Book Burning a Success

I am sure that many of you were wondering how the Halloween Book Burning went: “We wanted to say that the Book Burning was a great success. It was a success because God’s Word was glorified and uplifted.” The website promises that there will be video footage soon. You can read a news article about it here. Apparently it was not exactly a book burning. Certain laws got in the way. But paper tears and is cut easily and the goal was to destroy garbage one way or another. “If there were any disappointments, it was that there were no other Independent Fundamental Baptist churches or individuals standing with us locally on the KJV. They hook up with the Southern Baptist and the Freewill Baptist to fight the liquor crowd, and the abortionist, but will not stand with the KJV, the Word of God.” Next year things will be better.

Pastor to Burn Bibles

Kathryn and I saw this article on Fox News: Pastor to Host Halloween Bible Burning Event

Apparently Pastor Marc Grizzard, of Amazing Grace Baptist Church in NC, is going to lead a Bible burning event on Halloween night. It is a social event since there will be a barbecue as well as a bonfire. The Halloween Book Burning takes place on Oct. 31, 2009 starting at 7:00 p.m. But don’t worry, they are not going to burn all Bibles. They are only going to burn every Bible that is not the King James Version 1611. This event is more than Bible burning though. They will not only burn Satan’s bibles but also Satan’s music and Satan’s popular books written by such authors as Billy Graham, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Mother Teresa, The Pope and many more.

So, what do you think? Will you be attending or will you simply donate some material?

Jeremy

Christian Basic Training

I read this online book from Bible.org called Christian Basic Training by Charles T. Buntin. It lays out what are the essential orthodox doctrines.

The Bible: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Authority

2 Tim 3:16 All of scripture is God-breathed. This extends to the words themselves not just the concepts. How exactly this was accomplished is a mystery. There are no errors in the original manuscripts of the Bible and there is ample evidence that we have a faithful transmission of the original manuscripts. Any problems that exist are minor and do not involve basic doctrines of faith. The entire Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Attributes of God

God is sovereign, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, immutable, wrathful, and love.

The Trinity

There is only one God. (Duet. 6:4) Within the one true God there exists a plurality of persons. The Father is God, Jesus Christ is God, the Holy Spirit is God. The trinity is a mystery. “Believe what the Bible teaches and don’t try to understand it.”

Person of Christ

As God, Christ  is eternal and immutable so He has always existed. Through the incarnation and virgin birth Jesus became human. He is fully God and fully human but without a sin nature.

Work of Christ

Humans are utterly sinful. (Rom. 3:10-11, 23) We have inherited a sin nature, we add to our sin, and we are powerless to change our own situation. Christ died on the cross as a substitute, a satisfaction and a propitiation. Jesus was raised literally and bodily from the grave. (Rom 4:25, 1 Cor. 15:17) Jesus will return again. (Acts 1:11, Titus 2:13)

Saved by Grace

“The Doctrine of Grace teaches that we are totally unable to save ourselves, to help in our salvation, to do anything to merit all or any part of our salvation, or to keep our salvation.” What we have to do is believe. We must exercise faith in Christ for salvation. This is not a work. It is a surrender. We are justified by faith. “If I am Justified, it is Just-as-if-I’d never sinned, and Just-as-if-I’d always been holy and done the right things.” (Rom 3:21-24)

Living a Consistent Christian Life

The fact that God saves us by faith is not a license to sin. We are now a part of his family and we are expected to act like it. God is transforming us. We have the entire Bible, both the Old Test. and New Test., to use for guidance on how to live and behave.

Jeremy

Physics of the Impossible

I found this book at Barnes & Noble on the bargain table: Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku. I thought this book was very interesting and thought provoking. The author takes a look at different things that are often mentioned and promoted in science fiction novels and he discussed whether or not the impossible could ever be possible. Some of the things discussed are things you may see in Star Trek or Star Wars like: teleportation, star ships, laser guns, time travel, etc. He has divided these various impossibilities into three categories. Category one impossibilities are things that are impossible now but do not violate the laws of physics and may be obtainable in a couple of 100 to 1,000s of years. Category two impossibilities are things that are impossible now but do not violate the laws of physics and may be obtainable in several 1,000 to millions of years or more. Category three impossibilities are things that are impossible now and if anyone ever figures out a way to achieve them then the laws of physics would have to be rewritten. The book can be a little technical at times and the author often has to talk about things that are completely theoretical (and sometimes it is difficult to sort out if something is entirely theoretical physics or established physics).

