January 25, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
The videos of all speaker addresses and panel discussions from this year's T4G conference are available online for free at Ligonier.org (for a limited time). These conferences are amazing, encouraging (and often humorous) and it would be well worth your time to watch the videos (if you don't have a lot of time, just watch the panel discussions!)
January 23, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
Unfortunately this will not be a book review.I haven’t had the opportunity yet to read the book, though I plan to in the near future.I did however read the Christianity Today article bearing the same title two years ago, and I’ve seen, heard or read several interviews with the author (here’s a good one).Here I simply wish to make a few comments in light of a recent study done by ChurchRelevence.com (more on that in a moment).
Basically, a good chunk o’ Christian youth (roughly 18 – 25) are moving away from the Arminian, mainstream evangelicalism of their childhood toward (to differing degrees) classical Reformed theology (the primary motive being, at least according to the CT article, a desire for deeper theology grounded in historic creeds and confessions).The majority of the credit for this Renaissance of Reformed thought is given to John Piper.Because of his passionate preaching and evident concern for world missions, Piper has managed to break into circles (such as the annual Passion Conference) that were previously closed, sometimes even hostile, to Reformed theology.Thus, Let The Nations Be Glad became a “gateway drug” to Piper’s deeply Reformed emphasis on the radical sinfulness of man, the radical holiness of God, and His absolute sovereignty in all things.
All this makes sense to me (and I have no doubt that it’s true), but as a blogger, I can’t help but wonder if the recent advent of New Media has contributed to this exodus into the Reformed promised land.R. C. Sproul was on the cutting edge in the late 80’s and 90’s.Ligonier made use of every available medium of communication, from radio to cassette tapes, to videos.Now Dr. Sproul’s teaching series are available daily on the internet and satellite TV.So, you might ask, why wasn’t there a Reformed Renaissance in the 90’s?I think it has been slowly building.Many today who are in the 18 – 25 bracket could have grown up with Dr. Piper’s or Dr. Sproul’s ministries, or their parents could have been first introduced to it.The use of so many different forms of media mean that some folk who would not have otherwise been exposed to Reformed teaching had the opportunity to see loving, Christ-like pastors and teachers arguing passionately for the clear teaching of Scripture as expressed by historic Reformation theology.Both Piper and Sproul (and others), it must be admitted, break the mold of what most non-Reformed people tend to think of Reformed people (or worse…Calvinists!).The point being, there have probably been 1,000 John Pipers preaching faithfully to their small Reformed congregations over the last 100 years, but no one outside their limited communities knew them.And no one would actually pick up the writings of Calvin or Edwards because of the stigma surrounding “Calvinism.” Godly men like John Piper, in most cases, remove that stigma.
Now fast forward to 2009.ChurchRelevance.com has posted a list of the “Top 60 Church Blogs.”As I looked at the list I was suddenly struck by how many of these blogs are Reformed (some of them are even “confessional”!).Not only are the top 2 blogs Reformed, which really says something all by itself, but of the 60, a total of 10 are definitely Reformed, at least 1 (the Evangelical Outpost, formerly of Joe Carter) was Calvinist, though Joe didn’t wear it on his sleeve, and perhaps 2 or 3 others as well, but I’m not confident enough to say for sure.Now 10 – 12 isn’t a LOT out of 60, but consider that no other single theological strain or movement has nearly so many (the Emergent movement had 3 or 4 by my count).
Now, the correlation-causation relationship is always tricky.Are there so many popular Reformed blogs because of the movement, or has the movement grown, at least in part, because of so many average Reformed Joes and more-than-average Reformed mega-stars getting into New Media and using it more effectively than the other guys?I can’t really say for sure, but given what I’ve seen happen with New Media in other arenas over the past decade, I’m inclined to think the latter.
Has anyone read Hansen’s book?Does he address this issue at all, and if so, what does he have to say?
January 22, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
The gap that exists between the different schools of Apologetics (Classical, Evidential, Presuppositional) is becoming increasingly narrow. After reading Zondervan's 5 Views On Apologetics, you'll come away wondering what the differences between these views actually are.
