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Tuesday January 20, 2009
18 Comments

A La Carte (1/20)

A Question
In a couple of weeks, Ray Comfort will be dropping by this site as part of an online book tour to promote his forthcoming book You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can't Make Him Think: 101 Answers to Questions from Angry Atheists. I thought it might be fun to ask Ray a few questions and he's agreed to answer. But first I need the questions. That's where you come in. Have you got something to ask Ray Comfort? If so, post a comment or shoot me an email and I'll see what I can do.
Top 60 Church Blogs
Kent at Church Revelance has compiled a list of the top 60 church (i.e. Christian) blogs using a rather unique (and complicated) ranking system.
Goodbye Mr. President
Ray Fowler shares the lyrics for Stephen Curtis Chapman's song "Goodbye Mr. President."
A Prayer for President Obama
Dr. Mohler offers a prayer for President Obama.
Ted Haggard's Documentary
"The AP reports that Haggard has agreed to play an active part in promoting a new film called The Trials of Ted Haggard. The film is a documentary about Haggard's scandal and disgrace in 2006, which ultimately led to his resignation from his job as the head pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs."
Fireproof in 60 Seconds
If you've already seen Fireproof you'll enjoy this light-hearted 60 second version of the film put together by the producers.
Being Pro-Life Christians Under a Pro-Choice President
Here is an old sermon from John Piper (preached as Bill Clinton took office) that still rings true today.
Deal of the Day: One for the Husbands
Gentlemen: Valentine's Day is fast approaching. My friend Becky has just the thing for you to give your wife. I pretty well guarantee she'll love it. "Get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $20 (before shipping). Type 'Challies.com' in the 'Message to Seller' to obtain your refund. Offer valid until Friday, January 23."

Comments (18) »

1. Matthew
January 20, 2009
8:52 AM

I could ask Ray Comfort a lot of questions (and yes, one of them would be about a banana), but here’s the one I’m most curious about: Have you listened much to people like Tim Keller, who have taken a very strong anti-legalism tack in their evangelistic teaching & preaching? How do you feel about such an approach compared to your own?

2. Kim K
January 20, 2009
8:54 AM

Yes, but why would my husband want to buy something for Becky?

3. Tim Challies
January 20, 2009
9:06 AM

Yes, but why would my husband want to buy something for Becky?

Groan. I will clarify my pronouns… :)

4. Donovan
January 20, 2009
9:46 AM

Hey Tim - I don’t think the link to the Piper sermon is working…
Thanks for putting together these A La Carte posts! Between you and JT, I get a great overview of what’s out there. Super helpful.

5. Jason D.
January 20, 2009
10:23 AM

I love the Way of the Master materials, use it all the time and endorse it, however I would ask Ray the following question.

Ray,

In light of 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 particularly, “…But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy,… With such a man do not even eat….”

Why do the Word of Faith movement leaders keep inviting you back to their conferences? I understand that you believe there are many there that are false converts (I used to be one of them in the WOF movement) but Scripture is clear that we shouldn’t associate with greedy people who call themselves ‘brothers’.

Thanks for all you do Ray, Soli Deo Gloria!

jason d.

6. Michele
January 20, 2009
10:36 AM

What’s up with him and Todd Friel splitting the ministry? Why not much of an explanation to us die-hard WOTM fans?

7. J. P. Hession
January 20, 2009
10:37 AM

Dear Mr. Comfort,

I find Bahnsen’s “Laws of Logic” argumentation very compelling. He particularly stressed this in his debate against the atheist Gordon Stein. In listening to the debate, however much I agree with Bahnsen that the laws of logic are transcendental and cannot have a naturalistic origin, Stein (and other atheists) don’t buy it.

My question is this: How would you make the case differently from Bahnsen (since he didn’t convince the atheists) that the laws of logic require a transcendental orgin and subsequently cannot be naturalistic or purely social constructs.

God bless.

8. Dan Hagan
January 20, 2009
1:03 PM

Tim,

Congratulations on your blog’s high ranking (#1!!!) I’m not surprised one bit!

Thanks for all your work and blessings to you and your family!

Dan…

9. Richard
January 20, 2009
1:38 PM

Ray,

Do you regret that silly banana thing? Seriously. Was it a joke? And what about coconuts?

10. Brian Krieger
January 20, 2009
3:12 PM

Kim: That cracks me up.

Tim: I think you need to do more stumping. You’re only 61 GR’s from beating out Piper (ha ha………ha……….). Of course, DG has more authors, too……..

11. Michael Daily
January 20, 2009
4:07 PM

For Ray Comfort:

What is your thinking behind using the Decalogue to point out people’s need for a savior when that particular covenant has been made obsolete, and Christ has now come with an even higher standard of obedience? Shouldn’t we rather help them see their failure to live up to Jesus’ standards, since one worthy of greater honor than Moses has come?

12. Clark
January 20, 2009
10:17 PM

For Ray Comfort:

I often respond to the questions/arguments posed by atheists not so much because I think I can convince them they’re wrong, but because of the undecided people who might be the audience. If atheists claim they are well grounded in reason and logic, and no one stands to oppose them, I’m thinking huge numbers of people will assume that Christians concede the argument. I want people on the fence to know that there are well reasoned, rational arguments in favor of theology. How much time and energy do you think we should spend responding to atheistic claims?

13. beatrice81
January 21, 2009
12:25 AM

For Ray: If God is truly capable of performing miracle cures, why is it that God never performs truly miraclous acts like regenerating severed limbs? That, everyone would agree, would be a true miracle, but no Christian is on record as claiming that a missing limb grew back.

14. Alberto
January 21, 2009
3:10 AM

If Ray is near and dear to the Word of Faith people, perhaps we should be distant from him? If he is helping heretics gain converts, he should be corrected with a good degree of seriousness.

Question for Ray: Do you think that Christ died for all of humanity and every person is capable of believing in Christ? Or do you think that only the elect respond positively to the gospel? How does your answer to this affect your evangelism and expectations?

15. Alberto
January 21, 2009
3:14 AM

Do you think that any of your arguments for the existence of God or for the truthfulness of Christianity give certainty for these things?

16. Daniel
January 21, 2009
3:44 PM

For Ray Comfort:

In what (practical) way, if any, does your evangelism change when you suspect you are witnessing to a demonized person? Perhaps he may even elaborate a bit on this often ignored scenario?

17. Alberto
January 21, 2009
6:26 PM

I read the story about Haggard. It’s weird to think of a minister doing a film that tells of his sexual sins and how he is working through it.

I’m curious; the story says that he was not excommunicated, but he is portrayed as if he was by Ms. Pelosi. Is he not submitting to discipline, or is his church just not interested in helping him? Where are his friends like James Dobson? I remember hearing Dobson say that he would always be Haggard’s friend. Perhaps Haggard is acting arrogantly? Perhaps the story is more complex than what is reported.

18. James
January 22, 2009
9:13 AM

Congratulations Tim, on your blog site being ranked # 1.

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