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Contradictory texts, bizarre miracles, man-made myths?

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A recent discussion on Premier Christian Radio’s Unbelievable show promised more than it delivered.

The topic – or, at least, the starting-point for debate – was the often-heard retort of atheists to Christians, “I just believe in one god less than you.”  The argument, such as it is, is that once we have moved from polytheism to monotheism it is but a short further step to deny the existence of that one remaining god.  The argument is fatuous, of course. …

Attention!

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How can preachers secure the attention of their hearers?

What follows is based on the sage thoughts of that master-preacher, C.H. Spurgeon.

To be able to command attention is no trivial matter.  Sin cannot be taken out of people, as Eve was taken out of Adam, while they are fast asleep.  And yet some preachers seem not to care very much about it: some of them stare up at the ceiling, as if they sought the attention of the angels, while others have their heads buried in their notes, as if they were talking only to themselves.…

On eating horses

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It’s become clear that the food we have been putting in our mouths is not everything the label said it was.  Many products sold as containing beef – burgers, cottages pies, lasagne, and so on, have, in fact, contained varying amounts of horse meat.

Although probably not particularly damaging to our health, it’s a major scandal, probably involving international fraud.

One interesting side-light on this whole issue has been raised by food critic Giles Coren.  Writing in The Times, he berated the public for not knowing what is in their food. …

Ten virtues for atheists

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Good for philosopher Alain de Botton, who has challenged atheists to consider what virtues they think might add up to a ‘good life’.  That’s better than worrying about how to be wealthier, or more attractive.

He has come up with a list of ten:-

  1. Resilience
  2. Empathy
  3. Patience
  4. Sacrifice
  5. Politeness
  6. Humour
  7. Self-awareness
  8. Forgiveness
  9. Hope
  10. Confidence

Problems?  Yes, I think there are some problems with this approach.

First, there is the problem of definition.  Sacrifice? – of what, to whom? …

Judgment according to works

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Recent re-thinking about the doctrine of justification throws up a related question about the final judgment:-

Are we warranted to say that we are justified by faith, but are judged by works?  The very idea seems to undermine the grace of God and to take away with one hand what has so freely been given with the other.

N.T. Wright on ‘Justification by Works’

‘Here [in Rom 2:1-16] is the first statement about justification in Romans, and lo and behold it affirms justification according to works!

…

‘Unapologetic’

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Scintillatingly good, embarrasingly bad.

This recent (2012) book by Francis Spufford seeks to introduce the Christian faith from a fresh angle.

It’s certainly different.  Spufford says that he’s not opposed to evidential apologetics, but thinks that there’s plenty of that kind of material around.  But, on the other hand, he claims that no-one can know whether Christianity is true or not.  Shades of ‘a leap in the dark’.  What he has attempted, then, is to show ‘why, despite everything, Christianity can still make surprising emotional sense’

As anyone who has read it will tell you, it’s wonderfully, sometimes hilariously, written. …

Must God punish sin?

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Few Christians are willing to do any sustained thinking about sin.  Of course, evangelical preachers will mention it from time to time.  After all, they need to convince their hearers that they are ‘sound’.  But they will feel under intense pressure from those same hearers to move quickly and as smoothly as possible from anything to do with sin and judgment to a positive and uplifting message about God’s love.

The fact is, that for most modern Christians the doctrine of the love of God has become the one great ‘givens’, the unargued and unarguable axiom. …

‘The Ten Worst Verses of the Bible’

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I think it was back in 2009 that the Ship of Fools website reported on its poll to find the ‘worst’ (that is to say, the most unpopular) verses of the Bible.

For a supposedly satirical website, the SoF had a surprisingly po faced aim.  They wanted, apparently, to rescue the Bible both from its enemies, who think that it’s a complete pile of rubbish, and some of its friends, who suppose that it’s a ‘textbook of infallible information and unbreakable laws’. …

Quotes on God’s existence

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God’s existence not only cannot be proved, it should not be attempted. (Os Guiness)

God is not for proof but proclamation; not for argument but acceptance.  (Robert Horn)

One of the great needs of today is a profound conviction that God is. (W. Holloway Main)

At bottom God is nothing more than an exalted father.  (Sigmund Freud)

If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.  (Voltaire)

The evidence for God lies primarily in inner personal experience. …

What can the Puritans do for us?

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A major publishing event has recently taken place.  A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life is a large-scale work by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones.  In 60 chapters, it summarises Puritan teaching on Christian truth, from principles for Biblical interpretation to ‘theology in practice’.

Beeke and Jones were recently asked to highlight those aspects of Puritan teaching that might be most helpful for today’s church.  They mentioned the following:-

  1. The glory of God.  Many of the problems in the contemporary church arise from our losing sight of God’s glory. 
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