Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Book Preview: The Faith of Christopher Hitchens by Larry Taunton
Counterpoints: John Loftus and Frank Turek on the Death of Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens on the King James Bible
Monday, July 31, 2017
Video: Christopher Hitchens vs John Lennox | Is God Great? Debate
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Book Preview: The Faith of Christopher Hitchens by Larry Taunton
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Christopher Hitchens on the King James Bible
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
Steve Meyer’s Darwin’s Doubt is still doing well in paleontology
9 Die In Immigrant-Smuggling Attempt In Sweltering Truck
Philosopher and Theologian William Lane Craig Named in Biola’s First Endowed Chair
Hospital treating baby Charlie Gard is receiving death threats
Chief to recommend charges against Florida teens who recorded drowning
Leaders Push Senate to Pass Bill to Protect Mid-East Christians
How the LGBT Movement Used Fake Science to Push Gay Marriage
Protestors Plan Prayer Vigil for Charlie Gard as Hospital Claims it is Receiving Death Threats
Reject 'Passive' Christianity, Former MMA, WWE Star Ken Shamrock Tells California Megachurch
Pastor Forced to Move After Receiving Threats for Opposing Facebook's Rainbow Flag Emoji
This is why Satanist ‘church’ co-founder says that LGBTQ people are drawn to Satanism
BREAKING: U.S. Senate rejects measure defunding Planned Parenthood, repealing Obamacare
Canadian polygamous leader found guilty of having 25 wives
Family fury after hospital denies mother-of-five's Christian-faith-based healthcare plan in the middle of her CHEMO and hands her a $41k bill
'Our beautiful boy has gone': Little Charlie Gard's parents announce that their brave warrior whose plight touched the world has finally died after battling devastating genetic illness he fought for so long
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Friday, July 28, 2017
Honoring Joni Eareckson Tada
This Sunday, July 30th, 2017, will mark fifty years since Joni Eareckson Tada's tragic diving accident left her a quadriplegic at the young age of 17. Simply enduring life in a wheelchair for fifty years is itself more than noteworthy . But to think about all that Joni has accomplished is nothing short of miraculous in my opinion. All you need to do is go to her Wikipedia page to learn about her extensive work. She has had tremendous success as a writer (48 books), singer, and speaker. Eareckson Tada also founded Joni and Friends, which is a ministry for the disabled community, in 1979. She has been married for nearly 35 years to her husband, Ken.
Joni's life is a great example of how God can use suffering for His good purpose.
Joni's life is a great example of how God can use suffering for His good purpose.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
J.P. Moreland on the Existence of Evil
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnote:
1. As quoted by "The Poached Egg" here.
Related Posts
Video: Hot Seat with a Philosopher featuring J.P. Moreland
What Are the Laws of Logic? by J.P. Moreland
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Video: Is Christianity Bad News for Women? by Amy Orr-Ewing
Amy looks at three challenges facing women today – objectification, self-objectification and sexual violence – and considers what Christianity has to say about each. Critically, she also looks at how Jesus interacted with women and argues Christianity offers a coherent worldview that underpins a vision of human flourishing."1
You can learn more about Orr-Ewing here.
Enjoy!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
The Why? Series
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Was "the Helper" Promised by Jesus Really the Prophet Mohammed?
As Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe explain in their book The Big Book of Bible Difficulties, "There are absolutely no grounds for concluding the 'Helper' Jesus mentioned...is Mohammed."1 They offer the following ten reasons to support their claim:
"First of all, of the 5,366 Greek manuscripts of the NT, not a single manuscript contains the word periclytos ('praised one'), as the Muslims claim it should read.
Second, Jesus clearly identifies the 'Helper' as the Holy Spirit, not Mohammed. Jesus referred to 'the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send.' (John 14:26)
Third, the 'Helper' was given to His disciples ('you,' v. 16), but Mohammed was not.
Fourth, the 'Helper' was to abide with them 'forever' v. 16), but Mohammed has been dead for 13 centuries!
Fifth, Jesus said to the disciples, 'You know Him [the Helper]' (v. 17), but they did not know Mohammed. He wasn't even born for 6 more centuries.
