www.joshgelatt.com - Biblical reflections on faith, life, and culture

Amen!

2012-01-11T03:03:51.247-08:00

Amen!

Five years? Why will it take so long? By that time...

2012-01-08T18:13:25.875-08:00

Five years? Why will it take so long? By that time I hope I'll be fluent in Dutch and translating it by myself! Just kidding!

Mauro

I will keep this conversation in mind-- especially...

2012-01-02T12:11:02.167-08:00

I will keep this conversation in mind-- especially for an upcoming class.

Seriously, I liked your development of a definition.

What do you think of John Piper’s comments on the ...

2011-12-31T19:13:57.007-08:00

What do you think of John Piper’s comments on the earth is billions of years…”Whatever science says it is, it is…”?

“In verse 1, “In the beginning he made the heavens and the earth,” he makes everything. And then you go day by day and he’s preparing the land. He’s not bringing new things into existence; he’s preparing the land and causing things to grow and separating out water and earth. And then, when it’s all set and prepared, he creates and puts man there.

So that has the advantage of saying that the earth is billions of years old if it wants to be—whatever science says it is, it is—but man is young, and he was good and he sinned. He was a real historical person, because Romans 5 says so, and so does the rest of the Bible.”

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/what-should-we-teach-about-creation

This is were you get into the problem that you would have to believe that death and dying occurred before original sin of man and that suffering, and dying in the world wasn’t caused by man. If you try to mix evolution with the Bible, it will blow your theology apart.

Exo 20:9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
Exo 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.

Jesus Christ said in Mark 10:6…”But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” Here, Christ is saying that they were created at the beginning.

For as much as MacArthur talks EP I don't thin...

2011-12-30T20:43:14.628-08:00

For as much as MacArthur talks EP I don't think he does it either. Devers either. t4g was almost all "talks" except for Piper who exposited.
-Vondo

Anonymous, the truth is I simply didn't notice...

2011-12-30T10:37:00.234-08:00

Anonymous, the truth is I simply didn't notice it. I don't actually read every comment that comes through. In general it seems wisest to leave the defense of Islam to the self-appointed defenders of Islam.

But, as this has been pointed out, I would suggest that the Koran doesn't make such a claim. Fatima was the daughter of Mohammad, and wife to Ali, who is venerated today almost like the Catholics venerate Mary. She played an important role as she was the child closest to Mohammad and participated in a struggle for power/authority after Mohammad's death that resulted in the division of the Muslim world. Modern day Shi'ites are those who view Fatima and Ali's descendants (the Ahl al-Bayt, "the people of the house") as the rightful rulers of Islam.

i dont expect my comment to be approved either

2011-12-30T10:19:58.623-08:00

i dont expect my comment to be approved either

maybe josh should correct kathie no were in the ko...

2011-12-30T10:19:08.851-08:00

maybe josh should correct kathie no were in the koran does allah say he has a daughter but thats how christans propigate through lies and half truths if your gona correct the person above who said that muhammed is the bible the you should also correct kathie about allah having a daughter but i guess miss information about islam is ok...i guess its like st paul said we will convert the gentiles by hook or by crook meaning even through lies.

Josh, excellent presentation of whether to stand o...

2011-12-28T17:36:08.698-08:00

Josh, excellent presentation of whether to stand or not during the reading of God's Word in church.
One of the aspects not highlighted enough in my humble opinion is the need for reverence of God and His Word. We stand when the National Anthem is played, but not when the King of kings Word is recited in church. I fully agree with you that we should not be legalistic about standing and certainly not with those in the congregation who have a hard time standing or are unable to do so, but it is worth reflecting on more I believe of our values and treasures, which should be derived from God and His word.
Maurice Harting (mauriceharting@yahoo.ca)

Josh said "Such an anointing in not a guarant...

2011-12-17T05:30:16.081-08:00

Josh said "Such an anointing in not a guarantee of healing; rather, it is a declaration of faith."
Look at James 5:15 "and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
I struggled with this verse for years. It says WILL. But some say if the person is not healed, it was because they didn't have faith. That's not true because healing of some is not God's will. Remember Jesus left someone sick.

I agree. We have a pastor at our local Baptist chu...

