Blogging Theologically

Theology for real life

Links I like (9/27)

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Links I like

Lots of good options for you to consider if you’re in need of something new to read:

Hope in the midst of grief

This is sad and beautiful:

What to give women

Shaun Groves:

But Brown says the shame of women is much different. Women feel shame when they can’t do everything and do it well. It’s a kind of pernicious perfectionism made worse by her tendency to compare herself to other women online and in real life who seem to be doing everything and doing it all well.

Singing Man: The Story Behind the Viral Video of Ben Ellis

Russ Ramsey:

From the beginning of his bout with cancer, Ben had little use for sentimentality. He didn’t need it because he had something better—hope. Confident hope. The sort of hope that made him a source of strength to his friends who, themselves, were struggling as they grieved the prospect of losing someone they loved. Ben comforted us in our sorrow with a steady hand and an unwavering faith. And Ben trusted God to care for him.

The Three Most Common Sentences of Dying Churches

Thom Rainer:

You don’t have to wait until a church closes its doors to hear some of the sentences that led to its death. Indeed, these three sentences, or something similar to the words, are pervasive in too many churches.

Complaining Isn’t Authentic, It’s A Waste Of Time

Matt Rogers:

Authenticity and vulnerability are the buzzwords of our day. Likely reacting against the perceived hypocrisy of the past, many—in the church and out—pride themselves on being honest and letting everyone else in on their honesty.

There are certainly healthy aspects to this trend. It’s hard to love and be loved if everyone is a phony. But, if I’m honest, the rise of authenticity has some rather annoying byproducts.

The Church Needs the Bible

Erik Raymond:

Does it seem to you like some churches are drifting from the shore? Perhaps with the zeal of ministry expansion pastors and ministry leaders can be pulled by the tide of success or a crowd. As a Christian I am burdened that the church reflect God’s design. If you are a Christian then I am sure you can relate. It does seem that there are a cacophony of voices out there talking about what a church should be and do. Sometimes when there a lot of voices we can begin to think that we have freedom to choose what the church should be like. I don’t know about you, but when I wade through the different types of churches it sometimes feels like I am a consumer walking through a holy mall. Certainly this can’t be right.

Don’t Let Nostalgia Overcome Your Hope

Trevin Wax:

The pull of the past is a good yet dangerous thing. Its force can either serve as a slingshot, whereby we pull back into the past in order to gain the force necessary to be propelled forward on our mission. Or its force can serve as a black hole that sucks up all our energy and emotion, until our present and future are swallowed up in a void of hopelessness.

Empty threats, release valves and a healthier way of dealing with fear

A recent favorite from the archives:

…actress Lena Dunham boldly declared that if Donald Trump is elected President of the United States of America, she’s leaving America and moving to Canada, joining the tens of celebrities and dozens of average Americans who’ve made similar threats in every election cycle since at least Bush v Kerry in 2004.

But let’s be honest: no one who is making this threat is going to move to Canada. Ever.

Weekend reading (9/24)

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Weekend Reading at Blogging Theologically

Today is the last day to get these books on Scripture on sale:

Also worth considering are

LifeWay Resources on Racial Reconciliation

LifeWay Resources has launched a new webpage that is designed to help church leaders navigate the issue of racial reconciliation. At the webpage Racial Reconciliation, leaders can find small group studies, articles, and video lectures from leaders like Russell Moore of the ERLC and Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

Why America Burned Spurgeon’s Sermons

The answer may surprise you.

Are You Going to Hurt Me?

Tim Challies:

I hate the fear I see, I hate the questions their eyes ask me, but I don’t begrudge them. I don’t—can’t—know their wariness, their fear. I get to run confidently in the darkness, without backward glances, without ears pricked. But from all I hear, all I know, all I’ve read, their fear is well-earned and their questions legitimate. I have a privilege they do not, a privilege I take for granted.

Decision Making & “I Have a Peace About It”

Eric Davis:

Perhaps you’ve said it. “I have a peace about it.” Sometimes it takes on a different form. “I have prayed about it, so it’s God’s will.” Or, “I have a peace about it, so God is calling me to…” Those words are often-assumed gateways to what God wants me to do in the throes of life. But, is my “peace” God’s enthusiastic permission slip for my “it”? Is my prayer and peace heaven’s approval for whatever “it” may be in my life?

