware:  anything and everything will compete for your attention in those precious minutes.  So guard them.  And match them with daily prayer, so you can enjoy a rich spiritual conversation with the Lord!

Click HERE to download the 2014-2015 Bible Reading Plan.
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Sin's Devastation

Jim Elliff's list of 35 reasons not to sin piles on the sobering biblical truth of how sin brings misery and ruin upon ourselves and others--not to mention bringing dishonor to the Lord.

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Premarital Sex

Kevin DeYoung has drawn attention to Tim and Kathy Keller’s book, The Meaning of Marriage, posting an excerpt about why sex before marriage is both morally wrong and personally harmful (from pp. 225-27):

“The modern sexual revolution finds the idea of abstinence till marriage to be so unrealistic as to be ludicrous. In fact, many people believe it is psychologically unhealthy and harmful. Yet despite the contemporary incredulity, this has been the unquestioned uniform teaching of not only one but all of the Christian churches—Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant.

The Bible does not counsel sexual abstinence before marriage because it has such a low view of sex but because it has such a lofty one. The Biblical view implies that sex outside of marriage is not just morally wrong but also personally harmful. If sex is designed to be part of making a covenant and experiencing that covenant’s renewal, then we should think of sex as an emotional “commitment apparatus.”

If sex is a method that God invented to do “whole life entrustment” and self-giving, it should not surprise us that sex makes us feel deeply connected to the other person, even when used wrongly. Unless you deliberately disable it, or through practice you numb the original impulse, sex makes you feel personally interwoven and joined to another human being, as you are literally physically joined. In the midst of sexual passion, you naturally want to say extravagant things such as, ‘I’ll always love you.’

Even if you are not legally married, you may find yourself quickly feeling marriage-like ties, feeling that the other person has obligations to you. But that other person has no legal, social, or moral responsibility to even call you back in the morning. This incongruity leads to jealousy and hurt feelings and obsessiveness if two people are having sex but are not married. It makes breaking up vastly harder than it should be. It leads many people to stay trapped in relationships that are not good because of a feeling of having (somehow) connected themselves.

Therefore, if you have sex outside marriage, you will have to steel yourself against sex’s power to soften your heart toward another person and make you more trusting. The problem is that, eventually, sex will lose its covenant-making power for you, even if you one day do get married. Ironically, then, sex outside of marriage eventually works backwards, making you less able to commit and trust another person.”

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