William Lane Craig Addresses the Calvinist Error of Determinism

William Lane Craig tackles the topic of Molinism, Open Theism and Calvinist Determinism in his recent podcast (Four Views on Divine Providence) located here. You will have to register on the site to listen to it but it is well worth the effort and time to do so. Beginning after the 16 minute mark, Dr. Craig starts addressing the pratfalls of both the philosophical and non-scriptural aspects of Calvinist determinism. I am sure this will clang the rattles of the various internet Calvinist polemicists but sometimes the truth has to hurt. James White has already referred to Dr. Craig as attacking the Reformed faith. I suppose if his faith is not that of the Christian faith, then he should just sit still and take the philosophical spanking. On the other hand, believing his faith in Christ is essentially the same as Dr. Craig's, Mr. White should have chosen his words more carefully.

Is the Inspiration of Scripture Important?

Browsing through my stack of readings this morning I came across a beautiful quote by A.W. Tozer that I would like to keep fresh in my mind for a while. It is taken from his book entitled Man - The Dwelling Place of God out of chapter 26, "The Wrath of God: What is it". As with most of Tozer's books, it is a great read and is presented by the irenic character of a great saint of God.

Let a man question the inspiration of the Scriptures and a curious, even monstrous, inversion takes place: thereafter he judges the Word instead of letting the Word judge him; he determines what the Word should teach instead of permitting it to determine what he should believe; he edits, amends, strikes out, adds at his pleasure; but always he sits above the Word and makes it amenable to him instead of kneeling before God and becoming amenable to the Word ...

The quote awakened me this morning to thoughts of emergence, liberalism, relativism and several other "isms" that drift in and out of the fringes of evangelical Christianity. Those that water and dilute the stance of infallibility are sure to object. The church that kicks against conservative orthodoxy and believing God to have presented Himself truthfully in scripture have little sympathy for the C&MA doctrines of Simpson and Tozer or for others who defend the infallibility of scripture. My personal interest has included watching with disdain the shenanigans of the modern United Methodist Church and how conservative evangelicals are fighting to rescue their beloved church from those who deny the plain truth of Tozer's words regarding God and His revealed Word. The "isms" continue multiplying and the big tent continues to grow opening it's flaps for any comer with a coin to drop into the plate. The church needs men to stand in the gap and be a firm resistance rather than a porous fence and yes, the inspiration and infallibility of scripture is important and a big deal. The opposing view should be treated as a cancer in our midst.

Dr. Brian Abasciano Responds To Dr. Dan Wallace On The Issue Of Corporate Election

Dr. Brian Abasciano has written a response to Dr. Dan Wallace' critique of corporate election that should be read in accompaniment with Dr. Wallace' article. While some might cite the Wallace opinion as authoritative, it represents a particular Calvinist perspective that deserved a qualified academic response. The response and a link to the Wallace article can be found here.

"Who, Me?"

With all the admonishments in the Bible against ungodly behavior and attitudes, why are there so many Christians who think the words are intended for the people not reading them?

A Jazz Break ...

Stanley Turrentine was the guy my music teacher turned me to when I was first introduced to a tenor sax. I thought he was pretty cool then and now, I can appreciate his music more so than ever.

Sweet SEC ... nothing like it

Totally outside the realm of theology ... How sweet the victory. South Carolina Gamecocks knocked the Alabama Roll Tide, for all practical purposes, out of BCS Championship hopes this year with a stunning defeat in Columbia, 35 - 21 today. I'm a die hard LSU fan so any defeat of Alabama is seen as a good thing, of course.

Speaking of LSU ..... Wow. How many different ways can you prepare gator meat?

Foundry United Methodist Church Embraces Open Spiritual Whoredoms

The Methodist Thinker has a sorrowful article today on the willful whoredoms of a prominent United Methodist Church in it's embrace of homosexuality and rejection of 2,000 years of Church teaching and practice. While I am an enthusiastic supporter of the Confessing Movement, I fear their efforts might be too late for much of this utterly apostate church. Perhaps it is time for the remaining Christians in the UMC to leave and form or join with other conservative and orthodox Methodists in creating a new and Christian Methodist Church.