Fluency

The issue of the biblical account of creation and how much contradiction or compatibility there can be with the science of origins continues to challenge theologians, Christian scientist, pastors and layman alike.

A recent video interview with Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke, which has since be removed has cause another set of volleys in the debate.

To read a bit of what has transpired and Waltke’s brief clarification
The content of the video
The response

Additional Posts
Tony Reinke

Dr. Bruce Waltke’s Statement of Clarification:

“I had not seen the video before it was distributed. Having seen it, I realize its deficiency and wish to put my comments in a fuller theological context:

1. Adam and Eve are historical figures from whom all humans are descended; they are uniquely created in the image of God and as such are not in continuum with animals.
2. Adam is the federal and historical head of the fallen human race just as Jesus Christ is the federal and historical head of the Church.
3. I am not a scientist, but I have familiarized myself with attempts to harmonize Genesis 1-3 with science, and I believe that creation by the process of evolution is a tenable Biblical position, and, as represented by BioLogos, the best Christian apologetic to defend Genesis 1-3 against its critics.
4. I apologize for giving the impression that others who seek to harmonize the two differently are not credible. I honor all who contend for the Christian faith.
5. Evolution as a process must be clearly distinguished from evolutionism as a philosophy. The latter is incompatible with orthodox Christian theology.
6. Science is fallible and subject to revision. As a human and social enterprise, science will always be in flux. My first commitment is to the infallibility (as to its authority) and inerrancy (as to its Source) of Scripture.
7. God could have created the Garden of Eden with apparent age or miraculously, even as Christ instantly turned water into wine, but the statement that God “caused the trees to grow” argues against these notions.
8. I believe that the Triune God is Maker and Sustainer of heaven and earth and that biblical Adam is the historical head of the human race.
9. Theological comments made here are mostly a digest of my chapters on Genesis 1-3 in An Old Testament Theology (Zondervan, 2007).”

A good reminder from John Piper,

I encourage you to measure your favorite authors and your favorite quotes by what the Bible teaches and what the Bible includes.

You can read the entire post here.

This month only you can download John Piper’s book, Desiring God, for free at Christian Audio (great place to get audio books).  When you check out make sure you include the coupon code DG2009.

I just finished listening to Max McLean’s presentation of the historical setting and speech of Martin Luther which ended with the now famous quote

“Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require from me a clear, simple, and precise answer, I will give you one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the councils, because it is clear as the day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning, unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help me. Amen.”

You can download it free at  Listeners Bible. I recommend the higher quality which has sections.  The total length is 24 minutes.

Rob Bell has caused a stir among bloggers for his fairly incomplete definition of the term/movement  ”evangelical.”

While I appreciate Rob Bell’s creativity, and would not want to judge his motives (I’ve not met him, nor read enough of his writing), I don’t find his logic, exegesis or theology very sound.

So, what is an Evangelical?

Here is a good definition which highlights the central driving features of evangelicalism.

To define “evangelical” we need to pay attention to those who have made it their life study to come to terms with this movement, and two scholars have done just that: Mark Noll in the USA and David Bebbington (The Dominance of Evangelicalism: The Age of Spurgeon And Moody (History of Evangelicalism) ) in the UK. They agree on this: an evangelical is a Christian Protestant for whom the central ideas are the leading authority of Scripture, the necessity of personal conversion, the centrality of the death of Christ on the cross as a substitutionary atonement, and the importance of a life of active following Jesus, seen in such things as Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and deeds of compassion and justice. That is the standard definition of evangelical. This definition summarizes those who care about getting this term accurate. It is not a definition designed to exclude some of whom they are worried. It’s big tent definition, but it bears no ill-will toward others.

Now my observation today: I’m seeing a baffling desire by many who almost never talk about any of the above four ideas (as central to what they believe) but for some reason want to be called “evangelical.” They make a point to say they are evangelical. To be committed to justice or compassion as the central pursuit in life does not make one an evangelical, though evangelicals should be committed to justice and to compassion — and shame on those who aren’t. But what makes an evangelical is a commitment to the above four ideas (Bible, conversion, cross, discipleship).

It appears to me that American Christianity has developed false dichotomies.  Separating items that should not be separated.  In essence we have developed a belief in “either or” rather than the potential of “both and”.

Let me illustrate.

Within the church and missions circles we have developed the “either or” dichotomy in areas of truth and knowledge.

