“Christian” Evolutionist – Who Said It

Who made the following statement:

I believe in evolution, and I support the strong consensus of the scientific community that evolution is scientifically validated. I do not believe it is helpful to our students to cloud discussions of science with non-scientific theories like intelligent design that are not subject to experimental scrutiny.

Two for the price of one:

I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also.

Google searches will result in a sheep sheering.

The Resolute Tongue

The following is from Steve Camp’s post in response to Sinclair Ferguson’s message at the DG Conference on James 3 and the tongue. I thought it was worth noting.

Here is Sinclair’s resolutions on the taming of the tongue taken from the book of James. They are powerful, convicting, humbling and encouraging. May they stir your heart as they have mine this very hour.

• James 1:5 To ask God for wisdom to speak and with a single mind
  
• James 1:9-10 To boast only in exaltation in Christ, & humiliation in world
  
• James 1:13 To set a watch over my mouth
  
• James 1:19 To be constantly quick to hear, slow to speak
  
• James 2:1-4 To learn the gospel way of speaking to poor and the rich
  
• James 2:12 To speak always in the consciousness of the final judgment
  
• James 2:16 To never stand on anyone’s face with my words
  
• James 3:14 To never claim as reality something I do not experience
  
• James 4:1 To resist quarrelsome words in order to mortify a quarrelsome heart
  
• James 4:11 To never speak evil of another
  
• James 4:13 To never boast in what I will accomplish
  
• James 4:15 To always speak as one subject to the providences of God
  
• James 5:9 To never grumble, knowing that the Judge is at the door
  
• James 5:12 To never allow anything but total integrity in my speech
  
• James 5:13 To speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer
  
• James 5:14 To sing praises to God whenever I am cheerful
  
• James 5:14 To ask for the prayers of others when I am sick
  
• James 5:15 To confess it freely whenever I have failed
  
• James 5:15 To pray with and for one another when I am together with others
• James 5:19 To speak words of restoration when I see another wander

(HT: Steve Camp)

Death for the Godly vs. Ungodly

An undressing from his sins and infirmities

(Charles Spurgeon)

“They will go away to eternal punishment, but
the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

There is an essential difference between the death of the
godly–and the death of the ungodly. Death comes to the
ungodly man–as a penal infliction; but to the righteous–
as a summons to his Father’s palace! To the sinner–it is
an execution; to the saint–it is an undressing from his
sins and infirmities! Death to the wicked is the King of
terrors. Death to the saint is the end of terrors–the
commencement of glory!

from Grace Gems

Scripture is ‘Baby Talk’?

Sometimes I think people try to get a little too creative and cutesy in their attempts to describe things in a new way or in a manner that may speak to someone. Such is the case, I believe, with John’s Piper’s article dated 9/24 titled The Precious Gift of Baby Talk. In that article, Piper rightly makes the point of what an incredible gift language is to us when he says, “Human language is precious. It sets us off from the animals. It makes our most sophisticated scientific discoveries and our deepest emotions sharable. Above all, God chose to reveal himself to us through human language in the Bible.”

That is truly an amazing thing, when you think about it. God has revealed Himself to us, and He has done so through speech (faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ). I guess it just struck me as kind of odd to read Piper describe God’s written revelation to us as ‘baby talk’. As defined on Wikepedia, baby talk often involves shortening and simplifying words, with the possible addition of slurred words and nonverbal utterances, and can invoke a vocabulary of its own. The word that most comes to my mind when I think of baby talk is babble. Often incoherent, seldom meaningful, always goofy in the way it sounds.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand what it is that Piper is trying to say with this comparison. Compared to the communication in heaven, what we are experiencing now will seem quite simple and infantile. But, it just comes across to me as a little too strange to call the high priestly prayer ‘baby talk’. Here is what he says:

Jesus spoke baby talk. The Sermon on the Mount is our baby talk. His high priestly prayer in John 17 is baby talk. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” is baby talk. Infinitely precious, true, glorious baby talk.

More than that, God inspired an entire Bible of baby talk.

Like I said, I know the point Piper is trying to make…it just struck me a little odd to see God’s revelation likened to baby babble.

