Where Have You Gone, B.B. Warfield?

In light of a recent program on the PBS series Nova, purporting to reveal "The Bible's Buried Secrets" (giggle), I have now postulated a new theory of Brownian motion (DAN Brown, that is). My theory goes like this:

Debunked theories have a tendency to move

from obscure to cutting-edge

in direct proportion to the desperation of the antitheist.

About 8 minutes into the program "scholarship" (which apparently speaks with one unified voice now--take that, Hegel!) presented the "new" (are you serious?!?) approach called the documentary theory. More on the fallacies of the JEDP theory later; but for now, I am just amazed at the sloppy, one-sided, intellectually dishonest propaganda that is being foisted on the public, on the taxpayer's dime. Of course, since they are interested in serving the public trust, I am sure that they would be more than willing to give equal time to, say, James White, Norman Geisler, or Dan Wallace.

Yeah, right. And Whoopi Goldberg will host it.

Without His Cross

Welcome to the 21st Century . . . There's Just One Catch

HealthDay is now reporting on a study from the November issue of Psychological Science, in which it was found that teenagers' level of self-confidence has "crossed into overconfidence. Teens today possess an unrealistic self-image, with many respondents, for example, rating themselves as A-students, even when they are not making As. And just who is to blame for this?

"These kids didn't raise themselves, they got these ideas from somewhere," Twenge said. With Mom and Dad handing out endless praise, kids today readily believe they are somehow superior, she said. And teachers aren't blameless, either: According to Twenge, research shows that high school teachers now give out an "A" grade more easily than their counterparts did in the 1970s, even though today's high school students report doing less homework than students from that era.

The tragedy is that this backfires when these over-inflated egos encounter the rocky shoals of real-life. Employers now have to constantly pour incentives and perks on mediocre employees, just to keep them around. But I would make one tweak to Twenge's conclusions, courtesy of Biblical theology:

This "gimme now" mentality is not a result of indulgent parenting. It is a natural state. We are all born depraved sinners. By pouring the treacle of the self-esteem gurus into their kids, all these parents have done is provide high-octane fuel for their little sinners. If these parents and teachers were fulfilling their proper role of providing discipline and instruction as well as nurture and encouragement, the proper checks would be in place and these kids would grow into balanced adults. Instead, when the parents and teachers strive so hard to be friends, the brakes are gone, and these kids are totally unable to conduct themselves in adult society.

Which, by the way, is why adult society is soon to be a thing of the past. This is why the main objection to McCain was that he was old.

Shades of Logan's Run.

Take Heed

Let this message pierce your heart.

Douglas Wilson on Pop "Culture"

Check out this video by Douglas Wilson . . . and THINK ABOUT IT.

Good Bad Language?

So, what about the trendy use of off-color, edgy, explicit, scatalogical, even obscene and arguably profane language in the pulpit (here is a somewhat safe example -- I could link to far worse clips)? Advocates argue, as in this clip, that the Bible uses this sort of strong language, therefore it is okay for us to use it in the pulpit.

There's just one important difference I'd like to point out: whenever this sort of strong language is employed in the Bible . . . . nobody laughs.

Big difference.

Jesus came "to seek and save that which was lost". While I completely agree that God has a sense of humor I rather think Mark needs to take a second look at Jesus' use of humor, sans the deconstructionist, post-mod, eisogetical glasses.

Coming Waaaaaay Out

Okay, the news "came out" recently, and has been burning up the grapevine for a few days now, so I doubt that anyone will be shocked to hear that Ray Boltz is gay. For the record I've taken a deep pull of the same cocktail of sadness, disappointment, concern, shock, confusion, and indignation as everyone else -- well, okay, maybe I just sipped, since I'm one of those old curmudgeons who thinks Christian pop is kitsch at best, a complete oxymoron at worst. But I admit that even I felt the emotional impact of songs like "Thank You" and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb".