Truth versus Unity

The argument seems to go like this:  Christianity has been fragmented by a focus on truth; we really need to focus on unity.

There is some truth in this statement–there are many Christians, churches, denominations who have a very narrow view of who they will associate with.  If others don’t agree with all their theological beliefs, their traditions and practices–they will have no “fellowship” with them.

But perhaps we ought to see it from a different perspective.  Does doctrine divide?  Or Does doctrine unite?

While dividing over minor doctrines has been a problem, doctrines also unites.  There are Christians around the world who affirm the central doctrinal beliefs of orthodox Christianity–authority of Scripture, God the One Almighty creator, the deity and humanity of Jesus, the sacrificial sufficient death of Jesus, salvation through faith alone and the return of Christ.  These central truths unite them.

So truth and unity are not antithetical.  True unity and fellowship can only be maintained with those who have central beliefs in common.  Having a clearly defined set of beliefs, including knowing the priority of beliefs will allow individuals, churches and organization to extend their fellowship circle.  It also enables them to understand when they can’t have fellowship and over which issues.

For more see my post Thinking Theologically.

Knowledge versus Transformation or Character

A second dichotomy that I hear regularly, sounds very spiritual.  It goes something like, “We don’t emphasize information, we emphasize transformation.”  Or “Our focus is 0n character development not knowledge.”  Or “We focus on living not learning.”

Again, there is some truth here.  Filling minds with information has never been the aim of the gospel.  But an anti-intellectual Christianity is not what we see in the New Testament.

Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (ESV)

Romans 15:5-15; Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 3:18

Again, perhaps the issue is not an “either or” but a “both and”. Can you really have biblical character without biblical understanding?  Can you have transformation into the image of Christ without knowledge Christ, without spending time with him in the pages of Scripture?

Again, it is not an either or, but a both and.

For true transformation and depth of character to develop there must be biblical understanding and knowledge.

It seems to me that what has been confused is knowledge and methodology.  Too many associate truth, knowledge and depth of understanding with a faulty methodology and therefore thrown out a focus on truth, knowledge and depth of understanding.  But it is better to correct a faulty methodology than to abandon truth and depth of understanding.

The faulty methodology, in my opinion, is a communication methodology that is developed without an understanding of how people learn and growth and is focused on what the teacher knows rather than on what the student needs to learn.  We have been teacher centered rather than learner centered.  We have focused on information distribution rather than development of understanding.

The Great Commission maintains a wonderful balance between these.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

We must correct our methodology not abandon our theology.

When that question is posed to many people their instinctive response is to say, “No, God only allows pain, suffering or difficult situations.”

The instinctive response seems to be in some way a desire to protect God’s character.  We need a God who cares for us.  We need a God who is concerned for us and will work on our behalf.

And while those two needs are real personal needs, we need to be able to see the big picture.

There are passages that clearly point to God causing difficulty.  For example Isaiah 45:7,

I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things. (ESV)

In the larger context this passage teaches us about God’s sovereignty.

Isaiah 46:9-11 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. (ESV)

Isaiah 48:9-11 “For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (ESV)

But sometimes it is helpful to see these truths in a relational context to see perhaps “the bigger story.”  One place we can see this is in John 11.

John 11 tells us the story of Jesus raising of Lazarus.  But the miracle is only part of the story.

The story opens with several statements of Jesus’ care, “love” of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

Martha and Mary send messengers to Jesus that Lazarus is sick.  But what Jesus does next baffles the disciples and should cause us to wonder.  Rather than responding to the need, Jesus intentionally delays for two days.  Two days that result in pain.  Two days in which the sisters don’t see their brother improve, rather he dies.  Two days that result in pain and suffering.

And as you read the whole story, not only did Jesus intentionally delay, he did it to teach the disciples a lesson and to make a statement about who He is–with the goal to strengthen people’s ability to believe, trust Him.

That is totally counter-intuitive.  We would expect that God would bless us to cause us to believe in Him.  And He does that too (see Romans 2:4).

And how many times have you heard someone say, “I can’t believe in a God who would do or allow. . . .”  You fill in the blank–”allow that to happen, cause that to happen.”  But maybe the God they want to believe in is not the God of the Bible.

Jesus delays.  Jesus allows Lazarus to die.  He could have healed him from a distance, He had done that before.

Jesus could have done many things. But He doesn’t.  He allows the people to ridicule the sisters’ faith in Him (John 11:37).

But here is the other side of the story.

Jesus allows Lazarus to die.  He causes pain.  But He does care.

John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

35 Jesus wept.

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. (ESV)

Even though Jesus knew what He was going to do–raise Lazarus from the dead–He was still moved by the pain that the sisters were experiencing.  He was deeply moved by the pain and suffering, that He caused.

Perhaps this is the balance we need.

God is sovereign.  He is in control and yes He even causes difficulty.  And if you read the whole book of John you find that God is not only sovereign He is purposing to bring Himself glory.  But as He glorifies Himself He also demonstrates that He love and care for us.

So where does this leave us?  With the need to trust God–to cling to Him.

 From a message by John Piper

I say that all the pictures of the supremacy of Jesus in the book of Hebrews are pictures not only of the perfection of the all-sufficient means of our salvation, but also of the all-satisfying goal or end of our salvation, namely the supremacy of Christ himself experienced with all-satisfying joy. He is the Great Reward. He is the one we know in the “better resurrection.” He is the light of the city to that is to come.

Therefore everything this epistle says about him intensifies our love for him now as our Treasure, and our desire for him later as our final Reward.

He is

• God’s final revelation (1:2).
• The heir of all things (1:2).
• The creator of the world (1:2).
• The radiance of God’s glory (1:3).
• The exact imprint of God’s nature (1:3).
• He upholds the universe by the word of his power (1:3).
• He made purification for sins (1:3).
• He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High (1:4).
• He is God, enthroned forever, with a scepter of uprightness (1:8).
• He is worshipped by angels (1:6).
• His rule will have no end (1:8).
• His joy is above all other beings in the universe (1:9).
• He took on human flesh (2:14).
• He was crowned with glory and honor because of his suffering (2:9).
• He was the founder of our salvation (2:10).
• He was made perfect in all his obedience by his suffering (2:10).
• He destroyed the one who has the power of death, the devil (2:15).
• He delivered us from the bondage of fear (2:15).
• He is a merciful and faithful high priest (2:17)
• He made propitiation for sins (2:17).
• He is sympathetic because of his own trials (4:15).
• He never sinned (4:15).
• He offered up loud cries and tears with reverent fear, and God heard him (5:7).
• He became the source of eternal salvation (5:8)
• He holds his priesthood by virtue of an indestructible life (7:16).
• He appears in the presence of God on our behalf (9:24).
• He will come a second time to save us who are eagerly waiting for him (9:28).
• He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (13:8)

All of this supremacy of Christ is poured into the word “him” in Hebrews 13:13: “Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” To him!

I just finished the last of a three part series on church history.

In the next few days I will post some lessons from church history, but now I want to provide a few links to good church history information sites.

History time line, includes links to listen to or download audio of two seminary classes on church history.

Video summary of church history including small group lesson booklet

A fairly complete church history course taught at Capital Hill Baptist Church, similar to the content in Bruce Shelley’s Church History in Plain Language (2nd Edition, 1995, Word Publishing).

As I contemplate the start of a new year and take time to evaluate, take personal inventory and plan for this new year (yes I try to establish goals and resolutions)–one thing I am particularly thankful for is the unchanging nature of God.

We have no idea what 2008 will hold. We have no way of knowing the highs and lows this year will bring. But one thing we do know–it will be the same God who will guide us, help us, sustain us and comfort us.

In the words of J. I. Packer

God is immutable. This means that he is totally consistent: because he is necessarily perfect, he cannot change either for the better or for the worse; and because he is not in time he is not subject to change as creatures are (2 Pet. 3:8). Far from being detached and immobile, he is always active in his world, constantly making new things spring forth (Isa. 42:9; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:5); but in all this he expresses his perfect character with perfect consistency. It is precisely the immutability of his character that guarantees his adherence to the words he has spoken and the plans he has made (Num. 23:19; Ps. 33:11; Mal. 3:6; James 1:16-18); and it is this immutability that explains why, when people change their attitude to him, he changes his attitude to them (Gen. 6:5-7; Exod. 32:9-14; 1 Sam. 15:11; Jon. 3:10). The idea that the changelessness of God involves unresponsive indifference to what goes on in his world is the precise opposite of the truth. (J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1995, c1993).)

May this year lead us to
greater trust in our trustworthy God
greater faith in our faithful God
deeper devotion to our wise God
more complete submission to our sovereign God
and greater service to our good and kind God.

Malachi 3:6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (ESV)
Isaiah 46:9-10 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (ESV)