Sixth, Jesus told His apostles, the Helper will be 'in you' (v. 17). In no sense was Mohammed 'in' Jesus' apostles.
Seventh, our Lord affirmed the Helper would be sent 'In My [Jesus'] name' (John 14:26). But no Muslims believes Mohammed was sent by Jesus in His name.
Eighth, the Helper Jesus would send would not 'speak on His own authority' (John 16:13), whereas Mohammed constantly testifies to himself in the Qur'an (cf. Surah 33:40).
Ninth, the Helper would 'glorify' Jesus (John 16:14), but Mohammed claims to supersede Jesus, being a later prophet.
Finally, Jesus asserted that the Helper would come in 'not many days' (Acts 1:5), whereas Mohammed did not come for 600 years."2
When the historical and biblical contexts of Jesus' teaching regarding the "Helper" are considered, there are no good reasons to conclude that Jesus was referencing the Prophet Mohammed in John 14:16.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnotes:
1. Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, The Big Book of Bible Difficulties, p. 419.
2. Ibid., 419-420.
Related Posts
Article: What is Islam, and What Do Muslims Believe?
Book Review: No God But One- Allah or Jesus? by Nabeel Qureshi
Video: The Quran, the Bible, and the Islamic Dilemma by Dr. David Wood
Monday, July 24, 2017
Video: Why Is There So Much Violence in the Old Testament? by Sean McDowell
Stand firm in Christ,
Chase
Counterpoints: Richard Dawkins and Pastor Richard Wurmbrand on Atheism
"What matters is not whether Hitler and Stalin were atheists, but whether atheism systematically influences people to do bad things. There is not the smallest evidence that it does." [p. 273]
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand recalling his imprisonment under Communist rule in his book Tortured for Christ:
"The cruelty of atheism is hard to believe. When a man has no faith in the reward of good or the punishment of evil, there is no reason to be human. There is no restraint from the depths of evil that is in man. The Communist tortures often said, "There is no God, no hereafter, no punishment for evil. We can do what we wish." I heard one torturer say, "I thank God, in whom I don't believe, that I have lived to this hour when I can express all the evil in my heart." He expressed it in unbelievable brutality and torture inflicted on prisoners." [p. 36]
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Richard Dawkins says aborting babies with Down syndrome is the “moral and sensible” choice.
Ye Have No Definition of Faith?
Counterpoints: William Lane Craig and Richard Dawkins on Evolution
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
California Upholds ‘Right’ For Pedophiles To Marry 10 Year Old Kids
Darwinian Biologist Endorses Killing Handicapped Babies Who “Suffer”
What’s Your Back-Up Religion? If LGBT Activists Are Right, Then Christianity is False
What to Say When a Friend Asks You to Switch Pronouns for Him or Her
Turns Out T. Rex Would’ve Broken its Tiny Legs if it Tried to Run
Congresswoman Whose Own Baby Miraculously Survived Steps Up in a Big Way to Help Charlie Gard
China’s Government Bans Religion, Says Members Must Be “Firm Marxist Atheists”
Archaeologists Searching for Ark of the Covenant and Tabernacle Find Biblical Clues at Shiloh Dig
Hawaii Pro-life Centers Sue over Abortion Promotion Law
Actor Dennis Quaid promises new faith-based movie about MercyMe singer Bart Millard will be 'uplifting'
New research: Shroud of Turin bears blood of a torture victim
Judge Says Charlie Gard Can’t Travel to US Without Court Approval
When a Professor Justifies Infanticide
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Friday, July 21, 2017
What Do Greek Scholars Think of the Watchtower Society's New World Translation of the Bible?
