Discuss Theology

Fox News reported this a.m. that reading is going down in our culture among youth.  Even among college grads, only 31% read a book in the last year.

While the ballroom sessions of the first day of the Evangelical Theological Society meeting had more attendees, no session was as packed as J.P. Moreland’s “How Evangelicals Became Over-Committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About It.” While the average breakout session seems to be attended by fewer than 50 people, easily more than 200 packed the room to hear Moreland’s talk, with dozens standing and more listening outside the door.

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I think I will listen to some of the book of Daniel on my iPod.–Ron

Christianity Today reported that:

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, head of the Senate Finance Committee, sent letters yesterday to six ministries—those led by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, and Randy and Paula White—demanding detailed accounts of spending practices. None of the ministries must file the IRS financial disclosure Form 990 because they are designated as churches.

I think if there is some kind of vendetta that someone is carrying against these six ministries, the fear of God in the literal sense is in order now.  Agree or disagree with these people, Paul the apostle would praise God that they are preaching the gospel.  If someone is paying someone back politically for something in all of this, the Bible shows that God has a way of making life very uncomfortable for the guilty party.  Our posture in all of this, in my opinion, would be to pray for these brothers and sisters.

As Christianity Today points us toward the upcoming Evangelical Theological Society meeting in San Diego a few day from now, they also pointed us to some other articles on justification and the New Perspectives on Paul.

Related Elsewhere:

“Further Reading on the New Perspective” accompanies this article.

A recent Christianity Today editorial outlined why justification by faith alone is still Protestants’ defining doctrine.

The Paul Page has original articles and interviews about the new perspective on Paul, as well as links to journal articles, books, and other materials around the web.

Scot McKnight has also blogged about the new perspective in Jesus Creed.

The Wall Street Journal published John Wilson’s op-ed on N.T. Wright and the new perspective.

Many of N. T. Wright‘s papers and sermons on Paul are available on an unofficial site.

Simon Gathercole’s “After the New Perspective: Works, Justification and Boasting in Early Judaism and Romans 1-5” is available online.

Other Christianity Today articles on theology and justification include:

Declaration: Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

Nothing But the Blood | More and more evangelicals believe Christ’s atoning death is merely a grotesque creation of the medieval imagination. Really? (May 1, 2006)

Sticking Points | Despite recent rapprochement, evangelicals and Catholics remain far apart on key issues. (December 2005)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ | An introduction to “The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration.”(David Neff, February 1, 2000)

You Can’t Keep a Justified Man Down | An interview with N. T. Wright, author of The Resurrection of the Son of God. (April 1, 2003)

CT Classic: Are We Speaking the Same Language? | What Catholics really believe about justification—and why defining our terms makes all the difference. (November 1, 1999)

Reformation Day Celebrations Ain’t What They Used to Be | The Lutheran-Catholic Justification Declaration is a good step, but it’s only a beginning. (November 1, 1999)

Theology: Does The Gift of Salvation Sell Out the Reformation? | The recent statement from evangelical and Roman Catholic leaders on the Christian doctrine of justification “sells out” the Reformation, according to James Boice, chairman of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (ACE). (April 27, 1998)

Paid in Full | The sacrifice of Calvary was not a part payment; it was a complete and perfect payment. (Charles H. Spurgeon, February 9, 1998)

Should Catholics and Evangelicals Join Ranks? | A recent document entitled Evangelicals and Catholics Together gives a resounding yes to this question. (July 18, 1994)
Also: Why I Signed it, Parts 1 and 2

5 Kinds of Christians
Understanding the disparity of those who call themselves Christian in America

Check this article out at www.christianitytoday.com