Let’s demand honesty in refugee rhetoric

Matthew Hawkins:

If politicians claim to act on behalf of our security, and if the refugee program is the most rigorous of all U.S. visa screening, then shouldn’t they also scrutinize all the less secure ways people enter our country from around the globe? If security is all the rage this election season, why hasn’t any representative held a hearing or introduced legislation for increasing security on any of the nonimmigrant visa categories, all of which require less screening than refugees?

Older, Restful, and Reforming

Jared Wilson:

I also think, ten years later, the younger members of our tribe seem less restless than we did when we started. For all the flack the millennials take in the wider culture, the millennials I meet in the gospel-centered tribe seem more mature, more settled. They love the gospel and the local church and seem less enamored with big names and big ideas than my generation (X) was, as we were still not fully weaned off what the Boomers fed us.

Your Testimony Isn’t About You

Jordan Monson:

Though some personal testimonies are on the mark, many boil down to this: “Look! God is great because me me me.” These are not road-to-Damascus stories, but spiritually tinted selfies.

Should we always expect God to heal?

A favorite from the archives:

So many Christians wonder about whether or not God still heals miraculously today, as we see Him do in the both the Old and New Testaments. Depending on who you ask, you’ll get some interesting answers.

My answer is somewhat simple, but then again, maybe not so. Here’s how I answer the question:

We should expect God to do what will bring God the most glory. 

Links I like (9/22)

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Links I like

If you’re looking for an interesting read, you should definitely check out The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis ($1.99). Also consider:

Slaying the Sin of Pride in the Pulpit

Jared Bumpers:

Rarely does this pride or self-glorification manifest itself in obvious forms. Seldom does the preacher directly call attention to his speaking ability or his giftedness. It is usually subtler than that. It can manifest itself in our selection of words, as we use theological terms or technical expressions in order to impress our congregation with our knowledge rather than communicate the gospel with clarity. Sure, we use the terms to communicate the gospel, but we also desire to draw attention to our education or intellectual abilities. Or it manifests itself in our illustrations, as we select stories that portray us as the hero or reveal how funny we are. Yes, we hope people see the beauty of Christ, but we also hope they notice how intelligent, humorous, and articulate we are. You want people to hear the gospel, but you also hope they notice you. Be honest: if you have preached more than a handful of sermons, you’ve felt the pull to give in to your pride and draw attention to yourself or to seek the applause of men. The pulpit truly is “a perilous place for any child of Adam to occupy.”

If You Circumcise Your Son Is He Severed From Christ?

Mike Leake:

“You’ve got a healthy baby boy,” exclaims the nurse as she slaps your new child on the bottom. In no time you’ll be signing papers, taking a ton of pictures, and answering all sorts of questions. One of those questions—one you likely haven’t thought much about, is whether or not junior is going to be circumcised.

Why Giving to the Church is Different from Paying Your Bills

Erik Raymond:

How do you view giving in the local church? As I listen to what Christians say and read what they write I get the impression that many people think of giving simply as paying another bill. Giving is just like paying the utility or cable bill. Is this what you think?

Tim Kaine, Genesis 1, and Same-Sex Marriage

Trevin Wax:

If the diversity of the family should be celebrated, not condemned, then we shouldn’t judge any family as being more ideal than another, right? Shouldn’t Obama buck up, stop talking about the hole in his heart from missing his dad, and realize that any gender or number of parents should have sufficed?

Theological Objections

Kim Shay:

I’m taking a systematic theology course, and on the first day of class, we were asked to raise our hands if our study of theology had elicited objections from friends or family. I, and about half of the class raised our hands. For the first part of the lecture, we discussed some of the objections we have heard. I want to share two of them, because I think they are probably the most common objections. And they are objections I’ve heard from women, especially.

How the Church Can Save Us From Our Smartphones

Russell Moore:

Years ago, one would sometimes see a sign advertising a church — usually an evangelical or Protestant congregation — with the words, “The Church Alive Is Worth the Drive.” Apart from the commodification of the worship of God implied in such advertising, there’s an even deeper problem: the definition of what it means to be “alive.” In most contexts, the “alive” church is one with bustling ministries, a cornucopia of activities, and a worship service choreographed so that there is no “dead space” — no silence — between singing and talking, talking and singing.