One such example they offer is the late Dr. Julius Mantey. As the authors explain:
"Mantey was one of the leading Greek scholars in the world. He was author of the Hellenistic Greek Reader and coauthor, with H.E. Dana, of A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. Not only did he reject the NWT, he publicly demanded that the Society stop misquoting his Grammar to support it."2
Mantey wrote:
"I have never read any New Testament so badly translated as The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures. In fact, it is not their translation at all. Rather, it is a distortion of the New Testament. The translators used what J.B. Rotherham has translated in 1893, in modern speech, and changed the readings in scores of passages to state what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach. That is distortion, not translation."3
Bruce Metzger, another well-known scholar of New Testament stated, "The Jehovah's Witnesses have incorporated in their translations of the New Testament several quite erroneous renderings of the Greek."4
Also, Dr. Robert Countess, who wrote his dissertation for his Ph.D. in Greek on the NWT, concluded that the translation:
"...has been sharply unsuccessful in keeping doctrinal considerations from influencing the actual translation...It must be viewed as a radically biased piece of work. At some points it is actually dishonest. At others it is neither modern nor scholarly. And interwoven throughout its fabric is inconsistent application of its own principles enunciated in the Foreword and Appendix."5
As if that were not enough. British scholar H.H. Rowley actually called the NWT "an insult to the Word of God."6
So, according to both Christian and non-Christian Greek scholars, the NWT is biased, dishonest and wrong.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnotes:
1. John Ankerberg and John Weldon, The Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 31.
2. Ibid., 32.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
Related Posts
Apologetics Interview with Mike Felker by Brian Auten of Apologetics315
Article: A Brief Overview of the Jehovah's Witness Worldview by J. Warner Wallace
Does John 4:23 indicate that only God the Father -and not Jesus- is to be Worshiped?
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Featured Series: Taking Back Christianese by Michael J. Kruger
"This series is designed to analyze a number of theological phrases or practical bits of Christians wisdom that may simply be wrong, or at least misunderstood. Or maybe both.
Now to be clear, I will not be suggesting that the instances of Christianese we will be exploring in this series are necessarily wrong. Taken properly, they may be right in many ways. But, of course, that is precisely the issue. Often they are not taken properly. Instead they can be used to justify some questionable theological views.
So, the goal of the series–and this is important to get–is not to refute these phrases but to clarify, to nuance, and to balance out these phrases. In the world of theology, lack of nuance is one step (often a big step) towards doctrinal error."1
The series is as follows:
1. "The Christian Life is All about Being Transparent and Vulnerable."
2. "Preach the Gospel; Use Words if You Have To."
3. "God is Always Pleased with You."
4. "We have Freedom in Christ."
5. "Just ask Jesus into Your Heart."
6. "All Sins are Equal in God's Sight."
7. "America is a Christian Nation."
8. "It's not my place to judge someone else."
9. "God views all our works as filthy rags."
10. "Jesus is neither a democrat or a republican."
2. "Preach the Gospel; Use Words if You Have To."
3. "God is Always Pleased with You."
4. "We have Freedom in Christ."
5. "Just ask Jesus into Your Heart."
6. "All Sins are Equal in God's Sight."
7. "America is a Christian Nation."
8. "It's not my place to judge someone else."
9. "God views all our works as filthy rags."
10. "Jesus is neither a democrat or a republican."
To learn more about Kruger's work, go here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnote:
Did Jesus Even Exist?
A Great Witness to the Canonicity of the Old Testament Books
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Counterpoints: Joseph Smith and The Book of Isaiah on the Existence of God
The Book of Isaiah: "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me."2
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnotes:
1. Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, v. 6, pp. 307, 308 as quoted by Mormon Think.
2. Isaiah 42:10, ESV; Emphasis mine.
Related Posts
What is the Book of Mormon? by Robert M. Bowman, Jr.
The Smithsonian on the Bible and the Book of Mormon
Free Online E-book: Letters to a Mormon Elder by James R. White
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Video: Did Jesus Think He Was God? by Mike Licona
Enjoy!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Video Debate: Matt Dillahunty vs. Mike Licona- Was Jesus Raised from the Dead?
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Monday, July 17, 2017
Is Christianity Useful Anymore? The Younger Generations Don't Seem to Think So
In the subject post, Michael C. Sherrard writes the following on Southern Evangelical Seminary's blog:
Young adults simply don’t know anything about Christianity. I’m not sure, then, that it is right to say that young adults are walking away from Christianity. It seems as though they’ve never been introduced to it.
