On Limited Atonement

Turretinfan lays out an excellent refutation of a Roman Catholic video which accuses Calvinism of being a “heresy” by objecting to Limited Atonement. It’s worth noting that Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Arminianism all walk hand-in-hand in their embrace of an unscriptural synergistic soteriology, thereby rejecting the Biblical doctrines of grace which declare that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the eternal praise and glory of the One True and Living God alone. In other words: “Salvation is of the Lord”.

BioLogos Contra Inspiration

As some intrepid readers may already be aware, a group has been assembled that calls itself “BioLogos” whose mission statement is as follows:

“The BioLogos Foundation is a group of Christians, many of whom are professional scientists, biblical scholars, philosophers, theologians, pastors, and educators, who are concerned about the long history of disharmony between the findings of science and large sectors of the Christian faith. We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We also believe that evolution, properly understood, best describes God’s work of creation.” – Link

Thus these bridge-builders are best described, in their own words and by the copious evidence at their site, as theistic evolutionists. More specifically, however, they present themselves as Christian theistic evolutionists. There’s been no small discussion taking place in various parts of the Christian blogosphere about the actual positions of this group over and against its public relations positions. The bottom line? BioLogos is plainly apostate and tends toward rank unbelief at any and every point of theological importance. Of course this should come as no surprise to true believers since the concept of theistic evolution forces an a priori default position against the historicity of the Genesis account of creation and the fall, both of which are foundational to orthodox Biblical Christianity. To separate a building from its foundations is, of course, to destroy the structure which seems to be BioLogos’ true intent.

And while BioLogos asserts that its contributors [at some of them ostensibly] believe the Bible is the “inspired Word of God”, one is hard pressed to find any actual evidence of this claim in practice. With this in mind, and as a service to the Body of Christ, I’ve compiled a short list of some recent articles that shed much-needed scriptural light upon the mad-scientists’ laboratory disaster known as BioLogos; a veritable Frankenstein’s Monster consisting of a hodge-podge of fetid, odious, obnoxious, and repellant abominations stitched together with the common thread of hatred for the One True and Living God, the infinite Creator and Judge of the universe.

Trojan Horse – Phil Johnson

Middle of the Road: R.I.P. Kermit – Phil Johnson

A Coda on the Week’s Discussion / Summing Up – Phil Johnson/Dan Phillips

Essential Inerrancy – Kevin DeYoung

BioLogos is not “One of Us” – TurretinFan

Why Does the Universe Look so Old? – Al Mohler

Socinianism in Lab Coats – Phil Johnson

Everyone is an Inerrantist – Dan Phillips

In his piece “Socinianism in Lab Coats” linked above Phil Johnson well observes:

“Incidentally, BioLogos’s notion of “leading evangelical theologians” is revealing. Their theological headliners are men like Peter Enns, Greg Boyd, and N. T. Wright, not one of whom is truly evangelical in the historic sense of that term. Enns was dismissed from Westminster Seminary in August 2008 for his low view of Scripture. He and most of his supporters protested at the time that his views had been misrepresented and that he had been treated unfairly. But his contributions to BioLogos furnish ample proof that he did not, in fact, agree with Westminster’s doctrinal standards. Boyd, of course, is well known as a cheerleader for Open Theism, which denies both the true omniscience and the immutability (not to mention the sovereignty) of God.”

Which thing also explains why Pete Enns can be seen in a video at BioLogos in his “Paul’s Adam” series where he essentially attributes a first century ignorance of the human genome sequencing project to the Apostle Paul’s affirmation of a literal Adam. Poor Paul was simply under misguided first century delusions about the historicity of Adam, and so he went with the flow when he wrote. Mind you, Enns went to painful lengths in the short 2-minute clip I watched to attempt to protect Paul from being portrayed as an outright liar; Enns asserts that the “Apostle to the Gentiles” simply wrote as a baffled first century man who believed certain myths were true facts, but of course at the end of such an argument we still find an overt assault on the inspiration of scripture.

Yet Paul was either writing infallible truth as he was carried along by the Holy Spirit, or he was mixing some analogical/allegorical “truths” with some of his own personal mistaken assumptions, having believed and inscripturated the cleverly devised fables of men contra 2 Peter 1:16. Pete Enns really can’t have it both ways, either God’s Word is true, all of it, or it isn’t. Simply stated, abandoning the historical-grammatical hermeneutic tends towards various forms and degrees of unbelief.

