Daniel's Place - (Reformata et semper reformanda)

J.I. Packer and further compromise

2009-12-04T00:00:00.003+08:00

Dave Doran (Senior Pastor of Inter-City Baptist Church and the President of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary) has recently read J.I. Packer's afterword in the second edition of his book Rediscovering Holiness, in which Packer endorses the Roman Catholic Mother Theresa as a true Christian, an action which is very very disappointing to say the least (though not surprising). As he has said,To

Misquoted verses: Compiled article

2009-11-30T00:51:00.004+08:00

I have just created and uploaded the compiled article containing all the exegesis of the misquoted verses onto my website. It can be found here.

Misquoted verse: Hab. 2:14

2009-11-21T23:24:00.004+08:00

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Hab. 2:14)It seems that this verse is used in Dominionist propaganda, as can be seen in the Domininist GDOP (Global Day of Prayer) vision statement. Through concerted efforts via prayer movements and other such gimmicks, the New Apostolic Reformation through the promotion of prayer enlists

Misquoted verse: Jer. 29:11

2009-11-21T21:31:00.005+08:00

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)In context:These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. ... “For

Misquoted verse: Gal. 3:28

2009-11-21T18:45:00.003+08:00

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)In context:Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are

Misquoted verse: 2 Cor. 3:6b

2009-11-19T01:29:00.000+08:00

For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6b)In context:Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor

Misquoted verse: 1 Cor. 9:22

2009-11-19T00:46:00.002+08:00

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (1 Cor. 9:22)When it comes to the issue of contextualization, this particular verse is the most utilized verse for prooftexting. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with trying to reach out to others, or presenting information in an understandable way, or removing

Misquoted verse: Acts 5:38-39

2009-11-18T22:41:00.006+08:00

So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, (Acts 5:38-39)In context:But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood

R. Scott Clark debunks the myth of "final justification"

2009-11-16T22:26:00.003+08:00

R. Scott Clark has given an exposition on the ninth point of Synod Schereville, which states:Therefore Synod rejects the errors of those:...9. who teach that there is a separate and final justification grounded partly upon righteousness or sanctity inherent in the Christian (HC 52; BC 37). [HC: Heidelberg Catechism; BC: Belgic Confession]The audio file of this exposition can be found here. The

The God who suffers? Evaluating Dennis Ngien's arguments for divine passibility

2009-11-14T23:29:00.009+08:00

In his book A Faith Worth Believing, Living and Commending by Dennis Ngien (Eugene, OR, USA: Wipf & Stock, 2008), chapter 2 is entitled The God Who Suffers: An Argument for God's Emotions. In this chapter, Ngien attempts to argue for the position of the passibility of God; or in other words, that God has emotions ad intra and is affected by them.Having previously addressed the error of Open

Book Review: Why We Love the Church

2009-11-13T00:16:00.003+08:00

Kevin DeYoung, the pastor of University Reformed Church, has came out with an excellent book entitled Why We Love the Church — In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion. It is an excellent book which refutes the Emerging/Emergent redefinition of the church, as well as the nonsense coming from the "American House-Church" movement of George Barna and Frank Viola. The review can be found

The implosion of global Anglicanism and a falling away from the Faith

2009-11-10T23:09:00.005+08:00

With the break-up of global Anglicanism due to the crisis in the ECUSA caused by the embrace and celebration of deviant sexuality by her leaders, the newly formed ACNA (Anglican Church in North America) and the Global South coalition are still trying to resolve the mess formed in the aftermath of the schism and total apostasy of the ECUSA (although it has already apostatized much earlier, but

Mike Ratliff: Rebuking Repentance and Restoration

2009-11-10T18:59:00.003+08:00

My friend Mike Ratliff has written an excellent post here regarding discernment. Mike makes the excellent points that we are not to be hasty in judgment but to ensure that what we know is indeed true before we make a judgment on the facts of the case. Also, we are to be loving and not fight the enemy with the same carnal weapons they use against us (fight fire with fire).IMO, Mike has

The biblical answer to Dominionism cum Book Review

2009-11-09T22:56:00.003+08:00

What is Scripture's answer to the challenge of Dominionism? In my analysis of Dominionism, the answer has been split into 4 main headings: The Concept of the Church and ApostlesThe Concept of the Church in distinction from the StateThe Cultural Mandate?Being a pilgrim and a citizenThe Bible's teaching on wealthThe book review of C. Peter Wagner's book has been completed, and the answers can be

What is Dominionism?

