Phil Johnson at PyroManiac posts on labels.

Labels are an easy way to sum up a position or teaching/doctrine and I typically don’t have a problem using them. However, labels can easily get away from you (i.e. divisions within divisions and sub-divisions of those divisions, etc etc…). The subjective nature of some labels can cause problems as well. So though labels can be used to save time, they can also become counter productive.

Bobby at Mixed BAG posts two good articles on the Atonement. You can read those here and here.

I have been meaning to post on this subject but, as always, the time I have to post has been extremely limited. I did post some thoughts (comments) on his entries though.

David Wayne at JollyBlogger posts on reformed eschatology.

There is some good discussion taking place in the comments section of the above post. I think I can sum up my current position by using some of the comments already made there.

David Wayne - As a result my eschatalogy is pretty much limited to “Christ will return to judge the living and the dead.”

BlackCalvinist - In any case, I never make eschatology a major issue anymore….as long as you’re not a full preterist (then you’re a heretic and an unbeliever, IMO) or one of the rabid dispy folks (i.e. - Peter and Paul Lalonde, John Hagee and others).

Steve Camp at CampOnThis posts on how Paul confronted a pagan culture - preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Steve is notorious for posting lists of things. Fortunately, those lists usually include Scripture and/or may be almost entirely composed of Scripture.

That’s it for now.

AMDG

There has been quite a bit written about why someone should or should not maintain a blog (I am speaking of the Christian blogosphere).

The opinions seem to be pretty mixed on the issue.

I thought I would write on why I maintain a blog.

Some Christians use their blog as an outlet to tell everyone what they think on a particular subject and/or doctrine. Some Christians may use their blog as a sort of journal (and some blog about everything). I personally don’t fall squarely in either one of those categories. The second one I never quite understood. Journals are typically something private, though I suppose you could classify it as a public journal which allows interaction, discussion, and feedback.

The reason I blog is twofold.

One reason is for reference/archive. I have always found it extremely easy to go back and reference a webpage with information if I happen to host the webpage myself. It is a great place for storage of information that I can access from pretty much anywhere. Blogging makes it easy for me to record and retrieve information I find interesting.

I must admit that some of this lies in the fact that perhaps I have bad research habits. I often dive hard into a subject (study) and by the time I come to a conclusion or find my answer, I no longer have much of the supporting data that allowed me to get to that point. Now that may be ok as I did at least do my DD, I just didn’t record it. However, if I document my journey/data in a blog I can go back at any time, retrace my steps, and look at all the supporting information that allowed me to arrive at my conclusion in the first place.

The second reason is to develop, discuss, and reflect upon certain subject matter (this ties in with the above paragraph too). This is actually the main reason I started a blog. I did not start a blog so that I could push my agenda. I started a blog so that I could further develop my thought process on certain subject matter. I find that writing about something (instead of just talking about it) requires you to think harder about the subject in question. It also allows you more time to think about and research the subject. In addition, it makes you more accountable for your statements/positions. It is recorded in a format which allows a wide range of access.

The beauty of a blog is that other people can interact with you (thus helping the thought process) in a time insensitive medium. It is like a chess game without a timer. You can take all the time you need in order to write, comment, or reply.

In all, I think blogging is a good thing as long as the blogger isn’t one who is blogging merely to tell the world how right they are about everything and how wrong everyone else is.

I like to think of blogs as a form of “dialogue of thought”, and thoughts and/or positions are something that can be changed (in regards to doctrinal matters this requires Scripture of course, which should actually be the basis of all thought).

AMDG

I was going to make a blog entry regarding Christianity and movies and lo and behold I run across an entry from Tim Challies on the subject. My post was actually going to be on viewing movies with a Christian worldview (I will still post on that).

You can read what Tim has to say on the subject here, with a follow-up entry he made here.

I would like to add my name to the list of people that disagree with Tim on this subject (to an extent).

I suppose I find myself torn on this subject. I could easily see myself taking a stand that Christians should not partake in anything secular. However, I often wonder how possible that is for all Christians to adhere to. I mean how many Christians can say they live remotely similar to even the apostles, much less Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we shouldn’t attempt to live our lives as Christ did. I am not saying that we shouldn’t follow His commandments and instruction. I am just asking the questions.