2011-11-27T04:08:04.922-08:00

I agree. We have a pastor at our local Baptist church in Brisbane, Australia who doesn't even wear shoes when he is preaching, or while doing anything else and comes looking scruffy. Today was the first day that I saw Tim preaching, and he was without shoes. I couldn't take in what he was saying nor could I get into the song afterwards. In Australia I believe wearing shoes is a sign of respect in our culture. One doesn't go to weddings, funerals, or even out to dinner without wearing shoes on our feet, even if they are sandals. I spoke to the senior pastor about how it distracted me and disturbed me so much as I believe wearing shoes in a ministering position in church is a sign of respect. He didn't seem to agree, however I asked if he would pray about it and be willing to hear from God on the subject. He said he wasn't going to keep revisiting this. (first time I had brought it up with him). He did lead us in prayer about it but added something about being mature and something to do with acceptance. I feel the preacher was taking the attention away from God and onto himself. It is mostly a family church but there are alot of people in the 30's and 40's and older into their 70's and eighties.

I find it interesting that the title speaks of pre...

2011-11-10T11:48:00.092-08:00

I find it interesting that the title speaks of predestination and the content of election. The two are related but are different. For example in Ephesians 1 we are told we are elected to be holy and blameless (that was the purpose of God's choosing us) but we are predestined to be adopted as sons. It appears that (in the original) there is a distinction based on the fact that sonship implies a legal relationship where holiness and blamelessness is a matter of personal integrity. Ordination is by nature a legal act choice is not necessarily.

Then I guess no Calvinists are believers then! lol...

2011-11-03T11:00:26.962-07:00

Then I guess no Calvinists are believers then! lol

But who is predestined and to what? Is it selecte...

2011-10-19T14:47:59.347-07:00

But who is predestined and to what?

Is it selected lost to salvation and santification (to adopted as sons, blameless etc)

Or

Is it christians that are predestined to full sonship and being blameless in Christ etc?

Who is the "Us" in Eph 1:4?

You just happened to post this just as I am studying Ephesians again. I know there are other verses. Interested in your thoughts

Excellent quote! This just shows that the Holy Sp...

2011-10-19T10:58:40.221-07:00

Excellent quote! This just shows that the Holy Spirit is the author of the Scriptures, not man. For man surely would have edited this part.

Scott

They did it again this year (2011): http://www.wi...

2011-09-28T05:53:46.746-07:00

They did it again this year (2011):

http://www.wisereader.com/2011/04/get-the-latest-version-of-the-esv/

Kinda shady.

I enjoyed this very much! It reminds me of a song...

2011-09-14T11:03:01.776-07:00

I enjoyed this very much! It reminds me of a song by my man Shai Linne, "The Greatest Story Ever Told". Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChWgrzqEVZ4

Scott Miller

I'm just going to comment on one of the variou...

2011-09-09T04:17:26.042-07:00

I'm just going to comment on one of the various points above for now, I don't have time to do more at the moment. (Maybe more later).

And clarification: I am not a drug supporter, and I would not take any even if it were legal. However-

I am curious- why would "Anyone who believes cocaine should be legal" have "already lost touch with reality" ? It sounds more to me as though he was really following the logical conclusion to his "strict-Constitutional views" that you lauded before.

Because what he supports is LEAVING THE ISSUES UP TO THE STATES. So, if one state wanted to legalize drugs, and another didn't, they could do what they wanted. That is States rights. (Other comments he has made before clarify this.)

I don't see anything to complain about there. You can't have it both ways- can't have both States Rights AND the Federal Government being the one to Make The Rules In Things They Were Not Given The Power To Do by the Constitution.

Just my two cents. I haven't checked the information about foreign policy, but it seems quite likely that that is also an issue with constitutionality.

Josh, hate to break this to you but the tone of Te...

2011-09-08T09:00:53.100-07:00

Josh, hate to break this to you but the tone of Team Pyro has been declared off-limits. They have examined their own tone, found it fine and above reproach and declared that it is not an acceptable topic for discussion or criticism. Anyone who says different is some lib'ral emergent type. When you visit Pyromaniacs you know what you are going to get, sort of like when you buy tickets to a mixed martial arts event.

Wait, Josh said "your high level of involveme...

2011-09-07T12:01:14.691-07:00

Wait, Josh said "your high level of involvement seems to indicate a GENERAL agreement".

Phil objects to that, believing Josh is guilty of slander and the sin of bearning false witness, only to himself say "Each individual is responsible for the facts and opinions contained in his posts, GENERALLY we agree but not always".

