Faith Alone in Saint Hilarious

 Interesting snippet from NeedGod.net.

I looked for open source copies of the citations...

First is Hillary of Poitiers (also known as Saint Hilarious)

The quote is on pages 100 and 101 in this source:

"A pattern of the truth is followed in these events, even as an image of the future is fulfilled in the words. It disturbed the scribes that sin was forgiven by a man (for they considered that Jesus Christ was only a man) and the he forgave sin, for which the Law was not able to grant absolution, since faith alone justifies." (emphasis added)

I'd encourage you to read further, to page 105:

"For it is by faith in the resurrection that the sacrament of the heavenly bread is received, and whoever is without Christ, will be left in want of the food of life"

He frequently speaks of the inability of the Law (good works) and the primacy of faith.

Radical

"Radical" (David Platt) - I'm not sure who the audience for this book is.  It proposes that many Christians are caught up in the American dream and that we need to live more radical lives for Christ.  He proposes several steps:

• praying for the entire world
• reading through the entire Word
• sacrificing our money for a specific purpose
• spending time in another context (specifically - spending a week in missions)
• committing to a multiplying community

First, these don't seem that radical to me.  Most Christians know they need to read through the Bible - they're either working on a one year plan (even if it takes 2), or they know they should.  Similarly, prayer - I think we all would say we should do more.

Canon of the New Testament

The development of the New Testament canon (the 27 books we include in the back half of every Bible) is a remarkable story (I'm certain I'll do more posts on it, eventually).

Perhaps the most remarkable things is the amount of agreement among Christians.  I'm unable to think of any other doctrine that has so much agreement.  Even the Trinity (crucial for understanding who God is) doesn't enjoy the level of agreement of the NT canon.

Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, even Muslims have no question as to what the New Testament is (even though they seek to add other things of equal weight to it).

As I mentioned previously, an issue with the canon was one of the earliest debates among Christians.  Marcion was soundly rebuked, and many early fathers wrote against him.

When the Reformation came, there was no question of the canon (much is made of Luther's disapproval of James, but it's in every edition of his translation).

The idea that the canon cannot be known without some special human authority does a disservice to everyone.  It ignores the historical facts, and demeans the words from God's mouth (θεοπνευστος).

The Shepherd as Leader

"The Shepherd as Leader" (John MacArthur, ed.) - this is a collection of twelve sermons from various Shepherd's Conferences.  It is part of a set of three books.

All the sermons will be convicting and edifying for anyone who is a pastor, or would like to be one.

The Masculine Mandate

"The Masculine Mandate" (Richard Phillips) - This is a short book themed on "working and keeping" (Genesis 2:15).  Nothing you haven't heard before, but a good devotional to focus and remind.

Lincoln's Battle with God

"Lincoln's Battle with God" (Stephen Mansfield) - This is a biography of Lincoln focusing on his religious life.  I found it rather frustrating, but I think that is the nature of this area of historiography more than any lacking in the author.

As the author states in his conclusion: we want a clear story; with a beginning, middle, and end.  An aisle walked, a bold profession.  But life is messier than that, and the life of the President during what is likely the messiest time in America is messy.

Perhaps the greatest revelation of Lincoln's journey is from his last public proclamation: "The Almighty has His own purposes."

Now, on the face of it, this seems a pretty abstract statement.  However, as we look at Lincoln's life as a whole, we can see that he struggled most with the sovereignty of God and the hardship of life (the problem of evil).

Lincoln was born into an ostensibly Christian culture, that showed much of the shallowness and hypocrisy we see today.  His father was some sort of hyper-Calvinist - refusing to bring his son up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and showing little Christian behavior.  His mother seems to have been more faithful, and likely instilled a lasting binding to the Word which Lincoln would hold to even in his lowest moments.

It's easy to see how such an environment could lead to his atheist phase.  There was a surge of secular and atheistic writing at the time, and they were far more consistent than the Christians he had encountered.

