I’m reading a book by Greg Foster titled, “The Joys of Calvinism.” In it he brings up a startling point that would catch most people off guard. Here’s an excerpt on the assertion that Calvinists say that people are saved against their wills:
Who is more free, the inquisitive and learned man or the contented ignoramus? Who is more free, the sober and self-controlled man or the addict? Who is more free, the man with natural and well-ordered desires or the pervert? In one important sense, they are equally free. That is, they are all free to act within the bounds of their capacities and powers, and they are fully responsible for their actions. And yet, those whose capacities and powers give them a wider scope to exercise their freedom are, in another important sense, freer. The addict is free, but the sober man is (in one sense) freer. The addict can freely struggle to overcome his addiction or freely wallow in it, but the sober man is free to do many other things — such as receiving the ordinary enjoyment that God intended us to get from the moderate drinking, or having relationships that aren’t disrupted by the struggle with darkness — that the addict isn’t free to do because of his addiction.
Realize that this is just short excerpt from an extended chapter, but I think it’s worth reading and thinking on.
I thought he stomped that myth to the curb. His point: People should dive deep into theologies before making blanket statements about them.
This video sums up all the hate that many Christians have for same-sex oriented people and many same-sex oriented people have towards Christians. This is the “Christian’s” fault before it’s ever the others fault.
This video is why Charles Worley should be removed from his position stat. A disgrace to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This from Ryan Anderson is very good. The general public should take notice.
How we talk about an issue affects how we think about it… . Today’s vote in North Carolina is not about banning anything. Nothing will be made illegal as a result. In all fifty states across the nation two people of the same sex can live together, have their religious community bless their union, and have their workplace offer them various joint benefits—if the religious communities and workplaces in question so desire. Many liberal houses of worship and progressive businesses have voluntarily decided to do so. There’s nothing illegal about this. There’s no ban on it.
What’s at issue is whether the government will recognize such unions as marriages—and then force every citizen and business to do so as well. This isn’t the legalization of something, this is the coercion and compulsion of others to recognize and affirm same-sex unions as marriages… .
The same-sex marriage debate is so frequently framed in terms of granting gays and lesbians the freedom to do what they wish that few people realize that they already have that freedom—the question is whether the rest of society will have the freedom to choose which type of relationship to honor as marriage. Public discourse needs to more carefully reflect the issues at stake… .
Voters in North Carolina today are not voting to ban anything. They are voting to define what marriage is. They are voting to protect the union of a man and woman as something unique and irreplaceably important.
The rest is here. Worth your time.
Matthew Lee Anderson:
Contraception as a pragmatic concession actually contributes to the conditions where Christians can sin without consequences for themselves or their community… It is well known, or at least frequently stated, that evangelicalism’s public witness has been frequently undermined by our lack of integrity and our hypocrisy, especially on sexual issues. I fail to see how more contraception for our unmarrieds will do anything except deepen such a culture of hypocrisy by making it more comfortable and convenient to sin sexually while remaining in unbroken communion in our churches.
And then Trevin Wax closes as only he can.
Are evangelicals hypocritical when it comes to premarital sex? Absolutely. We’re hypocritical in all sorts of ways. Every one of us is guilty of sexual sin. But Christianity hinges on repentance. We agree with God about our sin, and we turn from it and turn toward Jesus.
Telling singles they ought to turn toward Jesus and contraception is an implicit denial that repentance is integral to the Christian life. It’s like Jesus telling the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin some more.“
Read it all here.
Who hugged the NFL commissioner longest. I won’t wreck the ending, you’ll need to watch.
THERE IS TOO MUCH AWESOMENESS GOING ON IN THIS VIDEO.
(Source: deadspin.com, via sbnation)
This excerpt from J.D Greear speaking about the Summitt Church’s stance on homosexuality is well done.
2) Our stance on this issue may be one of the most important tests of faithfulness in our generation.
As the Reformer Martin Luther, said, the courage of the soldier is tested in how well he stands at the place where the battle is the hottest, not in how brave he postures himself where the battle is no longer being fought. It takes very little courage, relatively speaking, to decry the evils of racism, the exploitation of women, the greed of Wall Street, or the abuses of power in our culture today. Almost anyone would say “Amen” to that, and you would be praised in the Academy, media, and church alike. Our faithfulness to Jesus is tested by whether we maintain His decrees in things our culture finds offensive. It took courage for Martin Luther King to stand against the status quo in the 1960s; it takes that same courage to stand against the status quo today.
Read the whole thing here.
This has been stirring in my heart the past week by Martin Luther. It can only be the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Lead me, Lord. Use me, Lord.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also.
The body they may kill,
God’s truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.
Let’s go!
May I one day be able to ask this of my future bride’s parents.
I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all of this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this; in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?
— Adoniram Judson.
All I can pray is that the answer is yes. Because, YES, Jesus is worth it. All of it.
