January 31, 2010
Matt Chandler: Suffering Well
A fair-minded and gracious Associated Press article on Matt Chandler's ongoing struggle with brain cancer. This is the first time I've been able to read about the severity of Chandler's Thanksgiving Day seizure and associated brain cancer. Here's an excerpt:
Thanksgiving morning, a normal morning at the Chandler home.And another:The coffee brews itself. Matt wakes up, pours himself a cup, black and strong like always, and sits on the couch. He feeds 6-month-old Norah from a bottle. Burps her. Puts her in her bouncy seat.
The next thing Chandler knows, he is lying in a hospital bed.
What Chandler does not remember is that he suffered a seizure and collapsed in front of the fireplace, rattling the pokers. He does not remember biting through his tongue.
He does not remember his wife, Lauren, shielding the kids as he shook on the floor. Or, later, ripping the IV out of his arm and punching a medic in the face.
On Dec. 15, Barnett shares the pathology results with the Chandlers. Tumors are designated by grade — with Grade 1 being the least aggressive and Grade 4 being the most.Read the whole thing.Chandler's tumor is a Grade 3.
The average life expectancy in such cases, Barnett says, is approximately two to three years. The doctor says later, in an interview, he believes Chandler will live longer because of the aggressive surgery, treatment and Chandler's otherwise good health.
HT: Matt Perman via Justin Taylor
January 28, 2010
Future Sovereign Grace Albums
Bob Kauflin gives a glimpse of the albums Sovereign Grace Music hopes to produce:
1. Alli en la Cruz (May 2010)
2. Walking with the Wise (June 2010)
3. The Gathering (Nov. 2010)
4. Risen (Feb. 2011)
5. Jesus is Able (release date TBD)
See his post for details.
January 27, 2010
CBS Stands By Pro-Life Tim Tebow Ad
Several years ago, CBS rejected Superbowl ads from MoveOn.org, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the United Church of Christ, which advocates gay rights. So their decision this year to run a Focus on the Family sponsored ad featuring former Florida Gator football star Tim Tebow and his mother (who was encouraged to abort Tim due to pregnancy complications) has naturally raised a few eyebrows.
CBS has acknowledged that it has changed its policy with regard to issue advertisements in the Superbowl. And they've assured all critics that the Tebow commercial has been fully vetted:
A CBS spokesman said the Tebow commercial was subjected to the "full standards process that all ads go through" and accepted only after the script was reviewed.The development is interesting in light of NBC rejecting a (similarly positive) pro-life ad last year that depicted Obama as an unborn child:
I'm glad CBS is sticking by the commercial. But I don't think we should conclude that CBS is necessarily being more virtuous. Economics may be the more dominant factor. As the LA Times recently explained:
CBS' decision on the Tebow ad comes as networks and TV stations have struggled for revenue amid a weak advertising market. Until recently, networks were routinely able to command higher rates each year for Super Bowl commercials, but that ended with the recession. CBS has been selling 30-second spots in the Feb. 7 Super Bowl for about $2.7 million each -- slightly less than NBC was able to command for last year's game -- and still has some advertising time left to sell.General Motors, Pepsico and Fedex are all staying away from the Super Bowl, according to a study by ad researcher TNS Media Intelligence. The upshot? Maybe I missed it, but has a pro-abortion-rights group sought to sponsor a gentle, gracious, issue-oriented Superbowl ad in support of their message? That might be a better strategy for them, rather than simply condemning CBS's legitimate business decision to air a tasteful ad about a mother's decision regarding her son. (And after all, who are the champions of a woman's right to choose?)
January 26, 2010
Suffering & Sovereignty of God Conference
Chris Donato and Keith Mathison have (more or less) live-blogged the recent Ligonier conference on suffering and the sovereignty of God (which ran from Friday - Saturday this past weekend, and featured R.C. Sproul and Derek Thomas).
Speaking of Ligonier Conferences, on March 26–27, 2010, Ligonier Ministries will host a West Coast Conference in Los Angeles, Calif. Michael Horton, John MacArthur, Peter Jones, and R.C. Sproul will come together "to examine many of the popular misunderstandings of the gospel in our day and seek to equip evangelicals to stand firm with the good news delivered once for all to the saints". I look forward to live-blogging the event (provided Chris and Keith haven't put me out of business).