But atheism has no lasting strength, and Lincoln needed that.  He faced death almost continuously: losing siblings, parents, friends, and later children (not to mention the horrors of war).  He needed answers, and he kept looking.

It would seem he found those answers.  He remained wary of organized religion, but he seems to have come to know God in Jesus and to trust Him.

His wife, Mary (who was no strong Christian, dabbling in mysticism and spiritualism), says his last words were "We will visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footsteps of the Savior.  There is no place I so much desire to see as Jerusalem."

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

"The Martyrdom of Polycarp" (translated by Roberts and Donaldson).  Available online.

Some oddities:

• "were no longer men, but had already become angels" - I guess it does go back further than "It's a Wonderful Life" :)
• There's a fair amount of anti-semitism (especially in chapter 13).  Hard to tell how much of that is post-70, and how much was added by later authors.
• No explicit definition of the Gospel

And the good points:

• "we do not commend those who give themselves up [to suffering], seeing the gospel does not teach so to do"
• "the churches throughout the world" (churches - plural)
• "the blameless one for sinners"

End on a good note :)

Thoughts for Young Men

"Thoughts for Young Me" (J.C. Ryle) - This is a short book (89 pages).  It has only one goal - to motivate young men to godliness.  It does it well.

When Sinners Say "I Do"

"When Sinners Say 'I Do'" (Dave Harvey) - This book is part of an adult Sunday school class at church.  Another member asked, "Are you enjoying the book?".  I had to answer, "No, but it is good for me".  This book will exhort you to improve your marriage.  It won't pull punches or tickle your ear with nice sayings.  But, if you take it seriously, it will work.

Morning and Evening

"Morning and Evening" C. H. Spurgeon (audio) - This is a devotional, with two sections per day for a whole year.  I was surprised how metaphorical it often was, but if you look at it more as a reflection than as a Bible study it is very pleasant.

Western Secularism vs. Islam

We live in a post-Christian world.

It is unclear what system of thought will dominate in the future.  Secularism has been dominant (effectively, an atheistic form of Christianity - seeking Christian principles without Christ.  This can be traced to the progression of Christian Liberalism).  However, we are now dealing with a resurgence of Islam (which once threatened to destroy the West).

Secularism is completely unprepared for the onslaught of Islam.  This can be seen in a recent article on CNN.

For the secularist, all religion is the same.

For example:

"almost every faith, from Christianity to Judaism to Hinduism to Buddhism, has produced acts of terrorism."

This is a common error.  People are violent, and people are religious.  This leads to the shallow conclusion that all religions make people violent.  However, we must examine religious systems of thought, and see if violence is consistent or inconsistent with that system.

When Medieval Catholics murdered preachers of the Gospel, that is not an indemnification of Christ - it is revelation that Catholics were not longer followers of Christ.

But, when Muslims act like Mohammed (who was a war leader), which is a central teaching of Islam (that Mohammed is the best role model for humanity) - then why are we surprised?  If there are Muslims who say this should not be done - are they being true to what Mohammed did?

The article goes on to say that Islam needs a Reformation (parallel to the Protestant Reformation).

The problem is that while the Protestant Reformation was a return to Biblical principles, and a rejection of man's traditions - Islamic fundamentalism is a return to Koranic principles, and rejection of "impurities" (Western thought).  There is no mechanism with the Koran or hadith for overturning basic teachings of Mohammed, or who he was.

TSA: Life imitates art

When you think of the TSA, what do you think of?  An annoying hassle, filled with discomfort?  Security theater?  A reckless invasion of our rights for no benefit?  A waste of time and money?

How about something fun and exciting, which we should pay money to expedite!

I'm rather shocked that CNN would stoop so low as to run an advertisement for such a despicable thing.

"I don't waste time feeling annoyed by the TSA."

Maybe you should.

"Maybe it's because I took my first flight in October 2001; I've never flown without them."

People who have never known liberty can become used to enslavement.  I wouldn't recommend it.

The Shallowness of the Secular Worldview

What was probably meant as an encouraging article at CNN.