Jeremy

10 Books That Screwed Up The World

10 Books That Screwed Up The World

I found this book on the bargain shelf at Barnes and Noble. 10 Books That Screwed Up The World And 5 Others That Didn’t Help by Benjamin Wiker, PH.D. was a very interesting and thought provoking book. In the book the author goes through 15 books that have been written which he argues have had devistating consequences for society. While the author does not mention it in the introduction it becomes clear through out the book that the author is arguing against the ideas in these books from a biblical world view. Each chapter covered one book and clearly presented what the book was about, the ideas that were in the book, and how those ideas have effected society. The books covered are: The Prince, Discourse on Method, Leviathan, Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men, The Manifesto of the Communist Party, Utilitarianism,  The Descent of Man, Beyond Good and Evil, The State and Revolution, The Pivot of Civilization, Mein Kampt, The Future of an Illusion, Coming of Age in Samoa, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, and The Feminine Mystique. I had heard of some of these books and some of them I did not remember hearing about. However, even in the books I did not previously know about I have heard the ideas that were in them before. This book provides a way to understand those ideas and the flaws in them.

First Anniversary

more about “First Anniversary“, posted with vodpod

Jesus Mean and Wild

Jesus Mean and Wild

Jesus Mean and Wild by Mark Galli

I read this book after reading an article on Christianity Today.

This book was very interesting and thought provoking. The basic premise was that Christians today have fashioned Jesus into their own image rather than taking him as he really is in the Gospels. They have made Jesus meek and mild because the Jesus of the Gospels is mean and wild. He is untamable and dangerous. It uses the Gospel of Mark as its primary text for looking at the more difficult teachings of Jesus. An example is chapter 10 Sobering Power which talks about Mark 4:37-41 when Jesus quiets the sea and wind during a terrific storm. The author questions whether we really believe Jesus showed that kind of magnificent power over nature or do we only use it as a metaphor for Jesus quieting the storms in our lives. Do we really believe he “stormed through Galilee, stilling violent rains, healing the disfigured, and raising to life those whose bodies had gone stone cold dead”? If we do believe it are we “filled with fear and awe–and an unwavering confidence in his power to deliver us from evil”?  The book covered many other topics and I think gave me a new appreciation for the Gospel of Mark.

Jeremy

How We Got The Bible

How We Got The Bible

How We Got The Bible by Neil R. Lightfoot

I thought this book was very well written and presented the material in an easily understood manner. It covered a large range of material related to how we got the Bible such as the making of ancient books, the significance of textual variations, the canon of the scriptures, and the history of the translation of the Bible in English. Each chapter was short but detailed and ended with a summary of the material along with discussion questions. The author clearly has a high view of scripture as the Word of God and this book provides a clear guide to how the Word of God was handed down to us across the centuries and preserved for us.

Show Them No Mercy

Show Them No Mercy: 4 Views On God And Canaanite Genocide. This book presents four views on the Canaanite genocide recorded in the Old Testament.

The Case For Radical Discontinuity, C.S. Cowles: This author argued that everything the Christian knows and understands about God they know because of Jesus. “In the New Testament, Jesus is not defined by God; rather God is defined by Jesus.” (pg. 22) Because of this, we need to understand the Old Testament in light of Jesus and his teachings. The author says that anything in the OT that does not conform with Jesus’s teaching is not really of God. We have to use Jesus’s teaching as a way to filter the OT to discern what is really from God and what is really sinful man’s understanding of God.  “Since Jesus has come, we are under no obligation to justify that which cannot be justified, but can only be described as pre-Christ, sub-Christ, and anti-Christ.” (pg. 36) So how do you understand the Canaanite genocide? Either through “spriritual interpretation” (it did not really happen but the story teaches a spiritual truth) or through “progressive revelation” or “dispensationalism” (the Israelites were recording the truth as they understood it; and the truth changes has they continued to learn and understand who God really is and what He is really like).

The Case For Moderate Discontinuity, Eugene H. Merrill: This author argued that the war narratives in the Bible are actual historical events. He said that “Yahweh war” was “conceived by God, commanded by him, executed by him, and brought by him alone to successful conclusion.” (pg. 81) “Israel’s role in the implementation of Yahweh war needs careful attention because only Israel was authorized to carry it out in Old Testament times. The reason for this dubious priviledge is clear: Israel was the elect people of God, chosen not just to mediate the message of salvation to the world but also to serve as his agent in bringing to pass his will on the earth.” (pg. 84) There were for reasons for Yahweh war: “1) the irremediable hardness of the hearts of its victims; 2) the need to protect Israel against spiritual corruption; 3) the destruction of idolatry; 4) the education of Israel and the nations as to the character and intentions of the one true God.” (pg. 85) “The Canaanite nations…were in illegal occupation of the land God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. Moreover, they were irretrievably lost to anti-God idolatry and were certain to proselytize Israel to do the same. Yahweh war for them had to result in their utter annihilation…” (pg. 83) Finally, because only Israel could carry out Yahweh war no one else then or now is authorized to do so. “… Yahweh war as articulated in the Old Testament has no justification in the age of the church except in terms of spiritual conflict.” (pg. 91)

