Blogging is a funny business. The original unspoken definition of a blog used to be simply an “online journal.” But in this world of fast paced technology, everything nuances itself on its own. We really just sit back and watch things morph into what they are going to inevitably become on their own. Over the last decade, blogging morphed into a new genre. The blog has become a combination of a personal journal, on demand latest news column, a publishing industry, a networking avenue, and a promotion industry all in one.

Of course this does not apply to all blogs. There are nearly 57 million blogs with an estimated three million starting every month (HT: CT). But there are also millions of bloggers calling it quits every month. Some because of the failed high hopes of large audiences, others because of the realization of the amount of time that it takes to keep a blog. I also assume that many are tired of their inability or unwillingness to properly (and carefully) navigate the public relations that suddenly becomes a drain of mental time and often creates deep wounds. Continue Reading »

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Does the message of the Bible condescend to cultural norms? Did Paul ever exaggerate the truth? Is God ever sarcastic? Does inspiration necessitate the preclusion of certain methods of communication? How many different ways can truth be communicated? Is there such a thing as a genre of truth? 

Most would hesitate to answer this question since this is a Christian blog. More than that, it is an Evangelical Christian blog! This means that we not only believe the Bible, but we really really believe the Bible. The hesitancy turns into reluctance when we consider the postmodern tendency to doubt any truth claims along with liberalism’s skepticism about “Christian” truth claims.  Continue Reading »

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September 27, 2007

Frisco, Texas: When I started The Theology Program in 2001, I had no idea what God was going to do. We now have over 50,000 registered online and on-campus students in 110 countries. We are in hundreds of churches and soon to begin in hundreds more.

When The Theology Program grew into Reclaiming the Mind Ministries in 2006, I had no idea that the response would be so great. Our website receives over 100,000 hits daily. We are now looking to expand our ministry in ways in which we never dreamed. It blows my mind how many have endorsed and committed themselves to this ministry.

When the Parchment and Pen blog began over six months ago, (most of all) I had no idea that I would be writing so often! I really had no idea what an impact a simple blog could make. Continue Reading »

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No, it’s not a misprint. I meant Pauline scatology. Pauline eschatology—a topic that everyone assumes a Dallas Seminary prof could wax eloquent on—has to do with Paul’s view of the future, of prophecy, of end times. Pauline scatology has to do with Paul’s use of salty language, the kind of language that turns the air blue, four-letter words. We know that James and John were not averse to using this sort of language. Jesus nicknamed them the ‘sons of thunder.’ They were volatile, hotheaded, reactionary, and they could cuss like a sailor. After all, they were fishermen! So was Peter. His language was strongest when he denied the Lord. Continue Reading »

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Recently, I was watching the “local” news and was overwhelmed by the burdens of bad news that I had to take on within just a few moments. There was a shooting and someone died. There was a brutal stabbing of a realtor while she was showing a house. The details were gruesome; she was stabbed over seventy times. There was a kidnapping of a young girl with no significant leads. My heart sunk as I looked into the faces of the parents as they plead with the kidnappers to return their little girl. There was a car crash where a young teen died as he was racing one of his schoolmates. Then there were the updates on unresolved crimes and tragedies of the past few weeks that were reviewed.  I turned to Fox News and it does not get any better. The burdens continue to mount. A shooting that took place in Florida just off the highway with no leads. There was the continuing coverage of a tragic shooting where several young girls were shot by a disturbed father who then shot himself. (I have two girls who are in school. What do I do?). As well, news of Iraq war is not good. Many are still dying. Many parents would be getting the news that their sons had died. 

All the news was bad news. Not only this, but it was bad news about people I did not know and would likely never meet. At my local church (where I do know the people), there was more bad news. Continue Reading »

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Since we have so many people who not only frequent this blog, but also post, I thought it would be good for us to take an opportunity to get familiar with each other. I know that these tests are not always accurate, but I did find this particular one helpful. It seems to ask the right questions. Anyway, here is my profile. Click on this link, take the test, get the code and then post yours in a response below so that we can see yours! It is really easy.

Notice, I am an “Originator, Intellectual.” Oh yeah. I am telling my wife.

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You may be surprised to know that my series of blogs this week was inspired by Roger Olson, a man I respect very deeply. Although I don’t agree with him on many theological issues concerning salvation and theology proper, his scholarship, winsome writing style, and clarity about the importance of understanding theology irenically and historically have deeply impacted my thought and general approach to theological issues. Olson is a professor of theology at Truitt Theological Seminary. I use his textbook Mosaic of Christian Belief in The Theology Program. We had him as a guest on Converse with Scholars just a few months ago to discuss his book on Arminian theology. The primary reason why I appreciate Olson is because he often represents balance and calmness in theological issues. If you are in my profession, these traits are hard to find.

This is why I was surprised to read his response to John Piper about Minnesota bridge collapse. I did not find the Olson that I have come to know and love. Their was hardly an irenic word on the page. It was as if he had never heard of Calvinism’s belief in the sovereignty of God. His comments were defensive and very emotionally charged. Granted, he is an Arminian who does not agree with the tendencies in Calvinism to see God as one who is in charge of all things, even the most atrocious events of evil. This is understandable. While I disagree with Olson on this issue, it is not this disagreement that encouraged me to write the “Do ____ _____ and I have the Same God?” series. It was Olson’s implication that the God of Calvinism (my God) and the God of Arminianism (his God) might be different. Continue Reading »

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 Provided by
 
D.A. LaGue

In 1741, a Colonial minister confronted the established clergy with this piercing question; ‘Do you a minister of Christ; know Christ in your own heart?’ He would go on to infuse new life into the pulpits of colonial America, challenging ministers to move from dead orthodoxy to living reality.