In my term paper for my “Christian Mind” class this past Fall, I attempted to narrow the gap even more. Specifically, I decided to look into the relationship between Presuppositionalism and Alvin Plantinga's “Reformed Epistemology.” In the paper, I argue that neither of these two “schools” is really a unique method of doing Apologetics. Presuppositionalism is actually a critique of theological rationalism and Reformed Epistemology is, well, an epistemology! I beleive that both of these schools of thought can learn from each other and both have strong points that ought to inform our Apologetic method. Lastly, because so many people do think of Presuppositionalism as a unique method of doing apologetics (and indeed those who consider themselves “Presuppositonal” claim that it is), I also offer an argument against Presuppositionalism as an apologetic system which I have labled the “Transcendental Argument against Presuppositionalism.”
January 20, 2009 Posted by Roger OvertoncloseAuthor: Roger OvertonName: Roger Overton Email: rogeroverton@hotmail.com Site:http://ateamblog.com About: Roger Overton is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Talbot School of Theology. He has addressed various churches, schools and youth camps throughout the United States. Roger was co-editor of The New Media Frontier (Crossway, 2008) and God and Governing (Wipf & Stock, 2009).
Roger can be emailed at rogeroverton@hotmail.com.See Authors Posts (570)
In the wake of global tragedies, citizens of the United States typically step up and donate more money than any other nation. However, it seems that in relation to the amount of money we take in, we don’t have as much to be proud about. This is especially remarkable since America is, more than most countries, a “Christian nation,” and accurate Christian teaching encourages giving to those in need. In Passing the Plate, sociologists Christian Smith and Michael Emerson explore the reasons why “most contemporary American Christians are remarkably ungenerous.”(3)
The authors estimate that in 2005 Christians (who are church members) in the United States had a collective total income over $2 trillion, but they only donated less than 4% of their income. “If American Christians were to give from their income generously—not lavishly, mind you, only generously—they could transform the world, starting right away.” (11) If these same Christians gave 10% of their income, another $46 billion would be available to help people around the world. The authors provide many pages of examples of how this money could be spent effectively.
In the second chapter a number of facts are offered in an effort to reach explanations for the lack of generosity. The first is that 20% of all American Christians do not give a single penny to any church or charity. Next, of those who do give, they give very little, between 2-4%. Another fact presented is that despite the massive growth of average income, American Christians give proportionally less today than they did 80 years ago.
Given these facts, as well as several others, the authors propose nine hypothesizes to explain why American Christians don’t give more. These explanations include high living costs, unperceived needs, distrust, ignorance about what their traditions teach, and failure to make giving a routine practice. They “test” each hypothesis against the evidence they’ve gathered for this study.
The fourth chapter provides anecdotes from interviews with pastors and church goers on the subject of financial giving. Many of the responses they gathered corresponded with the statistical information they provided earlier. These interviews help the reader understand the information from a more personal perspective. In the fifth chapter, the authors provide the results of an “experiment” they conducted during the interviews- they generated responses to a hypothetical situation where 10% giving became a requirement for church membership. Only 7% said they would begin tithing, while 76% they would not tithe at all.
The book conclude with six explanations for the lack of generous giving by American Christians: 1) America’s culture of mass consumption 2) Pastors’ fear of discussing money 3) Ignorance of Christian teaching about financial giving 4) Mistrust for leadership or organizations 5) Lack of conversations about money among Christians 6) Failure to adopt routine methods for giving. The authors provide more than a dozen ideas for how leaders can lead Christians to lead more generously. Appendices provide summaries of various denominational teachings on giving, data sources, and statistical charts.
Overall Passing the Plate is a convicting and interesting book. It’s disappointing to see how little American Christians actually give out of their income, and it’s challenging to see what could be done if we gave only 10%. While I think the conclusions are accurate and helpful, the authors repeatedly explained that more research needed to be done on particular points. Given how often they excused themselves from providing a conclusion for this reason, one might expect them to do more research before writing this book. However, most of these points were not central to their case. Passing the Plate is a very worthwhile read, and I would recommend it to church leaders who feel inadequate when dealing with financial issues.
January 20, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
Casper the Friendly Ghost. The title seems a bit like an oxymoron. Ghosts, after all, are not friendly. The same is often said of John Calvin. He was the “tyrant of Geneva.” He was the father of the “frozen chosen.” However, according to Dr. Robert Godfrey, President of Westminster Seminary California, Calvin was a lot more like Casper than we think.