The Case for Eschatological Continuity, Daniel L. Gard: This author argued that Israel had a unique relationship with God as his chosen people. They were both “Church” and “State”. God is holy and just. We can not fully comprehend his holiness and justice. God used “holy war” to justly destroy wicked nations. Sometimes he fought by himself and sometimes with the help of Israel. Only Israel could engage in holy war that resulted in genocide when ordered to do so by God. “When Israel entered Canaan, other nations occupied the land. They stood in opposition not only to the nation but also to the God who had given the land to Israel.” (pg. 136). The New Testament Church is not a political entity only a theological entity. It does not take up arms. “According to the New Testament, Jesus the judge will destroy the earth and its rebellious inhabitants and, in so doing, inaugurate his glorious kingdom.” (pg. 136) The eschatological continuity is that “…God who commanded and, at times, personally executed herem against the enemies of Israel is the same God who will execute judgment and destruction at the end of time.” (pg. 135-136)

The Case fo Spiritual Continuity, Temper Longmann III: This author argues that holy war was a spiritual act – an act of worship. He points out that Israel had to be ritually pure before engaging in holy war as directed by God and that genocide was a part of what God ordered. “God did not tell Israel that its enemies were his enemies. Quite the opposite is true, actually. Israel was to be an enemy to God’s enemies.” (pg. 164) The Canaanites were “…all part of an inherently wicked culture that, if allowed to live, would morally and theologically pollute the people of Israel.” (pg. 174) The author then connects the Old Testament with the New by outlining five phases of holy war in the Bible: ” Phase 1: God Fights the Flesh-and-blood Enemies of Israel, Phase 2: God Fights Israel, Phase 3: God Will Come in the Future as Warrior, Phase 4: Jesus Christ Fights the Spiritual Powers and Authorities, Phase 5: The Final Battle.” (pg. 175-182) We are currently in Phase 4. The battle of the New Testament Church is against spiritual powers and authorities. In Phase 5 Jesus will come again “as warrior” (pg. 182) The author concludes by pointing out that the destruction of the Canaanites is an example of the coming Final Judgment.

Since I reject the first choice I do not know which of the other three choices I think is the best explanation. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. I guess part of the decision is do I see more discontinuity or continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. This leads to another question. Since there is so much information in the Bible people develop theological systems to understand it all. So which theological system would I lean to more: Dispensational Theology, Covenantal Theology, Cristocentric Theology, Remenant Theology, Biblical Theology, etc. The main two that seem to be represented in the Counterpoint Series are Dispensational and Covenantal Theology.

Reasonable Faith

Reasonable Faith

Reasonable Faith Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig.

The first chapter starts off with a discussion of the relationship between faith and reason. It provides a historical background from the medieval, enlightenment and contemporary time periods highlighting the thinking of several prominent figures from each period. The author then comes back to the central question: How do I know that Christianity is true? He then creates a distinction between knowing Christianity is true and showing Christianity is true. The way “we know Christianity to be true is by the self-authenticating witness of God’s Holy Spirit.” (pg 43) “The apostle John also makes quite clear that it is the Holy Spirit within us who gives believers conviction of the truth of Christianity.” (pg 44) (1 John 2:20, 27) The roles of argument and evidence are the roles of a servant. Argument and evidence are used to support the conclusion that Christianity is true. When showing that Christianity is true, the roles are somewhat reversed. “The task of showing that Christianity is true involves the presentation of sound and persuasive arguments for Christian truth claims.” (pg 52) This is done with deductive and inductive arguments. It should be kept in mind that these arguments only amount to “probability rather than certainty.” (pg 55) “The role of the Holy Spirit is to use our arguments to convince the unbeliever of the truth of Christianity.” (pg 56) However, since the unbeliever may be resisting the Holy Spirit they may remain unconvinced even by the most convincing arguments.

