Sarah Pulliam Bailey reports at the Christianity Today blog that Phil Ryken has been named the new president of Wheaton University. Read the notice here. This is wonderful news for Wheaton and for the kingdom. Dr. Ryken is a Gospel Coalition evangelical, and I can’t imagine a better pick. Justin Taylor has some biographical info on Ryken here.
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Kevin DeYoung Pillories McLaren Book
Kevin DeYoung has begun a multi-part pillorying of Brian McLaren’s new book A New Kind of Christianity. This will be a more extensive treatment than the Challies review that I highlighted yesterday, though equally as critical. You can read it here. UPDATE: The rest of DeYoung’s review is now available. You can read it here or download a PDF of the entire review. I encourage the latter.
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He Loves Jesus but Hates God
Tim Challies delivers an appropriately stinging review of Brian McLaren’s new book A New Kind of Christianity. Among other things, Challies observes that McLaren loves Jesus but hates God. In fact, Challies is convinced that this book is a de-conversion narrative that shows that McLaren has unambiguously apostatized from the Christian faith. He writes: ‘He denies the Fall, he denies original sin, he denies human depravity, he denies hell… ‘Here, in A New Kind of Christianity it’s as if McLaren is screaming “I hate God!” at the top of his lungs. And swarms of Christians are looking at him with admiration and saying, “See how that guy loves God?” I…
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Remember Kenneth Starr?
Do you remember Kenneth Starr? Most folks remember him as the independent counsel who prosecuted President Bill Clinton back in the 90’s. Most recently he’s been the dean of the law school at Pepperdine University. Yesterday, it was announced that he is to be the next President of Baylor University. The leader of the Baylor board of regents says this about Starr: “His depth of experience and exceptional record as a university dean and legal scholar, his dedication to the highest ideals of the Christian faith, and his profound commitment to public service and visionary leadership make him the ideal person to lead Baylor at this remarkable time in the…
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Youth Camp Like You’ve Never Seen It Before
Boyce College will be hosting a youth camp this summer that is unlike anything you have seen before. It is called “D3: Leadership, Worldview, Missions.” Here’s a brief description: “The four-day, three-night D3 Youth Conference is a summer experience full of learning and growing opportunities for students following Christ. Designed to accelerate high school students’ understanding of leadership, worldview and missions, D3 students will learn from the country’s strongest theologians, church executives and worship leaders while on the campus of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky.” Featured speakers include R. Albert Mohler and Russell Moore. Musical worship will be led by Josh Wilson. Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Flame will also be performing.…
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Russell Moore on Ministers Opting Out of Social Security
Russell Moore was recently asked whether it was okay for ministers to “opt out” of paying social security. Today, he posts his answer. He writes: “Social Security may or may not be around when you retire. I don’t know. I do know this: your money definitely won’t be around when you’re dead. So why waste your religious liberty on holding on to a little bit more of it for a little while longer?” Read the rest here.
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Southern Seminary Panel on Avatar
Dr. Albert Mohler hosted a fascinating panel discussion on pop culture yesterday titled “Eden, Avatar, and the Kingdom of Christ: Just What Are We To Do with Popular Culture?” Panel members included Russell D. Moore, Mark Coppenger, Ted Cabal, and James Parker. The video is above. You can download the audio here or listen to it below. [audio:http://www.sbts.edu/media/audio/spring2010/20100211panel.mp3]
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The Gospel vs. Open Marriage
If you don’t think that gay “marriage” is a threat to marriage, then you need to read this. The New York Times reports on a study to be released next month that shows that many “married” homosexuals do not consider monogamy to be a central component of their “marriages.” These couples are open to multiple partners while only being “married” to one. Why is this? According to the report, “Some gay men and lesbians argue that, as a result, they have stronger, longer-lasting and more honest relationships. And while that may sound counterintuitive, some experts say boundary-challenging gay relationships represent an evolution in marriage — one that might point the…
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“Lost†Is Back
How many of you are fans of the television series “Lost”? The new season starts this week, and Newsweek has an interesting report on it titled “The End Is Near.” “As fans start speculating about the show’s final season (set to launch on Feb. 2), they would do well to remember that more than anything else—and more than any other acclaimed show ever on television—Lost is a show about faith.” This assessment is certainly correct. I would, however, take it a step further and say that “Lost” focuses on themes related to the Christian faith in particular. It constantly alludes to the Bible, one of the main characters is named…
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Pastoral Complaints
“A Pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that he should become its accuser before God and men.” –Life Together (Harper & Row, 1954), pp. 29-30