The most important thing.

If you are here now and don't know what all this 'Gospel stuff' is (or don't believe it), this is the most important thing you'd find on this blog:

If you are a Christ-follower, then this is the most important thing you'd find on this blog:

Yes, they say the same thing. The Gospel is everything, for believer and unbeliever alike.

The Apostle John wrote in his account of Christ's life: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31)

Believe, find your life in Christ, and truly live in His name. That's all.

An Epilouge (Epi-blog?)

Blogging is a funny thing... With just the click of a mouse, any person with access the internet can set up their own virtual soapbox. It's fitting that one major thought-blog is called 'Instapundit'.

I started blogging because I think better out loud. Since some people found it distracting (or frightening) when I'd argue with myself, I thought perhaps typing would be better. I also wanted a couple geniuses I know to read and challenge me to think better. The funny thing is that a lot of people who I didn't know decided to peek in from time to time. Some of you even stuck around, and I'm humbled that you did.

So, why am I closing up shop now? It's pretty simple really...

1. First, I simply don't have the kind of time to devote to posting that used to be available to me.
   
2. Second, this verse still gives me the shakes: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." (James 3:1)
   

In the early days of this blog, I wrote garbage but no one read it except the people I had asked to come and correct me. There are now others of you here, and many from the church in which I continue to serve. For me, the line between 'teaching' and 'just thinking' has just been blurred too much - especially when I lack the time to devote towards 'teaching well' here on a blog. God has graciously given me a broadening ministry at our church, and I feel whatever time I have is better spent investing in serving that flock (Acts 20:28-32).

So, if you've been here reading along... Thanks. I'm humbled that you've stayed tuned, especially considering the dreck that filled the last several months. If you've been a regular reader, leave a comment on this thread. I'd love the chance to say thanks personally.

I have only one parting thought to leave you with before closing up shop. But, we'll save that for tomorrow.

Favorite Posts [1] : Under Attack

Not too long into my blogging career, I had one of those comment threads spring up that make your head hurt... A young atheist stumbled on one of my posts and began attacking the use of the Bible as anything approaching an authoritative book. Predictably, the conversation moved into a back and forth where he would cite a presumably 'wicked' bible passage and challenge me to explain how in the world I could believe the Bible when it contained such ridiculous/evil things.

Comment threads are not the place for hashing this out, so I asked him to email me his top handful of attack verses and promised a series of posts attempting to explain how they are sensible on their own (in context) and fit into the overarching narrative of the Bible.

Some might be surprised that the series of posts I've chosen to list as my #1 favorite is neither the one for which I hold the most affection nor anything close to the top hit-receiver. I believe, however, that this series of posts is unlike any I've come across elsewhere in the Reformosphere and just might be uniquely helpful to some skeptic or new believer in the future. That reason alone is sufficient to make this Under Attack series the most significant thing I believe I've written.

Under Attack - A prologue [1]
Under Attack - Deuteronomy 22:13-21 [2a]
Under Attack - Deuteronomy 22:22-30 [2b]
Under Attack - Judges 19:22-30 [3]
Under Attack - 2 Samuel 6:1-15 [4]
Under Attack - From Robots!! (An interlude) [5]
Under Scrutiny - 1 Corinthians 10:13 [6]

I hope, by God's grace, someone somewhere finds it edifying to their faith.

Favorite Posts [2] : Discontinuing Cessationism

For most of my life, I didn't have any pressing reason to answer the "miraculous gifts" problem so it remained unanswered. I merrily worshipped in churches on both sides of the divide, never quite thinking that either had it right.

That was until summer of 2006... That summer, there was what I think could be best described as a charismatic 'outbreak' among some Christian students on campus - some of whom I knew. Between needing to respond to that event and contemplating church planting, I dove in to the Word to settle the issue. This (long) series of posts was the result.

Discontinuing cessationism [1]: The Danger
Discontinuing cessationism [2]: The Argument
Discontinuing cessationism [3]: The Scriptures (Prologue)
Discontinuing cessationism [4]: The Scriptures (1)
Discontinuing cessationism [5]: The Scriptures (2)
Discontinuing cessationism [6]: The Scriptures (3)
Discontinuing cessationism [7]: The Scriptures (4)
Discontinuing cessationism [8]: The End

Even as I glance back through these posts, I remember affectionately the time spent studying the Word and thinking through the thoughts of other Godly men. I'd nuance my conclusion ever-so-slightly if I wrote this series today: I'd identify myself as a "Reformed Continuationist". I think that's a more academically correct term, and it avoids the baggage caused by so many errors within the broader 'charismatic' community.

I've had further argument... er, interactions with several people, including three pastors (two from the PCA, one Master's dude) that I bumped into on the Logos newsgroups. I remain unmoved from my position, though I continue to seek/welcome more discussion and challenges.

This was also a well-linked series of posts, thanks especially to Adrian Warnock who linked and emailed some encouragements and challenges along the way. Once you get linked by Adrian, a fair number of other NewFrontiers folk comes along for the ride. I'm grateful for the many friendships - in that strange internet sense of the word - that were made.

*I'd be wrong to not also note that Dan Wallace edited a fabulous ebook from the Cessationist side called "Who's Afraid of the Holy Spirit". I'd recommend you read this regardless of where you land. GREAT STUFF.