The Big Dance.
Cinderella Team.
Down goes Kansas!
Sweet Sixteen!
Go UNI!

Did you ever think you would see a time when the most talked-about, most comprehensive and challenging book in academic philosophy would identify itself as Christian? Charles Taylor’s Sources of the Self has been out for fourteen years now and is being cited as “magisterial.” It is nothing less than a review of the whole history of Western philosophy on its central point. That is, how do we understand ourselves or our “identity,” and consequently how should we argue our political and social issues. . . .

Taylor may have thought he was writing for a general audience, but despite his efforts to be clear, it is a long and tough read. His efforts to show how philosophical views of the human found expression in painting and literature would be more interesting if we were all on his level. And he is frank in admitting that he is neglecting the social factors that might help explain the movements of thought. But Christians who were less than satisfied with Francis Schaeffer’s sketchy and flawed works, and do not know whether to trust Peter Kreeft’s somewhat tendentious surveys can feel more confident with Taylor. The book is an education in itself, if one has the patience. And one can be assured of knowing how an expert like Taylor surveys a playing field like philosophy.

Professor Taylor’s massive A Secular Age is likewise considered a major breakthrough in the study of secularism.

The following is an hour-long lecture if you want an introduction:

As for Christopher’s atheism, “As long as he can convince himself, nobody else will persuade him” (p. 12). This is, in my judgment, quite right, along with another observation that Peter makes about the vulnerability of the atheist. As C.S. Lewis once commented, God is very unscrupulous, and leaves traps everywhere. One of those traps is poetry — atheism can be “countered by the unexpected force of poetry, which can ambush the human heart at any time” (p. 12).

Part 1: Love Misdefined

Chapter 1: The Idolatry of Love

How do our common cultural conceptions of love today hinder our acceptance of church membership and discipline?

Part 2: Love Redefined

Chapter 2: The Nature of Love

What is God’s love like and why does it offend us? What’s the connection between our understanding of God’s love and church membership?

Chapter 3: The Rule of Love

What is authority? How does it relate to love? And what role does it play in the church?

Chapter 4: The Charter of Love

What authority does Christ give the local church and why?

Chapter 5: The Covenant of Love

What exactly is this commitment of “covenant” of local church membership?

Part 3: Love Lived

Chapter 6: The Affirmation and Witness of Love

How should a church responsibly affirm, oversee, and remove members? Should it account for cultural differences in these activities?

Chapter 7: The Submission and Freedom of Love

What does it mean to submit to a local church? Are there limits to the church’s authority over the individual?

Appendix: Outline of the Book

You can read the introduction online for free. Here’s the argument of the book in a nutshell:

Insofar as the gospel presents the world with the most vivid picture of God’s love, and insofar as church membership and discipline are an implication of the gospel, local church membership and discipline in fact define God’s love for the world. That, in one sentence, is the argument of this book. Along the way we will observe that the very things that offend us about church membership root in the things we find offensive about God’s love itself.

Mike Horton says, “This is the best book I’ve seen on this subject in a long time.” Mark Dever says, “This is the best book I’ve ever read on church membership. I can give you no higher commendation.”

Tonight on the Albert Mohler Radio program (5-6 PM ET—streamed online for free) his guest will be Mosab Hasson Yousef, son of a founder of Hamas turned double-agent for Israel turned Christian. His new book, Son of Hamas, has become a NYT bestseller.

For more info on the book, see this recent review by Tim Challies.

See also this interview with him in GQ Magazine.

See also this WSJ interview.

HT: Challies

DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

Here is one of the lines I appreciated:

I believe the pastor-theologian should be evangelicalism’s most conspicuous public intellectual, ministering understanding by theologically interpreting the Bible, bringing text in canonical context to bear on contemporary context. In this great task, doctrine is the pastor’s best friend.

In the course of the lectures, Professor Vanhoozer conducts a thought-experiment:

I want to suggest that the gospel and theology alike are dramatic: that the gospel is something done; that the Bible is a script, that doctrine is theatrical direction, and that we all, as members of the church, form a great “company of the gospel” with important speaking and acting parts to play. The dramatic metaphor has become for me, my family, and my students a bracing challenge to integrate doctrine and life under the rubric “faith seeking and showing understanding.”