I believe that you can’t just arbitrarily decide what you will partake in on a secular level and what you won’t. That is a recipe for hypocracy. So some Christians may preach/write all day long about not watching secular movies…but I ask, where does it begin and where does it end (what does secularism encompass)?

Do you buy goods made by secular companies?
Do you read secular newspapers or publications?
Do you visit secular websites?
Do you buy anything secular?
Do you partake in anything secular?
Do you listen to secular music?
What makes music “secular”? (lyrics only?)
Where do you draw the line?
Who is the judge on what one can partake in (on a secular level) and what one cannot partake in?

Now, as Christians we are quick to say Scripture is the judge…and that is truth. However, that means 99% of Christians are falling short in this area. In addition, 99.9% of Christians arbitrarily decide for themselves what they can and cannot partake in (on a secular level).

On the other side of the coin…
As Christians, all things are lawful but not all things are helpful. I have to agree with what someone else wrote in one of the posts above that how mature you are as a Christian is a big factor in relation to this subject. Another big factor is who it effects. For example, I am pretty much anti- Harry Potter anything. However, I don’t have a problem with a mature Christian reading such material. On the other hand, if they are “eating it up” in front of young children, I have a problem with it.

I believe the Lord uses men and women in all walks of life and all types of jobs to accomplish His work. I know that it is basically impossible for all Christians to completely separate themselves from culture/secularism and the world.

So the issue leaves me torn. I do know that I have a Biblical worldview and everything I view/read is filtered through that Biblical worldview. I attempt to evaluate everything in light of the Scripture. I can confidently say that for me personally I have no problems watching movies at any level (obviously some I don’t care to watch, period). However, I am responsible for more than just myself (i.e. my wife and children) and I always need to keep that in mind because it has a major impact on what I do. Similarly, we need to think about how our actions affect our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Another factor to consider is who you are “supporting” when you buy certain goods/services and/or participate in certain events/activities? Where is your money going?

So, though I can see where Tim is coming from (notice I said “to an extent” above), what I disagree with is his arbitrary (inconsistent) application.

1 Corinthians 6:12
Romans 14:1
Romans 14:5
1 Corinthians 8:12
Romans 14:21

Now, on to what I was originally going to post about. I recently watched a secular movie and I couldn’t help but think one thing throughout the entire movie. It seems that the world’s goal in movie making, book writing, etc, etc… is to destroy (or go against) the Biblical worldview (I realize there are exceptions, I am speaking in general). The diverse nature of this attack is interesting as well. Sometimes the attack is so obscure that the Christian viewer may not even notice it. Other times it may be shrouded with an appeal to man’s intellect (the flesh). With film, television, books, music, and everything else peppered with such subliminal attacks it is no wonder that many Christians use human logic (the flesh) to interpret Scripture and doctrine. It is no wonder many Christians have a hard time understanding certain Biblical truths. The world has logic on a pedestal and attacks the Biblical worldview on a daily basis (and many Christians are buying into it).

As Christians, we must mold our logic to the Scripture (not the other way around) and we must learn to filter everything through a Biblical worldview.

AMDG

Haven’t had much time to post lately and the schedule is pretty packed. I did want to post a few links though.

Islam the Religion of Peace?
Posted at Mixed BAG.
(he apparently doesn’t have individual links turned on for each post so you will have to go to his blog and search the title).

Three Faces of the Church
Because He Is God
Both posted at CampOnThis.

Off topic, Phil Johnson at PyroManiac posted a small bio on Jeff Williams. I bring it up because it is interesting to know that we have Christian astronauts out there in space reading the Word of God.

I always enjoy when Steve Camp makes posts like these. I would have to say that Steve’s blog is one of the top 5 Christian blogs and it is well worth reading regularly. His articles above (the writing style and subject matter) remind me of some of A.W. Tozer’s stuff and I enjoy that type of writing and subject matter.

AMDG