Post Tenebras Lux


Citations

Why C. S. Lewis Wouldn’t Write for Mere Christianity
This article talks about C. S. Lewis' approach to apologetics, which started off more straightforwardly during World War II. In 1947, Miracles was his last directly theological book. From then on, he focused his apologetics more on books such as The Chronicles of Narnia. Perhaps we should also consider that “there is a time for war and a time for peace.”
An $8.2 Million Judgment, Over $8.2 Million in Royalties Given Away, and God’s Sovereign Grace in Your Life and Mine
This article tells Randy Alcorn’s story of persecution for peaceful protest of abortion and how he went through extraordinary measures to prevent the clinic from getting any money by court order. He showed tremendous faithfulness, having to go through significant life changes to hold fast to his conscience, and God accomplished much good through this season of life.
The Art of Imperious Ignorance
This article discusses the argument of lack of clarity in the Bible when responding to theological arguments that one does not agree with. Ovey draws parallels to a similar argument made in the pro-Arian Creed. Such an argument has the appearance of humility, but does not only declare ignorance for oneself but also for everyone else: a “Compulsory Ignorance Act.” The argument also as an appearance of value neutrality or being undogmatic, but often stems from an agenda of some sort.
A Common Denominator in Deconversions
This article highlights that a number of deconversions share in common a “low view of doctrine and high view of personal spirituality.” This is nothing new, but another spin on liberal theology as highlighted by J. Gresham Machen in Christianity and Liberalism. A solid doctrinal foundation is necessary to a healthy spiritual life. Maturity certainly includes more than intellectual knowledge or assent, but not less.
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
This article is about Thomas Chalmers' most famous sermon/lecture of the same title. The main idea is that it is pointless to try and live righteously by killing sin through fear or arguing that worldliness is not worth it, unless we fill our hearts with a greater pleasure, namely, Christ. Piper uses an analogy of being given a sophisticated lab and being asked to efficiently remove the air from a beaker.
The Goodness and Pleasantness of Community
This article is a reminder of the goodness and pleasantness of community (Psalm 133:1). Even as a secular town showed material benefits in being in close community, so much more should the church. We may sometimes believe that this kind of community is idealistic, but in fact it’s not!
Keeping Desire and Temptation in Their Place
This article highlights the importance in understanding the difference between temptation and desire. Temptation “is an event rather than a disposition.”
Carson and Keller on Jakes and the Elephant Room
This article touches on many issues, but the biggest interests to me are the two types of biblicism and the topic of empowerment. There are two different kinds of biblicism presented in the article. Both claim to adhere to Scripture as the highest authority. However, “Biblicism One” does not exegete the text carefully, or consider how the text has been wrestled with in the past, while “Biblicism Two” does. Biblicism One, in my view, is often represented today by the slogan, “no creed but the gospel.
Christ is Your Heaven
This article is a good reminder that while there will be many good things in heaven, such as loved ones who are in the Lord, it is not these that make heaven what it is, but Christ himself.