Category: Links

Mission Accomplished? Some Dangers in Past-Participle Thinking by Theodore Plantinga

What disturbs me the most is not the irony in the name of the newdenomination but the implicit one-upmanship in the names of so many smalldenominations. For example, when a congregation or denomination officiallycalls itself “orthodox,” it is implying that some other church is no longer all that orthodox, or has become liberal. The implied charge may well be true, but ithardly seems a gracious act to include the accusation in one’s name. Christiancollege A may consider itself to be more orthodox and more faithful to revealedtruth than Christian college B, but it does not send out hints in that direction inthe name it adopts for itself.

The Real Adam Issue That Gets Ignored by Tim Gallant

The Westminster California types who see themselves as defenders of Reformed orthodoxy are adamant in making the view that the Mosaic law is “a republication of the covenant of works” a sine qua non of orthodoxy on justification.

The Academy Smiles with Both Faces (NYT)

“Some Academy Awards veterans said that with its awards spread around, the Oscars began to look more like the Golden Globes, the show whose organizers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, perennially disperse prizes among a wide range of celebrities, which helps assure their presence for the broadcast.”

Christ’s Life, Death, Resurrection, and Reign Imputed by Mark Horne

“Paul is perfectly capable of mixing the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with the story of a believer’s conversion (Colossians 2.8-15). But in Ephesians 1.19-2.7 it seems to me we have the historia salutis, not the personal ordo.”

Government Stimulus, One Year Later by Ron Paul

“While the debate over its success has been focused on whether or not it is stimulating the economy and on various questionable uses of funds, in my estimation this legislation is accomplishing exactly what it was intended to accomplish – grow the government.”

The Case for Early Marriage by Mark Regnerus

“Marriage consolidates expenses—like food, child care, electricity, and gas—and over the life course drastically reduces the odds of becoming indigent or dependent on the state.”

Stronger Fidel Castro Meets with Brazil’s President

“The image, one of numerous photographs released Wednesday, shows the 83-year-old former Cuban leader looking healthier and stronger than at many points since he took ill with an undisclosed ailment 3 1/2 years ago.”

Genesis and Ancient Cosmology by John Byl

“Let me note first that the above diagram is more a reflection of the ignorance of modern scholars than of ancient civilization. Ancient man was a much keener observer of the night sky than modern desk-bound scholars.”

“It seems to me that the current attempt to read Genesis as accommodation to erroneous ancient pagan cosmology is motivated primarily by the desire to constrain biblical authority so as not to contradict modern secular science. This itself is just another form of accommodation, whereby God’s word is truncated to fit human reason.”

(NYT) Whose Christmas is it? by Michael Feinstein

As Jews, Christians, Muslims, Mormons, Buddhists and everything in between, we are all more alike than we are different. That’s something to celebrate.

Note: This type of sentimental, pluralistic non-sense is to be expected this Christmas; nevertheless, still a good article from the perspective of a Jewish singer celebrating Christmas.

Sheriff’s office: 911 came from Wood’s House

“An adult patient was taken to Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, the same place Woods was treated after he crashed his sport utility vehicle outside his home last month, fire rescue spokeswoman Genevieve Latham said. The patient’s condition was not immediately known.”

Preliminary Thoughts on Envy and the Jews by Doug Wilson

“… this means that cultural achievement and blessing, far from being a distraction from the gospel, is a necessary adjunct to the gospel. “Here, think these thoughts about Jesus in your head” is not the kind of thing that will make the Jews think long and hard about the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy.”

Locusts and Honey by Peter Leithart Continue reading “On-Line Article (s) I Read Today, XIV”

Tim Keller wants to Save Your Yuppie Soul, New York Magazine

The evangelical Christian preacher says the secular holy trinity of money, ambition, and achievement is the root of all evil. So why are so many New Yorkers flocking to him?

Credenda Agenda

Call it Stout, Though it isn’t by Eric Asimov (NYT)

Don’t Build Up by Thomas Friedman (NYT)