Theology in the News

Credo House Voted the Manliest Coffee Shop in US

C. Michael Patton — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:51:16 +0000

In case you have not heard, Oklahoma City is the nations “manliest” city. I suppose that they must have stopped by the Credo House in order to make their final determination. I suppose that makes us the manliest coffee shop in the US. Pfff…as if I needed some survey to let me in on that one.

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Safe Sex? There is No Such Thing

C. Michael Patton — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:42:40 +0000

From Michael Hidalgo:

The term “Safe Sex” refers to using protection so that you don’t contract a sexually transmitted disease from your partner. It’s encourages people to use contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. “Safe sex” promises that you can sleep with someone with the proper things in their proper place, and walk away from the encounter without having contracted a disease or conceived a child.

But what “Safe Sex” ignores is that sex is far more than a physical transaction. It only considers the physical dimension of a human being. It reduces us to copulating animals, for it ignores the spiritual and emotional connection that is forged in sex.

You may be able to protect yourself physically while having sex, but the reality is “Safe Sex” is a myth. What protection is there to prevent to intertwining of minds, hearts, and souls that happens when two people are joined together sexually?

Sex, by its very nature is not safe. It is the ultimate act in giving your whole self away to another person. It requires vulnerability that no other relationship asks for. It is to be fully exposed to another human being. It’s putting your full naked self out there as a gift – that’s risky.

Read the rest.

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New Movie Explores Hell Question

C. Michael Patton — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:16:39 +0000

http://www.hellboundthemovie.com/

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Mark Roberts Discusses the Phenomenon of Facebook

C. Michael Patton — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:51:06 +0000

Getting wise about Facebook.

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Where Pastors Stand on Evolution

C. Michael Patton — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:47:57 +0000

Most in the pastorate continue to reject evolution.

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Brother of Jesus Tomb Declared Authentic

C. Michael Patton — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:01:25 +0000

This has been in and out of the news over the years. It looks like the inscription on the controversial tomb that boasts to be the ossuary of the brother of Christ, James, has been declared to be authentic, having the backing of the court of law.

The tomb was first brought to light in 2001. It had the Aramaic inscription: Ya’akov bar-Yosef akhui diYeshua, meaning ”James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”. After initially thought to be authentic, this was challenged by some. Oded Golan, the ossuary owner, was charged in 2004 with 44 counts of forgery. However, he was recently declared innocent.

After a 5-year trial, Jerusalem judge Aharon Farkash recently acquitted the defendants of all charges of forgery. But his verdict doesn’t mean the Aramaic inscription on the bone box, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus,” is authentic. It only means that the prosecution failed to present evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the inscription is a forgery.

Interestingly, the article goes on to say, “[N]ot a single paleographer of repute has challenged their analysis. Paleographically, there is no other side.”

Tim Kimberley, director of Credo House Ministries and author of Top Ten Discoveries in Biblical Archeology says, “This now makes a top ten find in Biblical archeology.”

Read the rest here.

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Throwing Conservatives Under the Bus is a Bad Idea

C. Michael Patton — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:42:44 +0000

I think that my friend Timothy Dalrymple has made a significant point that we all need to hear about our more “progressive” (as that is the term that has taken over “emerging” it seems) Christianity:

But recently I’ve seen a lot of young, progressive evangelicals denouncing and caricaturing their conservative brethren for their “culture war” concerns. But by accepting the caricatures coming mostly from secular critics, legitimating and perpetuating them, they themselves — acting out of concern for the damage done to the church and its witness — are doing great harm to the church and its witness. If we truly care for the public witness of the church, then we (liberal and conservative) need to stop slandering and caricaturing the other half of the church. Don’t throw your Christian brothers and sisters under the bus. Even if you disagree with them, you can provide a coherent, charitable explanation for what “those other evangelicals” believe.

Read the rest.

How important it is that we be careful that we don’t sell out to gain an audience at the expense of losing our family.

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ON Guard Conference Tulsa in July

C. Michael Patton — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:34:50 +0000

Mark your calendars. I will be there. Hope to see you. Make a weekend of it and travel (1.5 hours) to the Credo House.

http://www.facebook.com/OnGuardConferenceTulsa2012

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Phil Johnson Retires from Pyromaniacs

C. Michael Patton — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:10:45 +0000

Though I have not always seen eye-t0-eye with Phil Johnson, I have visited his blog for years and always appreciated many characteristics he brings to discussions. For many years, he has been at the lead of one of the most controversial and well-visited of all the Christian blogs in the world: Pyromaniacs (or TeamPyro as they came to be called once Frank and Dan were invited to join). But Phil, due to time constrains and health stewardship, has decided to quit blogging. In his words:

Thursday my doctor confirmed what I was beginning to think: I need to cut out everything non-essential in my life that causes stress without giving me any cardiovascular benefit. I hate when geriatric patients recite the details of their medical reports, so let’s just say that the doctor was serious: It’s time for me to stop burning the candle at both ends. Darlene emphatically affirmed that diagnosis. Everyone who loves me is likewise in hearty agreement.

So: (gladly, with no reluctance whatsoever) I’m officially retiring from blogging, social media, and every other activity that intrudes on things that ought to be the real priorities in the final two decades of a man’s life.

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Get a Free Copy of Bibleworks

C. Michael Patton — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:54:02 +0000

As many of you know, I use Bibleworks. I don’t know how sanctified I would be without it! I am just sayin . . .

Anyway, they are celebrating their 20th birthday and giving away two copies. If you don’t have Bibleworks, you should enter this contest (or just buy it!)

BibleWorks turned 20 this year! To celebrate, we’re giving away two full copies of BibleWorks 9 (one copy for each decade). To win, send us exactly 20 words telling us why you need a copy of BibleWorks. The winners will be selected based on humor, wit, and verve.

Enter using the form below or here on our Facebook page.

We’ll pick the two best entries by June 15, 2012 and post the winners and runner-ups shortly afterwards.

Enter the contest here.

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