Don’t Feed the Trolls

I can’t tell you how grateful I am that readers take time to visit and to read this site. My gratification only increases when people take time to comment. It is an honor and a privilege to have readers, and I am thankful for all of you.

Since beginning this site in 2005, I have had a pretty laissez faire approach to moderating comments. Except for a filter that I set up to eliminate obscenities, my comments policy has been pretty open. I like for the comments section to be a rough and tumble place where opposing viewpoints can meet head-on and be debated. Anyone who has spent any time reading this site knows how rough and tumble the comments here can be.

I generally do not screen all the comments. I’m not saying it’s the best policy. It’s just the one that I use because I simply do not have time to read all of them (especially in the longer threads), and I do not want to turn off the comments altogether.   Continue at Denny Burk

Do Not Think On These Things

Since hanging this visual of Philippians 4:8 on my office wall, opposite the door, I have been forced to look at it every time I enter the room. As a result, I’ve been thinking about some of the things that I should not be thinking about. That is, the truth and positive perspective exalted by the Scriptures on this poster, which we must put on, have reminded me of how false and negative some of our thought patterns can be, which must be put off. Therefore, I’ve come up with my own list of opposites, sinful thought patterns we each must put out of our mind while at the same time filling it with truth: “Don’t Think On these Things.”

• Whatever Is False (plane): ideas that are erroneous, wandering, and deceitful. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit (1 Thess 2:3).
• Whatever Is Dishonorable (atimia): a lifestyle that is degrading and shameful. Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor (2 Tim 2:20).
• Whatever Is Unjust (adikos): actions that are unjust, unrighteous, and wicked. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10, NKJ).
• Whatever Is Impure (akatharsia): any form of impurity and uncleanness. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints (Eph 5:3). 
• Whatever Is Unbecoming (aschemoneo): behavior that is unseemly, improper, and unsuitable. [Love] does not act unbecomingly (1 Cor 13:5).
• Whatever Is Offensive (proskope): a cause for stumbling. [G]iving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited (2 Cor 6:30). 
• Whatever Is Evil (poneros): bad, malignant, wicked, and worthless. [A]bstain from every form of evil (1 Thess 5:22).  Continue at  Paul Tautges

Book Review of Mark Driscoll’s “Real Marriage

Chapter 10 of Real Marriage will most certainly prove to be the most controversial chapter of the book. It has the simple title “Can We _____?,” and the Driscolls fill-in the blank of the chapter title with a variety of sexual activities that are sometimes considered taboo. The chapter goes on to describe these activities in explicit detail, and then the authors give an ethical assessment of each activity for Christians.

The problems begin at the beginning of the chapter where the Driscolls try to pre-empt critics by saying,

If you are older, from a highly conservative religious background, live far away from a major city, do not spend much time on the internet, or do not have cable television, the odds are that you will want to read this chapter while sitting down, with the medics ready on speed dial.

If you are one of those people who do not know that the world has changed sexually, read this chapter not to argue or fight, but rather to learn about how to be a good missionary in this sexualized culture, able to answer people’s questions without blushing (p. 177).

In my view, these remarks start the whole conversation off on the wrong foot. The authors know that the explicit nature of this chapter will be offensive to some readers. But they address offended readers not by allaying their concerns but by suggesting that anyone uncomfortable with the content must be either a rube or uninterested in reaching the culture for Christ. To those with legitimate concerns, these remarks come across as dismissive at best and patronizing at worst.  Read it all HERE

Al Mohler on Mark Driscoll

At this year’s Expositor’s Conference there was a Q&A session in which a concerned pastor asked Al Mohler about the influence of Mark Driscoll. Mohler’s answer was winsome and helpful. He helpfully balanced being encouraged that Driscoll is preaching the gospel while at the same time expressing concern at some of his emphases. As he says, we ought to be able to be grown ups about this issue and other similar ones. There is no good reason that we can’t discuss this winsomely and with discernment.

Here is a transcription of that part of the Q&A; if you’d rather listen, click here. (Note: This happened in October, long before the book Real Marriage, so do not take this as Mohler’s reaction to that book)

Question: I work with college students, mostly leading them to Christ and discipling them, and one of the big influences they have in their life right now is pastor Mark Driscoll and the ministry that he’s doing. I’d just like to hear from you just what you feel like to be some effects of sitting under him on YouTube or from his website, what kind of things that I need to be prepared for just ministering to young college students just listening to his teaching?

Mohler: You had a better question? [laughs] I told you it’s dangerous to turn left. It never works, just take that as a parable. Now I appreciate the question and I’m not going to dodge it. Here’s the thing—we ought to be grown ups, we can talk about these things, we want, together, to be a company of discerning men and we want to think about these things.  Continue Reading >>>