When I was in college, Tommy Nelson of Denton Bible Church had a shaping influence over my desire to become a verse-by-verse Bible expositor. When I was in seminary, Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church had a shaping influence over my views of ecclesiology and congregationalism. I cannot overstate how pivotal both of these ministries have been to me both in my formative years and even now. That is why I was thrilled to see that these ministries are coming together for one night only in Denton, Texas next week. Mark Dever will be speaking at Denton Bible Church at 6:30pm, February 3. He will be delivering a message…
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More on the gospel and Macklemore’s “Same Love”
Frank Sontag hosts a talk radio program on KKLA FM in Los Angeles, California. Last night, I had a discussion with Frank about the gospel and Macklemore’s performance of “Same Love” at the Grammys. I’ve been under the weather, so I apologize in advance for the froggy voice. Nevertheless, here it is. You can listen to it below or download it here. [audio:http://media.kkla.com/Podcasts/2709/2014012701.mp3]
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What Macklemore got wrong…and right
Last night on the Grammy’s, hip-hop artist Macklemore performed his song “Same Love” as Queen Latifah presided over a “wedding” ceremony for about thirty couples. Many of the couples being married were same-sex, and that was the point of the entire event—to show that there is no moral distinction between same-sex marriage and conjugal marriage. It’s all just the “same love.” The lyrics to Macklemore’s song took aim at Christians and their views on marriage. To be more precise, it takes aim at the God that Christians worship and offers another god in His place—a god that bears no resemblance to the God of the Bible. Nevertheless, these performers were…
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Don’t waste your theological education!
John Piper preached a special message in Southern Seminary’s chapel last Thursday titled, “Don’t waste your theological education!” It’s vintage Piper. If you are a student of theology in any setting, I highly recommend it to you.
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Friendly Fire: Tom Schreiner and Sam Storms debate cessationism
Tom Schreiner and Sam Storms have both published essays this morning at The Gospel Coalition discussing whether the miraculous gifts are still in operation today. Tom Schreiner argues the cessationist position–that miraculous gifts have ceased. Storms argues the continuationist postion–that prophecy, tongues, and the rest continue. I think both essays have a constructive tone even as they straightfowardly disagree with one another. The essays are too short to cover the issues exhaustively. Nevertheless, I think that Schreiner has the stronger argument. For me anyway, the arguments for the continuationist position continue to fall short biblically. At the end of the day, this all comes down to what the Bible teaches,…
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If President Obama were honest about abortion…
As thousands of citizens march on the nation’s capital to support life, President Obama issues a statement reaffirming the culture of death. As usual, his remarks are cloaked under the cover of abortion rights euphemisms (e.g., “choices,” “safe, affordable healthcare,” “right to privacy”). It takes the breath away to consider what he is actually saying—that he believes it should be legal for a mother to have her child killed at any time from zero to nine months gestation. Here’s what he says: Today, as we reflect on the 41st anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, we recommit ourselves to the decision’s guiding principle: that every woman…
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The backstory to “Alone Yet Not Alone”
Last week, an obscure song from an obscure movie was nominated for an Academy Award: “Alone Yet Not Alone” (listen below). The big surprise was not so much that it was from a little known independent movie but that it was from a Christian movie. Not only that, the song is sung by none other than evangelical mainstay Joni Eareckson Tada.
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The Epiphany of Rod Dreher
A couple weeks ago, I posted a brief note about Rod Dreher’s excellent book The Little Way of Ruthie Leming. If you’ve read that book, then you know that Dreher’s story doesn’t really end with the last page. His rocky relationship with his father and the revelation of Ruthie’s true feelings about him are too new to have been completely processed and dealt with. Moving home didn’t make all the old issues evaporate. In a blog late last night, Dreher indicates that he has reached a personal and spiritual milestone. In his own words:
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Southern Seminary hosts Mohler, Douthat, and Prager
I’m really excited to announce that Southern Seminary will be hosting a panel discussion featuring Albert Mohler, Ross Douthat, and Dennis Prager. It will be held in Alumni Chapel at 7pm, Tuesday, January 28. The topic of the discussion will be “Faith and Freedom in the Public Square.” This promises to be a fascinating discussion. Although these three men are generally identified as “conservatives,” their religious views are quite different. Mohler is an evangelical, Douthat a Roman Catholic, and Prager Jewish. I’m looking forward to an interesting exchange of views. This is a rare opportunity. If you can be here for this event, I highly recommend that you visit the…
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Progressive evangelical indifference about abortion
Andrew Walker and Dan Darling have put the screws on progressive evangelicals and their indifference about abortion-on-demand. Progressives say they care about “social justice” issues, yet they somehow cannot (or will not) muster social justice concern for the unborn. In an opinion piece for Christianity Today, they write: Among progressive evangelicals, there’s a reflexive hesitancy to tout or raise the banner of human life as a preeminent justice issue. You’ll hear individuals in this camp dance around the sanctity of life—writing it off as “political” or “complicated.”… They’re against the circumstances of teenage poverty that lead to abortion. They’re against sexual abuse. They’re against a libertine sexual ethic (though many…