Evangelicalism

Jason,

You may want to read this - -

http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=20-09-016-o

Mary Slessor on Missionary Recruitment

If missions are a failure, it is our failure and not God’s. If we only prayed and had more faith what a difference it would make! In Calabar we are going back every day. For years we have been going back. The China Inland Mission keep [sic] on asking for men, men, men, and they get what they want and more than we get. We keep calling for money, money, money, and we get money—of great value in its place—but not the men and the women. Where are they? When Sir Herbert Kitchener, going to to conquer the Soudan required help, thousands of the brightest of our young men were ready. Where are the soldiers of the Cross? In a recent war in Africa in a region with the same climate and the same malarial swamp as Calabar there were hundreds of offices and men offering their services, and a Royal Prince went out. But the banner of the Cross goes a-begging. Why should the queen have good soldiers and not the King of Kings?

Calvin on Holiness

Gentlemen,

I have noticed that those on the reformed side (who like Calvin) and who like the emerging church have forgotton one important thing which Calvin has said. This is what Calvin says in his commentary on 2 Peter 1:10

The import of what is said is, that the children of God are distinguished from the reprobate by this mark, that they live a godly and a holy life, because this is the design and end of election. Hence it is evident how wickedly some vile unprincipled men prattle, when they seek to make gratuitous election an excuse for all licentiousness; as though, forsooth! we may sin with impunity, because we have been predestinated to righteousness and holiness!

Really, really bad logic!

Gentlemen,

It has come to my attention that our illustrious institutions that we attended on both the undergraduate and graduate levels are organically and genetically linked to the emerging church...

On this website:
http://www.tracs.org/accredited.htm

You find a link to this school:
http://www.mhgs.edu/

Hmmmm............

:)

Interpreting the Interpreters...

This is what Carson says:

"So which shall we choose?

Experience or truth? The left wing of an airplane, or the right? Love or integrity? Study or service? Evangelism or discipleship? The front wheels of the car, or the rear? Subjective knowledge or objective knowledge? Faith or obedience?

Damn all false antitheses to hell, for they generate false gods, they perpetuate idols, they twist and distort our souls, they launch the church into violent pendulum swings whose oscillations succeed in only dividing brothers and sisters in Christ."

From: Becoming Conversand with the Emerging Church, 234

Here is what Carson really means: Can't they just get along with us? Can't they just start reading their Bibles and end up in evangelical orthodoxy?

Interesting Book?

I just finished perusing this book: http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Theology-Cultural-Interpret-Exegesis/dp/0801031672/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4282884-2067964?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185251439&sr=8-1

If you want to waste your time finding out about the spiritual parts of Eminem and the movie Gladiator, the grocery store checkout line and MySpace, then this book is for you. Now I realize that we need to understand our culture - to an extent. I also know what Romans 16:19 says...Gentlemen, this is what is coming out of "one of the best theological minds in evangelicalism" in one of the strongest and most "academic" training centers in evangelicalism.

It is also interesting that one of the endorsements for this book is Mr. MacLaren himself. I have suspected for awhile that Vanhoozer is a part of the emerging/ent church. I have not yet found a genetic link, but there are ideological links.

1 Timothy 6:20 - 2 Timothy 1:1 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

If the culture is rotten to the core, perhaps Christianity ought to offer a different culture...

Chaferian vs Reformed Sanctification

Never posted a discussion topic before, but here it goes... I have been pondering the various views of sanctification held by those in our circles (I hold the Reformed view), and I have some questions. I must admit that I have read little on the subject, yet have no time to do so at the moment. Therefore, I seek to draw on your knowledge and input (Chris, I know that have studied and hold the Chaferian view, so your help is appreciated). This is a list of questions that have popped into my brain:

*What are the distinctive points/ideas in the Chaferian model?
*Is the Chaferian model simply the Keswick model with a vocabulary makeover?
*What exactly is a "carnal Christian" by Chafer's definition?
*What exactly is a "spiritual Christian" by Chafer's definition?
*How and when does a carnal Christian become a spiritual Christian?
*Once a carnal Christian becomes a spiritual Christian, can he revert to being a carnal Christian?
*What are the Scriptural evidences of said understanding of carnal/spiritual Christianity?
*Do you believe that the idea of "carnal Christian" and the Reformed model are mutually exclusive?

Again, I ask these questions having very little understanding of the Chaferian view. I appreciate any efforts made to clarify this issue for me.