2009-11-09T22:37:00.005+08:00

What is Dominionism? "Apostle" C. Peter Wagner has came out with a book on the topic last year on that topic. With this book, all of us can now know what exactly does the New Apostolic Reformation teaches in her understanding of the Cultural Mandate, which we shall examine below. So what is Dominionism? Dominionism can be defined thus:The application of the Cultural Mandate in working towards

Song: Speak O Lord

2009-11-07T17:56:00.006+08:00

I was asked to lead worship for cell yesterday, and have decided to use a couple of songs one of which was the contemporary hymn Speak O Lord by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The lyrics of the song are as follows:Speak, O Lord by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty © 2005 Thankyou Music1: Speak, O Lord, as we come to You To receive the food of Your holy Word Take Your truth plant it deep in us

The background of Paul Washer's shocking message

2009-11-07T01:20:00.005+08:00

Paul Washer has recently done a video interview whereby he reveals to us the background behind his shocking sermon preached in 2002 to a conference of stunned youths, about 5000 strong.An interesting quote from Pastor Washer here:"We are living in a time when billions of people are dying without Christ. We are living in a time when millions of so-called Evangelicals do not even understand the

Review of Michael Horton's book The Gospel-Driven Life

2009-11-03T01:18:00.006+08:00

I have just finished a book review of Michael Horton's excellent book, which can be found at my website here. Let's hope it comes to Singapore soon, otherwise all orders can only be done online.

Michael Horton against "Practical Christianity"

2009-11-02T23:55:00.003+08:00

The working assumption in much of contemporary Christianity seems to be that modern culture — whether sociology, psychology, anthropology, business and marketing, politics, education, and ethics — properly interprets human identity and the ideals of proper human flourishing. However, it lacks some crucial methods for attaining these goals. This is where we typically introduce the Bible as the "

Reformation Day musing

2009-10-31T23:03:00.004+08:00

Today is Reformation Day. On this day 492 years ago, on Oct 31st 1517, a non-discreet German monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church (Schlosskirche) in Wittenberg, Germany, in protest especially of the Roman church's sanction of the selling of indulgences by the infamous marketeer Johann Tetzel. This act was the flash point which started the great

Dealing with the enemy - In praise for AT

2009-10-31T14:34:00.007+08:00

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good ... (Gen. 50:20a)Nope, I am not praising "Antithesis", and I am not out of my mind. However, I would like to take the opportunity to thank God for this thorn in the flesh.In our struggle against the flesh and the world, nothing ever comes close to practically surfacing the sinful desires of the flesh than trials and tribulations,

An exposè of "Antithesis"

2009-10-29T00:31:00.006+08:00

This would be my last word on the cyber-terrorist, liar and anti-Christian watchblogger anonymously called "Antithesis". This is an unfortunately logical necessity, which is certainly not edifying for those who know nothing about the issue. However, for those who know of this controversy, this would hopefully be of help in this regard. The paper exposing "Antithesis" (AT) for the perpetual liar

Is the Church earthly?

2009-10-28T21:40:00.005+08:00

Over at the CREDO500 blog, Jason Loh's paper on "Calvin's View on the Cultural Mandate" has been published. While many many things can be said about the paper, the focus on this post will be with regards to the strange assertion that the Church "is a creation order" and that it has "an earthly institution[al]" aspect to it. Certainly, this is the first time I have seen such a strange position,

Michael Horton versus Richard Foster on Contemplative Spirituality

2009-10-26T22:23:00.007+08:00

In his book The Gospel-Driven Life, Horton addresses how the Gospel in its fullness is materially sufficient for all of life. After addressing the Purpose Driven life paradigm, Horton continues to briefly address the issue of contemplative spirituality, especially as promoted by the Quaker mystic Richard Foster.Horton starts off by mentioning Foster's disclosure of his "spiritual formation agenda

On Frame's review of Horton's book

2009-10-25T23:25:00.004+08:00

The Reformed blogosphere is (or was) abuzzed it seems with Prof. John Frame's review of Prof. Michael Horton's book Christless Christianity. Frame's review has been answered by Darryl G. Hart, Kim Riddlebarger, R. Scott Clark, and the staff of the White Horse Inn. My friend Stephen Macasil has entered the fray also with his latest blog post, which attempts to go deeper and interact with the