Early-bird registration ($89) runs through January 29.
January 23, 2010
Spare the Spanking, Spoil the Report Card?
Mollie Ziegler Hemingway, writing for the Wall Street Journal, reflects on the results of a new study by Calvin College's Marjorie Gunnoe on the practice of corporal punishment, and various Christian perspectives/traditions on the topic. An excerpt:
Compared with those who had never experienced physical discipline, those who endured parental swats between the ages of 2 and 6 were much more likely to report positive academic records and optimism about their future. Even those who received their last spanking between the ages of 7 and 11 reported that they volunteered more, compared with those who had never been spanked. In fact, the never-spanked group never scored the best on any of the 11 behavioral variables analyzed. According to Prof. Gunnoe, her research, which was based on surveys of 183 adolescent children, doesn't provide answers to parents as to how they should discipline so much as undermine the rationale for banning spanking.Read the whole thing.
HT: Albert Mohler
By This We Know Love
A beautiful and uplifting song by Judah Groveman (the album is available here):
By This We Know Love from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.
January 21, 2010
The Controversy at Northwestern College
Jenna Ross, writing for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, has a lengthy, fairly even-handed article on the controversy brewing over the last few years at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN. She opens this way:
A debate dogging the quiet Christian campus of Northwestern College has the president apologizing, some alumni calling for his resignation and everyone doing a lot of praying.Read the whole thing.A group of students and alumni has accused Northwestern President Alan Cureton of weeding out conservative professors and trustees to help push the campus toward "postmodern" theology. A protest group on Facebook has drawn more than 1,200 members.
Scholars, Christians and alumni around the country are watching to see whether the controversy at the Roseville school once led by evangelist Billy Graham will reach the heights of those at such places as Baylor University in Texas, where years of infighting led to that president's resignation.
January 19, 2010
Interview with R.C. Sproul on His Latest Book - Part 2
Reformation Trust has recently released a revised and expanded version of R.C. Sproul's Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in The Christian Life
I posted part 1 of our exchange last week. Part 2 appears below.
QUESTION: How can Christians prepare to die, and in what ways are we most often neglectful in this regard?
SPROUL: We prepare to die by looking to the promises of God for our future rest and our entrance into glory. We have to keep our eyes on heaven and the reward that has been laid up before us. If we don’t, the interruption of our earthly pilgrimage will throw us for a loop, and we’ll be caught unprepared and unawares. We are to keep our minds on heaven, immersing ourselves in the Word of God and focusing our mind on what lays ahead for us. We’re to forget those things that are behind and look ahead, pressing towards the mark, which is the high calling that we have in Christ.
QUESTION: Why do you think Christians are so afraid to think about that? We do sort of ignore the reality.
SPROUL: I think it is human nature to be afraid of death. Shakespeare said it well in Hamlet. We’d rather bear with those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of, and thus conscience does make cowards of us all. It’s a place we’ve never been before, and so it’s somewhat frightening.
QUESTION: What year was your mild stroke that you had?
SPROUL: It was six years ago.
QUESTION: Did that shape or reshape your thinking about death at all?
SPROUL: No. What the stroke did was that it left me some ongoing issues with vertigo, and with an eye weakness, but the biggest problem was the loss of 65% of my brain energy. It didn’t affect my cogitative thinking or my memory, but just the energy. So that if I concentrate for any period of time, I have to take a nap and get my batteries re-charged. But as far as my mortality is concerned, I was already completely aware that I was mortal, and it didn’t frighten me.
QUESTION: In Philippians 1:21 and 22, Paul says that he was hard pressed between a continued fruitful labor in the flesh and desiring to depart and be with Christ. How should Christians, particularly those who are infirm or frail due to age or illness, balance this tension between God-honoring longing and opportunities here in this life.
