I just saw Rachel Held Evans‘ notice of a forthcoming interview with a “gay Christian,” and at once I was struck again by the use of this peculiar phrase—”gay Christian.” For some people, this term will appear immediately to be an oxymoron. For others, it represents a view of Christian morality that has moved beyond the heterosexual norm of scripture to embrace all manner of sexual expressions. But what does this phrase really mean? When you hear it spoken or read it in print, what do people mean by it? And is it a helpful term for Christians to use? We can observe at least two definitions of the phrase…
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Where Rock Stars Go To Die
Ted Kluck is as hilarious as he is insightful. His little article “Where Rock Stars Go To Die” is a great read. It’s his commentary on worship vs. performance, skinny jeans vs. khakis, and everything in between. Among other things, he writes: The only thing that separates a “worship band” from a “rock band” is the presence of lyrics on a projection screen behind the worship band. What’s really happening is a concert. A performance. But the presence of lyrics on a screen somehow makes it “worship.” If this sounds weird/confusing to you, that’s because it is weird and confusing to me as well. To be sure, Kluck says much…
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To Sack or Not To Sack Church Staff Members
Matt Schmucker has a really helpful article in the 9Marks eJournal about when it is appropriate to fire a church staff member. Based on scripture’s stewardship principle (Matthew 25:14-30), Schmucker says that pastors should sack the following kinds of persons:
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Where Were You on September 16, 2001?
This Sunday will mark the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Like every other American, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard news of the attacks. My wife and I had only been married a year, and we had just moved to Louisville, Kentucky so that I could pursue a Ph.D. I had a seminar that afternoon and was still at home when the attacks happened. My wife called me from work to tell me to turn the television on. I think both buildings had already been struck by the time I tuned in, but I was…
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Justin Taylor Answers Questions for Rachel Held Evans
Rachel Held Evans has been doing an interview series, and today’s installment is “Ask A Calvinist.” Justin Taylor does a fantastic job fielding questions from Rachel’s readers. I think his engagement is a model of gospel clarity and charity. Be sure to read this one.
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John Piper on Self-Promotion
Thanks to Justin Taylor for reminding us of this word from John Piper about self-promotion. Amen to everything Piper says here. Our aim should never be self-promotion, but Christ-promotion. We want to influence as many people as possible with the message of the gospel. Seeking this kind of influence is good. But even in all our Christ-exalting influence, we have to be wary of ourselves. We are sinners and prone to wander.
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CT’s Editorial about the SBC Resolution on the NIV
The latest issue of Christianity Today arrived in the mail yesterday, and I was interested to note an editorial about the Southern Baptist Convention’s resolution concerning the 2011 NIV. The article represents the editorial opinion of CT, and predictably it disagrees with Southern Baptists about the new NIV. Readers of this blog will not be surprised that by and large I disagree with CT’s editorial (see my previous posts: reviews of NIV, SBC Resolution, response to translators, response to Bock). But there was at least one item in the article that I do agree with. Here it is: “The only criterion for a good translation is this: Does it accurately…
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Are we on the verge of a Kuyperian reformation?
Doug Wilson thinks that the young, restless, and reformed are on the verge of a Kuyperian aesthetic revolution. He also thinks that the young, restless, and reformed are a “jungle full of monkeys.” If you need a good belly laugh, go read Wilson’s post.
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More Thoughts Proverbs 27:2 and Self-Promotion
I posted a note on Monday about Dane Ortlund’s excellent blog post on Proverbs 27:2 and self-promotion. Today, Jim Hamilton reflects on Ortlund’s essay as well. Jim argues that posting one’s teaching to the web is not inherently sinful. I agree with Jim that the matter does come down to how it’s done and the motives of one’s heart. Still, I think we need to take Proverbs 27:2 to heart and consider what kind of culture we are creating. Are there biblical examples that might help us think through how to flesh out the wisdom of Proverbs 27:2? I think there are. How did Jesus and the apostles get the…
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Must We Preach with Passion?
The first time I heard John Piper preach I didn’t like it. It was about sixteen years ago. Someone had given me a cassette tape of Piper speaking on the topic of the supremacy of God in preaching, and in this particular message he stressed that the preacher’s delivery must be done with great passion and feeling. I disagreed with Piper. As far as I was concerned, the Bible was the point of preaching not the preacher’s delivery. I thought that Piper was promoting an anthropocentric view of the preacher’s task. I didn’t understand how Piper could be so wrong.