Parchment & Pen Blog

Without question, one of the most disturbing traits of the world of theology is the far too often reality that grace is eclipsed by theological legalism.

Twice today I encountered this in its most blatant forms by two very different types of people. Both were very passionate about theology and both, undoubtedly, believe that their attitude toward me or my teaching is justified and honoring to the Lord. However, I believe that both of these men sacrificed a major issue of grace in defense of minor issues in theology.

The first, whose name I will not share as he is undoubtedly well-known to most of you, caught me very much off guard. (And it is not really easy to catch me off guard as I receive dozens of “hate” emails every day from those who believe it is their job to put me back on the path of theological astuteness.) This man, a significant theologian in the world of reformation theology, does not believe I take theology seriously enough. Of course his reasoning comes (I imagine) from the fact that I don’t agree with him. And, of course, if I took theology seriously, I would agree with him! Ironically, this lack of grace often comes from those who believe most strongly in the reformed “doctrines of grace.” But this man sent me one of the most ungracious emails I have ever received. And, yes, it did hurt my feelings. But more than that—believing that this man’s criticism of me comes from his general disdain from the “heresy” of Evangelical Calvinism—it discouraged me that someone who believes he is so right theologically can be so graceless personally.

The second came from a Fundamentalist who was quite disturbed that I would suggest that Catholics could be saved. To be fair, I remember in the mid-nineties when Billy Graham suggested the same on national television. I was so angry and confused. I could not believe that Billy Graham would be so theologically inept as to make such a suggestion. In order for me to retain the belief that Billy Graham was saved, I had to convince myself that he had just gone senile in his old age. But this came from someone who has been a believer for quite some time and is a leader in his local church. This one statement (“Catholics can be saved”) has served to disqualify me and my teaching. To him, I will forever be one of the many who has compromised my faith for the glory of acceptance among men. Continue Reading »

I have been watching the television all night. Though my heart is being torn out and the miserable “Why God?” thoughts run through my mind over and over again, I cannot quit watching. The number of children (twenty-four, at last count) who have lost their lives to something as fearful, tragic, and theologically uncompromising as a tornado is enough to make one lose their faith. As I get to the point of simply banging on Christ’s door, shouting, “Why? Why?!” I am strangely comforted by Christ’s words which suggest that he allows even the elect to come to a breaking point of faith through deception and suffering (Matt. 24:12, 22, 24).  I get there sometimes. If you are honest and thoughtful, so do you.

So far the death toll is up to 51. The destruction is like nothing we have ever seen (even in ’99, when the same area was hit by an F-5). The word is, this may go down in history as the worst tornado recorded history has ever seen in terms of its power and destructiveness. I am humbled by the fact that I had to put on my brakes to miss it. But I cannot say the same for some people I know. Andrew Burkhart, a good friend and pastor of Love and Justice Church in Moore, lost his home . . . No brakes to stop this loss. It is completely gone. I don’t know about his church yet and, although I have yet to talk to him, I hear that he and his family are okay. But the tragic stories will continue to surface and it is not going to get any better. The questions of blame are interesting with tornadoes. The insurance companies, unfortunately, calls these “Acts of God.” I say this is unfortunate because the insurance companies make it sound as if God is hands-off in all other tragedies except those that fall from the sky or rise up from the ground. But that (blame) is not in my thoughts right now. . .

But what about you who are far away, not living in Oklahoma? If you are watching this, you probably feel a deep sense of helplessness. You don’t know what to do. The stress that overcomes your spirit, mind, and body is tremendous. I know. Here I am just a few miles from weeping and pain, and there is little I can do. But when your thoughts turn to “Why God?” my stress increases. We all want to lift the burdens from the shoulders of those in pain, but we know there is no way to do so outside of divine intervention. But here is the problem (and I have said this before): you (those of you who are far distant from this event) are not responsible for this tragedy. I know you know that, but let me put it another way: you have no obligation – much less ability – to carry the spiritual stress of this event. It is not yours to bear. It is ours. This is our community, not yours.