One can put lipstick on a pig, put it in a nice dress, and call it “Sally”, but it’s still just a pig. I personally find militant anti-theists like Richard Dawkins much more consistent in their epistemology (irrational as it is) than professing believers who hold to secular-humanist, rational-material views such as evolution while claiming to believe the “spiritual” parts of the Bible. To me this is the height of folly, and pinnacle of illogical thinking. I say this because the Genesis account is so clear and unambiguous that even a child can easily understand it. Equally clear are the Biblical warnings against double-mindedness; such a man is unstable in all his ways.

Why?

Because man cannot serve two masters. Those who try to keep one eye on heavenly, spiritual things while attempting to maintain one eye on worldly, material things have double vision. They can’t see clearly, and they fall into a pit. The Lord God Almighty, the infinite Creator and Judge of the universe demands wholehearted love and obedience from His creatures. Half-hearted love and obedience is as abominable and damnable to Him as outright hatred and disobedience.

“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.” – John 10:26

Ultimate authorities are pesky things, and if one’s ultimate authority is something other than the inspired Word of God, then one is in the wrong epistemological camp.

I’ll close with an excellent quote from Dan Phillips:

The difference between fearing God, and trying to be God:

It only surfaces when God crosses your will, or your preferred way of thinking.

The God-fearer says, “God differs from me; I must be wrong, and I must change.”

The God-wannabe says, “God differs from me; He must be wrong, and I must change Him.”

Amen!

 

On Christmas

It seems to be increasingly popular in certain circles of professing Christians to abstain from any and all observations of Christmas which, of course, is fine.  On the other hand to publicly trumpet said abstention as some sort of badge of honor, piety, purity, and faithfulness to Christ – parading it before men - and in particular to attempt to yoke, manipulate, and/or generally guilt-trip other Christians into adopting what amounts to a matter of mere opinion and preference is simply un-Biblical, and taken too far it’s downright sinful.

To summarize my own position briefly, I’m convinced by Scripture and conscience that Christians are not obligated to observe Christmas, and that Christians are not obligated to not observe Christmas. Christmas observance, or non-observance, (just like the observance or non-observance of any other day) plainly falls into the Biblical category of a matter of indifference and liberty (Romans 14-15; Col 2:16-23).  Scripture couldn’t be clearer on this subject, and therefore since Scripture has spoken the matter is closed. 

Curiously while the perennially vocal ”Christmas abstainers” who like clockwork typically dust off their personal hobby horses, and begin beating their drums about this time of year are often among the most vocal proponents of Sola Scriptura; they nevertheless seem to studiously avoid exegesis of the passages listed above (in addition to certain oft quoted and badly mishandled passages from Jeremiah), preferring instead to point to extrabiblical alleged ”historical facts” (some of which are dealt with in the links below), and the opinions and traditions of likeminded men.  The sheer irony of appealing to the traditions of their “in group” (Christmas abstainers) over and against the traditions of the “out group” (Christmas observers) is seemingly lost on them. 

Thus, instead of simply repeating what so many others can – and have – said so much better than I, it seemed good to me to post some links to several related articles for the interested reader’s edification.

• Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
• Spurgeon on Christmas
• A Question about Christmas Trees
• Does the Lengthening of Daylight Have Only Pagan Significance?
• December 25 and Paganism
• The Origins of Christmas
• The Christmas Wars
• Joyless to the World
• The Date of the Nativity
• Is it Permissible for Christians to Celebrate Christmas (and Other Holidays)?

The point of publishing this material isn’t to advocate for, or against, the observance of Christmas (or any other day), but rather to make the case that a.) such things are matters of liberty and conscience in the light of Scripture b.) many of the popular myths surrounding the origins of Christmas, even within the church, are often dubious, and sometimes misleading/false and c.) many of the most strident objections to the observance of Christmas if applied equally and consistently can have far reaching [and arguably un-Biblical, legalistic] implications in actual practice.

Saved or Deceived?

Part 1

Part 2

Quotes (1)

If the Holy Spirit were taken away from the New Testament church, ninety percent of what they did would come to a halt. But if the Holy Spirit were taken away from today’s church, only ten percent of what it does would cease.

– A.W. Tozer
1897-1963

Machines, Medicine, and Mirth

Machines, medicine, and mirth comprise the unholy trinity of our age.

Whereas ancient man once bowed himself before the Asheras and house gods of wood, stone, silver and gold, modern man bows himself before the idols of technological advancement, pharmaceutical euphoria, and empty, godless entertainment in a neverending quest for self glorification and self gratification.