He goes on to write about our responsibility to not only teach the next generation the Word of God but also display to them the power it has in our lives.
You can read the post in its entirety here.
Stand firm in Christ,
Chase
Young adults simply don’t know anything about Christianity. I’m not sure, then, that it is right to say that young adults are walking away from Christianity. It seems as though they’ve never been introduced to it.
He goes on to write about our responsibility to not only teach the next generation the Word of God but also display to them the power it has in our lives.
You can read the post in its entirety here.
Stand firm in Christ,
Chase
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
New Scientific Research Reveals Atheist Closed-Mindedness
A New Hearing for Charlie Gard
ISIS' Destruction of Tomb of Jonah Reveals Ancient Inscription, Winged Bulls, Lions of Biblical King
Trump Administration Threatens Teachers to Use Transgender Pronouns or Else
Charlie Gard: What kind of a nation would kill a baby in his mother's arms?
Amazing human chain formed to rescue drowning family in PCB
The Predator in the Fashion Magazine: Teen Vogue Coaches Teenagers in Sodomy
A Response to Eugene Peterson’s Affirmation of Homosexuality
Who needs film when you can store a movie in bacteria DNA?
Eugene Peterson Retracts Statement Saying He Would Perform Same-Sex Wedding
Why Does God Allow Evil? Author Interview From Groundbreaking Book
Big Bang Confirmed Again, This Time By The Universe's First Atoms
Tim Tebow Has an 8-Game Hit Streak
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Friday, July 14, 2017
A Heart's Prayer
In the prologue to Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi shares his desire to know who God is. Below is part of the prayer he recites:
"Please, God Almighty, tell me who You are! I beseech You and only You. Only You can rescue me. At your feet, I lay down everything I have learned, and give my entire life to You. Take away what You will, be it my joy, my friends, my family, or even my life. But let me have You, O God.
Light the path that I must walk. I don't care how many hurdles are in the way, how many pits I must jump over or climb out of, or how many thorns I must step through. Guide me on the right path. If it is Islam, show me how it is true! If it is Christianity, give me eyes to see! Just show me which path is Yours, dear God, so I can walk it."1
I find this prayer very moving as it reveals the author's heart to truly know who God is despite what it might cost him. It also reminds me to ask myself what are my intentions when it comes to being a Christian? Is it for the experience? Is it to have the right worldview compared to many others? Is it to avoid being condemned to hell?
While these questions are worth considering, I believe there is a more important question. Do I truly believe in who Jesus is and that he came to "give life and give it abundantly" as mentioned in John 10:10. If I do, am I living this out accordingly? Is it apparent in my marriage, as a father, in my daily interactions with my co-workers and others who may cross my path? I find this question to be helpful in reminding me of my purpose to share the truth of the Gospel message.
You can find the latest Nabeel Qureshi videos by going here. Please continue to pray for him and his family as he perseveres through his illness.
God Bless,
Footnote:
1. Seeking Allah Finding Jesus p. 26
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Professor of Ancient History Paul Maier on "Was Jesus Married?"
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnote:
1. As quoted by Charlie Campbell here.
Related Posts
Is the Gospel of Thomas as Reliable as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?
Common Objection #16 - "We know nothing about Jesus outside of the New Testament."
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Video: How to Explain the Trinity by Jeff Durbin
In this featured video, Pastor Jeff Durbin of Apologia Church explains how to biblically and concisely explain the doctrine of the Trinity to those who reject it. This message is aimed toward Muslims, but really applies to any world religion or cult that rejects the Triune Nature of God.
To learn more about Jeff Durbin, go here.
Learn more about Apologia Church here.
And I highly recommend Durbin's podcast, Apologia Radio.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Video: Understanding Greg Bahnsen by Kenneth Samples
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Book Preview: Unbelievable? by Justin Brierley
Justin Brierley is presenter of Premier Christian Radio’s Unbelievable? podcast.
