Monthly Archives: December 2011

31
Dec

Buffy and the Russian General

PROFESSOR: Now, Rasputin was associated with a certain obscure religious sect. (Buffy taps her pencil on her desk. The girl next to her glares. Buffy sees her and stops tapping the pencil but continues fidgeting) They held the tenet that … Continue reading →

Posted in Tumble | Leave a comment
29
Dec

Creation always wanted Jesus

Thomas (ST II-II, 2, 7) argues that every saved person, including Adam, had explicit knowledge of the incarnation of Christ: “the object of faith includes, properly and directly, that thing through which man obtains beatitude. Now the mystery of Christ’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology | Leave a comment
29
Dec

The red, white, and blue god

Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote in support of laws that ban flag-burning: “The flag is not simply another ‘idea’ or ‘point of view’ competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas. Millions of millions of Americans regard it with an almost … Continue reading →

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28
Dec

Quoting myself: if Jesus needed to pray how much more do we?

The contrast between Jesus and Peter could not be starker. Peter is confident that he will stand in the coming trial and he sleeps. Jesus, the very Son of God Himself, is torn up with temptation and prays prostrate on … Continue reading →

Posted in The Victory According to Mark | Leave a comment
28
Dec

Are all people God’s children?

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 … Continue reading →

Posted in Covenant Theology | 2 Comments
28
Dec

John Murray on Christian Baptism

Baptism is not an addendum to discipleship but that by which discipleship is consummated…Since discipleship is not consummated without baptism we must regard baptism as an indispensable mark of the church. The person who refuses baptism and declines the reproach … Continue reading →

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27
Dec

Explaining Baptism to Hindus in the 19th Century

[source] “Things seen are temporal, says St Paul, but things unseen are eternal. Yet though our faith goes beyond sight, and the hope, which fastens our souls as an anchor amid storms, has its holding ground behind the veil of sense, it does … Continue reading →

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27
Dec

What about Job’s other friends?

Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends … Continue reading →

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26
Dec

The Myth of the Old Testament

Perhaps I should expand on something I wrote about the hexeteuch, Genesis through Joshua: The Penteteuch refers to the first five books of the Bible, commonly called the books of Moses. (I suspect that Genesis is a compilation of ten … Continue reading →

Posted in The Story of the Bible | 1 Comment
25
Dec

Giving without being driven by necessity

God doesn’t need the incarnation any more than He needs the world. He would be the same infinitely joyful, infinitely lively and infinitely satisfied God if we had never existed and if Jesus had never been born. God doesn’t need … Continue reading →

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