SPROUL: When my mentor, John Gerstner, was in his seventies, he expressed to me an intensification of his desire to serve Christ in whatever time he had left. Even though he looked forward to entering into his heavenly bliss, he felt pressed at the end of his life to double his efforts in the service of Christ. That puzzled me at the time, and yet I have found the same kind of thoughts coming into my mind. We started our church, Saint Andrew’s, 12 years ago, and I wish it would have been 40 years ago, because I know that I don’t have that many more years ahead. I want to make sure that I can do as much as I possibly can for the kingdom in the days ahead. At the same time, I’ve had those feelings Paul expresses of being torn between two things – the desire to depart and be with Christ. I mean that’s a tremendous, tremendous thing to look forward to. Then there are times when I really get tired and have had enough of the conflict that goes with the ministry, so there’s my ambivalence there.
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on Christians and retirement?
SPROUL: I don’t think about retirement a lot in terms of the ethical implications of it. I know that we have been created to work, and that work in and of itself is not a curse. It’s a blessing. The curse, that is added to labor as a result of the fall, is the curse that makes our toil difficult with the sweat and the thorns and the thistles that struggle against us. But in an ultimate sense, in creation, work is a blessing whereby we are able to mirror and reflect the character of God because God is a working God. God rests, but He never retires. I’ve always thought, particularly in the ministry, that as long as I have strength and health to continue to be productive, that it’s not a question of “ought to” for me, it’s a question of “want to.” I mean, I want to keep involved. I’ve often said that I’ll retire when they pry my cold, dead fingers off of my Bible. But of course, health may change that. But in any case, I don’t look askance at people who do retire.
My sincere thanks to Dr. Sproul for making himself available for this interview. To read part 1 of our exchange, go here.
January 18, 2010
"I Have a Dream" - Martin Luther King Jr.
Here is the full audio and text of what is widely regarded as one of the greatest speeches of the twentieth century. If you've never heard or read it, I encourage you to do so. The content and delivery are equally masterful, full of active verbs and vivid images. Note the string of metaphors, powerfully engaging the listener.
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.
But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
January 17, 2010
Update From Matt Chandler
Left-Leaning Newspaper Endorses Scott Brown (R-MA) for U.S. Senate
The Tuesday, January 19th special election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy (D-MA) is now too close to call, with the latest polls going in the direction of State Senator Scott Brown (R).
"Impressed with his energy and with hopes for his independence," the left-leaning newspaper Cape Cod Times today endorsed Scott Brown, even though the paper itself supports Obama's health care reform plan and cap-and-trade. Their rationale (in part):
This election is about representing the people of Massachusetts on all issues.Read the whole thing. If you live in Massachusetts, I strongly urge you to vote for Scott Brown this Tuesday. Though I don't agree with him on everything, he is clearly the more balanced, liberty-leaning, fiscally-responsible, small-government candidate.While we have common ground with Coakley on some points, we have our concerns about her ability to be effective in Washington based on her underwhelming campaign. With the luxury of being the front-runner since the first day of this race, Coakley has done little to demonstrate her passion for the office and commitment to the people. She squandered an opportunity to show vision but instead has run a campaign that seemed intended to run out the clock.
It is no surprise that Brown has been gaining momentum in a state, even though Democrats outnumber Republicans three to one. He has run an energetic campaign and has been outspoken on the issues. More importantly, however, we believe he is less likely of the two candidates to toe the party line.
HT: Power Line
America's Generosity
I don't post this sort of thing often, but it should be remembered at a time like this: America, on a whole, is incredibly generous compared to other countries in the world. For more on this, I highly recommend Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism
January 13, 2010
The Disaster in Haiti
We should give generously to organizations that assist with disaster relief in the name of Jesus. Children's Hunger Fund is one such organization that I trust, and the Desiring God folk list 11 others.
Moreover at times like this many Christians wonder how to talk about natural disasters. Do they occur apart from the control of God? If so, how can we pray to an impotent deity? But if God could have prevented such a travesty, why does He allow it? What does He purpose to accomplish in it? In short, everlasting good for all who will repent and trust in Christ for deliverance from the wages and power of sin. Jesus spoke this way in Luke 13:1-5:
"There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”So the amazingly counter-cultural response is this: Don't ask "Why did it happen to them?" Rather, ask "Why did it not happen to me?" The author of Ecclesiastes says it this way: "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart" (Eccl. 7:2). In other words, death on in individual level (let alone on a massive scale) is a reminder that sin invariably leads to death and judgment (the destiny of us all), and that only in Jesus Christ bearing our judgment in His own body, on our behalf, can we be delivered from an even greater catastrophe than an earthquake.