He is also Senior Editor of Premier Christianity Magazine. Justin splits his time between radio presenting, editing and serving in his local church. He enjoys finding fresh way to create conversations about faith through the programmes, videos and articles that bring theology into the real world.
About the Book
Conversations matter.
Yet recently, good conversations about faith have been increasingly squeezed out of the public sphere. Seeking to reopen the debate, Justin Brierley began to invite atheists, sceptics and non-believers onto Premier Christian Radio to hear the best arguments for and against the Christian faith. Now, over ten years later, Unbelievable?continues to captivate thousands of listeners and has spawned its own annual conference.
But how has ten years in the atheist-argument-firing line affected the presenter’s faith?
Reflecting on conversations with Richard Dawkins, Derren Brown and many more, Justin explains why he still finds Christianity the most compelling explanation for life, the universe and everything. And why, regardless of belief or background, we should all welcome the conversation.
But how has ten years in the atheist-argument-firing line affected the presenter’s faith?
Reflecting on conversations with Richard Dawkins, Derren Brown and many more, Justin explains why he still finds Christianity the most compelling explanation for life, the universe and everything. And why, regardless of belief or background, we should all welcome the conversation.
Learn more about the book here.
You can order your copy here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
How a Dice Can Show that God Exists? by Justin Brierley
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
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How a Dice Can Show that God Exists? by Justin Brierley
Article: Three Paradoxes of Atheism by Neil Shenvi
Monday, July 10, 2017
What is the Hypostatic Union? by gotQuestions.org
The hypostatic union is the term used to describe how God the Son, Jesus Christ, took on a human nature, yet remained fully God at the same time. Jesus always had been God (John 8:58, 10:30), but at the incarnation Jesus became a human being (John 1:14). The addition of the human nature to the divine nature is Jesus, the God-man. This is the hypostatic union, Jesus Christ, one Person, fully God and fully man.
Jesus' two natures, human and divine, are inseparable. Jesus will forever be the God-man, fully God and fully human, two distinct natures in one Person. Jesus' humanity and divinity are not mixed, but are united without loss of separate identity. Jesus sometimes operated with the limitations of humanity (John 4:6,19:28) and other times in the power of His deity (John 11:43; Matthew 14:18-21). In both, Jesus' actions were from His one Person. Jesus had two natures, but only one personality.
You can read the entire article here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Does John 4:23 indicate that only God the Father -and not Jesus- is to be Worshiped?
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Sunday, July 09, 2017
Sunday Praise: "In Jesus' Name" Third Day with Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, and Michael Tait
Stand firm in Christ,
Chase
Saturday, July 08, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
'Mama, Save Me'
Trump enters Charlie Gard debate: 'We would be delighted' to help
Stephen Hawking fears Trump could ‘push Earth over the brink’ and start chain reaction which wipes out humanity
China Robots Displace Workers as Wage Spiral Pressures Profits
With the Charlie Gard Case, Culture of Death Tightens Its Grip in England
Doctors Back NHS-Funded ‘Womb Transplants’ for Transgender People
Police Officer Honored for Adopting Boy He Rescued from Severe Child Abuse
Not All Pedophiles Have Mental Disorder, American Psychiatric Association Says In New DSM
Vatican hospital offers to take in baby Charlie Gard
Indiana Abortions Dropped 17 Percent Under Mike Pence
Prominent actor ripped by LGBT activists for saying he is ‘gay … just without the physical act’
Movie Review- Spiderman: Homeoming
Christian seeks legal advice after being ordered off ladder at Speakers' Corner
Charlie Gard’s Life Support Won’t be Turned Off For Now, Parents and Hospital Head Back to Court
Tim Tebow Surprises with Strong Batting Average, Two Home Runs for St. Lucie Mets
Human remains unearthed in biblical city, 3,200 years after it was destroyed by ancient Egyptians
Book Preview: Old-Earth or Evolutionary Creation? Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and Biologos
Britain's first pregnant man gives birth to a baby girl after conceiving using a sperm donor he met on Facebook
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Last week's edition is here.