I found the two hours stimulating and helpful, both spiritually and intellectually:

DOING FAITH: SEEKING (AND SHOWING) UNDERSTANDING IN COMPANY WITH CHRIST

PART ONE
The Theater of the gospel: the stage, the script, and the director

Prologue: The pastor-theologian as minister of understanding
I. The stage
II. The Christian control story: theodrama

1. The Christian theodrama is eucatastrophic
2. The Christian theodrama involves divine entrances and exoduses
3. The Christian theodrama is Trinitarian

III. The script

1. The nature of Scripture: Spirited discourse
2. The function of Scripture: cultivating canon sense
3. The authority of Scripture: cultivating catholic sensibility

IV. Doctrine as direction

1. Knowing God is itself dramatic.
2. Understanding the theodrama: fitting participation

V. The director and the dramaturg

1. The dramaturg
2. The director
   1. The Holy Spirit
   2. The pastor
3. Church as company of players

PART TWO
Gospel Theater: Rehearsing, Improvising, Performing

I. Role-playing: from Stanisklavski to sanctification

1. Doctrine and identity
   1. Role-playing: the problem of hypocrisy
   2. Person or persona? the self in theodramatic perspective
2. The “System”
   1. Hypocrisy as mechanical acting. Through-lines and super-objectives
   2. Through-lines and super-objectives
3. The disciple’s vocation: being real

II. Discipleship as improvisation

1. Spontaneity
2. Accepting and blocking “offers”
3. Narrative skills
4. Reincorporation

III. “Doing” church: the theater of the gospel

1. Performing the Scriptures: the costumed interpreter
2. Performing the doctrine of atonement
   1. Practicing union with Christ
   2. The church as theatre of martyrdom
3. A plea for amateur theology: acting in parables
   1. For the love of it
   2. Rehearsing the kingdom

Below is the trailer for HBO’s new 10-part mini-series, The Pacific, focusing on the Marines in WWII in the Pacific Theater of Operations. It’s from the same producers as Band of Brothers.

The movie is based on the memoirs of Eugene Sledge (With the Old Breed) and Robert Leckie (Helmet for My Pillow).

Trailer below:

I’m excited about and thankful for Crossway’s new—and free—ESV iPhone/iPod Touch App, which you can download from the iTunes app store.

Note a number of the features:

• You don’t need to be connected to wireless to use it (i.e., you can use it on airplanes, in North Dakota, etc.)
• With a simple tap you can see cross-references, footnotes, etc.
• You can search the ESV Bible
• You can take notes
• You can highlight passages
• You can easily email, Tweet, or (soon) Facebook passages

Free ESV apps are being developed for other platforms (e.g., Blackberry, Android, etc.)

Below is some info from the Crossway blog with some screenshots that give you a preview of how some of it works.

Again, there’s more stuff in the works, coming soon.

Passage Navigation
Tapping on the “Books” icon in the top left corner will activate the bible book picker where you can access any book and chapter with speed and ease.

Verse Details

Verse Multi-select

Search Function
Simply click the search icon at the bottom of your screen and type the word you are searching in the field at the top of the screen.

Highlighting

Post to Twitter
Per the screen shot above, choose the box with the arrow on the top right of screen to email a verse or post it to Twitter.

Doing so will teach you how to pray in a gospel way.

There are five things that comprise a wise, godly life. They function both as means to becoming wise and godly as well as signs that you are growing into such a life. . . . There’s no better way to instill these great things in your own heart, than to pray intensely for them in the lives of those you love.

Click here to read them.

Moore also recommends Philip Freeman’s St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography:

This biography gives contemporary evangelicals more than a pious evangelist to emulate. It also reconstructs a Christian engagement with a pagan culture, in ways that are strikingly contemporary to evangelicals seeking to engage a post-Christian America.

Read both of their posts for more details.

Romans 13 tells us that we are to submit to those who are in authority over us. Those in authority over us claim that the Constitution is the highest law of the land. They then proceed to ignore its most straightforward requirements, treating it as what it is, a dead letter. Which leaves us with this question- are we to submit to the state that falsely claims to be under the Constitution, or are we to submit to the Constitution itself (or more accurately, our own interpretation of the Constitution)? How we answer that question will likely answer how we answer the question of the census.

Then the solution:

My conviction, informed by the collective wisdom of almost every Reformed Bible commentator, is that Romans 13 calls us to submit not just to government as it ought to be, but as it is. That means governments whose authority is on shaky grounds, as well as governments whose activity is on shaky grounds, if they are the ones in power, are to be submitted to, unless or until they command us to do what God clearly forbids, or forbid us to do what God clearly commands. The census is a nuisance. It is not authorized by the Constitution. It is one more fruit of the state’s self-aggrandizement, one more affectation to demonstrate that it is God. And I will be filling mine out. I’ve read the whole Bible and no where does God tell us, “Whatever else you do, be sure not to tell the state how many toilets you have.”

