As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“Below are the specific questions we asked, grouped into categories. We typically sent these questions out ahead of time for elder nominees to answer, then followed up with an interview by a few elders, and then before the whole elder team.” - 9 Marks
Reprinted with permission from As I See It, which is available free by writing to the editor at dkutilek@juno.com.
(An earlier form of this study was published in Baptist Biblical Heritage, volume 2, no. 1, Spring 1991, pp. 5-8. It appears here in revised and updated form)
Aesop had his fables, the brothers Grimm had their fairy tales, and certain self-styled “defenders of the faith” have their doctrine of an infallible English Bible translation.
“1. It’s Sunday. Before anything else, it’s Sunday. This is the day the church gathers for worship. It’s not just Christmas, it’s a little Easter. 2. Christmas is about Jesus, not family.” - Ponder Anew
“…those for whom Jesus is indeed Savior should know that Christian Nationalism is false. Nation-states are not ‘Christian’, people are. And, God has only one chosen nation, Israel” - Ken Brown
“Yom Kippur, commonly translated as the Day of Atonement….Of all the days marked out in Leviticus 23, this was the high point. On the Day of Atonement, the entire sacrificial system was rebooted.” - TGC
“I would recommend that Wilson read two books: Augustine’s ‘The City of God’ and Greg Boyd’s ‘The Myth of a Christian Nation.’ According to BOTH, before the return of Christ there can be no ‘City of God’ or “Christian Nation.” - Roger Olson
(Tip: For a much better experience in Microsoft Edge or Firefox, hit F9 to read articles in Immersive Reader/Reader View.)
“1. More churches include at least one hymn in their worship services. …2. Congregational singing is as important as the worship style. …3. Hymnals are not rebounding even as hymns do. ” - Thom Rainer
“The caucus is asking Congress to approve several bills replacing the federal holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day.” - RNS
James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
In this verse, James clearly distinguishes heavenly wisdom from earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom. Correlating this statement with other passages concerning information that is demonic points us to the vital issue of our need to reject information, teaching, wisdom, etc. that is demonic.
“Backus’s theological rationale of liberty is not that every person should do what he desires, but that every person must reckon with God as an individual. Since authority is a good gift, given by God, submission to the authority of God is the only way to recover ‘the liberties of paradise.’” - London Lyceum
“A new book paints a dismal picture of the modern Academy and its failure to truly educate and not just indoctrinate. But are the authors’ solutions any better?” - Acton
“The Reformation didn’t ‘really say’ there were five solas. …Earlier Lutheran attempts at marketing only offered three: Scripture alone, grace alone, and faith alone. …When Philip Schaff wrote his 1845 book The Principle of Protestantism, he only had two.” - Desiring God
“the average member of my church (and I’d assume other churches as well) does not have a good idea of what an administrative pastor actually does…. At the end of the day, good administration is necessary for a healthy church.” - 9 Marks
Read the series.
7. By allowing their interpretations of the NT to have veto over the plain sense of the OT this outlook creates massive discontinuities between the wording of the two Testaments. This is all done for the sake of a contrived continuity demanded by the one-people of God concept of the Covenant of Grace.
“Over a year into the proceedings, the Vatican mega-trial of 10 individuals accused of defrauding the Catholic institution’s finances through a controversial real estate deal began again this week” - RNS
“April Ajoy, who spoke with CNN, said that she experienced fear that she would be left behind when the rapture came” - C.Leaders
“ ‘In God we trust’ was adopted without much controversy in the mid-twentieth century, as was the addition of ‘under God’ to the pledge of allegiance two years prior.” - Dale Chamberlain
“Is there biblical justification, given basic complementarian convictions, for the practice of women preaching sermons in a Sunday worship service?” - DeYoung
“As we remember the impact of the Protestant Reformation this October, you can stream Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer for free on Ligonier’s YouTube channel.” - Ligonier
About once per month, I’m going to slowly write my way through a short commentary on the Letter to the Galatians. I’ll deliberately skip the usual analysis typical of this genre—no “scholarly” questions, text-critical issues, and minimal formal interaction with opposing viewpoints. I’ve taught through the book four times now, and feel I’m in a position to have something competent to say on the matter. My aim is to write for normal Christians who just want to know what the text means. So, here I stand.
“The Scriptures, however, make it clear that when we come to the Savior, we are saved from the wrath to come (see 1 Thessalonians 1:10). That message is offensive because it paints God as being angry at sinners.” - Ray Comfort
“I sensed, rather than saw, a person standing above me. I looked up into a frowning face….I finally whispered, ‘Is this your usual seat?’ The woman nodded, and I moved.” - Lifeway
“All of these efforts are laudable, and I’ve been involved in plenty of them. However, here’s an idea: Let’s just focus on reaching one person. That’s right. Just one.” - Phil Cooke
“Al Stewart’s The Manual is a book to men, for men, and about men—a book about masculinity. And it’s a really good one.” - Challies
“Paul was not self-focused; he didn’t spend his days beating himself up mentally for his failures and shortcomings. But he did have a healthy distrust of his own inclinations, and he saw to it that the circumstantial doors to those inclinations were kept closed.” - Olinger
As we continue to follow the events of the Reformation, 500 years later, we would be remiss if we failed to recall that half of a millennium has now passed since the dawn of the modern era of Bible translation. It began officially this month in 1522 with the release of the September Testament—the New Testament translated by Dr. Martin Luther into a language that he helped to form in Germany.
A placard at the Lutherhaus in Eisenach, Germany, captures the spirit of this endeavor: “Luther wanted the Bible to be understood. Everyone was supposed to be able to read God’s word on their own.”1
With a severe hurricane afflicting Florida and an endless barrage of one disaster after another, where do you contribute (when you do contribute — none of us can keep up with them all) to disaster relief? Or perhaps your giving is totally designated toward organizations (like a mission’s organization) that are not noted for significant relief work. Relief for victims from the war in Ukraine, BTW, would also be count as relief.
Many of us might give to more than one category, but if there is one where most of your giving is directed, please choose that.
Comments appreciated. Feel free to list any specific organization and why you like it.
“The pronouncement of Patriarch Kirill is little different than the sort of indulgences that Martin Luther fought against in the Reformation,” - BPNews
“Founder of Open Doors said he wasn’t an “evangelical stuntman” but a faithful Christian following the leading of the Spirit.” - C.Today