The other statement which I thought was odd was this one:

God has chosen to send his Son into our nursery and speak baby talk with us. Jesus Christ became a child with us. There was a time when Jesus himself would have said, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child and thought like a child and reasoned like a child.” That is what the incarnation means. He accommodated himself to our baby talk. He stammered with us in the nursery of human life in this age.

Jesus ‘thought’ like a child? Jesus ‘reasoned’ like a child? Jesus ’stammered’ with us? God of very God? That seems to suggest that Jesus Himself babbled while on this earth and possessed imperfect reasoning, and I’m not sure I like that description of my Savior.

Anyway, I am fully aware that I may be coming across as a little nit-picky with this, but describing God’s revealed will (the Bible) as baby talk somehow came across to me as demeaning what God did in giving us that precious gift of His word. I know Piper did not intend it that way at all. But, I guess that is what you risk doing when you attempt to describe something that is pretty much indescribable.

A Refresher on Biblical Decision Making

I am beginning to wonder if all the people who claim to directly hear from God apart from Scripture is the result of just plain laziness. Think about it. The American way is to have everything laid right in your lap and done for you. Cliffs Notes will explain what a book is about without having to read it. Speed dial on cell phones has resulted in no one actually knowing anyone’s number anymore. And GPS devices do all the work and simply tell you when to turn, resulting in a person finding their destination but still being completely lost. Making choices based upon a supposed voice from God is actually much worse, because at least the work that my other examples do can be trusted.

When we have a decision to make between two or more options, instead of trying to “hear” from God re: what to do through some bizarre sign or (heaven help us) an actual voice, why not simply evaluate each potential choice in light of God’s revealed will (the Bible). Next, eliminate the choices which violate ANY portion of what we know is right according to Scripture and, if at least two paths are still left, pray for discernment, make a decision, and trust that God grants wisdom to those who ask for it (James 1:5).

The problem many will have with this method is that it takes work, and will be considered too hard for many who would rather God just tell them what to do. It is so much easier to put God on the hook and say that He “told me to do such and such”, rather than to be diligent to present ourselves to be workmen who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In order to be able to make decisions based upon God’s revealed will, we must know what that will is, and that takes work on our part.

Why Won’t God Speak Directly to Me???

In a post published yesterday, Mark Driscoll does a great job of honoring his wife (Grace) and their marriage. Anyone who reads that entry can easily tell that he loves her immensely, and I am sure his family sees it in the way he treats Grace. This post is not about that, however. Contained within the brief historical narrative of their early years together, Mark drops a bombshell that many will simply skim by and consider a non-issue. This is what he says:

I prayed at a men’s retreat as a new Christian shortly thereafter and God spoke to me and told me to marry Grace, train men, preach the Bible, and plant churches.

Is this just another careless statement by someone who is trying to recount past events in their life, and is struggling with the right words to describe something? Hardly. I have personally witnessed Driscoll make the claim that he has actually heard God speak to him in an audible voice (and I have heard the same claim from others).

What are we to make of a claim such as this? Why do people like Driscoll (and others, including some people whom I consider to be close friends and brothers in Christ) get the special privilege of hearing directly from God while the rest of us are left to figure out what He would have us do only from His Word? Is not Scripture completely sufficient to be our rule for faith and practice? Heck…I want to hear directly from my Creator about some decisions that I need to make in my life that will affect my whole family! Why does He not talk directly to me? Why does He not talk directly to the great majority of you? What are we doing wrong, that God will not bless us with His direct presence and voice, but has instead left us to make decisions based only upon His inspired, inerrant, pure spiritual milk of the Word, while others like Driscoll get specific marching orders from the Almighty?

This is the kind of stuff that concerns me about Driscoll (and Piper, Grudem and others) more than his potty mouth and pragmatism ever will.

I have been a child of God for thirty-two years, and in those thirty-two years God has left me to figure out this life He has given me with nothing but Scripture and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. But, let me tell you something…EVERY time I have opened up my Bible and read those Scriptures, God has directly spoken to me. And He will directly speak to you that way too! I actually have pity for those who think, not only that they need to hear directly from God apart from Scripture in order to know what to do in this life, but especially for those who think they have actually heard from Him in that way.

