Jared C. Wilson's Blog, page 58

Your Best Links Now – 1/21/14

Is Marijuana Use a Sin? by Joe Carter

“Although many Christians consider the answer to the question to be rather straightforward, it can be helpful to examine the reasoning process that allows us to determine how biblical principles can be applied to this issue . . .”

Those Darn Colonizing, Proselytizing Missionaries

CT’s Andrea Palpant Dilley explores how the work by foreign missionaries — whom so many more “enlightened” folks today think did it all wrong — “turns out to be the single largest factor in ensuring the health of nations.”

The Mysterious Buried Treasure in Lynchburg, VA

It’s a cryptogram right out of National Treasure. The still-unfound buried treasure of Thomas Jefferson Beale is reportedly worth millions. But you’ll need to crack the coded messages to find it. You will probably have to use the Declaration of Independence — the text of it! You won’t need to steal the original.

Steve Bezner says the Film Gravity is An Allegory of the Life of the Apostle Peter

“I think that Cuarón is not simply talking about some sort of generic ‘rebirth’ but is specifically telling the Christian story through an allegory of the story of the apostle Peter,” Bezner writes. “Yes, it’s a bold claim.” It is. I’m not buying it. But maybe you will.

Five Reasons You May Never Get Published by Steve Laube

“There are many factors that go into the acquisition, development, and sale of a new book. But the majority of ideas never get to that point. I thought it might be helpful to review some of the most common issues we’ve run into.” Steve — who happens to be my agent — will always shoot you straight.



“Mystery House” Has the Internet Buzzing

There might be one on your block. It looks like a house. But it isn’t. What is it?

If You’re a Christian, You Believe in God’s Sovereignty

“I do not intend to spend any time at all proving to you the general truth that God is sovereign in his world. There is no need; for I know that, if you are a Christian, you believe this already. How do I know that? Because I know that, if you are a Christian, you pray; and the recognition of God’s sovereignty is the basis of your prayers. In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you have had already, and all the good that you hope for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer. The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God’s hand, but a humble acknowledgment of helplessness and dependence. When we are on our knees, we know that it is not we who control the world; it is not in our power, therefore, to supply our needs by our own independent efforts; every good thing that we desire for ourselves and for others must be sought from God, and will come, if it comes at all, as a gift from his hands.”

– J.I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

2014 Gospel Coalition New England Conference Details Announced

The second TGCNE is now set:

The Center for Gospel Culture is happy to announce that on October 3-4, 2014, The Gospel Coalition New England will be hosting its second regional conference in Boston, MA. See the conference landing page at www.tgcne.com for the basic details. We are also pleased to introduce you to our plenary speakers. This year we’ll be joined by:

D.A. Carson

Paul Tripp

Tullian Tchividjian

Michael Horton

Russell Moore

Stephen Um

In addition to these outstanding plenary speakers, we’ll also enjoy:

A dedicated women’s breakout track with Nancy Guthrie

A dedicated breakout track with Paul Tripp

Workshops from Collin Hansen, Richard Lints, Jared Wilson, and many more

An open-invite leaders’ pre-conference with our plenary speakers

Add one more date to your calendar: registration will open on April 1, 2014. You can go to the conference landing page to receive infrequent, important emails about registration, giveaways, etc.

2012-s conference was a great encouragement to all in attendance. Please pray that this year’s event will exceed past events in connecting and encouraging New England Christians in the grace of the gospel. See you there!

Your Best Links Now – 1/20/14

A Teacher Slandered by Korey D. Maas

An important First Things post providing more facts about that teacher who allegedly forbade the student from passing out candy canes at school because of the Christian message attached. You might’ve seen the viral outrage on Facebook or other social media sites. I did. Maas happens to be the teacher’s pastor. And the fuller story is revealing, not just about what happened but about evangelicals’ confirmation bias and knee-jerk outrage.

