Headlines (December 3)

Two Ends of a Thread - There have been questions about just what Michael Card’s views of Mormonism are after he performed a concert for a mixed group of Mormons and Christians and asked both groups to join with him in worshipping God. According to the Deseret Morning News, which interviewed Card, he does not see Mormonism and Christianity as being opposed to each other. Rather, “they are more like the two ends of a long thread — part of the same thing…The older I get, I guess the more I want to integrate everything. I think it's more important to be faithful than right.” Card has also recorded and toured with John Michael Talbot, a Franciscan monk, and attends a Presbyterian church. It is difficult to understand how he could reconcile all of those! He is known as being primarily of Reformed persuasion, so I do hope this report is, at the very least, overstated.

DNA in the Bible - David Cloud believes he has found evidence of DNA in the Bible, further proving it is a scientifically accurate book. “I believe I have found DNA in the Bible. DNA is the genetic code from which an animal or person is formed. The physical features of the entire individual are encoded in the DNA before it is formed. Consider Psalm 139:16, which is part of a passage beginning in verse 13 that describes the formation of a person in the womb: “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” How is it possible for one's members to be fashioned when they do not yet exist? The answer is that they are formed in the DNA before they are formed bodily.” The ESV renders that verse “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.” I’m not sure I see the connection, but I do agree that the Bible is scientifically accurate. The Bible speaks about the earth being suspended in space, describes the hydrological cycle and describes earth as being round long before anyone confirmed these as true.

CTAOTD - Today’s Christianity Today Article of the Day is a pretty good one. It’s entitled Good Boundaries Make Good Christians [2] (a review of the book Good Fences) and discusses the difference between welcome and inclusion in churches. The author shows two polar opposites - the early church’s caution with allowing people to join their “closed door” services and then many of today’s churches which allow baptism and communion to anyone of any faith. Some criteria the author suggests are “renouncing Satan and all the forces of wickedness that rebel against God; renouncing the evil powers of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God; renouncing the sinful desires that draw us from the love of God; turning to Jesus Christ and accepting him as Savior; putting our whole trust in his grace and love; promising to follow and obey him as Lord; continuing in the apostles’ fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers; resisting evil, and when we fall into sin, repenting and returning to the Lord; seeking and serving Christ in all persons, and loving our neighbors as ourselves; witnessing to justice and peace among all people and respecting the dignity of every human being.”

What I Got… - A few people have asked what books I got for my birthday. They are: A Confessing Theology for PostModern Times and The Law of Perfect Freedom by Michael Horton, Transitioning by Dan Southerland and The Five Points of Calvinism by David Steele and Curtis Thomas. Those should keep me going for a couple of weeks!

And Finally - Thanks to all of you who extended birthday greetings and well-wishes yesterday. It was a good day!