In his address at the “Calvin's Legacy” Conference this past weekend, Dr. Godfrey shows us how Calvin was actually quite warm and friendly toward his friends and those whom he ministered to in Geneva. Theodore Beza, Calvin's student and successor, said of the Reformer, “In the common course of life, there was no man more pleasant. In him
all men may see a beautiful example of Christian character.” This side of Calvin comes out most strikingly in his letters, especially as he tried to ease tensions and solve disputes between the Lutheran and Reformed churches of Europe. When launching polemics against Rome, Calvin could be quite harsh. But when dealing with the struggling churches of the Reformation, even when Calvin disagreed with them, he was a shining example of moderation and flexibility, and showed a great passion for the unity of the body of Christ.
Read the live blog notes from Dr. Godfrey's lecture here.
January 16, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
In honor of John Calvin's 500th birthday, Westminster Seminary California's 2008 Conference is on the lasting legacy of John Calvin's life and work for the contemporary church. The conference is tonight from 6 – 9pm and tomorrow from 8am – 2:45pm. Unfortunately it is sold out, but for those of you interested in following the conference online, Dr. Scott Clark (Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at WSC) will be live blogging here. The live blogging will begin right at 6pm tonight and run through the whole length of the conference (minus Dr. Clark's session, if he can't find someone to fill in for him).
January 16, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
My friend and fellow grad student Nathaniel Taylor has written an argument for the existence of Hell using Anselmian “Perfect Being” philosophy. It is interesting (and sure to be controversial) and worth a read for anyone interested in a defense of the traditional Evangelical doctrine of Hell.
You can read his argument at the blog Reason From Scripture (to which I am also a contributor).
January 10, 2009 Posted by David NcloseAuthor: David NName: Email: dvnilsen@gmail.com Site:http://reasonfromscripture.blogspot.com About: In 2003 I graduated from high school with no set direction for my life. I spent a year in Iowa before returning to California to attend Junior College. I changed majors 3 times; from Physics to Business to Film (as you can see, no direction). I was a Christian, attending church regularly, but furthering the cause of Christ in this fallen world was not a high priority.
In 2005 I picked up an issue of TableTalk magazine, and I was re-introduced to the work of R. C. Sproul (whom I had read once in high school). Later that year, while taking a biology class with an ardent atheist professor, I picked up a copy of Lee Strobel's "The Case For A Creator." In the Fall of 2006 I came to Biola University and was introduced to the works of J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds. My fate was sealed.
Just a few years ago, I was passionless. Now I have two passions: Studying the Word of God and engaging in the task of Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. My goal is to be able to give my answer articulately and powerfully, but even more importantly, in love. There are many purposes for apologetics, but by far the most important is the opening of minds and the softening of hearts for the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't care about and pray for those with whom we engage in apologetics, we fail to fulfill this purpose. As a wise man once said, "Take a stand for the Truth, but do it in love fool!"
Education Info:--Currently: M.A. in Historical Theology student, Westminster Seminary California
--2008: B.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
--2006: A.A. in Liberal Arts, Palomar CollegeSee Authors Posts (75)
Molly Worthen has written an interesting article for The New York Times Magazine on Mark Driscoll and his “hip” Mars Hill Church entitled Who Would Jesus Smack Down?
The point of her article seems to be to highlight the “paradoxes” that surround Mars Hill. Not only is it an Evangelical church where the pastor swears and talks explicitly about sex and the members are pierced and tatooed. Not only is it a thriving megachurch in the Country's most secular and unchurched city. But Driscoll preaches a hard-edged, no-holding-back Complementarianism and Calvinism. The paradoxes here being that Complementarianism, which teaches that women ought to be functionally subordinate to men in the church, is helping men in the congregation to treat women better than in their non-Christian days, and Calvinism, which teaches the total depravity and moral inability of all people, is creating a church of passionate activists and evangelists.