When I first heard of the disaster, I was reminded of the devastating tsunami that hit Thailand and the surrounding areas in December 2004. Shortly after, John Piper made this observation:
The point of every deadly calamity is this: Repent. Let our hearts be broken that God means so little to us. Grieve that he is a whipping boy to be blamed for pain, but not praised for pleasure. Lament that he makes headlines only when man mocks his power, but no headlines for ten thousand days of wrath withheld. Let us rend our hearts that we love life more than we love Jesus Christ. Let us cast ourselves on the mercy of our Maker. He offers it through the death and resurrection of his Son.John Piper's interview with NPR on the 2004 tsunami remains an excellent representation of how Christians should think about natural disasters, even as we give to help those affected by them.
(Photo courtesy AP news.)
January 12, 2010
Beauty From The Heart: Lindsey Wagstaffe
Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe are two teenage ladies who are passionate about reclaiming and promoting the robust, biblical vision of true womanhood. In 2005, they founded a website for young women called Beauty from the Heart. The site quickly became a go-to spot for young women interested in recovering God's design for feminine attractiveness. Being nationally ranked public speakers, their ministry soon extended to a string of conferences on themes such as purity, modesty, and femininity.
Last week, I posted my interview with Hannah. Today, I'm posting Lindsay's responses to the same questions.
1. First of all, do you mind if I ask your age, how many siblings you have, and where you are in your schooling (what year?)?
Sure. I'm eighteen, and I have two younger sisters. I'm currently taking classes from home as a freshman with The Master's College.
2. How has your family been instrumental in the formation and cultivation of your faith in Christ?
Oh, wow. In countless ways. Since childhood, my parents made it abundantly clear that Christianity was not simply one facet of life to be dutifully attended to, but the whole orb that everything else was somehow linked to. I witnessed the gospel's veracity proven daily through their steady preoccupation with Christ.
Some of my earliest memories are of Dad opening the Bible and reading aloud to me. As I grew older and entered my teens, he constantly encouraged me to think deeply, read deeply, and ask questions of everything I read, so we began hashing out theology and philosophy on a regular basis during dinner. (I might have triumphantly escaped a few cold bowls of squash in the distraction, too. Maybe.) Those nightly conversations throughout the years were critical in the formation of my strongest convictions, and they simultaneously gave rise to deep, abiding esteem for my dad and his wisdom. During the day, Mom sang praises (often with her own lyrics), shared openly what she was learning in the Word, and told me about her longings to be with Jesus in the Better Country-- "our true home", she'd insist. The wistful, eager way she talked made it difficult to imagine the Christian's death as anything but the greatest adventure, or to associate heavenly things with dullness. But she didn't attempt to hide her own struggles from me, either-- and that gradually paved the way for me to share my own spiritual plateaus and mountain-tops freely as well. These mutual exchanges with her are now some of the most rewarding and sanctifying blessings of my life.
My sisters, too, have given me much by way of instruction, example, and encouragement. It was a great mistake when I assumed that I would be giving them one-sided instruction in the way of godliness until they were much older! Children can be wonderfully perceptive and direct (i.e., blunt) when it comes to sin, but their rib-cracking hugs, handwritten notes, kisses, and fiercely whispered "I love you"s dispense great grace as well. Interacting with them is humbling on many levels, and I'm still learning spiritual truths from their wonder, joy, trust, and unrestrained affections.
