A La Carte (11/27)

  • Tim Challies
  • 11/27/08
  • 5
The Girl in the Window
A sad, sad story of a feral child--but a story with as happy an ending as you could hope for. "Just before noon on July 13, 2005, a Plant City police car pulled up outside that shattered window. Two officers went into the house -- and one stumbled back out. Clutching his stomach, the rookie retched in the weeds."
Conversations with your Daughter
Chuck Colson: "So chances are if you have a teen or preteen daughter, she's already seen Twilight. And if she hasn't, she will want to. That raises some questions for parents: What kind of values is this movie promoting? And how should I talk to my daughter about them?"
Why Does God Allow Satan to Live?
John Piper answers.
Dever Interviews Carson on Evangelicalism
"Mark Dever interviews D. A. Carson: "Observing Evangelicalism with Don Carson" The interview occurred on June 13, 2008 at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and 9Marks just released it this week.
Christian Audio Thanksgiving Sale
Christian Audio is having a Thanksgiving Sale that has seen most of their products marked down to below $10.
The Bible but not as You Know It
BBC News looks at some of the new Bibles and new presentations of the Bible coming our way these days.
Deal of the Day: Feed My Sheep
RHB has the brand new reprint of this book on sale for only $8. The book has never looked better and is an ideal gift for a pastor this Christmas.

Comments (5)

1
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Curtis • 11/27 @ 11:08am
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The Girl in the WindowAnd people question the radical depravity of men & women? Is it any wonder why we deserve eternity in Hell?

2
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Puddleglum • 11/27 @ 2:27pm

Curtis, why do you think she deserves eternity in hell? I don't get it.

3
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Curtis • 11/27 @ 10:21pm
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Puddleglum, sin. God created us for the purpose of glorifying and enjoying Him, and we do nothing but sin against Him, and His holy law. We've broken His law, we've lied, stolen, dishonored our parents, taken His name in vain, we lust more times than we could count and in Gods eyes we are lying, thieveing, blasphemous, adulterers. All this shows just how much we hate God, and without the restrianing grace of God we would all be worse than Manson or Hitler. The heart of man is against God, it is wicked, we are radically disjionted, depraved. We all have an inherant sin nature that is opposed to Gods nature, and if left to our selves would perform the worst, and grossest of sins. Becasue God is good, righteous, holy and just, He must punish sin wherever it is found. Apart from God, we are hopelessly lost, condemed already. You me, my children, we all deserve to be cast to Gods perfect place of punishment for our infinite crimes against an infinitely holy God.

For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Becasue God is just, He must punish sin.She deserves Hell, we all do, and we will always deserve Hell, but God has provided a way to be forgiven. In Christ there is hope. Christ became sin for us, as though He lived my sinful life, and the life of all those who would believe, and God poured out His righteous, holy wrath upon Him who knew no sin. Christ became sin for us and bore our punishment, the punishment we deserve on that cruel cross He put on Himself. He imputed us with His righteousness, and declared us as righteous as Christ. We were not made righteous, but declared righteous, and through Christs death and ressurection we may recieve the forgivness of God based on what Christ did on the cross on our behalf.

Hope this answers your question, it is not a full explanation but if you have any questions or concerns about what I said please feel free to email me cdserben@hotmail.com

4
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Puddleglum • 11/28 @ 1:56pm

Curtis,

Thank you for your reply and particularly for presenting the Gospel to me. I thank God that by His word and Spirit he has made it known to me and caused me to know and love this Good News for the past nearly 30 years. I need it every day as my sin is real and my sin is great.

A story like this, however (and there are thousands like it, alas), puts a different light on the topic of hell. I find it impossible to read this story (and I am limiting myself to it for now) and simply say "We all deserve an eternal hell" without any qualifications. For the story presents us with two people - the mother and the child. The mother deserves judgment and punishment. That she only gets a few years of probation seems outrageous. But what of the child? The story makes it clear that she is a victim, not a perpetrator. Victims don't deserve punishment (I know she has a sin nature and all that, but remember that I'm limiting myself to the story). I can't find anywhere in scripture where it is said that God punishes victims. On the contrary, God is presented over and over as the rescuer and defender of victims, who defends the cause of the fatherless and the tormented. It seems pretty sure that God's stance to the little girl in the story would be one of protection and not damnation. Indeed it would seem rather grotesque to think that after years in a dark, dank, hellish closet, God would then cast her into more of the same, but on a cosmic, more horrific scale. Surely He has something better in mind. Thankfully, as we both know, He does through our Lord Jesus Christ.

5
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Curtis • 11/28 @ 8:36pm
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Puddleglum you are right, it is clear in scripture that God will have His day of wrath, but what of those who were to young or incapable to understand the gospel? Well, they to will may be saved by grace, as we are all, if God so chooses. I do beleive God has made provision for those who have mental disabilities or inabilities. Though I don't think the sufferings of the little girl faced can even be remotely be compaired to the fate of those who are found in there sins when they stand before holy God. Yes, she suffered, horribly, which is sad, as do those who stand up for biblical truth daily, but consider it joy to suffer for the sake of righteousness. Something is changing in the west, it is time we began speaking more boldly, taking a stand, and facing the persecution promised by our Lord to those who are willing to obey, and Go. Stories, like this little girls, are the springboards to speak on Gods just wrath, righteousness and judgement then Gods great love and grace through Jesus Christ.Thanks Puddleglum, may Gods grace and peace be with you.