A God of love?
I’m on a quest, a quest to understand how a God who 1) hates humanity (save the elect), 2) loves a few people and 3) damns the rest can be considered a “God of love”. This is how I’ve had the doctrine of predestination explained to me (at least, how it operates within Calvinism). And well… I just can’t see it. This is my central question, and so far I’ve been met with “don’t question God” (i.e. Romans 9:20). So, I suppose I’ve been given something to write about! Probably tomorrow … (Read more)
Book Review: Beyond the Shadowlands by Wayne Martindale
Pages: 237
Publisher: Zondervan
Year: 2009
Author: Wayne Martindale
I’ve always been a fan of C.S. Lewis’ writing, but I’ve never read anything about Lewis’ views until now. Admittedly, I was at some what of a disadvantage with this book, as three of the most quoted books, Lewis’ Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelanda, That Hideous Strength), are ones that I haven’t read (though I do plan on changing that in the near future). I should quickly add, however, that even in not being familiar with these books, I did not find myself lost — Wayne Martindale does a wonderful job explaining the intricacies of Lewis’ views. Thus we come to Martindale’s book, Beyond the Shadowlands: C.S. Lewis on Heaven and Hell.
Wayne Martindale is a professor of English at Wheaton College, and you might also recognize him as being co-editor on the book The Quotable … (Read more)
Congratulations, Rebecca!
Well, I just got back from my fiancee’s graduation; she’s now a successful graduate with a B.Th of pastoral theology to her name Congratulations to my beautiful Rebecca, I’m so proud of you! Now then, much reading to do for tomorrow…… (Read more)
Brick Walls and Trampolines
I’ve re-opened a book I thought I had long closed, Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis. Back in 2005 it caused something of a craze and a controversy, especially at the (apparent) suggestion that the virgin birth — among other doctrines — was effectively unnecessary (but don’t worry, I’m not going to discuss the virgin birth). The reason I’ve re-opened this book is because my post yesterday night was, in fact, “inspired” by Rob Bell. What I want to do with this post is discuss in detail Bell’s illustrations, and then discuss the implications of what he is teaching. There would appear to be multiple interpretations of this particular section of Bell’s writing, so I’ll keep those in consideration, especially those which, I think, miss the point (I’ll probably end up discussing two such interpretations).
Introduction
Bell paints an illustration using the examples of trampoline springs, and a brick wall. The … (Read more)
Questions, more questions…
So, tonight I was going to write a post on why we find it so easy to write on hell, and so difficult to write on heaven (with the help of C.S. Lewis). However, I became entangled in a question which has captured my interest, and for the last few hours I’ve been seeking an answer. The question I’ve been considering goes something like this: what do you do with a teacher (or a leader) who personally affirms the foundation of the Christian gospel, but simultaneously questions and implies that this foundation is in some way not essential. What do you do with a teacher who affirms the “essentials,” but teaches that they aren’t essential? Now perhaps I’ve answered the question in the phrasing (If they don’t believe the essentials are essential, then they don’t believe all the essentials!), but there are a lot of questions in this that I’d … (Read more)
Book Review: God is Great, God is Good
Pages: 258
Publisher: Intervarsity Press
Year: 2009
Editors: William Lane Craig | Chad Meister
A couple of weeks ago I reviewed Atheism Remix, describing it as an excellent introduction to the movement known as the New Atheism, but noting that it did not deal with the arguments presented by new atheists. This week I’ll be reviewing God is Great, God is Good (graciously sent to me by the nice people over at Intervarsity Press), a recent effort by a collection of accomplished Christian theologians, philosophers and scientists — such as William Lane Craig, J.P. Moreland, Michael Behe and Alister McGrath, among others — whose purpose for the book is to “answer challenges advanced by the New Atheists and others raising objections to believe in God and the Christian faith“1. At this, the book shines. Where Atheism Remix is an excellent introduction to the New Atheism, God is … (Read more)
Nitpicky People
I’ve recently discovered just how much it bothers me when people nit-pick others. Actually, let me rephrase that, when Christians nit-pick others.
There was an “episode” a little while back on Facebook, where an acquaintance began commenting on Kelly Osbourne’s recent appearances on Dr. Phil (he’s hired her as a consultant, so good for her!). The “commenting” — which was apparently people just being “chatty and silly” — consisted of more or less, an attack on who she is as a person. It doesn’t seem to matter that she’s coming out of a relatively “rough” past (which we all got to see, via The Osbournes–I didn’t watch, by the way) and is trying to mature–what matters is that she’s had a rough past, and it’s this rough past that is the measure of everything she does. I have a real problem with that. You see, the comments were directed … (Read more)
Chesterton: The Ballad of the White Horse
I was skimming through J.I. Packers Rediscovering Holiness (which I will review in the near future) and a segment of a poem by G.K Chesterton was quoted. This poem — The Ballad of the White Horse — is a literary masterpiece. So much so, that I have to share it here (well, and because I haven’t prepared anything else to write for tonight), at least, a little bit of it. As I’m aware, this is a poem which addresses both the battle between King Alfred and the Danes, in 878, and Christianities war against nihilism.
So with that said, enjoy.
The gates of heaven are lightly locked,
We do not guard our gold,
Men may uproot where worlds begin,
Or read the name of the nameless sin;
But if he fail or if he win
To no good man is told.
The men of the East may spell the stars,
And times … (Read more)
Blind faith.
So I ran across an interesting question. Actually, it’s quite a common question, and it goes something like this: “How can you have faith if there is proof of your faith?” I’ve often seen it phrased another way as well, “If Jesus wanted us to have faith, why perform miracles?” After all, doesn’t Scripture say “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)? An honest question, perhaps phrased by more than a few dishonest people (in my experience), and one that needs some sort of addressing.
Primarily, it is a question predicated upon a misunderstanding–the idea that for faith to exist, no evidence for a thing (that thing which we have faith in) can exist. Otherwise, faith turns into fact. Bertrand Russel once made the … (Read more)
Book Review: Making Sense of Suffering by Peter Kreeft
Pages: 184
Publisher: Servant Books
Year: 1986
Author: Peter Kreeft
First of all, this is a book everyone should read, especially Christians (and especially if you’re interesting in “suffering”). Along with C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain, this book is one of the most insightful books on suffering written in recent memory (and if you haven’t read The Problem of Pain, you should read that too). Peter Kreeft would say that he’s only repeating what’s been said before, in books and by authors who have been long ignored, and if that’s the case, all the better. This is a book which confronts and contradicts the modern understanding of suffering, it’s source and it’s purpose (i.e. it has no purpose)–and some people won’t like this (I’ve met them).
Kreeft begins by surveying the major answers given to the “problem” of suffering, opening his book with a focus on the ten … (Read more)
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