3. What sort of disciplines did your family implement that have been most influential for you?
The importance of forgiveness and keeping short, short accounts with each other has been one of the most major ones. Because my parents took the command "do not let the sun go down on your anger" in Ephesians 4 so seriously, we literally would not go to sleep-- regardless of how many painful hours and tears it took to sort out the problem-- until there was complete reconciliation between me and my parents. (Just to clarify: Only we girls bawl with each other until we have to blow our noses. Dad may have cried three times in his life, but no one is absolutely sure.) For me and my sisters, no "stewing" was permitted during the day; whenever we fought, everything halted until we apologized and re-friended each other. Likewise, Mom and Dad set the example in quick repentance when they were the ones at fault. As a result-- long past the days of prodded confessions-- I can't typically go many minutes after sinning without being impelled to eat humble pie, and then enjoy the relief that a specific, honest apology brings. It's a good kind of hurt, and it's one of the foremost disciplines that's kept our family close.
4. What books have been particularly meaningful to you?
The first that comes to mind is unquestionably The Cross-Centered Life, by C.J. Mahaney. Though I'd been surrounded by the gospel all my life, God used that little book to drive home the inadequacy of my own "righteousness", and to play a key part in driving me to Christ for repentance. Since then, my copy has become a well-worn (and often-lent) handbook, faithfully reminding me of the gospel's centrality. Shortly after becoming a Christian, my pastor gave me a copy of Knowing God by J.I. Packer, which fed and firmed my new passion with gloriously applicable theology. Desiring God, The Weight of Glory, and my book of Jonathan Edwards' sermons have all become especially dear, life-shaping "friends" to me as well.
5. When did you take up speaking and writing?
Writing and reading became two of my greatest pleasures very early on in my education, but I really turned to writing in earnest during high school. I began blogging in 2005, and discovered a passion for public speaking in 2006.
6. What are your current projects?
Schooling my youngest sister, studying, and planning for next year's California conferences are my main projects at present.
7. How can readers pray for you?
Honestly, for discipline in balancing out all my various commitments appropriately. That's a never-ending struggle for me.
Ross Douthat on Tiger Woods, Brit Hume, and Religion
Writing for the New York Times, Ross Douthat articulately explains why Brit Hume's public comments on Christianity and Tiger Woods were perfectly reasonable, yet subject to a high degree of scorn in our day:
Liberal democracy offers religious believers a bargain. Accept, as a price of citizenship, that you may never impose your convictions on your neighbor, or use state power to compel belief. In return, you will be free to practice your own faith as you see fit — and free, as well, to compete with other believers (and nonbelievers) in the marketplace of ideas.Read the whole thing.That’s the theory. In practice, the admirable principle that nobody should be persecuted for their beliefs often blurs into the more illiberal idea that nobody should ever publicly criticize another religion. Or champion one’s own faith as an alternative. Or say anything whatsoever about religion, outside the privacy of church, synagogue or home.
A week ago, Brit Hume broke all three rules at once.
January 10, 2010
Interview with R.C. Sproul on His Latest Book - Part 1
Reformation Trust has recently released a revised and expanded version of R.C. Sproul's Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in The Christian Life
QUESTION: In Surprised by Suffering
SPROUL: My father died in 1956, and he had been seriously ill for three years before, so it was a slow process, and the whole time that he was dying, it was clear that his illness was incurable and that his death was certain. The only question was when. I remember as a teenager, when I heard that nothing could be done to save my father’s life, it turned my world upside down because I grew up in an era and in a family where there was always a way to solve whatever problem came along. When this problem came, and I was told that there was no solution to it, I was stunned. I was hurt and that hurt gave way to anger. I was angry with God. I became very bitter. I was in high school, and those three years were perhaps the three most unhappy years of my life. Most people look back at high school as a time of fun and enjoyment but mine was a time with a very dark cloud over it. Then my father died in the fall of 1956 and the void in my life was profound. It was the fall of 1957, a year later, that I became a Christian. When I say that my father’s life led to my conversion, I think that it put my life in such shambles that it made me, in a sense, ready and prepared to hear the Gospel.
QUESTION: I think many of us have heard at least two phrases regarding suffering. One is, suffering develops character -- a notion that gets some warrant in Romans 5:3-5. But we've also heard that suffering reveals character. So which is it? Does suffering reveal character or develop character?
