When Is Killing Ok?

Many people may be shocked to hear that the famous Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas ok’ed abortion in the early stages of pregnancy.  Why did he do that?  Very simply because he never saw an ultrasound.  Abortionist Dr Curtis Boyd (no relation) has.  What does he think happens in an abortion?  He says “Am I killing?  Yes, I know that.”  It seems to me that the great burden of modern medical research establishes that abortion is the taking of a human life.  The arguments in favor of abortion today seem to skirt around this issue.  So I ask you, when is killing an unborn child ok?  You can read the news report on Dr Boyd here.

Christless Christianity

Flannery O’Connor once described the South as “a Christ haunted land.”  She meant by that a culture which was indelibly marked by the influence of Christianity, but where the presence, power, and grace of Jesus Christ had ceased to be central.  Often times I hear people misuse the word “Christian” to mean any number of things: moral, family friendly, honest, compassionate.  All of those things are good and should be present in Christians, but the key ingredient is loyalty to Jesus Christ.  Michael Horton has identified the growing Christlessness of Christianity in this interview about his book Christless Christianity.  For example, on the current attitude on hell, Horton says

But we’ve had one generation of really bad preaching on hell: the hellfire and brimstone caricature which was a superficial view of sin as taboos: parties, drinking, smoking, dancing … . I think of Saturday Night Live’s church lady as a mascot for that generation—a kind of judgmental moralism—always wagging a finger.

A whole bunch of people my age were raised on that kind of scolding, which really isn’t a biblical view of sin or of God’s holiness. It’s a fear of hell, not a fear of God. It’s sin defined as breaking taboos, not as an offense against a holy God.

Then you had a whole generation that said: “If we come back to your church you better stop being mean; you’ve got to stop pointing your finger at us.”

This is a shift from Saturday Night Live’s church lady to Saturday Night Live’s Stuart Smalley, who comes along with his pink sweater and says, “You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.” Now [we’re using] warm, affirming tones. We’re adding a soothing sampler of conservative craving for virtue along with a New Age longing for peace of mind.

These all converge as Muzak in the background. Both are atrocious forms of both the law and the gospel.

You can read the rest here

Philippians Devotional Week 9

Philippians Devotional Week 9

November 8, 2009 – Timothy and Epaphroditus

Day One

Philippians 2:19-22

Psalm 112: 1, 6:

            Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the Lord
               and have great delight in his commandments!

            For they will never be shaken;
               the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

In this short discourse concerning Timothy we are given the example of the character necessary to experience the joy in Christ which Paul emphasizes throughout this letter.  In verses 2:3-4, Paul exhorts the Philippians to be of one mind and do nothing from selfishness or conceit.  In verses 2:19-22, Paul shows them the example that Timothy provides of someone who is of one mind with Paul and who does nothing from selfishness but out of humility. 

1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. How does Paul say Timothy exhibits unity and humility as desired by Paul in the church at Philippi?
4. In what ways do we “serve” the Church in selfishness and conceit?
5. In what ways can we serve the Church in humility like Timothy?

Almighty God, you called Timothy to be an evangelist and teacher, and made him strong to endure hardship: Strengthen us to stand fast in adversity, and to live godly and righteous lives in this present time, that with sure confidence we may look for our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  Collect for St. Timothy in Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

Please Pray for the Chaplin Family

This young man lived just around the corner from our church.  Some of our kids in the youth group knew him as well.  Please keep the family in your prayers!

A local high school student was killed Monday morning when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a school bus near S.C. 31 and Robert Grissom Parkway in the Myrtle Beach section of Horry County.

Marc Chaplin, 18, was a senior at the Academy of Arts, Science and Technology. His base school was Myrtle Beach High School, said Teal Britton, spokeswoman for Horry County Schools.

The crash happened around 8:10 a.m. as the bus was turning on to the northbound S.C. 31 ramp.

You can read the rest here

Some Good Press

It is never surprising to me when the press misrepresents the issues which are tearing apart our denomination.  Put very simply, sex sells.  I was surprised at how the press cited the Rev John Barr, Rector of Holy Comforter in Sumter.  This is one of the best and boldest broadcasts of the gospel I’ve ever seen in the press.  Note how John Barr deals with the issue of human sexuality in a way that is neither libertine nor moralistic.

