A La Carte (6/13)

  • Tim Challies
  • 06/13/07
  • 3

Wednesday June 13, 2007

Books: Over at Discerning Reader I list some upcoming titles by Reformation Trust that look very good (including a book by Sproul on the Atonement, and "Jesus the Evangelist" by Richard Phillips).

Islam: The "Times" has a sad story of a yet another "honor killing."

Books: Desiring God wants to give you a really good and really cheap book. There are limited quantities, so act now!

Books: Someone please tell me this is just a joke. And this.

Church: Douglas Baker has a good article at "Christianity Today" that challenges the SBC.

Comments (3)

1
Anonymous's picture
a comment from David P • 06/13 @ 10:44am

I'm not sure I liked the article by Douglas Baker. In it he says, "The nature and perfection of Holy Scripture no longer dominates denominational battles."

There's a reason for that. It's because they did battle over the issues. Al Mohler helped lead that charge and it was a necessary one to capture the SBC from the liberalism that was ruining it.

Perhaps smaller issues like alcohol consumption seem (and are) silly, but articles like this always sound suspicious.

The convention meeting are the perfect places to fight about such things. If not there, where? And when and what issues are important enough to fight over?

2
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Jeri • 06/13 @ 1:26pm
› visit my web site.

The SBC thing reminds me of the situation in Whitefield's day, and how he went far above and beyond what his supporters approved of in seeking unity with the Wesleys, in particular. As I read the books I found myself both moved by Whitefield's strong desire to see His Master honored by pursuing "what made for peace" in the evangelical movement, and wondering if he did the right thing sometimes in being so accomodating. Whatever the answer is to that question, though, Whitefield was really good at standing his ground firmly theologically yet passionately showing his love for those who were in Christ but who disagreed. By God's grace, whenever we have to fight for the truth, we need to show that same fervency of love (1 Peter 4:8), and that same heartbreak Whitefield had.

3
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Jim Swindle • 06/13 @ 1:47pm
› visit my web site.

Jeri's comments are excellent. The problem with fighting some of these battles too hard is that the lines can get harder and the categories narrower.

For example, where do I fit in all of this? I'm a Southern Baptist, more by convenience than by conviction. I'm 90% Calvinist, which would make both the more Arminian people and the 110% Calvinists suspicious of me. I believe in and practice the contination of the sign gifts, but don't believe every Christian must speak in tongues. I believe in the inerrancy of the scriptures as originally written. Does that mean that I should only have fellowship with others who agree with me on every one of those issues? I'm not sure whether I've met any such people.

On the other hand, it DOES make a difference what people believe. We need to be willing to call heresy by its right name. However, not every disagreement is heresy. Because we're fallen creatures in a fallen world, even true Christians will be honestly wrong some of the time.