Now, this may be coming off odd, so let me explain what I mean. Continue Reading »

Theology Unplugged: Roman Catholicism - Part 11 - Mariology (Part 1) [ 25:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Join Michael Patton, Tim Kimberley, JJ Seid and Sam Storms as they continue their series on Roman Catholicism by introducing the topic of Mariology.

By now many of you have heard about the tornado that came through Oklahoma City/Moore a few hours ago. First, let me say that my family and I, the Credo House, and all who work for us are safe.

Dan Wallace has been in town all weekend shooting the video for our new Credo Course. What an introduction to Oklahoma Dan has enjoyed! Yesterday, one tornado went right over his hotel, landing about 1/2 mile away. Dan took pictures of all the damage after I picked him up for dinner last night. My family and I were in our “tornado closet” waiting for it to get to us, but it passed about two miles away. That one did much damage, but there was no loss of life. However, that was not the story today.

While we were filming today, as interesting as Dan’s presentations were, students could not help but keep an eye on their phones, watching the path of the upcoming storm. One by one, students began leaving, fearing for the safety of their families. It was not long before we decided to call it a day, close the Credo House, and get Dan to the airport. Dan and I jumped in my Camaro. This is one of the few times that Dan and I decided it would be best to have the top up! I sped to try to beat the storm, but that was not to be, even with 330hp. We were about five miles away when we realized we were driving into darkness. I called my dad and asked him if there were any tornadoes. He said there were not, but he would keep me informed. It was not three minutes later when he called back and said there was a large one approaching I44. “Where on I44?” I panicked (and for an Oklahoman to panic about a tornado is something to take note of). The tornado was about two or three miles ahead, in the direction we were heading. But I kept on for a bit. Finally I realized that we were in the storm, and if I kept going we might be in the middle of it any second. I finally slowed down significantly and waited for it to pass over the highway. Dan was amazingly calm. He just had his video camera out filming everything. He arrived safely at the airport, but I may have to go pick him up in a bit.

The tornado we barely missed is the tornado that  ripped through south OKC/Moore area. The path it traveled is the same path that the infamous (even for here) 1999 tornado took. The last one took over thirty lives. It remains to be seen how many this one will take. There is utter destruction, unlike anything I have ever seen. It has been reported that this one is actually worse than the 1999 tornado. I would not be surprised. I have already seen cars on buildings, neighborhoods leveled to the ground, elementary schools gone, and a woman impaled with debris. It is almost impossible to watch. Our community here in Oklahoma is in shock. Not only did this happen again, but it happened in the same place.

I will save the religious commentary for another time. God is good. He never promised anything in this fallen and sin-stained world. It is times like these that makes so many of us yearn for the coming kingdom. “Kingdom now” stuff does not work. You know . . . all that theology about things getting better and better or the reality of Christ’s reign right now. With creation groaning the way it is here in Oklahoma, that stuff just does not work. Not here in Oklahoma. Not today.

The term “canon” refers to the accepted books of the Bible. The Protestant canon contains 66 books; other Christian traditions vary, adding a few books often referred to as the Deuterocanonical books (“second canon”) or the “Apocrypha.” A commonly accepted understanding among most Christians of all traditions is that the books that belong in the Bible cannot be added to. In other words, the canon is “closed.”

While in one sense I believe the canon is closed, in some ways I do not believe that to be necessarily true. Let me explain.

In order to maintain that the canon is closed, most Christians would refer the the first few centuries of the church. In particular, councils such as Rome, Hippo, and Carthage, as well as Athanasius’ Easter Letter, are pointed to as evidence that the canon of the New Testament had closed by the time they took place. The Old Testament, according to most, was already established and closed by the time of Christ. For this, reference could be made to the New Testament itself, the testimonies of Josephus and Philo, and some of the intertestamental works.

