Aaron Armstrong's Blog, page 373
May 17, 2012
Links I Like
Got a blog? Like reviewing books? Moody’s just launched their new Blogger Review Program:
The Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program provides bloggers with free copies of Moody Publishers products. We require participants to post their review on their blog as well as another online consumer site such as Amazon.com.
GettingHealthy: Fighting Spiritually
Joe Thorn:
I believe the life of a Christian is a life offighting. We fight against sin and temptation. We wage aspiri...
May 16, 2012
Book Review: The Intolerance of Tolerance by D.A. Carson
One doesn’t have to be a great student of culture to know that there’s been a shift in how we view the world. It’s a change that, D.A. Carson argues, is subtle in form, but massive in substance. What’s happened? We’ve changed our understanding of tolerance. We’ve moved from an understanding that accepts the existence of different views to one that presupposes the acceptance of those same views.
“To accept that a different or opposing position exists and deserves the right to exist is one thing...
Links I Like
I’ve heard rumors that this is so:
If We Believe All the Same Things, Why Do Our Churches Seem So Different?
Kevin DeYoung:
Have you ever been talking to a pastor or someone from another church and it seems like you should be kindred spirits. The person you meet is obviously a warm-hearted, sincere Christian. They don’t have a problem with any of the doctrines you mention as precious to you and your church. They don’t affirm liberal positions on major theological questions. The...
May 15, 2012
That Which His Holiness Demanded, His Grace Has Provided
The “god” which the vast majority of professing Christians “love” is looked upon very much like an indulgent old man, who himself has no relish for folly, but leniently winks at the “indiscretions” of youth. But the Word says, “Thou hatest all workers of iniquity” (Psa 5:5). And again, “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa 7:11). But men refuse to believe in this God, and gnash their teeth when His hatred of sin is faithfully pressed upon their attention. No, sinful man was no more li...
Links I Like
C. Michael Patton:
Are you willing to change your position? What if the evidence was not on your side? Are you lead purely by your emotional convictions? If you cannot change, what gives you the right to require it of others.Theologians will always be adapting because they know don’t have it all figured out.
Michael Horton, Gender Stereotypes, and Me
Douglas Wilson:
There are certain creational differences between the sexes, which God intended to be operative from...
May 14, 2012
4 Functions of Sound Doctrine
Recently, I wrote that one of the key functions of doctrine is that it divides. Because Jesus himself is the most divisive person ever to live, all doctrine that aligns with him will necessarily cause division. But that’s not all that doctrine does. Consider Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:6-16:
If you put these things before the brothers,you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do wi...
Links I Like
Eric McKiddie:
There are two kinds of pastors in the world: those who are good at following up, and those who aren’t. Which one are you?
Before you claim to be at the “good” level, let me set the standard.
Leo Tolstoy: Youth Group President?
Eric Geiger:
Tolstoy pursued perfection in his own strength and energy apart from the grace of God. He constantly lived under guilt and shame, and he died a miserable vagrant. He never enjoyed the Christian life be...
May 13, 2012
Forgive Our Vain Service
O my Lord,
Forgive me for serving thee in sinful ways – by glorying in my own strength,
by forcing myself to minister through necessity,
by accepting the applause of others,
by trusting in assumed grace and spiritual affection,
by a faith that rests upon my hold on Christ, not on him alone,
by having another foundation to stand upon beside thee; for thus I make flesh my arm.
Adapted from “Vain Service,”Puritan Prayers & Devotions(Kindle Edition)
You just finished reading Forgive Our Vain Service! Con...
May 12, 2012
A True Physician Only Makes Incisions to Cure
If our hearers will weep over their sins, and after Jesus, let their tears flow in rivers; but if the object of their sorrow is merely natural, and not at all spiritual, what good is done by setting them weeping? There might be some virtue in making people joyful, for there is sorrow enough in the world, and the more we can promote cheerfulness, the better; but what is the use of creating needless misery? What right have you to go through the world pricking everybody with your lancet just to...
Links I Like (Weekend Edition)
John Johnson:
A few weeks ago, at the Q Conference I attended in Washington, DC, we were greeted by the US President (via video). I initially found it remarkable and assuring that we have a President who affirms his stance with us in the cause of Christ. In fact, he wanted us to know he had just come from an Easter prayer breakfast, which reinforced his message of solidarity with the 7-800 Christian leaders in the audience, and how meaningful is the resurrecti...