Save Your Soul: Stop Writing

Lore Wilbert:

My distance from writing has given me greater perspective on the supply-and-demand of the publishing industry in which I work. More and more, transparency is the new currency. Writing is all about expressing ourselves, bearing our personal stories, and revealing our hidden secrets. Writers in the church aren’t immune to these tendencies, either. In the last decade, we Christians have made a collective effort to be our authentic, real selves but in so doing, we’ve lost the deepest root of these fruits: true vulnerability (and not the “tell-all blogger” type). Vulnerability is not pretty or publishable. It quakes with smallness and finiteness. It stands before the throne of God and says, “Woe to me” (Isa. 6:5). It cowers under the greatness of God’s majesty and offers quietness, humility, smallness, and stillness. It is passive in the same way authenticity is active.

Sin makes smart people stupid

A favorite from the archives:

Not too long ago I read an article from the National Post called, “Children’s media use cuddly animals to reinforce ‘racist’ and ‘socially dominant norms,’ researcher says.” According to academics Nora Timmerman and Julia Ostertag, “Most animals portrayed in children’s books, songs and on clothing send a bad message.”

Weekend reading (9/17)

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Weekend Reading at Blogging Theologically

In case you missed it earlier this week, Zondervan’s Counterpoints series is on sale with 31 titles marked at $3.99 each. This deal will end soon, so if you’ve been putting it off, now might be a great time to get them. Also on sale are:

Finally, today is the last day to Crossway’s entire Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition Series for $2.99 per volume: Arts and Music, Christian Worldview, Ethics and Moral Reasoning, The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking, History, The Liberal Arts, Literature,The Natural Sciences, Philosophy,Political Thought, Psychology.

3 Ways Spurgeon Conquered His Secret Sin

Christian George:

Spurgeon had much to be proud of. Crowds hung on his every word. Biographers lauded his popularity. Kings and queens sought his company. Spurgeon was a red-carpet celebrity.

Yet his Achilles’ heel was not influence. God had answered his youthful prayer “that prosperity and fame may not injure me” (Letter to his father, Angus Library, Oxford). Spurgeon was not seduced by the fame and fortune afforded by a royal London lifestyle.

6 Things Church Members Need to Know About Pastor Burnout

Marty Duren:

Following the resignation of a high-profile Tennessee pastor last weekend the issue of burnout and failure again occupied the conversation of ministers and church members.

“Was he really just tired?”

“How can a pastor with that many staff get tired?”

“That can’t be all there is to it.”

Sometimes that is all there is to it, and this is what church members need to realize.

Brandon Smith also wrote a really helpful article on this theme at For the Church. Both his and Marty’s are well worth your time.

3 Godly Ambitions for the Christian

Tim Challies:

When Paul says “make it your ambition” he indicates that this is the good, right, and honorable way for them to live their lives—and for us to live our lives. Over against all the other things we could aspire to, we are first to aspire to these, for these are matters of first importance. He highlights three godly ambitions for the Christian.

Desiring to Rule Over Genesis 3:16

My friend Nick Batzig writes a really helpful article laying out the differing views on what Genesis 3:16 could mean.

Three Theological Reasons Why We Can’t Afford Not to Pray for Each Other

Chad Ashby:

For nearly ten minutes, I spun in my desk chair playing out the familiar scene line by line:I’ll open with this probing question, then I’ll bring up the sin and point to this Scripture, and after I’ve listened for a while I’ll really dig in hard this time because this is just unacceptable! Why does this member keep slipping back into the mud? I mean really, I’ve got better things to do than to deal with this problem for the hundredth time.

Be Careful Not to Minimize Your Sunday

Erik Raymond:

I was thinking about this paradigm for sports the other day, and I wandered down a similar path about ministry. It seems to be a trend to talk about certain Sunday gatherings as “big days.” Giving people the benefit of the doubt, I think I know what they mean. They are saying that this Sunday is big because people are getting baptized or because we have an announcement about church planting or we are going to have a special guest. All of these are good things that should properly be anticipated and celebrated. However, I have a couple concerns with casual elevation of certain Sundays over others.