Considering that Josh "accused" Phil of the exact same thing that Phil just openly admitted to, how exactly is this bearing false witness?

Phil, this is what I am talking about. You are alr...

2011-09-07T11:53:13.191-07:00

Phil, this is what I am talking about. You are already going to war, brother. You seem to enjoy this type of fighting and controversy. You even titled yourself on your blog as a "provacateur" (e.g. One who intentionally surrounds himself with controversy). Is that a badge of honor?

But, if you disagree with the nature and tone of Team Pyro's Open Letters, than say so. I would be glad to hear that from you. But,for you to allow something to go on repeatedly at your blog, and then now try to distance yourself from it, certainly seems absurd from the appearance of it.

Brother, I just challenged you men to stop writting open letters. I also indicated that I think your too often critical. You seem to be deeply offended by these remarks, as evidenced by your accusations. Truly, it was not my wish to offend, only challenge and perhaps point in a better, more Gospel-oriented direction.

You certainly need not listen to me. I am a pastor of a small country church in a city most have never heard of (and Lord willing will be allowed to stay here until Christ calls me Home). Feel free to ignore my advice. But if you choose to engage it, I hope you can see the spirit in which is meant. Certainly Team Pyro must also have feet of clay like the rest of us.

Well, the actual letter is addressed: "Dear P...

2011-09-07T11:40:26.432-07:00

Well, the actual letter is addressed: "Dear Phil." Why not "Dear Frank?"

Since day one, we have had a notice displayed at the bottom of every page on our blog (in bright red letters, no less):

The opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of all contributors. Each individual is responsible for the facts and opinions contained in his posts. Generally, we agree. But not always.

I'm just suggesting that since you're such a stickler for charity, protocol, collegiality, etc., it'd be sweet if you took care to avoid the appearance of so many breaches of the ninth commandment.

That includes statements like "As for the general nature of the posts at Team Pyro . . ." Seriously? If you count the critical posts in the past month at our blog, you'll find they constitute less than 25 percent. And even when we're being critical, I wonder if you could actually point out a couple of _specific examples_ of language where you think the "tone" is reminiscent of barking dogs. I think you'll find they are a lot harder to come by than your comment suggests.

Meanwhile, I'm having trouble seeing why you think slander and cheap shots against me are morally superior to anything you find too harsh in Frank's open letters.

Feel free to set me straight on that if you can cite those specifics.

Otherwise, just take me to the pound and have me put down. I think I'm ready.

Phil, the letter is written to "Phil Johnson ...

2011-09-07T11:14:50.232-07:00

Phil, the letter is written to "Phil Johnson and Team Pyro", so that seems to have convered my bases. However, you did, I believe, start the blog and remain its "top billed" man. Leadership does have its downside, my friend (as Obama is learning regarding Hoffa's recent outburst).

Your high-level of involvement with the blog does seem to imply agreement at least with the general tone, direction, and content of the various posts.

In any case, kindly pass this on to the rest of your team, though Turk seems to be one step ahead of you.

I see you are/were in Ohio (my state) lecturing. Trust all went well and God's people were edified. Blessings.

Dear Josh, Thanks for the open letter, but as far...

2011-09-07T10:50:40.804-07:00

Dear Josh,

Thanks for the open letter, but as far as I can recall, I have never written a single "open letter" to anyone. Why did you address this to me? By my count you're at least one ahead of me as a writer of open letters.

(BTW, I tried to post a version of this comment yesterday. It seems to have got lost in your moderation queue. You should get that checked. When you call someone out publicly for something he didn't even do and that person's comments then get consigned to moderation purgatory, it looks bad.)

-- Phil Johnson

Josh My challenge to you is to pursue gentlene...

2011-09-07T09:01:37.989-07:00
Josh

My challenge to you is to pursue gentleness, patience, and peacefulness as much as you pursue doctrinal soundness.

I do have to ask. Is it even possible to have doctrinal soundness if you eschew any attempt at gentleness, patience and peacefulness? What good are the doctrines of grace if someone exhibits not a whiff of grace to others?

“If I have a wide blog readership and run in the popular Reformd circles and have a soteriology that is above reproach, but have not love, I am like an overly loud praise band doing covers of REO Speedwagon.” (1 Cor 13, the missing verse)