I'd only like to make 2 comments and then I'll just let you read the article for yourself. First, Worthen doesn't really seem to know any actual history of Calvin or his work in Geneva. At one point she comments on Driscoll's unwillingness to compromise and how quick he is to “shun” church elders or revoke a congregant's member privaleges when they voice disagreement with him, suggesting that Driscoll is just like Calvin in this respect. She then goes on to say, “John Calvin had heretics burned at the stake and made a man who
casually criticized him at a dinner party march through the streets of
Geneva, kneeling at every intersection to beg forgiveness.” As far as I know Calvin only oversaw the burning of one person in Geneva, and from several sources I've read the general consensus seems to be that he was reluctant (perhaps even unwilling). As to the other charge, I'd really like to know where she gets this story from. Dr. Scott Clark comments,
More to the point, she resurrects the worst caricatures of Calvin. I
suppose her resuscitation of them is a good reminder that we have to keep
repeating the history. I admit, I don’t remember hearing or reading any
story about Calvin making “a man who casually criticized him at a
dinner party march through the streets of Geneva, kneeling at every
intersection to beg forgiveness.” As far as I know the polity in
Geneva, he didn’t have that sort of authority. Typically the Consistory
fined people. I’ve never seen any instances of this sort of discipline.
If everyone who criticized Calvin in Geneva was made to do this there
would have been no place to walk!
In any case, my point is that her assessment of Driscoll's Calvinism would be far less paradoxical if she better understood the theology, the history, even the man himself (I noticed that most of her quotes come from random members of the congregation, rather than elders or Drsicoll himself. I wonder why that is).
Lastly, some of the things she says about Drsicoll's disciplining practices are a bit alarming. In traditional Reformed churches, it could take years to officailly excommunicate someone, and in my denomination (URC) the final step cannot be taken until a regional assembly of elders is called. Again, as Dr. Clark (half jokingly) comments, “shunning is an Anabaptist practice.”
I'd like to give Driscoll the benefit of the doubt for now. I really hope he isn't practicing a dangerous kind of authoritarianism that could backfire.
January 7, 2009 Posted by Roger OvertoncloseAuthor: Roger OvertonName: Roger Overton Email: rogeroverton@hotmail.com Site:http://ateamblog.com About: Roger Overton is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Talbot School of Theology. He has addressed various churches, schools and youth camps throughout the United States. Roger was co-editor of The New Media Frontier (Crossway, 2008) and God and Governing (Wipf & Stock, 2009).
Roger can be emailed at rogeroverton@hotmail.com.See Authors Posts (570)
I’ve been a fan of the English Standard Version for many
years. I currently own 7 print editions for various purposes, one of them being
the Study Bible. Our regular readers know that I’m not typically a fan of doing
innovative things with the Bible, such as producing “green” or “emerging”
versions. However, taking the best study Bible ever produced and making it
available on my cell phone- I’m all for that!
OliveTree Bible Software has done this. “The ESV Study
Bible on your mobile device includes all text, features, notes, images, and
supplemental materials of the print version, plus the easy interface of
BibleReader and and the convenience and portability of handheld use.” I should
make it clear that I’m reviewing the software for my Blackberry Curve. Every
brand of phone is different and users will encounter different experiences
depending on their phone. There are even some navigation features I don’t have
because I’m on Blackberry.
Installation:
The process for installation isn’t simple, but it’s also not
too challenging. First, the user is required to download the free BibleReader
software that is phone-type specific. This software is essentially the browser
through which the user can view the ESV Study Bible as well as other OliveTree
products (some are free!). Then, the user must purchase and download three ESV
files to the computer and transfer them to their Blackberry via USB. Once
everything is in place, BibleReader should recognize the Study Bible as part of
the library and make it available for use.
Functionality:
The three files are the ESV, ESV notes, and ESV Study Bible.
When the user clicks on “Library,” each of the files or volumes appears. This
can be a bit confusing, since in print form it’s all one book. By clicking on
the ESV, the user is directed to the Bible. Annotations are present throughout
the text and when clicked take the user to the notes volume. However, I haven’t
found a way to access the Study Bible from within the basic ESV volume. The
user must go back to the “Library” option and find the volume there. This lack
of integration is a bit frustrating, but may be a limitation of the Blackberry
OS. Maps and charts are available from the Study Bible’s Table of Contents, but
they too are not integrated with the text. So if the user is reading about the
Ark of the Covenant, they may have no idea that there is an illustration
available.
The software has a thorough search feature that can be
defined to the whole Bible or just one testament, and can search exact phrases
or partial variations. There is an “Advanced search” option, but when I’ve
clicked it a message tells me the option is not supported with this book. I
don’t really mind, since the basic search options are more than satisfactory
for a cell phone. There are also preference options available to change the
fonts, colors, scrolling methods and QWERTY shortcuts.
Support:
Like most new software, there are bugs to be worked out.