My contention with this assumption is that saying that the canon is “closed” needs to be understood more in an observational way rather than as an authoritative pronouncement. “Closed” might not be the best word, since it implies a necessary finality concerning the contents of Scripture.  I don’t believe we can say this (in the way we usually mean it) for two primary reasons:

1. Scripture itself does not limit the canon to 66 books. No matter how hard you look, you would be hard pressed to find a place that definitely “closes” the canon. Revelation 22:18-19 is often referred to as evidence:

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

The problem with using this passage is that it is specific to the book of Revelation. Just because the book of Revelation occurs last in our canon does not mean this warning applies to the entire Bible. It is meant to communicate a general statement about those who would be tempted to add to or take away from God’s word in general, and to the book of Revelation specifically. Yet the same warning is given in the books of Deuteronomy and Proverbs: Continue Reading »

Friends of the Ministry,

I have an incredibly exciting announcement to make. Many of you are all familiar with what we have done since 2001. Our goal has been to make high level Bible and theology training available to anyone and everyone. From our 90hr program called The Theology Program which has been in over 3,000 churches and small groups to our Coffee House with theologians hanging all over the walls, we have broken many molds. But you are not going to believe this project.

Let me introduce Credo Courses™.

Credo Courses™ is a project that seeks to preserve and make available all the greatest teachers teaching the greatest courses in Christianity. We seek to have you discipled by handpicked seminary and college professors. We will put them in your “living room” through DVD, streaming video, audio, or on your iPad! Our goal is to have 100 courses over the next ten years. Can you imagine?! We already have Dan Wallace schedule to teach New Testament Textual Criticism, Darrel Bock to teach The Historical Jesus, Sam Storms to teach Jonathan Edwards, Gary Habermas and Mike Licona to teach on The Resurrection of Jesus, and Craig Blomberg to teach on The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. As well, we are working on scheduling Tom Schreiner (Romans and New Testament Theology), Craig Keener (Miracles and New Testament Background), and Scot McKnight (Interpretation of the New Testament). The sky is the limit!

To find out more about the first course scheduled for this weekend, see here: http://kck.st/17MtT9W

This is a huge project, but it can be done. Please pray for us to get the right scholars. Pray for their ability to teach. Pray that people, pastors, fathers, mothers, and children all over the world can benefit from this.

But, like with everything else. This does take money. Please consider giving generously to this project. You can donate directly to this here: https://store.reclaimingthemind.org/donate.asp

Thanks for all your faithfulness that has allowed us to do so much for the kingdom. Your partnership is amazing. May the Lord be with us as we launch Credo Courses.

Michael Patton
President and Founder, Credo House Ministries
credohouse.org

1. Let them know that it is not abnormal to experience doubt. This does not mean that your children will experience significant doubt, it just means that doubt is a common issue they will experience, to varying degrees, in a fallen world. Typically, your child’s struggles with doubt will not start until he reaches adulthood and begins to stand on his own two feet in many ways, including in his faith walk. But if you have helped your child understand that doubt is something common to all Christians, he won’t be scared to share his struggles when they arise later in life.

2. Share with them some of the doubts you struggle with. Of course, this is assuming you have brought your children up in the faith, showing them the strength of your faith as well. However, from time to time you should feel free to let them see you wrestling with God. This lets them know you are real, especially when they are older and more reflective. Showing them your doubts may embarrass you somewhat, but it can also go far in demonstrating that your faith is not shallow, but rather is marked by thoughtfulness. Sharing your doubts from time to time legitimizes the faith you do have, so they will be less tempted to think you are just a naive follower when they are older.

3. Help them prioritize their faith now. Make sure they don’t believe all issues are equal. Help them see the difference between negotiables and non-negotiables, essentials and non-essentials, cardinal and non-cardidal issues. Ensuring they understand the distinction between doctrine and dogma prevents the “house of cards” problem so that, even if they come to question one particular issue (i.e., creationism, inerrancy, premillenialism, Calvinism, etc.), they do not find it necessary to reject their faith completely.