Let me speak plainly here – This is idolatry.

In fact the very essence of idolatry is adoring and honoring the gift in contradistinction to the Giver, the One True and Living God. I found this to be a useful definition:

“Idolatry is the universal human tendency to value something or someone in a way that hinders the love and trust we owe to God. It is an act of theft from God whereby we use some part of creation in a way that steals from honor due to God. Idolatry conflicts with our putting God alone first in our lives, in what we love and trust (see Exodus 20:3-5; Deut. 5:7-9; Romans 1:21-23). In idolatry we put something or someone, usually a gift from God, in a place of value that detracts from the first place owed to God alone, the gift Giver. That thing or person is an idol.”

It ought to come as little surprise to the believer that unregenerate human society is hopelessly steeped in gross idolatry. Idolatry comes as naturally and easily to mankind as breathing, and apart from being found in Christ all men are guilty of idolatry because all stand condemned guilty of breaking both the first and second commandments:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

In his conceit and folly sinful man takes refuge and solace in the works of his hands, trusting in his clever inventions, rejoicing in his mastery over the seemingly miraculous and the mundane, and shamelessly and ceaselessly celebrating himself. I want to take a moment here to stress the fact that it isn’t my intention to rail against technological advancement, nor am I calling for the retreat to some sort of quasi-ascetic and monkish “simplicity”, nor am I advocating some sort of pious anti-intellectualism: not at all. In fact I marvel at the amazing gifts bestowed by our generous and transcendent Creator, and I’m thankful for the bounty and benefits of His amazing creation. I am also awestruck by the extravagance of the common grace He pours out upon the sons of men, even as they continually revile and reject Him in their idolatrous arrogance.

Yet despite His overwhelming goodness we find at the root of things that it’s the chronic and ubiqutious unthankfulness of the sinful human heart which robs the One True and Living God of the rightful place of dignity, honor and worship which He alone is due, and which simultaneously elevates wicked man into a place of dignity, honor and worship which he does not, has not, and never will deserve. This is a perversion of the created order and is an evil example of fallen humanity’s rampant idolatry of self.

Psalm 104, which is a hymn of praise to God’s goodness and care for His creation, exults in the awesome majesty of the Lord proclaiming: “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”

The Psalmist rightly exalts the Lord for His incomprehensible attributes of power and wisdom, yet instead of praising God for His goodness and care the sinful man makes his boast in himself, glorifying in his flesh and worldly wisdom so-called. In the book of Romans the inspired Apostle Paul sums up the utter depravity of sinful man’s reasoning powers with a damning and universal indictment of the unregenerate:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” – Romans 1:18-21

And again in 1 Corinthians the Holy Spirit through Paul says:

“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” – 1 Corinthians 1:20

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” - 1 Corinthians 3:19

“Without excuse” the sinful man sits upon the throne of his own desperately wicked heart, serving as judge, jury, and executioner in the high court of his own corrupted and depraved powers of reasoning. In his satanic hubris the twisted and self-deifying sinner vainly imagines that he stands in judgment over the Only and Wise Creator, the One True and Living God who is blessed forever. Such folly is truly beyond reckoning and is wholly worthy of the eternal condemnation and inflexible justice it shall inevitably face.

“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:” – Nahum 1:3

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” – Galatians 6:7

^“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8

Sinful man trusts in his machines, medicine, and mirth to satisfy his needs and quench his desires, as though he were the captain of his own vessel, all the while ignoring the stark reality that he is but dust, and to dust he will return one day to stand before his Maker and give an account of the life he squandered away in his vain pursuit of the idolatry of the heart.

“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” - Jeremiah 10:23

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” – Revelation 20:12-14

It’s painfully clear that these are dark days indeed. The fallen creation writhes in its death throes, and sinful humanity waxes worse by the minute just as we see described in Romans 1:24-31:

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Does this description sound familiar? It should. Yet those who are called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ ought to take heart for it’s against the dark, desperate, and apparently hopeless backdrop of this present evil age that His beauty and majesty shine forth ever more brightly as He continues to separate and purify His virgin bride, His church, making His elect the unworthy recipients of His unmerited and unspeakably glorious grace to the praise of His glory alone forever and evermore.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” – Luke 21:28

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation 22:20

Soli Deo Gloria!

Hiatus

I’m on an extended hiatus from active blogging here. Please enjoy browsing through my prior posts!