Friday, July 07, 2017
Book Review- A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle
As the father of two young girls, I am constantly assessing the cultural landscape that we find ourselves in and asking the question, "What kind of world are my girls going to inherit?" Some would argue that every generation has had its share of moral challenges and cultural shifts. This is undoubtedly true; however, let's be honest- we are living in strange, strange times. There are currently issues arising in the west that simply have never needed to be dealt with or addressed before. Moreover, various issues that have emerged in the past have seemingly intensified in recent years.
Addiction has always been a challenge, but now it seems we are inventing new ways to destroy ourselves. Pornography has been a moral problem since its inception, but never has it been more readily available to our children. There are people who are not only struggling with gender dysphoria, but those who now wear pet collars, eat from a bowl and identify as dogs. There are grown men who identify as little girls. Just recently, pop star Miley Cyrus claimed to be a "genderless spirit." And many in the culture seem to think that such behavior is perfectly normal and acceptable. And as the Apostle Paul wrote in the Book of Romans, many seem to even give "hearty approval" (1:32; NASB) to such conduct. How do we raise our kids with a solid Christian worldview when the world around them seems determined to turn away from the very truths and principals it has historically held to?
In their new book, A Practical Guide to Culture, authors John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle are wrestling with these same types of questions:
"It's always been rough out there, but the palpable sense of many American Christians-especially parents-is that the cultural currents have shifted and intensified. The past few years have brought a tsunami of change, and not for the better. One issue after another after another hits us like a series of waves at high tide. We wonder if and how our kids can keep their heads above the water, much less live the sort of flourishing Christian lives we hope they will. As dads, we wonder how we can too...In our lifetimes, we have never seen the pressure on Christian conviction greater than it is right now. We try to avoid alarmism, but standing for Christ in our culture is getting harder and harder."[p. 18]
The authors realize that "[t]he kids of today will build the culture of tomorrow" and their goal in this work is to equip families to navigate the cultural landscape reasonably and biblically. As they write:
"We've aimed this book at parents, grandparents, mentors, teachers, and pastors who have some little image bearers in their lives, as we have in ours, and who want to see them navigate this cultural moment as champions for Christ. [p. 19]
Layout of the Book
The book is divided into four parts.
Part I is meant to provide a framework of culture for Christians. The authors do a great job here defining culture, putting culture in the context of the gospel, and explaining what success with our children would look like in our current cultural climate.
Part II deals with those powerful yet subtle undercurrents of our culture that often go unnoticed. Important issues such as navigating the information age, what it means to be human, and how we can be human together are discussed. An important issue addressed in this section is the issue of extended adolescence in children. The authors contend that if kids can just grow up, they will be way ahead of their peers. This reader wholeheartedly agrees!
Part III addresses various singular cultural issues (what the authors refer to as the "pelvic issues") such as porn, casual sex, sexual orientation and gender identify. Others issues addressed include affluence and consumerism, addiction, entertainment and racial tension.
Part IV offers what the authors call "Christian worldview essentials" for parents and kids. These essentials are "ones that seem particularly important for the task this book seeks to tackle: empowering parents and mentors to help kids navigate the cultural moment."[p. 21]
Book Content
The authors wisely begin their work by defining culture. As they point out, sometimes the word culture is used, but some do not always understand what it actually means. They explain:
"Among Christians, culture is a word much used but rarely defined. It comes from the Latin word cultura, which means 'agriculture.' If plowing, tilling, and cultivating come to mind, they should. In its most basic sense, culture refers to what people do with the world: we build, we invent, we imagine, we create, we tear down, we replace, we compose, we design, we emphasize, we dismiss, we embellish, we engineer. As Andy Crouch says, 'Culture is what human beings make of the world.'"[p. 29]
Further, Kunkle and Stonestreet correctly identify the challenge many Christians face in the west- the seductive allurement to conform to the culture. They write:
"Culture tends to shape us most deeply by what it presents as normal. We are creatures of cultural habit. Our loves, our longings, our loyalties, and our labors can become products of the liturgies our culture imposes. We live according to them but rarely think through them. Unintentionally, we become culture shaped rather than intentional about shaping culture."[p. 39]
Of course, this is contrary to what the Bible says- "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2; NASB).
