Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Practical Theology

Should Christians Use Contraceptives?

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It depends.

Is it sometimes wrong? Yes.

Is it always wrong? No.

Here are some helpful recent resources (best overall = Grisanti):

  1. Alcorn, Randy. Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions? 10th ed. Sandy, OR: Eternal Perspective Ministries, 2011.
  2. Burk, Denny. “Glorify God with Your Family Planning.” Ch. 5 (pp. 139–55) in What Is the Meaning of Sex? Wheaton: Crossway, 2013.
  3. Davis, John Jefferson. “Contraception.” Pages 27–67, 291–97 in Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today. 3rd ed. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2004.
  4. Driscoll, Mark. “Question 9: Birth Control.” Pages 15–43, 263–66 in Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions. Re:Lit. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2009.
  5. Feinberg, John S., and Paul D. Feinberg. “Introduction to the Ethics of Human Sexuality: Sex and Birth Control.” Ch. 6 (pp. 267–306, 767–71) in Ethics for a Brave New World. 2nd ed. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.
  6. Frame, John M. “Birth Control” and “Means of Birth Control.” Pages 782–87 in The Doctrine of the Christian Life. A Theology of Lordship. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2008. Cf. Doug Moo’s review of this book.
  7. Geisler, Norman L. “Birth Control.” Appendix 4 (pp. 396–405) in Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues and Options. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010.
  8. Grisanti, Michael A. “Birth Control and the Christian: Recent Discussion and Basic Suggestions.” The Master’s Seminary Journal 23 (2012): 85–112. Grisanti is an OT scholar with 8 children.
  9. Hollinger, Dennis P. “The Ethics of Contraception: A Theological Assessment.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 56 (2013): 683–96.
  10. Köstenberger, Andreas J., with David W. Jones. “Contraception.” Pages 121–29, 336–38 in God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation. 2nd ed. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.
  11. Mohler, R. Albert, Jr. “Can Christians Use Birth Control?” AlbertMohler.com, May 8, 2006.
  12. Perman, Matt. “Does the Bible Permit Birth Control?” Desiring God, January 23, 2006.
  13. Piper, John. “Should Christians Use the Pill?” Ask Pastor John. December 5, 2013.
  14. Rae, Scott B. “Birth Control.” Pages 286–89 in Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
  15. Storms, Sam. “Birth Control.” Enjoying God. June 12, 2006.
  16. VanDrunen, David. “Marriage, Procreation, and Contraception.” Pages 97–117 in Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2009.
  17. Wheat, Ed, and Gaye Wheat. Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Revell, 2010. See pp. 162–94.
  18. Wilson, Douglas. “Eleven Theses on Birth Control.” Blog & Mablog, 16 February 2011.

How to Stay Christian in Seminary

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Mathis-ParnellSeminary students (and professors) would be wise to read this new little 80-page book by two recent seminary students:

David Mathis and Jonathan Parnell. How to Stay Christian in Seminary. Wheaton: Crossway, 2014. 14-page PDF sample.

The authors are good men, and they write well.

Justin Taylor approached them with the idea for this book after their blog series for Desiring God. (My contribution: “Thank God for Gifted Professors and Students.”)

[Read more…] about How to Stay Christian in Seminary

Re 3 Unusual Tips for Better Bible Reading

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Last week Desiring God’s blog published a little piece I wrote called “Three Tips for Better Bible Reading.” They’re not the sort of tips you’d expect.

Here are some supplementary thoughts:

  1. In the article I advocate macro-reading. But this is not mutually exclusive with micro-reading. Both are invaluable. Both macro- and micro-reading should contribute to our hermeneutical spiral. On micro-reading, see especially Tom Schreiner’s “Tracing the Argument,” which revolutionized how I read Paul. I agree with Scott Hafemann that the best part about knowing the biblical languages is tracing the flow of the text’s argument. You can’t do that well at macro-reading speed. [Read more…] about Re 3 Unusual Tips for Better Bible Reading

iGods: How Technology Shapes Us

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iGodsWhen I started reading this book last week, I thought that I would size it up and move on to another book within 10–20 minutes. Didn’t happen. It drew me in, and I ended up reading almost the whole thing:

Craig Detweiler. iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2013. 52-page PDF sample.

This book explains the history of the technology that so many of us use regularly: [Read more…] about iGods: How Technology Shapes Us

My Carriage Is Broken! (John Newton on the Folly of Complaining)

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Suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his [carriage] should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him ringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, “My [carriage] is broken! My [carriage] is broken!”

–John Newton

Joe Rigney Explains How Envy Works and How to Fight It

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Joe Rigney recently preached two insightful sermons on envy to my church:

  1. Winning the War Against Envy and Rivalry
  2. Learning to Love the Dance of Grace

(Video, audio, and manuscripts are available at those links.)

I’ve often witnessed well-intentioned people warn others against pride, but I don’t recall similar warnings against envy. This excerpt from the first sermon was an aha-moment for me: [Read more…] about Joe Rigney Explains How Envy Works and How to Fight It