Ben Stein versus Evolution

I hope beyond hope this ends up in my local theater....

back in the saddle

I'm sorry that I've been absent from my blog for awhile. I broke the #1 rule to successful blog publishing - Don't stop blogging!

Anyway, these last two months have been crazy. (See engagement picture below.)

From here on out I will be blogging my sermon manuscripts as well as links to the audio. I hope that proves edifying to the people at somanorth.

Reactions to "60 Minutes" Joel Osteen Piece

Michael Spencer wrote a few thoughts on "60 Minutes" Joel Osteen piece. I found it insightful and humorous. (Note point #4: "Osteen is a Gospel preacher like Col. Sanders is an army officer.")

You can watch the actual interview here.

Has the Church replaced Israel?

Generally, there are two main theories regarding the Church's relationship to Israel. In replacement theology, the Church replaces Israel such that Israel will not be redeemed in the future. In dispensational theology, while God has a future for Israel, there is a distinction between Israel and the Church with no overlap.

From a survey of the Book of Romans we can learn that the truth lies in between these two theories.

Paul argues in chapters 5 - 8 of Romans that the blessings that belonged to Israel in the Old Testament are credited to the church. Through Jesus we have all the prerogatives of Israel: we are children of God, inheritors of the promise, God's elect people, imputed righteousness, and assured glorification.

It should be noted that the church at this time was made up of mostly gentiles, such that Christian Jews became a marginalized minority. Hence the following questions.

Have the promises simply been transferred to the church and is ethnic Israel left in the dark? And if God's promises to Israel have not come to fruition, then how can one be sure that the great promises made to the church will be fulfilled?

Ergo, the primary thrust of Romans 9 - 11. Here, Paul emphasizes God's faithfulness to Israel and to the gentiles, demonstrating that God's plan in history fulfills his promises.

He begins by arguing that salvation was never promised to every ethnic Israelite (Romans 9:6-29). God has decreed that a remnant of Israel will be saved and that Gentiles will enter into the church. Gentiles were adopted because they exercised faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah, whereas the Jews did not because they failed to see that he was the fulfillment to which the Old Testament pointed and because they attempted to establish their own righteousness based on their obedience to the Law (Romans 9:30-11:10).

Even though God has always worked with a remnant (Romans 11:1-10), the idea that the majority of Israel standing outside of God's promises can not be the last word since the Old Testament pledges a glorious future for Israel, and this is not fulfilled in a small remnant. Thus when Paul wrote Romans he affirms that the present state of Israel is not permanent, for the majority of them will not resist the gospel (Romans 11:11-26). Israel has only been set aside to let the fullness of the Gentiles into the Church, and the inclusion of the Gentiles will eventually provoke Israel to jealously leading to their salvation.

In sum, the Church, which is made of up mostly gentiles and a remnant of Jews, has been ascribed the promises to Israel, but one day the promises made to ethnic Israel will be fulfilled.

wealth & the Gospel

If you haven't read Ben Witherington, you should!

Here is an excerpt from his blog.

Memo to Mr. Osteen from John Wesley
"I fear, wherever riches have increased, the essence of religion has decreased in the same proportion. Therefore, I do not see how it is possible, in the nature of things, for any revival of religion to continue long. For religion must necessarily produce both industry and frugality, and these cannot but produce riches. But as riches increase, so will pride, anger, and love of the world in all its branches."

--- John Wesley (1703-1791).

Does God "hear" eveyone's prayers?

Does God only respond to the prayers of Christians or does He also respond to the prayers of those of other religions?

Obviously God "hears" the prayers of everyone since He is omniscient. But Jesus seems to imply that Christians have a special hearing in the presence of the Judge. Jesus says, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son." (John 14:13)

Moreover, since the wrath of God abides upon those who have not believed in the Son (John 3:36); it follows that they should not expect answers to prayer from the Father.

Obviously God does answer the prayers of the unbelieving. But He does so out of His mercy and divine plan for humanity rather than out of a sort of obligation to the followers of the Son (John 15:7).

globalization: a sign of the end of times?

globalize verb: develop or be developed so as to make possible international influence or operation

Sometime after the flood a number of people decided to rebuild a city and erect a tower where its top reached the heavens. Their stated purpose was to make a name for themselves. God was displeased with their motives and put an end to the project by confusing their tongues; thus, scattering the builders far and wide. The narrative (Genesis 11) ends by revealing the name of the city: Babel.

Last weekend Steve Eriksson and I spoke to a Slovak doctor in Mexico who is working at a hospital in America. While we spoke I came to realize how small the world has become. I guess globalization is true even for us ministers.

Unlike previous generations we have an unprecedented opportunity to interact with other countries and cultures. New political associations are forming like the EU, which are bonding languages as well as economies. As one author as said, "The World is Flat."

I heard a commentary once on NPR comparing globalization with Babel. Humanity is coming together again under one tongue in order to make a name, or dollar/euro, for ourselves. I'm sure you can see where the commentator was going.

Look out! Babel is back!

My question is simple: is globalization a sign of God's impending judgment? As God judged Babel will He soon judge our world? Or, is globalization a sign of the end?

I understand that no one knows the day or hour of the return of Christ (Matthew 24:36). And yet, just before this statement Christ Himself says that we should be able to read the signs of the end (v. 32), one of the most important being the proclamation of the gospel to the entire world (v. 14). Perhaps God hinged the global proclamation of the Gospel onto the great harlot called globalization. a la "What you meant for evil God meant for good."

Speaking of harlots, when Revelation talks about the end it speaks about God's judgment upon the great harlot Babylon. (Revelation 17:1)

Question. Who or what is Babylon? Is Babylon symbolic for some future city? Is Babylon symoblic for Rome?

Now let me add some more fuel to the fire. Babylon is derived from the word Babel.

But wouldn't that make the Babylon mentioned in Revelation the world?

Jesus says that the judgment comes upon the world in Matthew 13:38-39.

Globalization.

Babel.

The end.

There seems to be a connection.

I'm just synthesizing thoughts. What do you think?

how to defeat sin

Psalm 23 reads, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

If I remain in the presence of my God, I shall desire no other.

good night (a theology of sleep)

Why do we sleep?

Did Adam sleep as we do prior to the fall?

Is sleep necessary as fallen creatures? Why?

Isn't it interesting that we subconsciously trust our lives into Something as we venture into the great abyss?

What happens when we enter the great abyss?

How is it that we are refreshed after a good night's sleep?

What exactly is being refreshed?

Feel free to help me build a theology of sleep.

a poor evangelist is...

someone who proclaims the Gospel and forgets to disciple.

"Go therefore and make disciples!" (Matthew 28:19) Notice He doesn't say, "make believers."