Your Best Links Now – 2/5/14

Why I Didn’t Watch the Ken Ham-Bill Nye Debate by Matt Rawlings

“When I saw the debate announced I cringed because I foresaw a media circus with Nye attacking Young Earth Creationism (not that hard to do citing the current scientific consensus) and Ham defending Scripture. Each would preach to their proverbial choir and it would all be sound and fury signifying nothing. I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet but from what I could glean from social media last night, that’s exactly what happened . . .”

Queen Latifah’s Grammy Mass Wedding by Carl Trueman

“Pop music used to be about superficial fun, a bit of escapism in the midst of life. Then it gained messianic aspirations . . .”

Denny Burk on Donald Miller’s Admission of Churchlessness

Burk calls it “a prescription for spiritual suicide,” writing, “The scripture is very clear that the local church is the matrix for Christian discipleship. In short, you cannot be a follower of Jesus and be indifferent about the church.” I confess no shock here. Back when I read Blue Like Jazz, when I was of the age and spiritual climate to revel in it, I could only see worship in the sanctuary of “me, myself, and I” in it. But I am a minority voice in my generation in that regard. Wish I’d liked it.

Here’s a more personal take from a friend at 9Marks:

Jonathan Leeman’s Open Letter to Donald Miller

“My way out was deeper in. I’m now an elder in a church with hour-long sermons, several long prayers, lots of singing, membership classes and interviews and meetings. We talk about repentance, practice church discipline, and use phrases like “submitting to the elders.” In fact, Don, it gets worse. I’ve written about these things. I’ve advocated for them. I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid and then filled a tray of Dixie cups to hand out . . .” Jonathan also calls Blue Like Jazz a work of art, but we won’t hold that against him.



Man Surprised to Find Himself in Audience Full of Grown Children He Saved From Nazi Death Camps

Might need the hanky for this one. “Sir Nicholas Winton was invited to a special gathering to honor his work in saving the lives of hundreds of Jewish Czechoslovakian children he saved from Nazi death camps. Right before World War 2 broke out, Winton arranged their escape from certain death. In this video from 1988, the survivors gathered to give him a great surprise . . .”