It is not, he said, about homosexuality.

“Every love is a disordered love and whatever the orientation is, we’re all in need of redemption,” Barr said. “There aren’t perfect people and broken people. There is no hierarchy of sin.

“The beauty of the Gospel is not that it’s for good people who go to church who want to become better,” he said. “It’s for absolutely messed-up people who come to church to find their whole lives reconstructed in Christ. We don’t need a god of our own best self-esteem, and we don’t have the power in ourselves to put ourselves right before God. We need the power of the grace of God that only comes through Jesus Christ. Our relationships with families are messed up. We don’t do what we want to do. We do the things we don’t want to do. But Christ brings the grace that (we need). He shows us that God doesn’t wait to love us after we get our lives right; he loves us before we do.”

You can read the rest of the article here

What is Gospel Centered?

These three men have each had a profound impact on how I do ministry.  In this short clip, they discuss Gospel Centered as a third way between legalism and libertinism, fundamentalism and liberalism.  Watching this video should give you some deep insights as to how and why we operate in ministry the way we do here at Trinity.

Philippians Devotional #8

Philippians Devo 8

Day One:

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a night stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Read Philippians 2:14-16

Think of a time when you walked into a room that had no windows and no light. The darkness was all around and you could see nothing. If you add just a small light your eyes begin to adjust to the light of the room and you can start to see where you are going. Jesus is our light in the darkness and he is shining bright so we can see everything. As we live in a world of darkness we can either be a light by reflecting/sharing Jesus Christ for all to see, or we can live in a way that keeps letting people stumble around in the darkness. Even a little light begins to let people see where they are going.

1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. In the world you live in are you being a light?
4. How does this passage say we can be a light in this world that reflects the glory of our Father in heaven?

Father make me more like your son my savior Jesus, so that when people see me they will see you and give you the glory, honor, and praise you deserve. Let me be a light in the darkness of this world and help others to see how wonderful you are.  Amen.

“The Battle is Over” or “I don’t want to have to defend my position to other people any more.”

          Retired Bishop John Shelby Spong has just published a new manifesto declaring that “The battle over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church is over.”  While his post sounds a note of triumphalism over those who would choose to disagree with him, I believe the message is actually quite different than “We’ve won!”  Rather, the message of Bishop Spong’s note is “I’m not willing to talk about it anymore.”  Of course, anyone who has read any of the bishop’s other writings should be able to recognize that this is a common ploy for Bishop Spong.  What I mean is, the Bishop usually makes grandiose generalizing statements, misunderstanding his opposition, and proclaiming as established fact statements that have little or no proof to uphold them.  

          Thus, the most disturbing thing about this bishop is not his outright rejection of every central tenet of the Christian faith, but his ability to sway well-intentioned, albeit uninformed, lay people to follow him without entering into meaningful debate with the millions of intelligent people around the world who disagree with him.  This bodes very ill for The Episcopal Church.  It is hard to remain in a conversation where you are constantly belittled and your position is never engaged with.  Spong frequently refers to his detractors as “fundamentalists,” “literalists,” and “homophobes.”  This name calling does nothing for the debate but polarize and obscure the issues.  

“A Hymnal Free of Arminianism”

I have often said that it is very difficult to have a good theology without having a good hymnody.  In other words, if we are rightly perceiving God, we should be consumed with worship.  Thus, those songs which call our hearts to awe at the wonder of the majesty of God help us not only to think through who He is more clearly, but to begin to feel rightly about Him.  For me the debate about contemporary and traditional worship is meaningless.  The question is, “does this service proclaim what is true about God in such a way that it draws me to worship Him.”  To that end, I am posting a hymnal by William Gadsby.  Of this hymnal, Gadsby says,

“It is the desire of my heart, to give a selection of hymns in one book, free from Arminianism, and sound in the faith—that the church might be edified, and God glorified.”

This hymnal contains hundreds of hymns.  I encourage you to pick a few to meditate on and build your hymnody with praise that draws you closer to the reality of God.  Enjoy!

Bishop Lawrence’s Convention Address

Anglican TV is hosting Bishop Lawrence’s address to the Special Convention gathered on October 24th.  I thought his address was an indictment on the leadership of our denomination as well as a call to action for the Diocese.  Listen carefully!