10 Ways to Practice Normal Evangelism

Juan Sanchez:

Many of us find evangelism daunting, even frightening. However, evangelism should take place as we naturally converse with people. As we have normal conversations, we are to look for opportunities to speak to people about Christ. In a normal evangelism culture, we will pray together for the unbelieving, and we will celebrate gospel conversations, not just “deals closed.”

Should you separate the message from its messenger?

A favorite from the archives:

But what was strong about his defence was what he ultimately pointed to. He didn’t simply encourage the Corinthians to look at the fruit of his ministry, though he could have. He didn’t tell them to consider his teaching. He told them to look at how he conducted himself in ministry—his humble disposition and his refraining from taking financial support from them so that it would not be a stumbling block.

You could look at Paul himself—not the results of his work, but the man—and discern whether or not the criticism he faced was valid.

Links I like (9/13)

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Links I like

The folks at Matthias Media have put six books on sale for the next couple of days. You won’t go wrong with any of these:

Crossway’s entire Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition Series is on sale for $2.99 per volume: Arts and Music, Christian Worldview, Ethics and Moral Reasoning, The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking, History, The Liberal Arts, Literature,The Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Political Thought, Psychology.

Finally, Zondervan’s Counterpoints series is on sale with 31 titles marked at $3.99 each, as is The Lordship of Christ by Vern Poythress for $2.99.

They Unchurched the Church

Erik Raymond:

Recently I was talking with a new friend about his church background. I asked him if he went to church. “No” he said, “I’ve not been to church in quite awhile.” As I pushed a bit deeper he told me a number of things that helped me get to know him a bit better, but he also said some things that helped me to see how unbelievers view evangelical churches. This is particularly enlightening because my friend had been to a mega-church in a metropolitan midwestern city. From the outside looking in this church seems to be reaching all kinds of people. The parking lot is full, they have multiple services, and an annual budget in the millions. But my new friend hasn’t been back since.

Hell Makes Sense (From A Parental Perspective)

Curtis Allen:

Before I had kids, I told myself that I would not be the kind of parent who lived vicariously through them should they play sports. Having coached basketball and baseball, I’ve had moments where I wanted to call down fire from heaven on some parents. So I swore, by the grace of God, I would not do that. Needless to say, when he came home jumping up and down excited to play, I saw visions of him being a top pick in the NFL draft.

3 Ways to Parent Like a Coward

Michael Kelley:

As our kids have gotten older, I’ve found remnants of that old fear coming back again and again as we try the best we can to make decisions for our family. In the midst of all of them, I am finding that active, gracious, intentional, consistent parenting is not for the faint of heart. It takes strength, resolve, and most of all, faith.

Visiting the Home and Grave of G. K. Chesterton

Trevin Wax:

London is full of tourists seeing sights, but I felt more like a pilgrim giving thanks, on a quest to devote time and effort to a couple of men whose gifts have blessed me: C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton.

Jonathan Edwards and the Bible’s Historical Reliability

Thomas Kidd:

Edwards wrote a lot about the threat of English Deists, who often questioned the authorship and reliability of various books of the Bible, including those of the Pentateuch. But for Lee, Edwards maintained an important distinction about spiritual knowledge and revelation, a balance that later defenders of the Bible tended to forget. Edwards did “make the case that the proofs for the reliability of the Bible were rational and based on universally accessible evidence.” That is, any fair observer could appreciate that there was a strong probability that the books of the Bible were what they purported to be.

Why Write a Book About Pot?

Tom Breeden:

Teenagers ask the best questions. I was serving as a pastoral intern during my second year in seminary, working primarily with middle school, high school, and college students. I received all kinds of questions from them. Some of these questions were what you’d expect: “Why is it wrong to have sex before marriage?” Some of them were humorous: “Is it a sin for me to troll people on the internet?” But one question came up more frequently than I expected: “Is it a sin to smoke marijuana?”

Don’t Let Non-Christians Write Your Liturgy

Daniel Darling:

While I absorbed many of its lessons—clear communication, ministry excellence, community outreach—I began to have some questions about an approach that shapes the Sunday gathering exclusively around the unbeliever. I say “exclusively” because every pastor should have, in his mind, the image of a lost soul when he steps up to the pulpit to preach. He shouldn’t assume his audience is entirely made up of believers, and his preaching should be clear enough so the lost know how to repent and believe. Paul counseled Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist,” after all (2 Tim. 2:5).

There are, however, three vital questions to ask ourselves about our worship services.