As the late Francis Schaeffer asked many years ago, "How should we then live?" Or, perhaps more appropriate for today's parents, "How should we teach our kids to live?"
The authors are convinced that the answer lies within the overall story told in the Bible- creation, fall, redemption and restoration. They explain:
"The Story is the context of our cultural moment. We must live from it and allow it to shape us." [p. 58]
Kunkle and Stonestreet also contend that a large reason why young people don't know who they are is because we have rejected the universal Story of history and humanity for postmodernism that offers no meaningful narrative.
It should be obvious to the reader at this point that some of the issues dealt with in this work are sensitive in nature. Topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity are "hot-button" matters that many find difficult to talk about without getting emotional. Further, it should be noted that these issues are not simply academic matters to be considered and adjudicated upon, but involve real people with struggles and hurts who were created in the image of God. The authors successfully navigate these touchy issues with just the right balance of grace and truth. As they are careful to disclose:
"Jesus was 'full of grace and truth' (John 1:14), and He is the model for our engagement of all issues. We must bring truth to bear by thinking carefully about the intellectual issues surrounding sexual orientation. We must bring grace to bear by engaging individuals with love, kindness, and hospitality."[p. 188]
And this pattern is followed throughout.
Each issue addressed in chapters 8-15 follows a very helpful pattern for those desiring to discuss these subjects with their children. These chapters begin by explaining the specific problem and then lies that the culture perpetuates related to this issue. Then, these falsehoods are factually and thoughtfully dealt with. Moreover, the authors offer how each struggle should be viewed in light of God's Story- "the true Story about all of reality..."[p. 158] Finally, "Action Steps" are given to those families wanting to discuss and teach about the topic.
Throughout the work, various resources are suggested for those who want to learn more about a given subject. The resources offered are both practical and easily accessible. For example, when dealing with porn, it is correctly pointed out that parents must not wait until they discover porn in their kids' lives to address it. They must do something now! They go on to suggest various ways to filter, monitor and restrict what children are able to see online and give a helpful list of websites so that readers can take action immediately. Throughout the work, various books, articles, videos and other helpful tools are recommended.
Chapters 16-19 conclude by teaching readers how to read the Bible on its own terms and by offering a general defense of the reliability of the Bible. This reviewer appreciated the three step argument offered for the authority of the Bible. The steps include: 1. God's Existence 2. Expectations of Divine Revelation 3. The Bible is God's Divine Revelation. The authors summarize their case as follows:
"Beginning with natural theology, we have good grounds for believing God exists. In addition, we have rational expectations for divine revelation because of who God is and the predicament we find ourselves in. Finally, the evidence demonstrates that God has indeed spoken and revealed Himself most fully in the Bible." [p. 317]
Finally, the issue of pluralism is addressed and demonstrated to be false; however, the authors recommend what they deem "the right kind" of pluralism. The right kind of pluralist builds their foundation on the the truth of the Christian worldview and then is able to interact with those around them, regardless of their views, with courage and confidence.
Conclusion
If you are going to read one book this year, I strongly encourage you to consider making it A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle. These seasoned apologists and fathers demonstrate how to teach apologetics and worldview to today's young people with clarity, wisdom and truth. Furthermore, they put answers and tools into the hands of parents, teachers, mentors and pastors that make engaging the ever shifting cultural sands around us achievable.
There are so many within the body of Christ asking the question, "What can we do about the crumbling culture around us?" Stonestreet and Kunkle have offered the answer in their latest work. I have already made it required reading for my wife!
Get your copy here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Related Posts
Movie Trailer: Mining for God
Video: True for You, but Not For Me? by Brett Kunkle
Audio: Why I Am a Christian- Understanding Truth by Brett Kunkle
Thursday, July 06, 2017
Counterpoints: Richard Dawkins and C.S. Lewis on Meaning
C.S. Lewis: "If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning." [2]
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnotes:
1. Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden, p. 55.
2. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnotes:
1. Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden, p. 55.
2. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Tuesday, July 04, 2017
Book Preview: Old-Earth or Evolutionary Creation? Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and Biologos
Christians confess that God created the heavens and the earth. But they are divided over howGod created and whether the Bible gives us a scientifically accurate account of the process of creation.
Representatives of two prominent positions—old-earth creation (Reasons to Believe) and evolutionary creation (BioLogos)—have been in dialogue over the past decade to understand where they agree and disagree on key issues in science and theology. This book is the result of those meetings.
Moderated by Southern Baptist seminary professors, the discussion between Reasons to Believe and BioLogos touches on many of the pressing debates in science and faith, including biblical authority, the historicity of Adam and Eve, human genetics and common descent, the problem of natural evil, and methodological naturalism. While both organizations agree that God created the universe billions of years ago, their differences reveal that far more is at stake here than just the age of the earth.
Old-Earth or Evolutionary Creation? invites readers to listen in as Christian scholars weigh the evidence, explore the options, and challenge each other on the questions of creation and evolution. In a culture of increasing polarization, this is a model for charitable Christian dialogue.
Reviews
Paul Copan, professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University, coeditor of The Dictionary of Christianity and Science
C. John "Jack" Collins, professor of Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis
S. Joshua Swamidass, MD, assistant professor of laboratory and genomic medicine, Washington University in Saint Louis
You can get your copy here.
To learn more about Reasons to Believe, go here.
To learn more about Biologos, go here.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Monday, July 03, 2017
The Ethics of Abortion: A Pro-Life Perspective
In the subject three part series, Seth Clement of Thinking Matters presents the pro-life case concisely and effectively. Below are links to each part of the series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Stand firm in Christ, and stand firm for the preborn.
Chase
Sunday, July 02, 2017
Saturday, July 01, 2017
Worldview and Apologetics in the News
Canada Becomes First Western Country To Legalize Bestiality
Hasbro CEO: ‘We eliminated the old delineation of gender’ to be more ‘inclusive’
Five Proofs is coming
Turkey to stop teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in high schools because it is 'controversial and difficult to understand'
The CBC says children seeing nude men at Pride is a good discussion opportunity
Waving a Rainbow Flag is Not a Neutral Act
Uplifting Story: Police surprise 4-year-old with SWAT vehicle, presents at birthday party
Mormons are changing their tune on same-sex marriage
Turkey: Daughter Kept from Father
Suspect in killing of Muslim teen had been accused of a previous assault, report says
Scott Turner’s Purpose and Desire — An Important New Voice in the Evolution Debate
Nancy Pelosi: Republicans’ Efforts to Defund Planned Parenthood ‘Dishonor God’
Why Atheist Richard Dawkins Supports Religious Education in Schools
Heartbreaking: The European Court of Human Rights sentences a little British boy to death
She Has Down Syndrome But Swam the English Channel and She’s the First to Receive an Honorary Doctorate
New Comedy “Choice, The Musical” Celebrates Abortion
Planned Parenthood Doc Caught Saying She’d “Break the Baby’s Neck” if Baby Born Alive After Abortion
Pilot criticized for asking passengers to pray after plane started intensely shaking midflight
Suspect in killing of Muslim teen had been accused of a previous assault, report says
Scott Turner’s Purpose and Desire — An Important New Voice in the Evolution Debate
Why Atheist Richard Dawkins Supports Religious Education in Schools
Heartbreaking: The European Court of Human Rights sentences a little British boy to death
She Has Down Syndrome But Swam the English Channel and She’s the First to Receive an Honorary Doctorate
New Comedy “Choice, The Musical” Celebrates Abortion
Planned Parenthood Doc Caught Saying She’d “Break the Baby’s Neck” if Baby Born Alive After Abortion
Pilot criticized for asking passengers to pray after plane started intensely shaking midflight
Tim Tebow homers on first day after Mets promotion
The Vatican’s Statement On UK Baby Condemned To Die Is Frightening
Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook Can Fill the Role Played by Churches
Trump WH declines to recognize LGBT Pride Month
Use Your Power for Good, Mr. President
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
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