And some practical counsel:

When we are in trouble, when the state is actively abusing us, rather than merely annoying us, and where it yet touts its own procedures, of course we may and should avail ourselves of those procedures [i.e., Paul demanding a trial]. When, however, we are being merely annoyed, wisdom encourages us to go the second mile, to live as much as is possible in peace and quietness with all men. If you want to pick a fight with the state, don’t do it over insignificant data. Don’t do it over how many federal reserve notes they take from us. Do it over something significant. Fussing over such things to a state that sanctions and protects nearly 4000 murders each day seems to demonstrate a rather odd set or priorities. If we would take all the energy we spend on this issue and instead pray for liberty and justice for all, then we might one day again live in the land of the free.

You can read his whole post here.

Thanks be to God.

HT: Challies

The ability to discern the relative importance of theological beliefs is vital for effective Christian life and ministry. Both the purity and unity of the church are at stake in this matter. The relative importance of theological issues can fall within four categories:

1. absolutes define the core beliefs of the Christian faith;
2. convictions, while not core beliefs, may have significant impact on the health and effectiveness of the church;
3. opinions are less-clear issues that generally are not worth dividing over; and
4. questions are currently unsettled issues.

These categories can be best visualized as concentric circles, similar to those on a dart board, with the absolutes as the “bull’s-eye”:

Where an issue falls within these categories should be determined by weighing the cumulative force of at least seven considerations:

1. biblical clarity;
2. relevance to the character of God;
3. relevance to the essence of the gospel;
4. biblical frequency and significance (how often in Scripture it is taught, and what weight Scripture places upon it);
5. effect on other doctrines;
6. consensus among Christians (past and present); and
7. effect on personal and church life.

These criteria for determining the importance of particular beliefs must be considered in light of their cumulative weight regarding the doctrine being considered. For instance, just the fact that a doctrine may go against the general consensus among believers (see item 6) does not necessarily mean it is wrong, although that might add some weight to the argument against it. All the categories should be considered collectively in determining how important an issue is to the Christian faith. The ability to rightly discern the difference between core doctrines and legitimately disputable matters will keep the church from either compromising important truth or needlessly dividing over peripheral issues.

(Diagram copyright 2009 Crossway Bibles. Posted with permission.)

Another helpful resource on this is Albert Mohler’s A Call for Theological Triage and Christian Maturity. Dr. Mohler distinguishes between first-order doctrines (a denial of which represents the eventual denial of Christianity itself), second-order doctrines (upon which Bible-believing Christians may disagree, but they create significant boundaries between believers, whether as distinct congregations or denominations), and third-order doctrines (upon which Christians may disagree, but yet remain in close fellowship, even within local congregations).

Finally, I’ve been helped by Michael Wittmer’s excellent book, Don’t Stop Believing: Why Living Like Jesus Is Not Enough. He classifies Christian beliefs into  three categories: (1) what you must believe, (2) what you must not reject, and (3) what you should believe. He illustrates this as follows:

In a 2008 interview with Dr. Wittmer, I asked him to explain these categories:

These categories are my attempt to describe the relative importance of Christian beliefs, distinguishing between those beliefs essential for salvation and those essential for a healthy Christian worldview.

In the book of Acts, the bare minimum that a person must know and believe to be saved was that he was a sinner and that Jesus saved him from his sin. As Paul told the Philippian jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:29-31; cf. 10:43). This is enough to counter the postmodern innovator argument that we can be saved without knowing and believing in Jesus.

But any thinking convert will inquire further about this Jesus. While he may not know much more at the point of conversion than Jesus is the Lord who has saved him, he will quickly learn about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, deity and humanity, and relation to the other two members of the Trinity. Anyone who rejects these core doctrines should fear for their soul.

According to the Athanasian Creed, whoever does not believe in the Trinity and the two natures of Jesus is damned. However, since it seems possible for a child to come to faith without knowing much about the Trinity or the hypostatic union (this is likely not the place where most parents begin), I take the Creed’s warning in a more benign way—that we do not need to know and believe in the Trinity and two natures of Christ to be saved, but that anyone who knowingly rejects them cannot be saved.

The final category is important doctrines which genuine Christians may unfortunately misconstrue. I think that every Christian should believe that Scripture is God’s Word, know its story of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation, and know something about the nature of God, what it means to be human, and what Jesus is doing through his church. However, many people have been genuine Christians without knowing or believing these things (though their ignorance or disbelief in these facts significantly diminished their Christian faith).

Thus, I believe that every doctrine in this diagram is crucially important for sound Christian faith. And some are so important that we cannot even be saved without them.

Diagram posted with permission of Zondervan.

• Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice, by Bryan Chapell (Baker Academic)
• The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future, by Robert Darnton (Public Affairs)
• Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion, by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck (Moody Publishers) [on sale for 60% off—i.e., $6—at Amazon]
• Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, by Michael Horton (Baker Books)
• The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything, by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne (Matthias Media)
• Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, by Russell D. Moore (Crossway)
• Ancient Word, Changing Worlds: The Doctrine of Scripture in a Modern Age, by Stephen J. Nichols and Eric T. Brandt (Crossway)
• Perspectives on Christian Worship: 5 Views, edited by J. Matthew Pinson (B&H Academic)
• Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults, by Christian Smith with Patricia Snell (Oxford Univ. Press)
• The Young and the Digital: What Migration to Social-Network Sites, Games, and Anytime, Anywhere Media Means for Our Future, by S. Craig Watkins (Beacon Press)

HT: Crossway Blog. They write:

. . .  In the expanded article found in the printed edition of Preaching Magazine pp 4-8, Mohler also recommends the following recent Crossway titles:

• The Gospel in Genesis: From Fig Leaves to Faith by Martyn Lloyd Jones
• Romans by R. C. Sproul
• Through His Eyes: God’s Perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs
• Understanding English Bible Translation by Leland Ryken
• Christian Apologetics: Past and Present by Edgar and Oliphant
• Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods by Driscoll and Breshears
• Religion Saves: And 9 Other Misconceptions by Mark Driscoll
• Filling up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper
• This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
• The Power of Words and Wonder of God edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
• Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware

Are you a preacher or a pastor? We’d love to give you a jump start on your 2010 reading list. Tell us about a Crossway title that you’ve already read that you would encourage other preachers/pastors to read and why. We’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 3/19 to receive the above listed book bundle (13 books)!

Go to the link if you’re interested.

I have refrained from extended comment on the health care reform bills—not because I do not have multiple concerns about the bills, but because I recognize that committed Christians can and will disagree over the political and policy issues involved. The trip-wire for me is the issue of human life. The current bill spells disaster when it comes to abortion. I cannot remain silent in this crucial moment where the sanctity of human life is at stake.

Read his whole commentary, where he quotes Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, who argues that the bill represents “the single greatest expansion of abortion since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.”

HT: Doug Wilson

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Jesus, saying,  “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

Here’s an excerpt from the book, where Carson explores what would have happened if Jesus had taken them up on the challenge and came down from the cross.

This would be a pretty remarkable and convincing display of power, and the mockers would be back-peddling pretty fast. But in the full Christian sense, would they believe in him? Of course not! To believe in Jesus in the Christian sense means not less than trusting him utterly as the One who has borne our sin in his own body on the tree, as the One whose life and death and resurrection, offered up in our place, has reconciled us to God. If Jesus had leapt off the cross, the mockers and other onlookers could not have believed in Jesus in that sense, because he would not have sacrificed himself for us, so there would be nothing to trust, except our futile and empty self-righteousness.

But then Carson explores in deeper depth the meaning of their statement, “He saved others but he can’t save himself.”

The deeper irony is that, in a way they did not understand, they were speaking the truth. If he had saved himself, he could not have saved others; the only way he could save others was precisely by not saving himself. In the irony behind the irony that the mockers intended, they spoke the truth they themselves did not see. The man who can’t save himself—saves others.

One of the reasons they were so blind is that they thought in terms of merely physical restraints. When they said “he can’t save himself,” they meant that the nails held him there, the soldiers prevented any possibility of rescue, his powerlessness and weakness guaranteed his death. For them, the words “he can’t save himself” expressed a physical impossibility. But those who know who Jesus is are fully aware that nails and soldiers cannot stand in the way of Emmanuel. The truth of the matter is that Jesus could not save himself, not because of any physical constraint, but because of a moral imperative. He came to do his Father’s will, and he would not be deflected from it. The One who cries in anguish in the garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but yours be done,” is under such a divine moral imperative from his heavenly Father that disobedience is finally unthinkable. It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and, within that framework, it was his love for sinners like me. He really could not save himself.

Sometimes those of us who have an interest in Christianity and art have a built-in bias against the Christian message being explicit. I’m not sure exactly why that is. But I rejoiced as I watched this compelling story to see a film where  respect is shown for the gospel, the authority of God’s Word, the sanctity of marriage, and the love of a covenant community of Christians.

You can watch the first 30 minutes of the film online for free. You can watch the trailer online, too, but I wouldn’t recommend it, as it gives away much of the story. We found it more enjoyable to watch it not knowing the plot.

Again, it’s worth watching and spreading the word about this film. I can see small groups and couples having great discussions as a result.