Christmas Music

In a world that is increasing embracing the idea of religious inclusivity and which is shunning the traditional claims of objective truth inherent in the gospel, I am glad for Christmas music.

Even on secular radio stations like Atlanta's 98.5, there is a willingness to play Christmas music for the last two months of the year.  And I am not referring to the shoddy moralism of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" or the cheesiness of "Jingle Bell Rock," I mean real Christmas music...music about Christ.

In the past few days I have heard a number of the old, beautifully worded, and theological correct Christmas songs on 98.5.  That would include...

O' Holy Night.

Read these lyrics...this is what is so great for people to hear on a secular station.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

I am not naive enough to think that hearing these lyrics is some magic formula for folks being saved, but it can be part of the "seed-planting and watering" that we have a hand in.  I am excited because hearing about Jesus is always better than not hearing about Jesus and God can do amazing things as he makes those seeds grow!

Make Us Dangerous!

We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the twentieth century does not reckon with. But we are “harmless,” and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are “sideliners” — coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!


Jim Elliot

Does it Make God a Moral Monster if He Ordains All that Comes to Pass?

Been crazy busy as of late with the three young'uns.  As such, I have been giving little of my own thoughts and much reposting.  Don't expect this to be any different.  In fact, you should be happy to come to my blog and read stuff better organized and more thoughtful than my own brain allows...lol.

A short response to Roger Olson by John Hendryx

One of the major premises of Roger Olson's new book "Against Calvinism" is his declaration that classic Reformed doctrine of meticulous providence makes God into a moral monster, or worse, indistinguishable from the devil. He asserts that the Calvinist cannot consistently affirm that God ordains all that comes to pass, including the wicked acts of men, without also making God the author of sin.

Does it follow? Not in the least. The charge that it makes God a moral monster if the God of Scripture ordains all things, even the wicked acts of men, rests ultimately on the assumption that unless we can explain his actions then we may sit in judgment upon Him. In other words, the charge rests purely upon rationalism and extra-biblical logic. We acknowledge that we cannot explain all of God's secret acts since God has chosen not to reveal many things about Himself. But one very prominent feature of the Bible is that it frequently declares that God meticulously ordains all that comes to pass (Eph 1:11) AND that men are responsible for their actions. One major example sticks out: the greatest sin ever committed by men in history -- the crucifixion of Jesus ---when the Apostle Peter, preaching at Pentecost declares:

"...this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." (Acts 2:23)

and two chapters later in Acts it again says:

"...both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." (Acts 4:27-28)

Isaiah 53 also says

"...it was the will of the LORD to crush [bruise] him"

The Bible itself testifies, in plain language, that God ordained evil men to crucify Jesus. Yet "lawless men" are 100% responsible for carrying it out. So those who embrace the Bible as authoritative need to be able to develop a theology which fits that into their view. While you may not understand it, you must yield to what the Scripture teaches regarding God's meticulous hand of providence in all things, and His blamelessness in doing them. And just as the crucifixion of Jesus was was not done without purpose, but for a greater good, so God tell us that all things (including evil events) work for good of those who love God (Rom 8:28-30). So these things are not thoughtlessly ordained without any purpose. It would perhaps only make God a moral monster if He allowed the evil, but that its existence was ultimately meaningless or done for the sake of cruelty itself. But we know God, in His perfect wisdom, sees beyond this fleeting world to the ultimate conclusion to these matters.

There are countless examples like this in the Bible. For instance, when disaster struck Job and his family at the behest of Satan, Job did not look to second causes but acknowledged that "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away." And the text says that "in all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." ( Job 1:22).

The fatal flaw in Olson's argument flows mostly from his insistence that Calvinists must somehow explain this philosophically or else we are being inconsistent, or worse, make God into a monster. But I would argue to the contrary: since the Bible holds forth our highest presuppositions, the most consistent position possible is to yield to the Bible's teaching that both God's sovereignty and human responsibility are true. God does not tell us much about HOW he can ordain evil acts while not being guilty of evil, only shows many examples where He does so for a greater purpose, often to remind people of the human condition and need for God. Ultimately it may be a mystery for human beings to understand at the time, yet crystal clear as regards to its established truth in the Bible.

Likewise, nowhere in the Bible did God call us to work out the details of this doctrine by philosophical means, or pry into the secret things of God. Rather He calls us to be faithful to the Text that says God ordains all things, even evil, and that, at the same time, God is blameless in doing so. That He ordains sin sinlessly. I do not have to hold these truths together rationally (according to human knowledge) or philosophically but because they are axiomatic in the Bible. My understanding the intricacies of how this comes about is secondary. God is God. DO our finite minds have to understand HOW He does this in order for it to be true?

It appears that, ultimately, Olson's objections to this are moral and philosophical rather than exegetical. He is, therefore, basing his considerations and thus his theological foundations on sand. The conclusions we reach, I would contend, must be based on what the Scripture says. For the alternative is to draw our highest presuppositions from something other than an authoritative source, such as unaided human reason. It is of utmost importance that he come up with exegetical grounds for his position, rather than base his theology on an emotional reaction.

I honestly cringe for Olson when he says that if God ordains evil events then God is indistinguishable from the devil, because the Bible declares that God does ordain all events, and also declares that he does so blamelessly, i.e. without sin. And if our theology is biblical, (and I believe it is) then Dr. Olson ends up calling God a monster or worse, the devil.

