Dion’s got an interesting post about people with the highest IQs in the world. Turns out that the guy who’s got the second highest recorded IQ is a … wait for it … a bouncer!
Talking about smart people – Well Done Jeff! (The intelligence genes in my family clearly all went to one place).
Just a quick note to those of you who recieve your posts by email: someone pointed out to me that the emailed posts don’t display who the authors are and so if you missed earlier posts explaining that there are now four different people writing posts here rather than just me (Stephen), you might be a bit confused. If you’re an email subscriber and you want to find out who the author of any given post then simply follow the link back to the blog (by clicking on the title of the post in the text of your email) and you’ll find the author’s name at the bottom of each post.
Darryl over at DashHouse.com has put some notes together of Keller who recently spoke at the EMA in London. Keller spoke on the risks of being an Evangelical in an age where the term has lost its meaning in so many ways. Here are some excerpts:
Amazing insights, if you want to be challenged as a thinking Christian get hold of Keller’s stuff where ever you can find it. Sell you car if you need to. Actually, you can download most of his stuff off other sites (Redeemer Presby) so don’t sell you car…that would be silly.
Michael Jensen wants to know what you mean when you say, ‘I’m not a religious person‘.
Scot McKnight starts outlining the New Perspective on Paul – Scot writes nice and simply so its maybe worth a look if you’ve never managed to get your head around it before.
Doug Wilson defends his view of satire and Christians.
Everyone is striking in South Africa at the moment – maybe even the rugby players.
If you’ve been following the recent discussion on one of my posts you’ll have read the ongoing dialogue with an athiest that’s been taking place. Being involved in this sort of dialogue has got me thinking about the authentic witness of the Christian community and how important it is. While I was thinking along these lines I read Michael Tinker’s blog and saw this great quote from Tim Chester and Steve Timmis’ new book, ‘Total Church‘:
“In view of contemporary culture, we should not underestimate the need for authenticity among the people of God… People have rejected the gospel word in part becuase they have not been exposed to credible gospel community. Churches have often stood aloof from society. Evangelicals have tended to run away from marginalized urban areas to populate more comfortable suburbs. Christians are often perceived as irrelevant and self-righteous. If these perceptions have any basis, we should not point the finger too quickly at people’s spiritual blindness. Jesus gives the world the right to judge the sincerity of our profession on the basis of our love for each other. In other words, we should face with humility the challenge of unbelief. Our response should be one of repentance and faith resulting in lives of authentic corporate existence lived boldly before a sceptical and apathetic world.” p. 63-65
Now that’s what I’m talking about.
The Resurgence have posted 4 articles by Tim Keller on the subject, ‘Ministry in the New Global Culture of Major City Centers‘. These four articles are bursting at the seams with serious reflection, insight and practical advice. If you minister in a major city anywhere in the world then you NEED to read these articles – Part I, Part II, Part III & Part IV
The following quote is from the description of the Facebook group ‘Emerging Church Conversation in South Africa’ – I’m presuming that means that Roger Saner wrote it.
“Within South Africa, we know from our history that in spite of over 70% of the country being Christian, we managed to divorce our private faith from our public beliefs quite successfully, taking a long time to denounce structural evil (at least, this applies to the whities – others always knew that this thing was wrong). And what is more, we used Biblical justification for Apartheid…which means, as we move beyond that, we need to see the incorrect ways in which we approached (and used) the Bible.”
I admire what Roger writes, IMHO he speaks more clearly about the EC in South Africa than anyone else I’ve read. We don’t always land up in the same place theologically, but Roger is willing to dialogue and to listen carefully – something we could all learn from in the EC conversation. I’ve pulled this section up because to me it seems to indicate that there’s a relationship of sorts between nominal Christianity in South Africa and the fact that Emerging ideas seem to be finding something of a footing in the South African theological landscape. Is part of the conversation a reaction, on the part of some, to the seemingly widespread nominalism that exists in South Africa?
If this is the case then again the ‘reformed’ (theologically) community and the ‘emerging’ community have a point of contact – they both despair at the levels of nominalism. Now maybe this can help to turn the conversation from discussing whether the EC is divergent or not, to how do we address nominalism. The two sides can then present their suggestions and dialogue, graciously, about the strengths and weaknesses in both approaches – and maybe, just maybe, they can ‘emerge’ with an approach that attempts to show the utmost fidelity to the revealed purposes of God and at the same time helps us to help each other, rather than constantly talking about why the EC is second only to the Antichrist in terms of heresy.
As Michael Spencer points out the Christian blogsphere is ablaze with post regarding the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis which, at last count, had killed 4 people and injured another 20. Spencer also has some down to earth suggestions about what sort of questions we should be asking. But I have a question of my own:
How is it that a disaster like this stirs up so much ‘theologizing’ and ‘Christian’ response, when on a daily basis here in Africa tragedies like this are so common place? We have Robert Mugabe just over the border literally starving an entire nation to death – but nobody’s ‘theologizing’ about that or thinking through ‘Christian’ responses to the situation. We have people literally dying hourly in sub-Saharan Africa due to HIV/AIDS – but little ‘theologizing’ and ‘Christian’ response.
