Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Practical Theology

The Wages of Spin by Carl Trueman

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Wages of SpinToday I took a break for a bit of pleasure reading and scanned a little volume that’s been on my reading list for months: Carl Trueman’s The Wages of Spin: Critical Writings on Historic and Contemporary Evangelicalism  (Mentor, 2004).

The more I hear and read Trueman, the more I like him. His sharp wit puts him in a class of his own. A couple of the short essays at the end are especially entertaining jabs: “Boring Ourselves to Life” (pp. 175-80) and “Evangelicalism Through the Looking Glass: A Fairy Tale” (pp. 187-90). Well done.

On a related note, Mark Dever discusses The Wages of Spin among other things in “A Sweeping Conversation with Carl Trueman” (Feb. 21, 2006).

Packer on De-Godding God

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“It was, I think, Voltaire who first observed that ever since God made man in his own image man has been trying to return the compliment. Whoever said it, it is true, and many theological mistakes have been made through likening the God of infinite power, holiness, goodness, and wisdom to finite and fallen humanity.”

These are the stirring opening words to J. I. Packer‘s essay “The Love of God: Universal and Particular,” in Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace (ed. Thomas R. Schreiner and Bruce A. Ware; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), 277-91.

Joshua Bell As an Illustration of Christ

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The title to this blog post may raise some eyebrows. Let me explain.

Joshua Bell (Wikipedia), a world-renowned classical violinist whom I had the pleasure of hearing live back in the late 1990s, is featured in a fascinating article by the Washington Post: “Pearls Before Breakfast: Can one of the nation’s greatest musicians cut through the fog of a D.C. rush hour? Let’s find out.”

In short, the parallel is this:

    • Indoor rush-hour pedestrian traffic barely noticed one of the world’s finest violinists playing some of the world’s most beautiful music on one of the the world’s most expensive violins.
    • The world selfishly carries on with its own concerns and barely notices the universe’s Creator, Sustainer, and Goal. The gospel is offered freely to all without distinction, and multitudes reject it. Yet they are rejecting the all-powerful King of kings.

The parallel is stunning and sobering.

Dever on Carson’s Latest Book

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Mark Dever just posted some well deserved words of praise for D. A. Carson‘s writing ministry as well as his latest forthcoming book, Christ and Culture Revisited (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008). I’ve enjoyed serving as Dr. Carson’s research/teaching assistant since last August, and I’m so grateful to work under him as my mentor for the Ph.D. NT program at TEDS. I agree wholeheartedly with Dever on this one: the more I learn from and about Dr. Carson, the more I thank God for this gift to the church! (And do follow Dever’s advice re Christ and Culture Revisited.)

Related: See my previous post: “D. A. Carson MP3s.”

Theological Satire

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Using the technique of satire is one of the most effective ways of making a point. It can be outlandishly funny, but it can also be infuriating and offensive. It’s almost always controversial. While people’s take on satire differs, I tend to enjoy it (especially when I agree with the point being made!).

This week I stumbled across a blog devoted to theological satire: “tominthebox news network.” While I don’t agree with everything there, I must say that I can’t remember the last time I laughed harder. It’s quite witty.

Bauder on Theater

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Kevin Bauder‘s recent five-part series on a Christian view of theater is worth reading. He provocatively lays out some issues that are fundamental to discussing the controversial issue, and he raises a number of questions that he leaves unanswered (for now at least). I haven’t thought about the issue at the level he has, so I’m open to adjusting my view of theater. As of yet, however, I’m not convinced that it is a medium that Christians should completely avoid.

Series title: Fundamentalists and Theater

  1. Act One: Whatever Happened?
  2. Act Two: So What?
  3. Act Three: Say What?
  4. Act Four: Says Who?
  5. Act Five: Curtain Call

Bryan Chapell MP3s on Preaching

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Biblical Training is now offering Bryan Chapell‘s “PR 600 Preaching” course for free (29 MP3s). (The link to the preaching course may not work for you since you need to create a user name and log in to view it.) These are lectures he gave at Covenant Theological Seminary, where he serves as president and which offers many other courses on MP3 for free. Chapell’s books include Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon.