Today in Blogworld 12.15.10

Mike Leake

Just realized I forgot to post this on Wednesday.  The 12.17.10 TIB will be posted later this afternoon.

Mark Dever gives us many reflections on the life of Roger Nicole. 

Timely artice.  Geoff Ashley writes on suicide. 

I believe I first heard about this book from Dr. Schreiner.  Wesley Hill has written a wonderful book on Struggling with Same-Sex Desires.  Justin Taylor offers his thoughts on the book.

Many people get confused about the life of Constantine.  Thankfully there is a new music video that will help clear things up.  I’ve been waiting my whole life for this one:

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(HT: Matt Crawford)

Agree or Disagree? 

Al Mohler spotlights a growing cultural debate: Why is Incest Wrong?

Best Dance Ever…:

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The Doubt of Performance

Mike Leake

Even when I was devout, I went as a doubter to the altar*, and as a doubter I came away again.  If I had made my confession, I was still in doubt; if, upon that I left off prayer, I was again in doubt; for we were wrapt in the conceit that we could not pray and should not be heard, unless we were wholly pure and without sin, like the saints in heaven.  -Martin Luther (Quoted from Sears, Life of Luther, 84)

Such is the turmoil of anyone that is not trusting in Christ as his sure foundation.  Until Christ is our surety and hope we will continue like Luther muddling through our religious exercises full of doubt.  Only in Christ do we begin to experience the substantial healing of being accepted. 

If you resonate with this post a helpful book is Jerry Bridges’ Transforming Grace.  Check it out.

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*Keep in mind that when Luther says “to the altar” he does not mean what we would today.  There is no such thing as “going forward” or an “invitation” in Luther’s day.  Luther here is referring to the Catholic Mass.

Rescuing Jesus’ Birthday

Mike Leake

Earlier today I mentioned God admitting to hardening Pharoah’s heart.  I commented on this, that sometimes we rally to defend God when he does not seem too concerned about defending himself.  Here is another example:  The Grinch Alert

I’ll warn you early on.  This may turn into a rant.  This may even be offensive.  I’m rocking a sacred cow. 
I am so unbelievably sick of hearing people talk about this battle to save Christmas.  It is as if many people believe their entire mission on earth is to be certain that unbelievers celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I don’t get it.  Even if they somehow say, “Merry Christmas”, this does not ensure that they are preserving the “reason for the season”. 

I love Christmas.  I do not intend on not celebrating it.  But the truth is I find nothing in the New Testament where Jesus tells us to celebrate his birthday.  I do see places where Jesus encourages us to remember him through the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.  I wonder what would happen if we were as passionate about preserving the true meaning of the gospel as we are about preserving the true meaning of our made up holiday. 

Yes, Christians should use the Advent season as a time to celebrate and marvel at the wonders of the Incarnation.  Yes, we should be passionate about exalting Christ above consumerism.  And yes, this is a wonderful time of the year where people are actually thinking about Jesus.  We should certainly take advantage of that. 

But this is not the time of year when we militantly encourage people to celebrate the birth of a Jesus they do not even know.  Perhaps, instead of making sure these darn liberals don’t take away our country we should model the Incarnation and sacrificially serve.  Maybe we should say Merry Christmas not only with our lips but with our life. 

Rant over.

You can enjoy a more thoughtful “rant” here.  Also, I should mention that I think Happy Birthday Jesus cakes are a fine idea—and the picture above is not meant to mock anyone that celebrates in that fashion. 

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