PING!!!!

Ahhhhh, yes. It is that time of year. It is the time when the "ping" of aluminum bats becomes familiar to us again. It is time for the NCAA College Baseball National Tournament. My Bulldogs (Mississippi State) got in by the skin of their teeth. We are playing in the number one seed's (Clemson) bracket.

I can almost smell the grills in the Left Field Lounge. I can feel the warm sun of the back of my neck (yes, all Mississippians are rednecks in at least in one sense). I can imagine the ebb and flow of the game with its gentle and graceful pace. I can hear the crowds rising to roar at the sound, PING!!!!

With baseball, there is never any hurry. Some of my fondest memories at Mississippi State were spending an afternoon relaxing in the bleachers with Julie or my best friend, Anthony, and talking about anything and everything. Oh, how I wish I was at a regional site this weekend!!!

GO BULLDOGS!!!!!! BEAT CLEMSON!!!!!!

The Most Important Verse in the Bible

I was sitting at home watching the sun set, and it dawned on me that there is a most important verse in the Bible and I think I know what it is. It might sound odd to say that one verse is more important than another in a book that is divine in origin. However, it seems obvious to me that God is not an egalitarian with regard to bible verses. Think about it. Romans 8:1 is significantly more powerful and real to us than Colossians 4:14.

So, what is my point? My point is that in one verse all of the words of Scripture can be brought to bear. In fact, had these words not been spoken by God and penned by man, then all would have been lost. Let us turn our attention then to Genesis 1:27. It says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." There it is. The most important verse in the Bible. You don't even have to flip too many pages in your Bible to find it. It's probably on the first page. Why, you might ask, is this verse so important? I'll give you at least three reasons.

First, it explains the character of God. He is creative and responsible. Now, we can see that God is creative from the verses that directly proceed this one. However, God wants to make it undeniably and unmistakably apparent to us that creation is His doing. How? By putting his ultimate stamp of approval on us. His image. We are image-bearers of God. He says to us in the beginning that "You are my doing, I am responsible for you." We also see the kindness of God, simply because He made us. He was under no obligation to create us or the world, but He wanted to so He did. So God has left His indelibale mark on us.

Second, it tells us all about ourselves, who we are. It tells us that we are valuable. God has attached his image to us; therefore, it is true that God has placed a high value on this part of creation. It tells us that we are not all the same. There is a uniqueness to each of us. Why do you think He created us male and female instead of male and male or female and female? He did not make us genderless robots. There is a beautiful nobility to each of us because that is what God intended. It tells us that He made us free. Since we are created in His image and we share in His likeness and God himself is free, then we must be also. Finally and most importantly, it tells us why there is hope for us. We are image-bearers, and as such God desires to redeem us. He cannot deny Himself. Our image-bearing is the reason He was willing to give of Himself in the ultimate way. By placing His stamp on us, He obligated Himself to redeem, not for our sakes but for His own. This verse sets up the rest of redemptive history, and the whole of the Bible after it is, as Paul Harvey likes to call it, "the rest of the story."

Third, it is in this verse that we can find ultimate meaning and purpose. It is here that we discover ourselves. This is true self-actualization. Only in realizing that we are made in God's image, can we understand both ourselves and God. In Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven, Peter Kreeft makes this utterly profound statement: "But we are objects to God (though we are subjects to this world); we too, therefore, are true only when we conform to God's knowledge of us, God's artistic plan for our identity. Since our highest freedom means freedom to be ourselves, we are most free when we are most obedient to God's will, which expresses His idea of us." That last statement is amazing. God in His infinite wisdom has an idea of us and an ideal for us. It is there we find ourselves completely, fully. What is God's idea of us? It is grounded in His very being, in the concept that we are made in His image.

Isn't wonderful that God told us the entire story one page into the book?

The Use of the Invitation

Guys,

I'd like to get your opinion on this topic: the use of the public invitation. Allow me to follow Drew's pattern of asking specific questions. I'd like for all to answer this if you are able to do so.

1) Is a public invitation biblical? Please include Scripture to back your point.

2) If a public invitation is indeed biblical, is a public profession (i.e. coming forward) biblical?

3) Lastly, assuming a public invitation is biblical, upon accepting Christ, is baptism necessary?

I'll give my opinions toward the end of the discussion.

C S Lewis audio

At Drew's request, here' s a link to one of C S Lewis' Broadcast Talks. If only I had a British accent....

Manual Labor

Sometimes seminary education can seem like manual labor. Like the man in the picture who has been at the plow all day long, when we look up long enough to take a rest we can look behind us and see how many rows we've hoed. Earlier today, I looked up and saw no rows left. After 3 1/2 years, and two schools, I have completed my seminary education. For those left in seminary, I'll give you the same advice my dad has always given me: "Keep your head down plowin' away and when you look up from time to time you'll see the progress you've made."

The Christian Scholar

Ross, Michael, Charlie, and I were discussing a wide variety of items tonight at a party, and the subject of Christian academia was briefly addressed. I'd like to raise this issue again for more comprehensive analysis, if you gentlemen don't mind.