Note: It should be a given for Christians, that due to the fall, all human beings are not safe from temporal and eternal punishment. Why should it, therefore, so surprise Olson that God justly exercises this authority during our lives? Judgement has already begun east of Eden and we all are subject to death. So nothing (no suffering) should surprise us here except for the great mercy He has shown us in Jesus Christ. Regarding the Tower of Siloam (Luke 13:4), Jesus declared that it did not fall on people for their particular sin(s) because they were somehow worse that others, but as a sign in this fallen world that we are all ill-deserving sinners, under a curse who need to repent and receive the mercy of Jesus Christ. Don't be surprised that the tower fell on those people - let it be a sober reminder that you deserve the same.

Do People Who Commit Suicide Go to Heaven?

What do you say if someone genuinely asks you, "Do people who commit suicide go to heaven?" Whatever you do don't answer with this: “Suicide is not the unpardonable sin. If we think that suicide is immune to the cleansing blood of Christ we have misunderstood the extent of redemption.” This might be theologically correct; it is pastorally abysmal.

We are allowed minor variations on these, but there are only two correct responses to this question: “Why do you ask?” and “It sounds like things are really hard for you. Please tell me what’s happening.”

Here is the principle: theological questions are often personal questions in disguise; they are about the burdens on a person’s heart. Please do not respond with theological propositions or ethical guidelines. Instead, use these questions as the time to know and shepherd the person.

Hmm. This sounds like prudent advice, but it also sounds a bit suspect. It sounds like an artificial and potentially dangerous distinction between theology and ministry. Shepherding is profoundly theological; I am not trying to make a distinction between the two. My concern is the theological choices. Do you choose to respond with a proposition about the unpardonable sin or the morality of suicide? Or does your theology, which in this case compels you to humility and compassion, lead you to ask at least one more question?

As shepherds we have to assimilate classroom theology into our lives so it is no longer a series of propositions. Then we will be ready to offer it in way that fits the person in front of us. These two pastoral responses: “Why do you ask?” and “It sounds like things are really hard for you...” reflect applied and personal theology. They will quickly take us to places that go beyond the ethics of suicide.

They might take us to this place: “My friend’s brother just committed suicide. And I have no idea what to say to her.” In this situation pastoral theology might lead us to say, “You obviously love this friend. Tell me a little more about what she is saying and what you think might encourage her.”

As you talk together you might remember that most people who are close to suicide feel guilty. Family and friends feel like they should have known, that they should have done or said something to prevent it. So, you could raise this issue and together consider ways to invite her friend to speak openly about it. If her friend feels guilty you might help her reframe the guilt as, “You know that we are human and don’t know all things. Maybe you are saying that you wish so much that you could have done something but couldn’t. You feel helpless more than guilty. And you feel such grief that your brother was suffering so much.” You would offer these things tentatively and with the invitation to be corrected.

Too often “theology” means “answers” and most people aren’t looking for answers. Instead, theology guides us in how to love wisely, and everyone is looking for that.

From the Resurgence

Fools Gold

Most popular Christian music is lame...this is not.

God Loves You

"He lived the life you failed to live and He died the death you should have died."





...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8


For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 
- 1 Corinthians 5: 3-8

Pastor's"American Idol"

Check out this article for 16 things that Mark Driscoll will be looking for in his "preaching contestants" on November 15th.

Here are 3 to get you interested...

1)  Tell me about Jesus

2)  Invite lost people to salvation

3)  Avoid Christian jargon and explain your terms

Make WAR!

Fairy Tales

"It was in fairy-stories that I first divined the potency of the words, and the wonder of things, such as stone, and wood, and iron; tree and grass; house and fire; bread and wine. 

Far more powerful and poignant is the effect of joy in a serious tale of Faerie. In such stories, when the sudden turn comes, we get a piercing glimpse of joy, and heart's desire, that for a moment passes outside the frame, rends indeed the very web of story, and lets a gleam come through. 

I would venture to say that approaching the Christian story from this perspective, it has long been my feeling that God redeemed the corrupt making-creatures, men, in a way fitting to this aspect, as to others, of their strange nature. 

The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. ...and among its marvels is the greatest and most complete conceivable eucatastrophe. The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation." 

- JRR Tolkien

What I'm reading - November 2011

On the back of the toliet...

The Elephant Room

The Elephant Room features blunt conversations between seven influential pastors who take differing approaches to ministry. No keynotes. No canned messages. These are “the conversations you never thought you’d hear.” All conversations are moderated by James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church.


In case you missed the inaugural Elephant Room, check this trailer out:



The Elephant Room from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.


And this coming year, the Elephant Room 2 should be pretty awesome as TD Jakes gets confronted, face to face, on his beliefs regarding the Trinity.



The Elephant Room: Round 2 from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.


There has been alot of controversy about The Elephant Room...from "its too macho" to "how can they even invite TD Jakes?"  Maybe some of the controversy is legit.  Regardless, I find the format and the potential for direct, honest communication absolutely fascinating!


Praying that God will get the glory on 1-25-2012.

The Perfection of Beauty

That is the trailer for Shai Linne's new album "The Attributes of God."

If you are not familiar with the recent explosion of "Holy Hip-Hop/ Reformed Rappers," you should be.  With beats and tracks as good as any secular artist, these young men are providing gospel-centered, theologically correct, and culturally relevant lyrics for a generation in need of the truth.

You can check out the flagship label Reach Records and a primer article for more info.

...and if you haven't seen this masterpiece of the spoken word yet, check it out...
http://jasonallenglover.blogspot.com/2011/08/truth-in-art.html