4. Facilitate a love of Christian heroes. With all the exposure to cultural heroes (actors, musicians, models, etc.) so typical today, it is important that your children see the characteristics of godliness exemplified by real-life Christians. These examples should come from inside and outside the Bible. Reading about the heroism of Perpetua and her servant in their martyrdom is very difficult (and may be “R” rated), but your children need to know about people who actually lived out their faith with the same resources available to them today. Learning about Augustine’s life of sin before he was converted may be something you think you need to protect your children from, but perhaps they will remember the common struggle with sin when they are older and not feel so alone (which is the most fearful thing when one is doubting). Continue Reading »

Hey everyone…we just got a rough draft of the Syllabus from Dr. Wallace regarding our new Credo Courses Kickstarter Project. Here it is!

39 Lectures on NTTC (each 22–28 minutes long):

1. Introduction: Definition of NTTC, need, primary objective. Definition of ‘original text’ and discussion on problems.
2. Number of variants
3. Nature of variants
4. Recent attempts to change the goals: Parker, Ehrman, Epp.
5. A Brief History of the Transmission of the Text: scribal changes (briefly), canon, major text-forms, disruptions in the transmission (Islam, Diocletian, Constantine and the shrinking influence of Greek)
6. How and why scribes corrupted the text (intentional, unintentional, theologically motivated, liturgically motivated, canon and changes, motive toward orthodoxy with Gospel parallels)
7. Illustrations of scribal corruption: Part 1 (unintentional errors)
8. Illustrations of scribal corruption: Part 2 (intentional changes)
9. Materials and methods used in making ancient books: Part 1 [papyri, parchment, paper; codex, ink, quires, palimpsests]
10. Materials and methods used in making ancient books: Part 2 [helps for readers and writers (Eusebian canons, leaf numbers, ekthesis, prickings)]
11. The Greek text behind the KJV: Part 1 (general on Erasmus)
12. The Greek text behind the KJV: Part 2 (1 John 5.7–8; end of Rev)
13. The Textus Receptus and the Doctrine of Preservation
14. History of NTTC since the TR (Lachmann, Tischendorf, Westcott-Hort, Zuntz, modern-day)
15. Tischendorf and the Discovery of Codex Sinaiticus
16. Westcott-Hort and the Dethroning of the TR
17. Reasoned Eclecticism principles: Part 1 (internal evidence)
18. Reasoned Eclecticism principles: Part 2 (external evidence)
19. Reasoned Eclecticism principles: Part 3 (putting it all together)
20. Some Famous MSS: Part 1 (Chester Beatty Papyri)
21. Some Famous MSS: Part 2 (Bodmer Papyri)
22. Some Famous MSS: Part 3 (Vaticanus and Sinaiticus)
23. Some Famous MSS: Part 4 (Alexandrinus and Ephraemi Rescriptus)
24. Some Famous MSS: Part 5 (Codex W)
25. Some Famous MSS: Part 6 (Codex 33 and 1739)
26. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 1 (1 Tim 3.16 and John 1.18)
27. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 2 (Matt 24.36)
28. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 3 (Mark 1.41)
29. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 4 (Matt 27.16–17)
30. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 5 (Romans 5.1 and Romans 8.1)
31. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 6 (Luke 22.43–44)
32. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 7 (Luke 23.34a)
33. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 8 (John 5.3b–4)
34. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 9 (1 Thess 2.7)
35. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 10 (Jude 5)
36. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 11 (Rev 13.18)
37. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 12 (Mark 16.9–20)
38. Some Famous Textual Problems: Part 13 (John 7.53–8.11)
39. Is what we have now what they wrote then? How can we be sure?

As you can see on our Kickstarter page we will professionally produce this class, once you help us kickstart it through your backing (wink-wink), and depending on your backing level we will get it into your hands either digitally or through physical media for you to use to deepen yourself and others for Jesus and His Word.