As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“The more biblical affirmations that can be affirmed without resorting to hermeneutical gymnastics should be affirmed—and the more biblical material that can be held together without resorting to theological gymnastics should be held together—wouldn’t you agree?” - Kenneth Berding
“God created us with both intellect and emotion. Neither is meant to triumph over the other, but actively work together to pursue the heart of Christ.” - Kainos
“In our most recent survey, 61% of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal all or most of the time, while 37% say it should be illegal all or most of the time” - Pew
“In a statement about the list’s publication, the EC writes: ‘Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us.’” - C.Leaders
Memorial Day is always a wonderful time to reflect on the “good inheritance”1 (Ps. 16:6) that we enjoy as Americans, as Christians, and within our individual families. We honor those who have given of themselves—especially those who have given their very lives—for our country, and we also remember all of those who have preceded us in our family histories.
As I grow older, Memorial Day also causes me to think about other significant people—especially dedicated servants of God like the pastors, teachers and professors who devoted their lives in teaching me (see Heb. 13:7). They gave of themselves, to the very limits of their strength, to build up my life and ministry.
“ask nearly anyone to define what legalism actually is, and the explanation quickly gets vague. The old joke is that legalism is anything to the right of me! Worldliness is anything to my left. Unfortunately, in real life that’s often the actual, nebulous scale by which Christians gauge one another’s holiness.” - Minnick
“the intellectual superstructure is already in place to chip away at parental authority over children’s lives. This may not result in the immediate removal of children from Christian homes, but instead the denial of Christian parents to oversee the development and upbringing of their children as they see fit” - Eikon
“ ‘Baptist’ is still mentioned as the most negative denominational label. When we did an objective study of this issue several years ago, the results were the same. Apparently, the negative connotation has deepened.” - Church Answers
“Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed into law the nation’s strictest abortion ban, making the state the first in the nation to effectively end availability of the procedure.” - C.Index
“In addition to being available by a separate number, an option will give callers the ability to connect with the hotline when they call the main phone line of the SBC EC.” - BPNews
My wife Faith teaches a college class at Faith Baptist Bible College called Ministering to the Aging. She invited me to speak in her class. It was the first time I wrote down my thoughts on senior adult ministries in the church. Below are my notes. I added some ideas as I spoke that are not included here. I hope this perspective may be helpful.
“In the special called meeting May 24 on Zoom, SBC EC Interim CEO Willie McLaurin also issued a formal apology to abuse survivors on behalf of the entire EC.” - BPNews
“In England, some rally to restore aging and emptying Anglican sites, while diverse congregations look beyond traditional sanctuaries.” - C.Today
“The bible actually says almost nothing about what we should wear in Church…. What is also striking is how, at times, the bible could make an issue, but does not. For example, in Nehemiah 8 when the people gathered to hear the law—the preached word—it was not holiness of dress mentioned, but holiness of celebration!” - Ref21
“Why are evangelicals so unfamiliar with one of the greatest theologians in the history of the church… Is Thomas a friend or a foe to evangelicals today? Was Thomas first and foremost a philosopher or a theologian? Was Thomas a rationalist as some would suggest?” - Credo
“…originalism did not begin with answers. It began when Robert Bork faced the Warren Court’s ‘Because!’ and asked: ‘But why?’ Why these rulings and not others?…. The entire originalist-textualist project sprang from the search for an answer to these questions, for a bulwark against an earlier Supreme Court’s ipse dixit.” - Law & Liberty
“Astronomers are photographing black holes. Researchers are finding new ways to improve our mental health. And now, a team at Johns Hopkins University has found a way to keep your burrito from falling apart while you eat it.” - Relevant
Read the series.
I ended the last post talking about how CT reduces the nation of Israel down to Jesus Christ and then interprets the Church in Him to be the “True Israel.” There is more to say about that, but first I think a little more orientation is required. I want to begin this installment with a definition of Covenant Theology from one of its major contemporary practitioners, Ligon Duncan:
“The [Presbyterian] church’s General Assembly approved an overture that allows parish ministers and deacons to apply for authorization to marry same-sex couples. It passed on Monday by a 274-136 vote.” - C.Today
“Williams has probably written the best introductory primer that covers all the major justice issues of the day. With a biblical framework and careful use of logic, he demonstrates how to approach issues of justice with godly discernment.” - Eikon
“Earley wrote the book after he had to make some difficult decisions to get his chaotic and too busy life in balance. From that experience, he adopted four daily habits and four weekly ones that have changed his life.” - Chuck Lawless
“Months of work by the Sexual Abuse Task Force and Guidepost Solutions concerning the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse claims by the SBC Executive Committee (EC) resulted in a 288-page report released publicly Sunday” - BPNews
The Guidepost Report
More at
“For as much as Fosdick thought of himself as irenic, moderate, and peace-loving, one doesn’t entitle a sermon ‘Shall the Fundamentalists Win?’ without meaning to pick a fight.” - Kevin DeYoung
“The following ten resources have helped me better understand troubling aspects of our current culture primarily from the left. There are problems from the right, such as bizarre conspiracy theories and ‘the syncretistic blending of Christianity and Americana.’ … My pastoral sense is that in our culture at this time problems from the left are a bigger danger than problems from the right — at least for the church I help shepherd and for churches similar to ours.” - Andy Naselli
“Time and again I read about how bad things are now, how vile the left has become, and how a commitment to ‘winsomeness’ or kindness is simply inadequate to the moment…. sometimes seen as evidence of weakness or fear—an effort curry favor with people who hate you. But the conversation consistently misconstrues what commitments to civility and decency do and don’t mean” - David French
“through mountains and valleys, through trials and triumphs, through ecstasy and agony, we hear one common, beautiful thread: praise. In the throes of fear, praise. In the vulnerability of uncertainty, praise. In the darkness of doubt, praise. Even in the heartache of betrayal, praise.” - Desiring God
Some years ago I was invited to deliver the high school graduation homily at my daughter’s graduation. Her classmate, who issued the invitation conversationally, called it a “brief address thingy.”
Since she put it like that, how could I refuse?
I didn’t really need any persuading. Having attended quite a few graduations before that, I’d had occasion to ponder what I’d want to preach at a graduation if I ever got that opportunity.
What I wanted to tell them is that, for a Christian, any kind of graduation is a major step forward in a life well lived—and if we want to understand what that means, there is no better-lived life than Jesus’ life. Philippians 2:5-10 provides a powerful summary.
“Both Everett and Ben O’Neal, who leads seminars and training for church security and safety through the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, point to the 2017 shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, as a turning point of consciousness on the discussion.” - C.Index