The Voynich Manuscript is a Mysterious Book Nobody Can Read

A BBC article on “the world’s most mysterious medieval manuscript” that “has eluded cryptographers, mathematicians and linguists for over a century.” Some have thought it to be a hoax. But new studies indicate it contains a genuine message in an unknown language.

How to Teach the Trinity

An interview with Deep Things of God author Fred Sanders by the guys at the fairly new site God-Centered Youth Ministry.

Bizarre Rock Appearance on Mars

NASA is baffled. There was no rock in front of the Mars rover. Then one day there was. Where did it come from? What is it? They’re saying it’s “like nothing we’ve ever seen before.”

The Math Claim that Will Break Your Brain

Apparently, the sum of all natural numbers from one to infinity is . . . -1/12. ?? Can that be right? What witchcraft is this?

Middletown Church’s Pro-Life Affirmations and Denials

Today is National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

Middletown Springs Community Church has, as part of our official statement of faith, an affirmation of the biblical and biological truth that life begins at conception. Article 13 of our doctrinal statement reads as follows

We believe that children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord and that parents are to demonstrate and teach them God’s pattern for life.

Because of this belief we will make the following affirmations and denials:

1. We affirm that all human beings are made in the image of God and therefore equal to each other and sacred in and of themselves and that therefore abortion is not a health care issue or a family planning issue but first and foremost a “God issue.”

2. We deny that one’s imaging of God and inherent sacredness is contingent upon their usefulness or convenience to their family or society, their religious heritage, their physical health or mental capabilities, their race, or their social or economic class. In other words, no unborn child is less human because he or she is mentally or physically disabled, poor, non-white, or unwanted by his or her family.

3. We affirm that the Roe v. Wade ruling officially codified the systematic killing of innocent human beings, and that therefore it legalized systemic injustice in our nation making abortion not just a “God issue” but a human rights and civil rights issue.

4. We deny that national laws determine what is just or moral and in fact it is possible for nations to pass unjust and immoral laws.

5. We affirm that it is the duty of Americans, be they Christians or not, to protect the innocent and defend the defenseless and protest injustice.

6. We deny that standing up for the defenseless and innocent in this regard is solely about being philosophically against abortion but rather:

7. We affirm that to be philosophically against abortion is to be actively for human flourishing in concerted efforts of caring for the poor and the orphan and for women in crisis, and in the alleviation of suffering of all kinds in our neighborhoods and other spheres of influence.

8. We deny that victims of abortion are limited to unborn children but also often include their mothers and fathers and families,

9. And we affirm that nobody who has opted for abortion is “damaged goods” or unloved by God or beyond hope and healing, for we affirm that the gospel which announces the good news of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is true and powerful.

10. So we deny opposition to abortion on the grounds of political expediency or political success or the advancing of any political party or sect.

11. And we affirm that we oppose abortion as a means of obeying God’s command to our love our neighbor and therefore as a means of making Jesus Christ look supreme and glorious.

What Does Job 31:13-15 Tell Us About the Unborn?

“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant,

when they brought a complaint against me,

what then shall I do when God rises up?

When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

Did not he who made me in the womb make him?

And did not one fashion us in the womb?”

– Job 31:13-15

This passage tells us at least three things about the unborn, and thus about abortion:



1. The foundation of civil equality is traced to the womb.

Really, it is traced to God’s having made mankind in his image, but the well-to-do Job is asserting an equality of personhood with his servants based on their equal status as unborn children. Therefore, the unborn are persons with civil rights. This makes abortion a dehumanizing injustice.

2. The development of the unborn is a work of God.

Job says he and his servants were made in the womb, fashioned in the womb. Coupled with Psalm 139-s words on God’s creative work in the womb, we learn that abortion is therefore a tearing apart what God has joined together.

3. The treatment of persons as non-persons is something for which we will give an account.

“What shall I do when God rises up?” Job asks about unjust treatment of his servants. And what will we say? Injustice of this kind will be reckoned with. We will have to give an account to our holy God for the murder of millions of unborn persons he is forming in his image.