When I first installed the software, the search feature would not work. I had a
couple different error messages that I reported on the OliveTree message
boards. The staff there is quick to respond and very helpful- looking through a
few of the posted issues will attest to this. I also noticed that after this
problem occurred, all of my Blackberry actions slowed down. I uninstalled
BibleReader and my Blackberry went back to normal. It took about a week for the
problem to be resolved. An updated version of BibleReader was released. After I
downloaded it, everything worked as it seems it should.
Overall, the ESV Study Bible software by OliveTree is very worthwhile.
For those who have held the Study Bible, it’s a lot of weight to carry. To have
all of that information in my pocket is extremely valuable. I expect that other
cell phone platforms are better, such as the iPhone, but there really isn’t
much more I could ask for on my Blackberry.
December 19, 2008 Posted by Roger OvertoncloseAuthor: Roger OvertonName: Roger Overton Email: rogeroverton@hotmail.com Site:http://ateamblog.com About: Roger Overton is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Talbot School of Theology. He has addressed various churches, schools and youth camps throughout the United States. Roger was co-editor of The New Media Frontier (Crossway, 2008) and God and Governing (Wipf & Stock, 2009).
Roger can be emailed at rogeroverton@hotmail.com.See Authors Posts (570)
Jim Congdon is concerned about recent messianic Jewish
leaders who have been imposing Torah-centered living as normative on their
congregations. He argues that Christ is the culmination of the Law of Moses
based on Matthew 5:17-48 and Romans 10:4.
Whether from the Reformed or from the Jewish Torah-observer,
attempting to use Matthew 5:17-20 to argue for obligation to the law proves too
much. Jesus declares that the entire law remains in force. The Reformed
distinctions between moral, civil and ceremonial laws cannot be sustained
against the weight of Jesus’ words. For the Jewish insistence on applying all
the laws requiring the Temple, priesthood and
presence in the land
of Israel, this also
proves too much, since a number of these commands are explicitly disregarded in
the New Testament.
Jesus must be saying that the Mosaic Law remains completely
in force in an eschatological sense. “Jesus is claiming that he is the climactic
figure of history, and that the Law and Prophets remain in force in Himself.”
Just as a student graduates from one grade to another and his past grades are
not abolished, so is the Law not abolished, but fulfilled in Christ as he ushered in a new age of salvation
history.
In the six commands that follow, Jesus set himself up as the
new Torah-giver. He alone is the one who has authority to say of the Mosaic
Law, “You have heard it said… but I say unto you.” Jim Congdon points to the
Transfiguration as an illustration of this: Jesus met with the only other two
men to receive God’s revelation on the mountain, Moses and Elijah. “At Sinai
God revealed himself with ‘I am Yahweh,’ and then gave the Ten Words to Moses;
but here and now, God introduces his son, ‘This is my beloved Son,’ and then
says, ‘Listen to him.’”
In Romans 10:4, Paul declares that “Christ is the end of the
Law.” Some argue that end refers to the goal, and so the Mosaic Law points to
Christ and is still in force on Christians today. However, Paul seems to be
saying that Christ is both the “goal” and “end” of the Law. Paul is saying the
same thing that Christ said- Christ is the culmination of the Law.
Paul repeatedly declares that Christians are no longer under
the Law (Rom 6:14-15, 7:6, Gal 2:19, 4:5). The new age that Christ brought to
bear replaced the age of the Law (Gal. 3:19-4:5). There are examples of
believers who follow the Law in Acts, but they do so out of liberty, not of
obligation (1 Cor 9:20). Yet, believers are still expected to comply with the
Law’s moral demands (Rom 8:4, 13:8-10, Gal 5:14). Specifically, we are called
to “fulfill” the Law, but not actually to “do” the Law. We fulfill the Law by
walking with the Spirit in love, and it is credited to us as though we had done
all the requirements of the Law. “Believers have been set free from the Law
(the ‘moral’ law is included, v.7), so that they now serve God in the new way
of the Spirit rather than in the old way of the written code.”
How often we approach the throne of grace as desperate beggars. Yet He never once turns us away, but lavishes the richest of riches upon us. 2009-10-06
January 25, 2009 Posted by David N 
Posted in Culture, David's Posts, Ethics, Gender Issues, Main Page, New Media, Poetry/Scripture/Liturgy/Etc., Theology 
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