When we examine theology in a dry and methodical manner, it is easy to lose sight of the application in real life.

I am always on the lookout for cases where a person's theology is put to the test, and the results are made plain.

"I wasn't afraid to die. I was afraid of living without a purpose."

That is a good start - but one must ask where that purpose comes from?  And where does it go?

"What I learned from my travels was that my students had grown up to be kind and caring people."

 That's it?  And when those students are gone?

"what matters is not so much about what we learn in class, but what we feel in our hearts."

I'm sorry, but that is nothing.  It is dust.

NSA and the Stasi

An excellent article at CNN, reminding us of what has already past - and which should not be repeated.

For those whose history class stopped at World War 2, the Stasi were the (Communist) East German secret police.

They were charged with monitoring the population for trouble makers (i.e. people who were discontent with their rulers).

They would have given anything for the levels of monitoring now available.

"Unlike the Americans we have experienced the dangers of a nation that condones unchecked state power."

Who Am I?

"Who Am I? Identity in Christ" (Jerry Bridges)(audio) - This book seemed rather short (hard to tell in audio format), but it was encouraging.

It starts with a look at who we are in Christ, and how that is our basis for everything.

It ends with this encouragement:
"For every look you take at your sanctification, take two looks at your justification."

How Should We Then Live

"How Should We Then Live" (Francis Schaeffer)(audio) - This book really surprised me.

First, the title made me think that it would be on orthopraxy (right living).  It is actually a short survey of history from the Fall of Rome to "modern" day (1976).

Second, Schaeffer always struck me as somewhat liberal.  But his analysis is strictly orthodox.

Third, I was surprised how succinct he was, and how accurately he could sense the flow of the spirit of the age (and predict what would come over the next 38 years).

This is a book I will need to go over again...

What it would take to end Climate Change

A report from Google, which confirms what I've said for some time - that even going to zero carbon emissions today will not prevent climate change (as projected by mainstream science).

Doctrine and Politics

I often hear that Catholics have unity, while Protestants are divided (the old forty thousand denominations canard).

However, I always reply that Catholic unity is outward (ritual and authority structure), while conservative Protestants find unity in doctrine.

A new survey confirms what I have said.

Note the split between "Mainline" (aka Liberal, lower right) Protestants and "Evangelical" (conservative, upper right).  We also see that Catholics are not identified with any political ideology (they are disparate in their application of doctrine to practice).

It's interesting that "Other" tend toward the lower left (except for Muslims, Hindus, and Jews).

It's as I have said - conservative Christians tend toward conservative politics.

Why the Abortion Debate Won't Go Away

A telling article from CNN:

"These conversations about contraception are happening now, in the present day, with outdated views and inaccurate information playing a leading role."

Note first that believing that human life should not be extinguished arbitrarily is an "outdated view".

Second, let me analyze this claim of "inaccurate information".  It comes here:

"The employers think that certain forms of contraception (emergency contraception pills and intrauterine devices) cause abortions. But what they believe about science is contradicted by the science itself.
Emergency contraception pills work by inhibiting or postponing ovulation, or the release of the egg, and this prevents fertilization from occurring. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) work by preventing sperm from reaching the egg, either by creating a barrier or by creating an environment that inhibits the mobility and viability of sperm or, in the case of copper IUDs, potentially by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg before a woman is pregnant." (emphasis added)

Ah, now we come to the crux of the matter!

The medical establishment has declared that pregnancy does not begin until implantation, and that abortion is the end of pregnancy.  Therefore, preventing implantation prevents pregnancy, and no pregnancy means no abortion.

So, science tells us these treatments do lead to the death of human beings - just not "abortion" as defined by the medical establishment.  Those who define abortion as "intentionally killing an unborn human being" are supported by science.

Trusting God

"Trusting God" (Jerry Bridges) (audio) - This book starts with a discussion of the attributes of God, and progresses from there to show why it is possible and indeed necessary for us to trust God.