Thursday, May 29, 2008

The Only Real Hope for our Postmodern World

David Wells, author of several books, including The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World, views the historic Christian faith as the only real hope for our postmodern world.

In this book I am nevertheless going to think of myself as a biblical Christian first and foremost, as in continuity with Christians across the ages who have believed the same truth and followed the same Lord. The period in which these truths were brought into the most invigorating, health-giving focus was the Reformation. I therefore think of myself as a Reformational in the sense that I affirm its solas: in Scripture alone is God's authoritative truth found, in Christ alone is salvation found, it is by grace alone that we are saved, and this salvation is received through faith alone. Only after each of htese affirmations is made can we say that salvation from start to finish is to the glory of God alone. These affirmations do not stand simply as solitary, disconnected sentinels, but they are the key points in an integrated, whole understanding of biblical truth. This is what gives us a place to stand in the world from which to understand who we are, what the purposes of God are, and what future lies before us. These are the things that historic Protestants believe, and that is what I am.


If this sparks any interest, check out Robert Sager's summary of this first chapter of this book. I will be writing a summary of chapter 4 in a few weeks.

~ Todd ~

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

My Posts Haven't Been Publishing! Really!

Ok, not really. I've been lazy and distracted since getting out of school for the semester. I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, and I'm starting to feel quite guilty! Hopefully things will pick back up soon.

On a side note, if you haven't visited Said at Southern, you should. I've been invited to participate in a group book review of David Wells' The Courage to be Protestant. My contribution should publish on June 16. If I get it done. :-)

I'll try to write again soon! Thanks for reading my blog!

~ Todd ~

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

An Illustration of Faith?

I've been thinking about how faith in Christ transforms us; the Bible teaches us that we are a new creation, yet we are now in transition. We are in the cocoon, metamorphosing into a butterfly from the caterpillar we once were. We see and taste the life to come, yet we still feel the dirt and desires from our death.

As I was driving to work, I started thinking about how God has been working in my life. I don't drive like a madman anymore. I feel terribly guilty when I'm driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, even when I'm just passing someone! And yet, when I think about the entire landscape of my life, this is a very small patch of land that has begun to sprout new, green grass. But if I were to examine every corner of my life, I would find many bare patches. And I think I probably have more bare patches than I realize.

Someday, when Jesus returns and I am transformed into a real man, one who could not even consider the thought of sinning in every area of his life, then the landscape will be lush and green, and God will look upon his new creation and smile.

Yet, he sees me this way already. I have been forgiven, and God has credited Jesus' righteousness to my account. How terribly unworthy I am to receive the grace of God.

This leaves me feeling... speechless.

~ Todd ~

Q&A With a New Believer

Recently my son, Brandon, placed his faith in Christ, and as we prepare for his upcoming baptism, I sat down with him to help him think through some important questions. While I admit helping him think about each question, these answers were his own response to the questions:

Q: Why do you want to be saved?
A: "Because I sin a lot, and that makes me a sinner."

Q: What does it mean to repent?
A: "Turning your back on sin and saying, 'I don't want to keep going the wrong way.'"

Q: Who can save you from your sins? How?
A: "Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, because he came to die on the cross to pay for our sins."

Q: How do you know that Jesus' death was good enough to pay for your sins?
A: "Because God resurrected Jesus."

Q: What makes you good enough to go to heaven and be with God?
A: "When all of my sin was placed on Jesus, he gave me his obedience."

Q: Why do you want to be baptized?
A: "To show people I was spiritually dead, and now I am raised from the dead."

Q: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
A: "To follow God and do what he instructs you to do (as best as you can)."

Q: Who helps you to be a disciple of Jesus?
A: "God, because he gives you the Holy Spirit to help you obey."

Pray for Brandon that God will use him in a spectacular way to make the name of Jesus famous in the world!

~ Todd ~