The fastest way to undermine God’s REAL voice is to claim to have actually heard his voice apart from what He has given us in His Word.

Let’s Be Just in Our Judgments

The buzz is beginning to be heard in the blogosphere with respect to the upcoming Desiring God Conference, which will include Mark Driscoll. The topic for this year’s conference is The Power of Words and the Wonder of God, and the fact that Driscoll will be speaking on the use of harsh language has raised the ire of many who do not care for his past verbiage (I have been one of those). While I am still concerned with the way Mr. Driscoll handles himself from time to time, I would like to point out that we must be careful to make just judgments, to judge with righteous judgment, and not ourselves be guilty of misrepresenting that with which we disagree.

As a case in point, I have heard from more than one person how Driscoll has called those who disagree with his approach to speech ‘cowards’. While I am personally still uneasy with the way Driscoll speaks at times, I am compelled to speak the truth when the truth is not being put forth. This is not what Driscoll said. Here is what he said regarding those who think he goes too far:

I would push back and say that some of them are cowards…they don’t go far enough. Some of them are people pleasers and are worried about their ratings and approval as opposed to the truth. And some guys, like me, go too far and end up becoming like shock jocks trying to make sure that we don’t get ignored and that the message is heard. The question is, what’s appropriate?

Here’s the video. I would encourage you to watch it and decide for yourself. Mark makes some great observations that even I wholeheartedly agree with, especially his point that the harsh language in Scripture appears to be reserved for the religious groups.

Many, in talking about his upcoming appearance at the DG Conference, seem to have already made a judgment based upon Mark’s past. I am not sure that is making a just judgment. I for one, being a vocal critic of Driscoll in the past, am at least going to reserve my ultimate opinion until AFTER personally hearing what he has to say at the conference. I encourage you to do the same. As I commented over at the Pulpit Magazine blog:

I still think this whole discussion is a bit premature, unless the point is to discuss only what has happened in the past (sometimes far back in the past). I hope I am not evaluated on that basis, as there is much I am ashamed of from even a few years ago, in how I handled some things.

More From Gianna as She Goes After Obama

An Aborted Baby Speaks – “I was hated from conception”

The title is not to shock you or grab your attention…though it should. The title is just the truth of what is contained in this post, which is a speech from an aborted baby…one who survived the attempt on her life. As Gianna declares so correctly in this video, “You cannot cause your own heart to beat. It is the mercy of God that sustains you…even when you hate Him.” I dare you to watch these and not be affected…

Part One

Part Two

President Bush’s Press Conference re: the Born Alive Protection Act

(HT: Adrian)

What’s Wrong With This Picture

Goals are a good thing. They help provide guidance and motivation, and they assist in helping others determine what matters to the person/organization setting those goals. The following is a list of goals for 2008 for a local church:

1. We want to see 250 people regularly attending in 2008 (currently average about 200)

2. We want to see 35 people accept Christ into their hearts in 2008

3. We want to establish a Outreach Team immediately (In Progress)

4. We want to establish a Mission’s Team immediately (In Progress)

5. We want to establish a Membership Class by April (Classes forming now)

6. We want to have a Secretary on staff by April

7. We want God to bring us a Youth Pastor in 2008 (Met 02/08)

8. We want to see our Tithe offerings increase to 28,000.00 monthly in 2008

9. We want to see 50 Teenagers actively attending in 2008

10. We want to see 90 Kids attending in AWANA in 2008

11. We want to see 150 Kids at VBS in 2008

12. We want to have a Prayer Room by April (Completed 4/08)

13. We want to recarpet the main areas of our Church in 2008

14. We want to put New Tires on the Church Van immediately (Met 01/08)

15. We want to see 400 people in Church on Easter Sunday (We almost made it!)

Is it just me, or are these goals heavily numbers oriented? I guess I would hope to see even a little mention of bringing glory and honor to God, being the pillar and support of the truth, and also some focus on the spiritual growth of the members and not just the physical growth of the church (actually, I would hope to see this one as perhaps the dominate goal). If this church meets all these goals, should they consider themselves to have been successful in 2008?