Gilbert Tennent was born on February 5th, 1703, in Northern Ireland. Gilbert’s father, William Tennent, came to the colonies in 1718 and gained recognition as a gifted Presbyterian pastor and teacher. Concerned about the growing number of Presbyterians and the lack of competent pastors, William Tennent established a small school for training ministers in a log cabin on the farm he owned in Bucks County. During the following decade, many Presbyterian ministers were educated in this ‘Log College,’ which became the forerunner of Princeton Seminary. Continue Reading »

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I am sure that most of you are not quite as familiar with Clark Pinnock as you are with Joel Osteen. Seeing as how the conversation concerning the possible distinction between Osteen’s God and my God was quite popular and produced some good reflection, I thought that I would take it to the next level and ask the same question about Clark Pinnock. Do Clark Pinnock and I worship the same God?

Clark Pinnock is an advocate of what has popularly become known as “Open Theism” (sometimes “Neotheism” or “free-will theism”). Open theism is a theological system which surfaced within evangelicalism in the mid-nineties. Essentially, it reinterprets the nature of God. Where in Classical Theism God is eternal and unchanging, in Open Theism God is bound by time and can change. Being timebound limits His knowledge according to Open Theists. Yes, God remains omniscient (all-knowing), but only in the sense that He knows only that which can be known. The future cannot be known, therefore God does not know the future. Hense the future is “open” to God. It is not settled. Continue Reading »

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What a presumptuous question, right? The presumption is in the fact that I would even pose such a question. The question itself presumes that I might answer in the negative. What is wrong with you Michael? Why take off your irenic t-shirt with the quote from Rodney King on the back? Why do you now shod the polemic boots of battle? What would possess you to ask such a question?

Calm down. It is just a question. But your are right. The presumption behind the question does evidence my uncertainty as to its answer. I was listening to Osteen last night. He was very pleasant and had a lot of nice things to say. For the most part, except for his interjections of the word ”God” here and there, his speech was a typical motivational speech. He did not use the Bible, but he attempted to give the impression that he was. He held it in his hand the entire time. Continue Reading »

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These four criteria reveal that absolutely no original New Testament manuscripts have been discovered. So, let’s do a little speculating. What if some manuscripts were found that did fit all of these criteria? Should we regard them as authentic, as the long-lost originals of the books of the New Testament? Not necessarily. If such a manuscript were discovered—a single book, written on a scroll, paleographically dated to the first century, with a change in handwriting toward the end of the book—it could possibly be a very early copy of a New Testament book. The strongest argument for authenticity would be the change in handwriting, yet even here some scribe could emulate the apostle’s style out of respect or to show how carefully the original was copied. I would probably want to see two or perhaps even three or four other evidences of authenticity.

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What is the “True” church? #5

What is the definition of a true church? Here we will continue our discussion of what a legitimate church.

 

 The True Church #6 [28:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2848)

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Labels are a postmodern taboo. This is understandable. Once you are labeled something, you live under the presumptions of the system that has been typified by others. This representation may or may not be accurate. Unfortunately, the inaccuracies inevitably rule the label.

Republican: War lover. Does not care about the environment. Apathetic to social issues.

Democrat: Liberal. Godless. Weak. Immoral.

Roman Catholic: Worships Mary. Ignorant.

Evangelical: Fundamentalist. Gay hater. Supports the killing of abortion doctors. Republican (see above).

Baptist: Can’t drink, dance, or smoke. Prideful.

Dispensationalist: Believes in two ways of salvation, one for the Old Testament and one for the new. Cares only about eschatology.

DTS Grads: Dispensationalist (see above).

OU Sooners: The best ever. Supernatural. Incredible. (Oh, wait . . . this is all true)

Emerging church: Cursing. Compromise doctrine. Nose rings. Disrespectful. 

Arminian: Humanistic. Denies God’s sovereignty. Pelagian.

Calvinist: Follower of a man. Believes God hates the non-elect. Denies free will. Denies responsibility. Believes God created evil. Continue Reading »

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Since the blog “The Day I Became a Calvinist“ is way too long, I thought that I would take a very good question concerning the tension that Calvinism allows and post it along with my answer here. I guess it is Calvinism week here at Parchment and Pen!

_____________________________________ 

Michael . . . Please explain the statement, “The point is that Calvinism is the only system that allows tension.”

How does Calvinism allow for tension?  I am trying, I just cannot see it.

I do see both sides of the issue and really appreciate why people struggle and fall out on both sides trying very hard to stay true to the text.  Yet, I still cannot understand how Calvinism allows for tension. 

___________________________

My answer: 

Calvinism is the only system that can allow for tension. I am not saying that all Calvinists do. Some, for example, will deny God’s universal love to resolve the tension concerning God’s love and His unconditional election. But the most respectable Calvinists that I know of do not. Continue Reading »

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Christianity Today links to Reclaiming the Mind (ETS Papers).

The Theology Program started this week: We have a great group. If you would still like to enroll, you can. Go here. (God is calling to you to join.)

Parchment and Pen sister blog: The Submerging Influence is now open. Sorry to Euangelion for taking their name for so long Hey . . . its a good name. By the way, from what I have seen Euangelion is a great blog. Worth a look.

Blog of the week: Tom in the Box. This is theological satire at its best. How does this guy come up with all this stuff? Continue Reading »

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