First, here is a wonderful article written by Alister McGrath of Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University on the role that the Christian scholar can and should play in both the church and the wider culture. To read his article, click here.

The questions I'd like to raise are:

1. What is distinct about Christian scholarship?
2. What role should Christians play in the academy?
3. What roles should Christian academics play in the life of Christ's church?
4. What criteria should aspiring Christian academics use to choose institutions in which to study?
5. What biblical mandate, if any, do we have for pursing ministry in academic circles? Why shouldn't all bright gifted teachers in Christ's church simply pursue pulpits for their teaching ministry?

I submit these questions as guiding framework for what I sincerely hope is a fruitful conversation.

Ronnie Floyd for SBC President

Hey guys,

I know that only 3 of us here are Southern Baptist, but I'm really interested in the debate that has been swirling around several possible candidates for SBC president to be elected this year in Greensboro.

Johnny Hunt was initially mentioned, which sparked much controversy from reformed Baptists (you can check out discussions at the Founders Blog back in February sometime)

Now Johnny Hunt has said that he will nominate Ronnie Floyd, pastor of FBC Springdale, AK. But Floyd has been criticized for some unconventional evangelism strategies as well as his church's giving to the CP (check out this excellent article)

I'd be interested to hear what you guys think.

Prayer Request

Earlier today, Drew Jones, one of the contributors to this blog, sprained his ankle pretty badly. I was at the scene and took him to the ER. They have him in a soft-cast and on crutches. Unfortunately, his sister's wedding is next weekend! Let's pray for him that his ankle heels quickly and normally and that He can enjoy next weekend.

J. Frank Norris: God's Rascal

The history of Christianity is filled with many colorful characters, none of which may be as colorful and controversial as the Baptist preacher, J. Frank Norris. Here are a few of his more memorable moments:

"The famous pastor by the name of J. Frank Norris enters into the pulpit carrying a broken quart bottle with him. It is the early part of the 20th century and the church is relieved that their pastor was just acquitted by court allegations that he had torched the church. With fervent passion the preacher is proud in his exoneration from the accusations. He preaches a sermon from the text, "Thou are weighed in the balances and found wanting." He tears into the attorney who had brought charges against him. The lawyer has just met a horrible death driving his Cadillac on North Main accompanied by a lady companion. His vehicle is full of liquor and is driven head on into the streetcar. Pastor J. Frank announces to the congregation that in the broken bottle there is whiskey and brains from the lawyer"

if that is not wild enough,

"When the Fort Worth city council voted to buy a section of land from the Catholic Ignatious Academy for $90,000 more than the original price for the whole campus, many citizens felt it was nothing more than a gift to the Roman Catholic Church. Norris immediately began to attack Mayor H. C. Meacham for his Roman Catholic sympathies and associations. Dexter Chipps, a close friend of Meacham’s, became angry and called Norris, threatening to come to his office and settle matters. He did appear about 20 minutes later and exchanged words with Norris. In the tenseness of the situation, Norris reached for the pistol in his desk and fired four shots. Chipps was mortally wounded with bullets in his arm, abdomen and neck. In the murder trial, Norris claimed self-defense"

and to top things off,

"Norris designed First Baptist’s Sunday evening services to attract people from outside the church … He advertised his sermon titles on a large canvas banner that stretched along the side of the church building. The provocative titles got Fort Worth’s attention … He treated the congregation to visual spectacles as well. Once, when a cowboy was converted, he had the horse brought into the service to witness the baptism … when Norris preached against evolution, he brought a monkey into the meeting. The monkey, dressed in a little suit, sat on a stool next to the pulpit. Each time Norris made a point against evolution, he turned to the monkey and asked, ‘Isn’t that so?’ Norris was quite the showman.”

That last bit of monkey-business seems like a 1920's version of Ed Young, Jr.

For a full reading of his bio, click here to read a postive assessment of his life.

For a more critical analysis, check out this site.

For an unbiased look, click here.

As one can see, Dr. Norris was not just some loud-mouth hick preacher. He was a scholar and a renaissance man of sorts with a heart for the lost, even if his methods would now be considered "unorthodox" (to say the least).

The State of the Church...

A friend e-mailed me this article, and I thought that it would be a good topic of conversation here.

http://www.theologicalstudies.citymax.com/page/page/1573625.htm

The Doctrine of Hell

Drew, is this a better picture?

The Law: Binding?

Gentlemen,
Though I am fully aware of the academic demands which accompany the closing weeks of the semester, I simply could not resist throwing this question out for your discussion: How is the Christian believer, justified by grace through faith, to relate to the Old Testament Law?
Is the Mosaic Law binding on the believer, or are we simply under pure grace? If we are indeed "under law" in some sense, then how does this relate to salvation by faith in Christ?
I'm sure Ben and I will answer this question similarly, but I think that this will encourage some hard, fruitful dialogue. I encourage you to examine the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XIX, for an excellent theology of the Christian and the Law.