Ah – but most of the bloggers are in the US you say? Surely that’s no excuse – surely as Christians our ‘theologizing’ and ‘Christian’ response should be a global response? Or am I being to harsh? I don’t think so. Open your eyes bloggers – start writing about Zimbabwe, HIV/AIDS, economic oppression, dictatorial governments, extreme poverty, corruption – and write with the gusto and determination that sees the blogsphere light up on occasions such as these. There are other issues out there that Christians (and yes US Christians too) need to apply themselves to.
An African who wishes the world would see things with a bit more balance (at least the Christians anyway).
Michael Jensen and Gordon Cheng are having a mammoth debate over the use of polemic speech by Christians. The debate starts here and then continues here. These two threads are definitely worth a read. I must admit I’m landing where Michael is landing on this issue and I agree with him that this might be a bit of a problem in the literature of the Sydney Anglicans (or at least what I’ve read of it – and in general I’m a big fan of their literature). Then again it might just be because they’re Aussies (and they always beat us at sport!).
My best mate, Mark Bellingan, has started his own blog – he’s an architect living in Durban who loves Jesus and talking about the Gospel – give him a look.
I’m still around, haven’t kicked the bucket or anything like that. I’m back in Cape Town and I’ve just moved into new accommodation in Claremont so at the moment my internet access is very limited. I’m busy working on getting what I need to have a permanent connection and as soon as that happens the blogging will continue as usual.
In terms of linking I’ve missed a whole lot in the past two weeks and I’m too lazy right now to go back and find the interesting posts that caught my eye to link to. However it’s worth taking note of the missional revolution taking place at Jollyblogger’s - sounds like he’s getting into similar stuff to the things we’re trying to promote at the Gospel Conversation.
Stay tuned…
Cape Town is getting colder and colder as I write, the rain is pouring down and the damp is setting in. One exam down today, three more to go and five days to freedom (temporal that is) and Durban. So I have a good excuse not to be blogging, but I thought I’d throw in a link for good measure.
Check out the Tall Skinny Kiwi’s poll on hell.
BTW – the hits continue to come for the Reformed missional post – and it has generated some good discussion both on the blog and in person. If you haven’t made any suggestions or comments yet then pop over.
Well that last post got a lot of attention – which is great – and so I’ll keep you updated about the forthcoming blog. Till then normal posting should resume. To start with here’s a link:
Steve McCoy has posted on the foundational documents of the new Gospel Coalition which includes involvement from the likes of Don Carson and Tim Keller.
I’ve added Dr Mark DeVine’s blog to my ‘clever guys’ blogroll – I’m really enjoying what and how this guy writes.
BTW – This is post no. 100!
For all the book-worms out there Cross-Reference has some updates.
The authors of the Coffee Bible Club are pulling out some good stuff on atonement, especially from the gospels.
Modern Reformation gets a revamp.
Check out the Matthias Media resource guide for 2007.
Please pray for our Young Worker’s “ASK” course which kicks off tonight. We hold a course at the local pub over the next 5 weeks where enquirers can come and ask questions about Christianity and where we get to ask a few back from the Gospel of Mark.
For over a year now I’ve read and taken part in the community blog Emergent Africa. I’ve enjoyed it greatly and really enjoyed getting to grips with the way young people in South Africa are attempting to ‘emerge’. However of late I’ve found myself becoming increasingly saddened and disappointed by the posts starting to surface there. Today’s post is one such example – and whilst I appreciate the honesty with which it is written, it is entering into a realm of theological (which is ironic since the conversation is supposed to be driven by orthopraxis not theology) deconstruction that is beginning to look radically different from historic orthodox Christianity.
I’m reminded of Tim Keller’s words in his paper on ‘Post-Everythings‘ addressed to his own PCA denomination (and really all in the historically reformed tradition), Dr. Keller said:
“I see people who are desperately trying to reach the post-everythings who in their desperation are trying to throw out essential elements such as the substitutionary atonement, forensic justification, imputed righteousness, the Sovereignty of God, or the inerrancy of Scripture. Many of them are probably over-adapting to the post-everything situation. But while they do not have our theological resources, often we do not have their level of engagement with the people of the emerging society.”
I see too much of this throwing out of essential elements and I cannot identify with it – it deeply grieves me and causes me much concern about the future of our church here in Southern Africa.
Go to Emergent Africa, read some of the posts, and make up your own mind.
Back to blogging after a long weekend in the ‘burbs away from an internet connection. Here are some links to keep you going until I write a proper post.
Quite ironic that I re-posted something about Mark Driscoll and people taking pot shots at him a few days ago, because he’s managed to kick up another storm – here’s the skinny on it. From my side, I’ve watched the video and don’t really see too much wrong with it – I kinda enjoyed it – sorry Bill.
In light of the other storm going on (the penal substitution one), Adrian Warnock interviews Liam Goligher (not the guy from Oasis). Adrian also highlights the goings on in the PCA regarding NT Wright’s teaching.
Someone finally says something about Zimbabwe, but then Joe Carter complains about how many problems Americans have to deal with already. (HT – Justin Taylor)
How can Wright call Pierced for our Transgressions, (PFOT) ‘hopelessly sub-biblical’ and at the same time endorse Steve Chalke’s book? Remember that this sub-biblical book (PFOT) is endorsed by Peter O’Brien, Howard Marshall, J I Packer and Don Carson who I’m sure are in the habit of regularly endorsing ‘sub-biblical’ books!?!? This actually gets my goat. Read Douglas Wilson and get the scoop from his side.
Does this look like the most exciting up and coming book or what? (HT – Chad)
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