Christianity Today asked Philip Ryken last week what he expects “to be Wheaton’s greatest ‘identity challenge’ in relating to trends in American culture?” His answer: “I think the issue of homosexuality will for the foreseeable future be a defining challenge for the evangelical church generally, and, therefore, also for the college.” He calls homosexuality a “defining challenge” not just for Wheaton, but for all of evangelicalism. There are a number of reasons that I agree with this assessment, but let me just give you a few thoughts to consider.
-
-
Along Came Schreiner
Little did I know that my favorite New Testament scholar also exhibits proficiency in rescuing damsels in distress. He really can do it all! See it here. (HT: Patrick Schreiner)
-
David Platt in SBTS Chapel
I believe David Platt (@plattdavid) to be the most passionate and compelling missions-mobilizer in Southern Baptist life today. He brought a powerful and convicting message in Southern Seminary’s chapel service that I think everyone needs to hear. His text is Luke 9:57-62, a text which he argues presents us with three questions about our priorities: 1. Are we going to choose comfort or the cross? (Luke 9:57-58) 2. Are we going to settle for maintenance or are we going to sacrifice for mission? (Luke 9:59-60) 3. Are our lives and ministries going to be marked by indecisive minds or undivided hearts? (Luke 9:61-62) Don’t listen to this if you don’t…
-
Take Heed Lest You Fall
I preached a message on 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 in Southern Seminary’s chapel yesterday. Video above, and audio below. Take Heed Lest You Fall [audio:http://www.sbts.edu/media/audio/BoycePodcast/20100223-boyce-podcast-burk.mp3] In my conclusion, I referred to an old sermon titled “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection,” and I mispoke by attributing the sermon to Thomas Cranmer. I meant to say that the sermon comes from Thomas Chalmers. If you are interested in reading it, you can do so here. Chalmers’ sermon is a meditation on 1 John 2:15. His basic point is this: “The best way of casting out an impure affection is to admit a pure one; and by the love of what is…
-
GCR Report Now Online
Here’s a pre-recorded version of the Great Commission Resurgence interim report that Pastor Ronnie Floyd delivered tonight to the SBC Executive Committee. You can download the text version of Floyd’s address here. This is only an interim report, and the final report is not due until May. Nevertheless, it is clear that the work of the GCR Task Force promises to be epoch-making for Southern Baptists. The report warns Southern Baptists that we have two options: “Die a painful death, or live a painful change. . . What our convention chooses to do will determine what God does with this denomination. . . Wilderness wanderings or Canaan conquests.” We all…
-
View GCR Report Online
Last summer, the messengers of the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention appointed a task force to study how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission. The final report will be given at the SBC in Orlando this summer, but Ronnie Floyd will present an interim report to the SBC Executive Committee tonight. So all eyes are on Nashville. At about 10:30pm EST, you will be able to see a video of Floyd’s report and a downloadable manuscript of his remarks at www.pray4gcr.com. Be sure to take a look. And be sure to pray for their work. (HT: Ronnie Floyd)
-
Phil Ryken New President at Wheaton
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.
-
Did I get married too young?
David Lapp got married last year when he was 22 years old and his wife was 21. By today’s standards, that is really young. But in today’s Wall Street Journal, Lapp makes the case for early marriage. He writes: “Did I get married too young? I may not have the freedom to globetrot at my own leisure or to carouse at a bar late into the night. But when I step into our 500-square-foot one-bedroom apartment, warmly lighted and smelling of fresh flowers and baked bread, I do have the freedom to kiss my beautiful wife and best friend—the woman I pledged to always love and cherish, and to raise…
-
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.
-
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…