SPROUL: I think it does both. Certainly the New Testament tells us in Paul’s letter to the Romans that suffering develops character. Also, when afflictions hit us, we find out what we’re made out of. People who have a strong Christian character have a little extra in their tank to deal with afflictions and suffering. Scripture also tells us that without Christ we’re without hope in this world.
QUESTION: Now, in light of that, was it in vain that Satan sort of falsely proclaimed that if Job’s earthly blessings were removed, he would curse God to His face? In other words, was there suffering to be revealed or to be developed in Job, do you think?
SPROUL: I think the test for Job was a test of his character and a test of whether he would be able to withstand this onslaught from Satan.
QUESTION: In Colossians 1:24, Paul says, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." What is going on there? Should we ever choose or desire suffering for the sake of spiritual growth?
SPROUL: The passage in Colossians 1:24 is a controversial one. The Roman Catholic Church cites it as one of their texts to argue that the church is the continuing incarnation of Christ in both a real sense and in a redemptive sense. Whereas Protestantism understands Paul to be saying that there is a complex of suffering attached to Jesus, and that all of those who are indwelt by Christ are called to participate in His humiliation and in His afflictions if we are ever to participate in His exaltation. Yet at the same time, when we suffer and are afflicted, we are not filling up a lack of value in the sufferings of Christ. The suffering of Christ is of infinite worth, and we cannot add to it anything of a redemptive value. But we are fulfilling, as it were, our destiny as those who are in Him. Paul is not saying that he’s delighted and happy for each of his afflictions, but that he’s glad he is able to be afflicted for Christ’s sake and for the sake of the church. So what the apostle indicates in this passage is that he sees redemptive value, not in the sense of saving value, but in a positive contribution, a helpful value for his suffering for other people.
QUESTION: You observe in the book that death is a vocation. Can you explain what you mean by that?
SPROUL: What I mean by vocation is that it’s a “calling.” During my life I can be productive as a teacher of the Word of God. But there may come a time where I’m incapacitated. I may contract a terminal illness, and at that point I have a new calling, and that is to die, and to die in faith. The Bible speaks about two ways of dying. A person can die in sin, or die in faith. It’s important for Christians that we die in the faith. If we look at our deaths and our illnesses as simple accidents of nature, or the fickle finger of fate, then it’s difficult to summon the courage and the joy to persevere in the midst of that affliction. But if we realize that it is of God that we are in this situation and that He has called us to bear this at this time, it makes all the difference in the world in terms of how we’re able to handle the difficulties attached to the suffering.
I'll post part 2 of this interview next week. You can go here to read for a short overview of the book, the endorsements, and a variety of excerpts.
Update: Part 2 of the interview is now posted.
January 07, 2010
In Defense of Brit Hume
Scorn for Brit Hume, in light of his remarks about Tiger Woods, Buddhism, and Christianity, is coming from many quarters. Josh Harris is right -- Jesus says to Mr. Hume:
"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!" (Luke 6:22)Josiah Faas points out that some are calling for Hume's resignation, and that one can e-mail their support of Hume to FNS@FoxNews.com. Here's the e-mail I just sent:
Dear Fox News,
In his new capacity as a commentator (a panelist on Fox News Sunday), it seems Mr. Hume should be at liberty to state his personal views on matters, such as the Tiger Woods situation, including the theology of forgiveness in the Buddhist faith versus the Christian faith. I would observe that each of the guests on Fox News Sunday freely state their opinions on various matters -- one expects them to have a bias. Hume even prefaced his remarks by saying "I think...." The man simply stated his perspective, one he was willing to and has since defended.
Moreover, Mr. Hume's remarks about the theology of forgiveness in the Buddhist versus the Christian faith are, in one sense, objectively true. Buddhism is more ambiguous on the concept of right and wrong than Christianity. Consequently, Buddhism is less rigorous on the notion of guilt and of forgiveness than Christianity. Christian theology has a well-developed concept of forgiveness: God is able to forgive us and restore us to Himself because the justice due our transgressions was meted out in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, who, though deserving no punishment Himself, willingly paid the debt on behalf of all those who trust in Him. Christian thinking assumes both the reality of human guilt and the horror of human guilt, both of which Mr. Woods seems to feel acutely. One need not be a Christian to see the coherence and uniqueness of the Christian framework.
