A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life

A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
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I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Some Randomly Not Necessarily Connected Thoughts


Southern Baptists are having a passionate discussion over the issue of double predestination-- the belief that God has chosen some for salvation and others for damnation. Many Southern Baptists have signed a statement rejecting the idea. This Wesleyan, who rejects double predestination as well, is watching with interest. Of course, the discussion centers around how one understands God's sovereignty. United Methodist, Shane Raynor, wrote an excellent post a week or so ago on God's sovereignty entitled, "God the Micromanager." Shane writes,
Trillions of events and choices happen on a daily basis and those things shape time as we know it. Yet God in his omnipotence and omniscience is still more than able to accomplish whatever he wants. I heard someone say once that God can win every hand, even if he only has a pair of 2's. That seems much more impressive to me than a god who is a control freak.
I agree with Shane. God is so sovereign that God does not need to choose and predestine every little choice or event, nor every large decision, like who is going to be where in eternity.The invitation is offered to all, and all are freely capable of response. (By the way, this non-Calvinist loves reading Calvin.)
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Science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury died this week at the age of 91. His book, Fahrenheit 451 was my first foray into the genre as a boy. I have since loved science fiction. Often the larger themes of these "other-worldly" dramas seem so relevant to our down-to-earth existence, aliens with green skin notwithstanding.


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CBS news chief, Les Moonves said this week something that anyone who follows journalism already knows-- the media is partisan. Anyone who is shocked by this obvious claim is either not paying attention or is much too trusting of the media to be fair. FOX News is fair and balanced only if you're a Republican, and MSNBC (who should change their call letters to MSNDNC), whose slogan is "lean forward," should simply be honest and change it to "lean leftward." I hardly watch either network anymore because I do not want to be spoon-fed partisan half-truths twisted into outright fabrications. I don't mind journalists and pundits with opinions expressing them. What I do expect is fairness and reliable reporting. You will get neither one from the evening lineups of either network.
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The great 15th-16th century thinker Desiderius Erasmus is reported to have said, "When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." Erasmus was a man after my own heart. I'll bet if had lived today he would be buying e-books.
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On women leaders in the church, Rachel Held Evans writes the following:
The reason I want to highlight the “who’s who” among biblical woman leaders today is this: Later, we will be discussing 1 Timothy 2:11-15, the passage in which Paul forbids Ephesian women from teaching in church. Unfortunately, when it comes to womanhood, many Christians tend to read the rest of scripture through the lens of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 rather than the other way around. By highlighting the many female leaders and teachers in scripture, I’m hoping to set the stage so that we see 1 Timothy 2 for what it is—an anomaly. It’s hard to argue that Paul’s statements there are meant to be universally applied when so many women from scripture are honored by God and praised by their community for teaching and exercising leadership.
I am not sure I would use the word anomaly to refer to 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (for various reasons I won't get into in this post), but I agree with Rachel's essential point-- we need to be very careful about extrapolating blanket prohibitions (or affirmations) from specific context dependent Scriptures. I fully support women as leaders in the church and I believe that God calls women into the pastoral ministry-- and I think that position is supported by the New Testament.
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When it comes to the future of Social Security, former Senator Alan Simpson (who is not known for beating around the bush) speaks the truth. Someone needs to for the sake of our children and grandchildren and their future.
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The long lost report by the first doctor to treat President Abraham Lincoln just after he was shot at Ford's Theater has been found. Such documents make history come alive again, if only for a short period of time.
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Speaking of history... and mysteries-- some researchers believe they now know what happened to Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, who disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937. As one individual said, "The evidence is plentiful-- but not conclusive yet." The next step is to search for the plane which is believed to be buried in the ocean just off the coral reef where it is suspected the two landed. If so, the mystery will be solved. If not, it will remain an intriguing and compelling mystery, which is a way to describe so many things in life.
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This Week in History: On June 3, 1647, the Puritan Parliament in Britain banned Christmas and other holidays from being celebrated. So much for the holiday spirit.

1 comment:

Donald Sensing said...

On God's will being worked out even if God does not micromanage every event, please see my post, "Clairvoyant science and the Deep Blue God."

On the 1 Timothy passage, I am sure you are aware that the passage refers to sexual worship, which is what Paul forbids. Sexual licentiousness was an endemic problem in the early church, vexing Clement of Alexandria, for example.

Ephesus was well noted in the pagan world for its enthusiastic sexual worship at the various temples, especially to Diana. What Paul is saying is that following Christ means leaving that behind.

Good explanation here.