My point, though, and I do have one, is more about the typical imbalance we have seen in the reaction to the news. As soon as I read the story the first time I could hear the wheels of the boycott-o-matic cranking up. Sure enough, as soon as the knee-jerk conservatives caught a whiff of scandal in the breeze they started their spiritual heimlich (and, as is usually the case, ejected more baby than bathwater). I say this not to disparage conservatives -- I are one -- but to decry the standard knee-jerk, reactionary, often ill-considered, scorched-earth response. Maybe if blogs came with a waiting period . . .

Anyhoo, I'm not saying we should run out and buy his next album en masse, in the highly-touted but completely misguided spirit of mutual Christian support (really nothing more than sanctified consumerism and back-door ecumenism). For one thing, in reading his "testimony" in recent interviews there is no compelling reason to take his word that he is in fact a believer, so we might do with a more moderate level of credulity to begin with. Fans of the Fallwellian half-gospel that is so popular in areas where "Baptist" is the default denomination may take umbrage at that suggestion (after all, if he prayed a prayer he's in, right?) but Biblical data is on my side on this one.

So, no, we don't continue to buy his albums and throng his concerts in some smarmy show of love-over-discernment. But that's not where the loppers are currently poised to snip. The hue and cry that has been raised is, "stop singing any of his songs". And while there may for some be a painful connection with some of those songs to a fallen hero (next time pick a hero who has already finished the race -- may I suggest Adoniram Judson or C. H. Spurgeon), there is another question that begs to be asked:

Did Ray Boltz' admission of his sinful proclivities change true statements into false ones? Did songs he covered that proclaimed truth suddenly cease to be true? Again, for some, "Thank You" is a Ray Boltz song; and for their sake should not be sung because of the painful connections to Boltz' sin. But for most it is not a Ray Boltz song. Set aside for the moment the larger debate over whether this sort of music should be sung by Christians at all, and focus on this specific question. Did the fact of Boltz' sin make the song de facto inappropriate?

I would argue that we need to rethink the scorched earth, knee-jerk reactions that Christians often have to these issues, in favor of more careful reflection on the issues and a more measured and thoughtful response. Christians are, after all, to be a thoughtful people (e.g., Isa. 1:18)

AND, since we are also to be a discerning people we need to recognize that homosexuality is a sin, no matter who commits it.

AND, since we are also to be a compassionate people, let's be sure that in our rush to denounce we do not forget to pray that God would grant Ray Boltz repentance and draw him to the only One Who can give him the love that he obviously is desperately seeking.

A Modern Parable

Just saw this headline from Foxnews.com. Here's the byline:

Bangladesh police say a crocodile killed and ate a 25-year-old after he waded into a pond next to a shrine in an attempt to receive the animal’s blessing, news.com.au reported Friday.

So it is with false religion. What happened physically to this man happens spiritually to all who seek the blessing of false gods -- whether in Bangladesh or Salt Lake City. Tragic.

Why Expository Preaching?

Just read a great post on a touching new blog. Why is expository preaching important? Check out one pastor's story here.

Worth Your Time

This is a lengthy video, but well worth your time. Evan Sayet has some very insightful comments in this Heritage Foundation speech.

A Probing Statement

James White made a statement here that caused me to stop everything else and reflect on his challenge: many Christians today have fallen into paganism. Much of Christianity today is paganism. Why? Because the essence of paganism is worshipping a God you do not know or understand.

An excellent challenge. I think further evidence would be the way Bible verses are used as magical incantations -- words designed to have metaphysical impact, yet whose meaning is stripped away by the words being ripped from their context.

What a terrifying, yet inescapable, thought.

Love, American Style

Here is a great interview with Pastor Mark Gungor on the subject of marriage. He has a lot of great insights into the subject, and isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. Not saying I agree with 100% of what he says in his lectures, but he has a LOT to offer--not the least of which is challenging the way many churches seem to have bought into the world's way of doing this.

For more from Mark, check out the video here, as well as Mark's site.