6 ways to get attention in the Christian blogosphere

A favorite from the archives:

There’s a sense in which we all (even introverted weirdos like me) love attention—and on the Internet, it’s surprisingly easy to get it. Now, the best way to get people to pay attention to what you’re saying is to have something worth saying… but sometimes that takes too long. Here are a few ways you can get attention on the Internets (even if they’re not the right way).

Weekend reading (9/10)

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Weekend Reading at Blogging Theologically

Today, I’m working hard on wrapping up everything I need to on the script for “Luther.” It’s coming along really well, but it’s definitely among the harder things I’ve written. If you’re inclined, I’d appreciate your prayers for productivity.

Now, on to business. Just a few Kindle deals to bring to your attention today:

Today is also the last day to get these books on sale:

“We’re the only plane in the sky”

This is a fascinating article:

Nearly every American above a certain age remembers precisely where they were on September 11, 2001. But for a tiny handful of people, those memories touch American presidential history. Shortly after the attacks began, the most powerful man in the world, who had been informed of the World Trade Center explosions in a Florida classroom, was escorted to a runway and sent to the safest place his handlers could think of: The open sky.

The Christian Response to Gender Dysphoria

Andrew Walker:

We might be tempted to respond to this type of question—and this kind of person—with shock and dismissal, reducing someone like Evan’s psychological experiences of gender dysphoria to bizarre novelty or even derangement. But that’s most certainly not the Christian response to a person experiencing gender dysphoria. Instead, we must approach these individuals with both grace and truth (John 1:14).

The Other Side of The Sanctity of Human Life

Geoff Box:

Christians have long been major advocates for issues regarding the sanctity of human life. Most regular churchgoers can explain (at least rudimentarily) their position on beginning of life issues; i.e. why they believe abortion is wrong. However, when it comes to “end of life” questions, those same people have trouble expressing a biblical worldview on the topic. In fact, many have embraced an emotional view which is contrary to a biblical worldview.

ESV Permanent Text Edition (2016)

Beginning in the summer of 2016, the text of the ESV Bible will remain unchanged in all future editions printed and published by Crossway—in much the same way that the King James Version (KJV) has remained unchanged ever since the final KJV text was established almost 250 years ago (in 1769).

Give it All, Just Not For Your Kids

Emily Jensen:

I understand the feeling of wanting to give it all for my children because I’ve seen the temporary look of elation on their faces when they’re holding out for sprinkle-covered donuts. For a moment, it seems the power of the domestic universe resides in a box of fried, sugary dough. The key to bribery, kind words, joyful children, and mommy-worship is in my hands. I understand what it feels like to pass out the second or third round of treats, feeling proud satisfaction because I made my children happy (and quiet), all with an inexpensive sugary delight. But soon after, the bribe betrays me as those quiet, frosting covered mouths inevitably turn sour. My efforts are in vain. I have given a good gift, but I have not given enough to fill their endless chasm of want.

A Growing Evangelical Practice Which Bothers Me, But Should It?

Mike Leake:

I look forward to every Monday morning listening to my new Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. On occasion I’ll discover new bands or new songs that I really love. And Spotify has picked up on my love for Jesus but I don’t think they’ve quite gotten my doctrinal stances. They play lots of songs from churches that I don’t have much affinity with. And so many of these songs are directed to the Holy Spirit. And that’s where I start to duck, as I share my unpopular opinion that I’m not a big fan of songs directed to the Holy Spirit.

8 Hallmarks of Attractional and Gospel-Centered Churches

Jared Wilson:

Went on a bit of a Twitter run yesterday with some thoughts on the essential defining characteristics of the church model I call attractional, followed by some constructive alternative hallmarks of gospel-centered churches. Hopefully they will bring more clarity to thinking through the relevant issues in evangelical ecclesiology. These are important times to get this sorted.

What’s the right (journaling) Bible for you?

A favorite from the archives:

As part of this recommitment to taking better care of myself spiritually, I’ve reincorporated journaling into my private reading. This allows me to engage with the text in a different way, to capture items of prayer and (more than a few) ideas for things to write about here. I used to do this all the time as a new Christian, usually using journals and notebooks. But over time, I got out of the habit. So, I thought I’d start doing it again—this time with a fancy schmancy new journaling Bible.

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