In short, I hope you retain Mr. Hume in his current capacity and resist the urges of those who are suggesting you do otherwise.
Respectfully submitted,
Alex Chediak
Related: Denny Burk has more.
January 05, 2010
Beauty From The Heart: Hannah Farver
Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe are two teenage ladies who are passionate about reclaiming and promoting the robust, biblical vision of true womanhood. In 2005, they founded a website for young women called Beauty from the Heart. The site quickly became a go-to spot for young women interested in recovering God's design for feminine attractiveness. Being nationally ranked public speakers, their ministry soon extended to a string of conferences on themes such as purity, modesty, and femininity.
Over the next two weeks, I'll post an introductory interview that I did with them awhile back. Today I'll post my interaction with Hannah. Next week I'll post Lindsey's answers to the same questions.
1. First of all, do you mind if I ask your age, how many siblings you have, and where you are in your schooling (what year?)?
I'm nineteen, the oldest of four, and I’m taking CLEP courses right now. You could call me a college freshman, I guess.
2. How has your family been instrumental in the formation and cultivation of your faith in Christ?
It’s tough to begin to describe their influence on me, because it’s hard to know where their influence starts and ends. My Mom led me to Christ when I was nine. My Dad leads our family in worship on Sunday. When I was a little kid, they pushed me to memorize the Bible (pushed me, because I didn’t understand then why it was so important.) They taught me that receiving good, challenging biblical teaching is vital if you want to grow as a Christian.
And, you could say my siblings help by promoting my sanctification. (Wink, wink.) Truly, daily interaction with them helps me see my own faults through how I relate to them.
3. What sort of disciplines did your family implement that have been most influential for you?
For as long as I can remember, there has been a big emphasis on Bible reading in our family. I took this for granted growing up. I didn’t realize that some people can view daily Bible studies as a form of legalism—like reading God’s Word is only something done to feel more moral than the next guy—and therefore don’t read it much at all.
I’m blessed because my parents never felt the need to caution me about that. Their conviction was, “Read it every day, even when you don’t feel like it,” because only by reading and knowing the truth in the Bible can we ever be free from such sin as legalism, dependence on ourselves, rebellion, etc. So the Bible was seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem, and I’m grateful for that perspective.
4. What books have been particularly meaningful to you?
Oi vay. As a bibliophile, this question’s a toughie. Recently, Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God and Francis Chan’s Crazy Love have helped pull my mind from the self-righteous and/or self-condemning ruts and put my identity into a more biblical perspective.
Another very meaningful book to me is, oddly, The Great Gatsby
5. When did you take up speaking and writing?
I started to write stories before I learned to spell…which means my early writing was very difficult to read. I had this really basic, circa 1992, low tech software called “Storybook Weaver” for putting together stories and I spent hours doing that as a little kid. The blog-writing part didn’t come until 2004, though.
As for speaking…I didn’t like the idea of speaking in public at all. At all, at all, at all. But Mom put me in a speech class when I was fifteen, and by sixteen I’d discovered a new love. It’s gotten easier with time, and if you love to write, I think speaking flows naturally out of that. Once you get over (or at least, learn to ignore) a fear of public speaking, the communication part is just like writing…it involves the same skills.
6. What are your current projects?
Well, besides school, trying to keep up the Beauty from the Heart blog and get one book published, I’m also working on a novel.
7. How can readers pray for you?
Wisdom would be great—and trust in God for the future.
UPDATE: My interview with Lindsey Wagstaffe has now been posted.
January 04, 2010
Brit Hume Encourages Tiger Woods To Become a Christian
Brit Hume is a senior political analyst for Fox News and a regular panelist on Fox News Sunday. Prior to that, Hume was the Washington, DC managing editor at Fox News and the anchor of Special Report with Brit Hume (until he stepped down in late 2008). He is highly respected in his field, with an active and diverse career spanning almost forty years in journalism, twenty-three of which were spent with ABC.
