A House Divided?
“Rowan Williams’ proposal for a ‘two-track’ Anglican Communion is a theological disaster. Beyond this, it is almost certainly unworkable.
The reason for this is simple — both sides in this controversy see the question of homosexuality as both unavoidable and fundamental. Both sides see the question as far too important to remain unsettled. Neither side can accept the permanent disagreement of the other. …”
– Albert Mohler writes at his blog.
See also, “Are we about to go to war?” by Peter Ould and some comments by John Richardson. (Photo: ACNS.)
God the Peacemaker: Graham Cole on the Atonement
Graham Cole’s most recent book is a biblical theology of the Atonement – God the Peacemaker: How Atonement Brings Shalom.
It gets a mention at Between Two Worlds – and there’s an interview with Graham.
What does inerrancy mean? Is it essential to Christian belief?
In this video clip from The Gospel Coalition, Don Carson speaks about what Christians believe about the reliability of the Bible. (h/t Andy Naselli.)
What Men need in a church
“Most of all men need another man. If a man builds a real friendship within your church body, good things happen. A man with a ‘brother’ will be a better man at home and at work. …”
– David Moore reflects on what is helpful for men in church.
Insights from B.B. Warfield
Carl Trueman is giving the annual Eliza Ferrie public lecture at the Presbyterian Theological Centre in Burwood on Wednesday 12th August. His topic? “The Essence of Christianity and the Cross of Christ: Insights from B.B. Warfield.”
Details of this and the Confess or Die Conference (7-8 August) at the PTC website.
Do not rejoice in this
John Piper writes:
“On vacation I was meditating on Luke 10:17-20 where Jesus tells us not to be overly excited about our ability to do feats of triumph in defeating the devil. Rather he says, fix the root of your joy in this: Your names are written in heaven. Amazing.
Most of us are moved more by the fireworks of miracles than by the mere assurance of salvation. Something is amiss. So I lingered long enough here to put my heart right. And in the process wrote a poem…”
Free audio book for August 2009
For something rather different, this month’s free audiobook download from Christian Audio is Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy.
The 11 part download in mp3 format comes to 357MB and is available at www.christianaudio.com/free – use the code AUG2009 at the checkout to get it free.
New Sovereign Grace album preview
A preview of the forthcoming album ‘Sons & Daughters’ from Sovereign Grace is now online at their website.
NT Wright on GC09 and the Archbishop of Canterbury: Unpacked or Repackaged?
“It has been said of the great twentieth century theologian Karl Barth that his was ‘a maverick ego that never lost the sense of continuity with itself’.
Whether the Bishop of Durham, one of Anglicanism’s most heavyweight theologians, has a maverick ego could be an interesting debate, but a strong ego is undoubtedly an asset to any theologian. In his ‘unpacking’ of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s reflections on TEC’s recent General Convention, he clearly demonstrates continuity with himself, but there is a worrying discontinuity in the image we are given of Rowan Williams. …”
– Charles Raven at SPREAD comments on Bishop Tom Wright’s “Rowan’s Reflections: Unpacking the Archbishop’s Statement” at Fulcrum.
More ideas for connecting
Steve McCoy in the US writes, “I’ve noticed in my life and in the life of my family that 5 tools have stood out this summer as helpful for connecting with our neighbours. Here they are for you. …”
– Not everything translates exactly, but there are some good, simple ideas here.
Themelios — July 2009 edition online
The latest edition of Themelios, published by The Gospel Coalition, is available on their website.
It’s a free download in a choice of formats (e.g. a 1.2MB PDF file).
Christian Missions in the Third Millennium
“The impulse of the missionary conviction is drawn from the assurance that God saves sinners, and that He is glorifying Himself by creating a new people through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have the glad opportunity to glorify God by declaring the Gospel to all the peoples of the earth. …” (emphasis added.)
– Albert Mohler’s comments are a world away from this earlier story.
Canterbury, you’ve missed the point!
“Archbishop Rowan Williams’ Reflections on the 2009 TEC General Convention has so incensed me that I am compelled to respond with a second post for today. …
The row is about the authority of Scripture which declares the practice of homosexuality to be a sin.”
– Bishop Glenn Davies writes at SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
Trueman on John Owen
Carl Trueman gives a video introduction to Puritan theologian John Owen. It’s from Westminster Seminary on YouTube and runs for 10 minutes 20 seconds. (h/t Justin Taylor.)
Moratoria dashed
“Sad to say, just one year after the affirmations of Anglican Church unity made at the Lambeth Conference of 2008, the USA Anglicans have decided that one year was enough of a wait.
Their recent decision to affirm same sex relationships will deepen the split in the world-wide communion. All the Lambeth conversation groups (‘indabering’) bought only one year’s reprieve…”
– Bishop of Tasmania John Harrower laments the dashed hopes of Lambeth.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…