No law can be just if its justice for one is predicated on injustice to another.

The Sermon is a Worship Song of Its Own

In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

In that day, “A pleasant vineyard, sing of it!”

– Isaiah 27:1-2

The art of preaching the gospel falls not only within the category of Instruction but also Exultation. Worship in a “worship service” does not stop when the music is over; it continues in the sermon. The sermon is a music of its own. No matter the text, no matter the topic, the tune is the joyous anthem of God’s slaying the dragon, a redemption song.

The Bible is about God; beginning to end, it is the ballad of God’s exploits in vanquishing evil and restoring shalom through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Preaching rehearses this song. Each Sunday: Once more, with feeling!

Jesus is restoring all things. “A pleasant vineyard, sing of it!”

Your Best Links Now – 1/17/14

Why Are So Many Pastors Pulling Stunts?

Charisma surveys the epidemic of gimmick-driven pastorpreneurialism. I think the answer is “they don’t trust — or perhaps even believe in — the gospel.”

9 Things You Should Know About Poverty by Joe Carter

Including the data showing we are losing the well-funded war against it.

What is the Antikythera Mechanism?

A 2,000 year old “computer” found in the wreckage of an ancient cargo ship that the experts still haven’t fully deciphered.

Aaron Armstrong Knows God’s Will For Your Life

I think 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 works too: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” So stop saying you don’t know God’s will for your life.

Younger Customers Don’t Like That Old People Hang Out in McDonald’s All Day

So basically McDonald’s is now the Facebook of fast food restaurants.

John Piper Makes a Snow Angel

Totes adorbz

The Father’s Not Tsk-Tsk’ing

I will bear the indignation of the Lord

because I have sinned against him,

until he pleads my cause

and executes judgment for me.

He will bring me out to the light;

I shall look upon his vindication.

- Micah 7:9

How long does the Lord’s indignation land on us for our sin? Until our cause has been pleaded and judgment is executed on it.

Enter Christ the righteous, Christ our Advocate. He takes our judgment upon himself, and consequently the Lord’s indignation. God says so through Micah.

So, because we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, having had our iniquities cast into the sea to be remembered no more (Micah 7:19), when we drag our sorry selves before the Father, he isn’t standing there, arms crossed, eyebrow cocked, tsk-tsking at us. He’s not sighing or sulking. He is more eager to forgive than we are to sin or repent of sin!

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4:16

The Incredibles

“Here then we have two incredibles — to wit, the resurrection of our body to eternity, and that the world should believe so incredible a thing; and both these incredibles the same God predicted should come to pass before either had as yet occurred. We see that already one of the two has come to pass, for the world has believed what was incredible; why should we despair that the remaining one shall also come to pass, and that this which the world believed, though it was incredible, shall itself occur? For already that which was equally incredible has come to pass, in the world’s believing an incredible thing. Both were incredible: the one we see accomplished, the other we believe shall be; for both were predicted in those same Scriptures by means of which the world believed. And the very manner in which the world’s faith was won is found to be even more incredible, if we consider it. Men uninstructed in any branch of a liberal education, without any of the refinement of heathen learning, unskilled in grammar, not armed with dialectic, not adorned with rhetoric, but plain fishermen, and very few in number — these were the men whom Christ sent with the nets of faith to the sea of this world, and thus took out of every race so many fishes, and even the philosophers themselves, wonderful as they are rare. Let us add, if you please, or because you ought to be pleased, this third incredible thing to the two former. And now we have three incredibles, all of which have yet come to pass. It is incredible that Jesus Christ should have risen in the flesh and ascended with flesh into heaven; it is incredible that the world should have believed so incredible a thing; it is incredible that a very few men, of mean birth and the lowest rank, and no education, should have been able so effectually to persuade the world, and even its learned men, of so incredible a thing.”

– Augustine, The City of God (xxii.5)

But they did. Because the incredible gospel is incredible power.