Deciding… Yet Undecided
“The strategy behind Williams’ address was not to promote his views on homosexuality directly, but to reflect on the process by which moral decisions in general should be made – not so much to play the game, so to speak, as the more ambitious task of actually trying to define what the playing field should look like.
And this is the enduring significance of his address thirteen years later as he continues to promote ‘indaba’ and ‘listening process’ strategies which focus on the process of decision making…”
– Charles Raven, author of Shadow Gospel, reviews a book on Archbishop Rowan Williams’ theology of moral decision-making – at SPREAD.
A passionate plea for doctrine
In the latest issue of Cross†Way, Anthony Rees gives 5 reasons why there is a need to recover Christian doctrine.
Read it here as a PDF file – from Church Society.
Holding the Word of God in your hands
A few weeks back, Crossway, the publishers of the ESV, hosted a dinner at a Christian booksellers’ convention in Atlanta, Georgia. They asked someone who loves God’s word to give the keynote address.
John Piper spoke about William Tyndale, the 400th anniversary of the AV, the RSV, the NRSV, the rationale for the ESV – and the incomparable worth of God’s word. You can watch his 31 minute address on Vimeo. h/t Dane Ortlund.
Idea: Registered Vimeo users can download the 175MB file. Have a big TV? Invite your Bible Study group around to watch.
The Doctrine of Baptism – DWB Robinson
Church Society has republished a 1962 paper by Donald Robinson (then Vice-Principal of Moore Theological College, and later Archbishop of Sydney) on the doctrine of Baptism.
“For our Church’s doctrine of baptism we must go first of all to the Thirty-Nine Articles. The Prayer Book services must always be interpreted in accordance with the Articles, and not the other way about.”
– This enlightening paper is available as a PDF file from Church Society.
(This has also been republished as chapter 26 in Volume 2 of Donald Robinson, Selected Works, Australian Church Record / Moore College, 2008.)
Biblical Authority in an Age of Uncertainty
In this video from The Gospel Coalition, Don Carson, John Piper and Tim Keller speak together about the importance of knowing what the Bible says.
Related: David Ould looks at the debate in the UK on Women Bishops – “It’s Just the Vibe of the Thing” – at Stand Firm.
William Taylor on ‘Why Expository Preaching?’
William Taylor spoke at a Simeon Trust workshop on Biblical Exposition, in 2008. The audio of the workshop is available on their website. Most encouraging – especially for preachers of God’s word.
Science and Genesis 3:1-24
Barry Newman is continuing to write stimulating notes as he reads through the early chapters of Genesis. He’s posted his latest complete series of explorations, “Science and Genesis 3:1-24” – as a PDF file – at his blog.
The Great Creeds
“The earliest function of the creeds was baptismal, that is for instruction beforehand and interrogation of the candidate at the baptism itself. Between their embryonic beginnings and ultimate finalization of the creed in the forms we have them further elements were added.
This was because the era between the New Testament and the finalization of the Creeds in the fourth century was chaotic, with the intrusion of serious doctrinal errors threatening the survival of apostolic truth and the unity of the church. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett is continuing to post some of his writings online.
Related: J.I. Packer: More Catechesis, Please.
Why did Jesus have to die?
In a new 5 minute video from The Gospel Coalition, David Short is asked, “Why did Jesus have to die? and What actually takes place on the Cross?”.
Also see his discussion of the question, “If homosexuality is simply another sin, why is it treated differently in churches?”.
(Worth reading in conjunction with the first video are these excerpts from an interview with John Piper.)