The second chapter dealt with “the human predicament” or the “significance of human life in a post-theistic universe.” (pg 65) It started off with a historical background that looked at what different Christian thinkers have said about the human predicament. In the assessment section it discussed the absurdity of life without God and immortality. He showed that there is no ultimate meaning, no ultimate value and no ultimate purpose without God and immortality. He uses several different arguments to demonstrate that the atheistic worldview is insufficient. Without immortality “the human race will eventually cease to exist, it makes no ultimate difference whether it ever did exist.” (pg 73) In a universe without God “good and evil do not exist…there is no hope; there is no purpose.” (pg 75-76) “Biblical Christianity therefore provides the two conditions necessary for a meaningful, valuable, and purposeful life for man: God and immortality.” (pg 86)

The third and fourth chapters are about the existence of God. It starts off with an historical background discussing several different approaches that Christian thinkers have used to demonstrate the existence of God. In the assessment section the author reviews several different arguments that he finds convincing. He also goes in depth into each argument and the counter-arguments usually given against them.  The following are the arguments used: Leibnizian Cosmological Argument, Kalam Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument, Moral Argument, Ontological Argument. Some of these arguments required an in-depth discussion of philosophy and scientific theories. These two chapters were the hardest to understand. The premises and conclusions of the arguments are not difficult. The difficulty comes when arguing for each premise and countering every argument against the premises and conclusions. The author did point out that if the person you are talking to accepts the premises of the argument you did not need to defend each premise but you should be prepared to defend each premise.

The fifth chapter dealt with the Problem of Historical Knowledge. It started off with an historical review of different approaches and theories about history. This leads to a discussion of current methods and theories of the study of history particularly relativism and post modernism. “Contemporary historical relativism thus comprises two challenges to any claim to know the past as it actually happened: (1) non-realism, or constructionism, the view that all we know are historical reconstructions of the past, rather than the past itself, and (2) non-objectivism, or subjectivism, the view that no historical reconstruction can legitimately claim to be superior to alternative reconstructions.” (pg 217) The assessment section consists of in-depth discussion and critique of these two positions. The author makes convincing arguments that historical evidence can be known and historical explanations can be compared and weighed to determine which explanation best corresponds with the evidence. “Therefore, we can conclude that neither the supposed problem of lack of direct access to the past nor the supposed problem of lack of neutrality can prevent us from learning something from history. And if Christianity’s claims to be a religion rooted in history are true, then history may lead us to a knowledge of God himself.” (pg 240)

The sixth chapter covers the Problem of Miracles. The historical background section covered several Deistic thinkers and objections to miracles. In the assessment section the author takes the time to counter each of these Deistic thinkers and their objections. Basically the author argues that it is possible for God to act in the world and that we can objectively look at the evidence and come to the conclusion that God is the best explanation for the act.

The seventh chapter was about The Self-Understanding of Jesus. The chapter sought to answer the question what can we know about Jesus. The historical section covered the Life of Jesus Movement and the Quest for the Historical Jesus. The assessment section discussed problems with the different quests for the historical Jesus. It then used a set of factors that can be used to determine if some statement is authentic: “(1) Historical congruence, (2) Independent, early attestation, (3) Embarrassment, (4) Dissimilarity, (5) Semitisms, (6) Coherence.” (pg 298) Based on these factors the author then looked at the things Jesus said about himself and some of the things he did that give understanding to whom he thought he was. “[Jesus] is a man who thought of himself as the promised Messiah, God’s only Son, the Danielic Son of Man to whom all dominion and authority would be given, who claimed to act and speak with divine authority, who held himself to be a worker of miracles, and who believed that people’s eternal destiny hinged on whether or not they believed in him.” (pg 326)

The eigth chapter was about The Resurrection of Jesus. The historical background section discussed the traditional apologetic argument for the resurrection, the advance of biblical criticism and the tide of subjectivism. In the assessment section the author lays out what he thinks a sound argument for the resurrection would be. “Any historical argument for Jesus’ resurrection will have two steps…(1) to establish the facts which will serve as historical evidence and (2) to argue that the hypothesis of Jesus’ resurrection is the best or most probable explanation of those facts.” (pg 350) The author then rests his argument on “three great, independently established facts: the empty tomb, the resurrection appearances, and the origin of the Christian faith. If these three facts can be established and no plausible natural explanation can account for them as well as the resurrection hypothesis, then one is justified in inferring Jesus’ resurrection as the most plausible explanation of the data.” (pg 360-361) The rest of the chapter consists of establishing these three facts and comparing the resurrection hypothesis to competing hypotheses.

This book was very good but also very difficult and challenging. In the preface the author states that the book is written on a seminary level and this holds true. I found some of the philosophical arguments difficult to follow. I thought some of the cosmological arguments were difficult when came to explaining and understanding the competing cosmological theories to The Standard Model (Big Bang). After this section the book went into areas I found easier to grasp. I thought the final two chapters were done very well and were very convincing. The author has a companion web site to this book.

Jeremy