Discuss Theology » Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Theology of the Trinity

Michelle Obama, Bachelor’s Thesis and Theology

Ron — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:47:13 +0000

I like Barack Obama’s deportment. I think many [certainly not all] of the things he states are informed by his faith. I also think that my early statements about the nature of his theology are probably correct in that they are are informed by James Cone and his understanding of “Black Theology”. Parallel to that is Michelle Obama’s undergraduate thesis stating that she is basically still in exile and misunderstood by her liberal white profs. there at Princeton. [Find that thesis on Drudge] As much as I like Barack Obama, this recurrent undercurrent of racism concerns me.

Justification, Piper and Wright

Ron — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:11:42 +0000

John Piper on NT Wright and justification. This is worthwhilehttp://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/825/

Deconstruction, we are kidding ourselves

Ron — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:46:10 +0000

I was just looking at a post on the Christianity Today web site asking myself, how many truly sincere believers even know what “deconstruction” is. The real danger we face is ending up in a corner talking to ourselves without anyone understanding what we are saying.

Merry Christmas, In Praise of Joseph

Ron — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:26:11 +0000

My pastor spoke about the faithfulness of Joseph in the Christmas story on Sunday and edified me greatly.Â He emphasized that Joseph really says nothing in the Christmas story mentioned about him in Mt. 1:18-25.Â He is simply there and faithful.Â Our pastor continued thatÂ this kind of faithfulness is something the church needs more of.

Articles on Justification

Ron — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:10:57 +0000

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 justificationâ€”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

Justification, Christianity Today and the “new” Perspective

Ron — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:25:44 +0000

The times have not really changed that much since Luther’s day.Â It is refreshing to see that the editors of Christianity Today still get it about the central importance of justification for christianity.

Christianity Today, Justification and Trinitarian theology

Ron — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:25:40 +0000

We must salute Christianity TodayÂ magazine for their recent statement in the print edition [p.20, July, 2007].Â Â Â The editors stated that,
“Why justification by faith alone is still our defining doctrine…

In a later paragraph they wrote:

“…God credits Jesus’ righteousness to those who trust in him, declaring them just and acquitting them of their sins.

Such a radical idea has caused many to think: This is too good to be true.Â Surely I must contribute something to the porcess.Â But we contribute nothing.Â We don’t even contribute faith.Â With God’s gift of faith, we paradoxically deny the meritorious nature of human action and affirm the work of another.Â It is not faith in faith, but faith in Christ.”

What a wonderful trinitarian statement for that magazine to make.

Obama Theology and Ethics Lecture: Trinitarian Theology

Ron — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:59:08 +0000

In a recent speech on June 23,Â in Hartford, Connecticut,Â Barack Obama gave some politically enlightened comments toÂ the United Church of Christ Convention.Â He addressed abortion, gay marriage, school prayer, intelligent design, Bible reading,Â and tax cuts for the rich.Â He would fit right in with some of the theological seminaries within an hour or two of his speech.Â Of course, the chief objects of his scorn were the “Christian Right”.Â With Jerry Falwell in heaven now, we are more ethereal [and difficult]Â to demonize.Â We are the “Christian Right”.Â I am sure that Tony Campolo, Ron Sider and Jim Wallis appreciate his wholesale trashing.Â He reminds me of many of the Evangelical TrinitarianÂ preachers he despises and that is: He is “almost right”.

Hank Hannegraaf, Apocalypse Code, Trinitarian Theology

Ron — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:05:06 +0000

Congratulations to Hank Hannegraaf on his work addressing dispensational eschatology from a Biblically sane position.Â Hannegraaf de-bunks the idea of a coming future holocaust for Jewish people and Israel.Â Unfortunately, some of the most vocal and bizarre adherants to dispensational eschatology will label him as an “anti-semite”.

Sproul, McGrath, Wright, Justification, New Perspective

Ron — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:19:15 +0000

According to Sproul, McGrath views forensic justification from 4 perspectives:

1.It is declarative, forensic and a change in status not nature for the believer.

2.Justification and sanctification differ.

3.This righteousness is alien and not within the believer.

4.God gives both the means and the merit for justification.

This reads a lot like Luther, unlike N T Wright and adherents to the “new perspective”.

[Taken from Justification by faith Alone, p. 43, edited by Kistler]

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