What many don't know is that Hume is a Christian. When he stepped down as managing editor, he made the typical observation: he wanted to spend more time with his family. But he also noted that he wanted to spend more time growing in his Christian faith:
I certainly want to pursue my faith more ardently than I have done. I'm not claiming it's impossible to do when you work in this business. I was kind of a nominal Christian for the longest time. When my son died (by suicide in 1998), I came to Christ in a way that was very meaningful to me. If a person is a Christian and tries to face up to the implications of what you say you believe, it's a pretty big thing. If you do it part time, you're not really living it.And from another interview:
How do you envision life being different on a day-to-day basis? What will you do?(HT: JT)I thought about the three G’s: God, granddaughters, golf. That’s not comprehensive, because obviously I have a chance to spend more time with my dear wife, who worked with me here for so many years and was a vice president and bureau chief. She retired two years ago. … And since my son died, I have been, really, I felt rescued by God and by Christ. I have an intense desire to pursue that more ardently and have it be a bigger part of my life than it has been.
How will that translate?
It’ll translate into Bible study. It’ll translate, I think, in the fullness of time, into work that I might be able to do, like to find the right cause, and so on. It’s a big world out there. A lot can be done.
Now, Hume is urging Tiger Woods to become a Christian:
(BTW: I don't think Tiger will be winning the Masters anytime soon. Golf (particularly for Woods) requires intense focus, and the man is distracted and distraught at the moment.)
At The Buzzer - Nothing But Net
Absolutely amazing end to the Florida vs. North Carolina State game. (My apologies to N.C. State fans.)
HT: Kevin DeYoung via Denny Burk
January 02, 2010
Gunman Who Killed David Sitton's Niece Apprehended
I previously wrote about the murder of David Sitton's niece (Makayla Sitton) and three other family members this past Thanksgiving. CNN is reporting that the killer has been apprehended:
Authorities have arrested a Florida man suspected of gunning down four of his family members on Thanksgiving, a Monroe County sheriff's spokeswoman said Saturday.Read the whole thing. Apparently, federal agents along with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida arrested Merhige tonight at the Edgewater Lodge at Long Key, FL.Paul Michael Merhige, 35, was arrested in Monroe County by U.S. Marshals Saturday night, said sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin.
January 01, 2010
Nomination for Best Worship Project of 2009
Every year Worship Leader magazine announces its “Reader’s Choice” awards. For 2009, Sovereign Grace Music's album Sons & Daughters (see previous mention) has been nominated for Best Worship Project and Best Compilation Project. If you're unfamiliar with their music, check out their site. Or check out the audio clips for each of the 12 songs on their 2009 album Sons & Daughters.
To cast your vote (scroll down to see the various categories), go to the 2009 Worship Leader Readers’ Choice Awards.
HT: Bob Kauflin
January 13-16, 2010: Seek. Engage. Defend.
This looks like a very interesting conference, particularly for those interested in helping the next generation defend the Christian faith in an increasingly hostile world. It runs from January 13-16 in Birmingham, AL and featured speakers include Alastair Begg and Ravi Zacharias.
HT: Josh Harris
James Dobson To Start New Radio Show
A month ago Dr. James Dobson announced that he would no longer be broadcasting the internationally syndicated Focus on the Family radio program as of the end of February, 2010. When a journalist with the Gazette argued that Gov. Sarah Palin might be the successor to Dr. Dobson in representing conservative Christians, Dr. Dobson responded that, "While I am leaving Focus on the Family in February, I have no intention of retiring."
Sure enough, a few days ago the seasoned counselor, author and psychologist announced on his Facebook fan page that he plans to start a new nonprofit and radio show with his son called James Dobson on the Family. It is to be "a brand new 30 minute daily radio program to be carried on numerous stations, beginning in March, 2010." The new show, Dobson writes:
"will deal with marriage, child-rearing, family finances, medical and psychological concerns, national issues, the sanctity of human life, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My son, Ryan Dobson, will co-host the program with me, which will be a exciting adventure."As of December 28, Dr. Dobson was seeking to raise $2,000,000 (the operating budget for the first year, including the costs of radio airtime) to start the new venture.
HT: Sarah Pulliam Bailey, who has more information.
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