The IM Weekend File: 10:4:08

As usual, thanks to all of you who have been using the Amazon Wish List to support me here at IM. Thank you!

If the menu item in Lexington’s best Mexican Restaurant (Jalapenos) says “Diablo,” don’t get involved unless you are serious.

Kevin Kelly is a founder of Wired Magazine, a Christian, and a guy with a wonderful talk on the “Next 5,000 Days of the Web.”

My wife is the kind of person who still stands in front of a Macdonald’s menu, trying to decide what to order. So when she goes to pick out new glasses, bring a tent and pack a lunch.Continue reading “The IM Weekend File: 10:4:08”

What’s A Conservative Reading of Song of Solomon?

I have too many religious channels on my Dish tv. Any time of the day or night, I can get at least 6 preachers.

Some of these television preachers are Word-Faith, prosperity gospel charlatans and phonies. They should be arrested, locked up and the key thrown away.

But several of these preachers are actually trying to teach something. They talk about the Bible, prophecy, revelations, hidden meanings, lots of numerology, angels, voices, visions, trances and the anointing. Always the anointing.

I don’t know exactly what to call these people. Most of them seem to be totally unaware of the Gospel. They rarely talk about Jesus. Their message usually amounts to “It’s the last generation outpouring” or “You’re on the verge of a breakthrough” or “We need to elect a Republican.”Continue reading “What’s A Conservative Reading of Song of Solomon?”

Riffs: Scot McKnight on “Why I Am Not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox”

Read Scot Mcknight’s post, “Why I Am Not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.” A model of ecumenical integrity, but an impassioned evangelical. A great post. Honest and not without some controversy, but there is no one more about the task Robert Webber left us than Scot.

Normally when I do a “Riff,” I have something to say.

Here’s what I want to say: Thank you, Scot. I have hundreds of emails from Catholics and a few from Orthodox urging me to join their churches. I have far, far fewer from fellow evangelicals encouraging me to believe I am right exactly where God wants me. So I have to write the encouragements to myself, and disguise them as posts for the audience.Continue reading “Riffs: Scot McKnight on “Why I Am Not Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox””

Responding to D.A. Carson’s “Five Trends In The Church”

In his talk before the Desiring God conference, Dr. D. A. Carson mentioned Five Trends In The Church Today. Read the summary before reading my response. I don’t know if the talk itself is out there, but from the summary posted at Acts 29, I found a lot to agree with. (Which I usually do with D.A. Carson. He’s the most consistently “New Covenant” theologian and teacher I’ve encountered.)

Trend 1: It is important to observe contradictory trends.

Carson pointed out the increase in Biblical knowledge among churches that are seeing fewer and fewer conversions.

The same point could be made about those parts of the Christian world that are seeing large numbers of conversions. Biblical knowledge is decreasing in those communities.Continue reading “Responding to D.A. Carson’s “Five Trends In The Church””

Rebaptism: Where to from here?

Rebaptism: How Did We Get here? and Rebaptism: What is it?

This last post in the Rebaptism series deals with what can be done in the present situation. Once again, I want to address these issues related to rebaptism with my own Southern Baptist context primarily in mind. I realize the issue changes a bit in each communion that considers it.

As Southern Baptists, we have reached a low point in regard to our own practice of baptism, and we should admit this as the first step in recovery. SBC leaders routinely baptize children who are 5 or even younger, and state evangelism directors defend- even promote- the practice. Our own international mission board and many churches insist on what can only be called “Baptist” baptism, which amounts to a rejection of believer’s baptism, over secondary issues.

Of more concern, many churches have completely abandoned any serious theological or confessional consideration of the meaning of Baptism, and therefore “anything goes” as the motive and occasion for baptism. Substantial preaching on baptism is shallow or non-existent. (We need some topical preaching, even in verse by verse churches.) The confessional riches of the Baptist tradition are almost irrelevant to many church growth oriented pastors.Continue reading “Rebaptism: Where to from here?”

ESV Study Bible Product Placement Photos Needed

UPDATE: Thanks to Brandon M for the first exhibit. Oprah needs to get some work done on her hands, though.

Van Til here again. The lawsuit is proceeding well, but I need some evidence.

I need “Product Placement Photographs” of the ESV Study Bible.

Where in the media has Justin Taylor cleverly placed the ESV Study Bible where all can see it?

I need photos in a size appropriate for posting here at IM, so please note the width of posts. (Or if it’s really good, I can do the shrinkage, but this lawsuit is keeping me busy.)Continue reading “ESV Study Bible Product Placement Photos Needed”