Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Conferences Debating Creation

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Two upcoming conferences debating creation:

1. Reading Genesis 1–2: An Evangelical Conversation (September 30–October 1, 2011, Chattanooga)

Speakers (moderated by Victor Hamilton) as listed here:

  1. John Walton: cosmic temple approach
  2. Tremper Longman: theistic evolution
  3. Dick Averbeck: literary/intertextual approach
  4. Jack Collins: analogical days approach
  5. Todd Beall: literal/recent creationist approach

2. Creation: Biblical Options; A Gracious Dialogue (October 28–29, 2011, Houston)

Speakers:

  1. Todd Beall
  2. Craig Blaising
  3. Ligon Duncan
  4. Walter Kaiser
  5. John Mark Reynolds
  6. Bruce Waltke
  7. John Walton

 

Rafting through the Grand Canyon

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In July I went on an eight-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.

Here are some reflections, videos, and pictures.

Reflections

  1. God’s power is immense. The sheer grandeur of the Grand Canyon is breathtaking.
  2. God’s creation is creative. He combines raging rapids with calm waters, towering rugged canyons with short sloping hills, hot desert landscape with refreshing waterfalls and greenery, painfully scorching heat with cool, crisp breezes. [Read more…] about Rafting through the Grand Canyon

Young-Earth and Old-Earth Creationism vs. Naturalism

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In my view young-earth creationism is exegetically superior and scientifically viable and coherent. It’s possible, however, to err by overemphasizing the issue in a way that demonizes old-earth proponents and lumps them together with theistic evolutionists. The relative importance of something is extraordinarily important, and understatement can be much more convincing than overstatement. Some well-intentioned people use inflammatory rhetoric that overstates the importance of holding to young-earth creationism, and it needlessly pushes people away from the position.

Contrast how Paul Nelson and John Mark Reynolds, who write the essay for young-earth creationism in Three Views on Creation and Evolution (ed. J. P. Moreland and John Mark Reynolds; Counterpoints; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), conclude their rejoinder (pp. 100–102, emphasis in original):

It is obvious that a person who is generally committed to a traditional understanding of Christianity can be “old earth.” . . . Our disagreements on these points should not distract from the main topic. Philosophical naturalism is retarding science, philosophy, and theology. It seems to both of us that our reviewers agree in finding such a situation intolerable. To fail to unify with such people of goodwill in the assault on naturalism would not just be foolish; it would be intellectual treason. . . . [Read more…] about Young-Earth and Old-Earth Creationism vs. Naturalism

Two Ways to Read the Bible

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Mike Bullmore, The Gospel and Scripture: How to Read the Bible  (The Gospel Coalition Booklets; Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), 16–17 (formatting added):

The Bible is endlessly interesting because it is God’s story, and God by nature is himself endlessly interesting. . . .

There are actually many methods of reading the Bible, and because the Bible is inexhaustible, many methods can prove fruitful. However, we are not so much concerned here with what might be called “methods” as we are with what we can call “approaches.” Two main approaches to the Bible usefully unlock its treasure, which is the gospel.

  1. Reading the Bible as Continuous Narrative (or History) . . . .
  2. Reading the Bible as a Compendium of God-Inspired Perspectives (or Theology) . . . .

Whichever of these two ways the Bible is read, its message is the same. [Read more…] about Two Ways to Read the Bible

Paul Would Have Nothing to Do with “Let Go and Let God” If He Were Here

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Kenneth Berding, Walking in the Spirit  (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), 48–51:

[P]utting to death the deeds of the body is active. There is no passivity here.

I grew up in a church setting that was into “higher life” teaching. This teaching goes by many different names, including “victorious Christian living,” “the exchanged life,” and “the crucified life.” A particular stream of higher life teaching that continues to be influential is known as the Keswick Movement (pronounced KES-ik), named after an annual Bible conference that has been taking place in Keswick, England, each year since the late nineteenth century. One key aspect of higher life teaching is probably traceable even further back to a movement referred to as Quietism, which was popular in Italy, France, and Spain during the seventeenth century. If you aren’t familiar with any of these labels, it is still likely that you are familiar with a slogan that gets used in connection with various strands of this teaching: “Let Go and Let God.” Said differently, the key to the Christian life is to “let go of reliance on yourself and let God do the work in you.” [Read more…] about Paul Would Have Nothing to Do with “Let Go and Let God” If He Were Here

Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism

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This book comes out this month:

Andrew David Naselli and Collin Hansen, eds. Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism. Counterpoints. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.

[Read more…] about Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism

This May Explain Why Some People Are So Left-brained

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Brian Hand, Upright Downtime: Making Wise Choices about Entertainment (Biblical Discernment for Difficult Issues; Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 2008), 5–6:

Entertainment is not simply an activity that rests the mind, since many forms of leisure exercise the mind to some extent. For example, in arguing the dangers of television, video games, and music, some writers exaggerate the mental atrophy that occurs. While it is true that these media tend to relax the rational and cognitive processes of the mind (the left hemisphere), they actually tend to strengthen the emotional, subjective, and reactive centers of the brain (the right hemisphere).

Hand,

Book Giveaway: Thriving at College

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I recommended Alex Chediak’s Thriving at College  back in March. It would benefit older high school students, college students, parents, professors, and pastors.

Since it’s back-to-school season, Alex Chediak is giving away ten copies of Thriving at College to pastors and student ministers (with free shipping in the USA). You may enter his drawing by sending him a private note by Monday, September 12. Include “Pastor Giveaway” in the subject line and your church’s mailing address.