The Craw

Mysterion A

Is the Bible tentative on baptism? A quick search of the NT on the Greek noun “baptisma” identifies three germane texts which I have listed below. Now no one who is orthodox and Reformed argues that baptism itself does something but, and this is where adults can discern nuances, God does something through baptism.

Romans 6:4   ⁴ Therefore we have been ^aburied with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was ^braised from the dead through the ^cglory of the Father, so we too might walk in ^dnewness of life.

Colossians 2:12   ¹² having been ^aburied with Him in baptism, in which you were also ^braised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who ^craised Him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21   ^{21 a}Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- ^bnot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ¹for a ^cgood conscience-- through ^dthe resurrection of Jesus Christ,

I don’t see the payout in arguing what God will not do via baptism. Why do we (in the modern Reformed tradition) feel the necessity of qualifying what God will not do (as if we know) through the rite. It seems to me, that as a paedobaptist, I am to baptize Covenant children and to trust God for the results. Whether God chooses to use the rite to save on the spot (epicletic) or not, is not for me to question. God after all, has inserted this sacrament into the very center of the Covenant people’s lives. It is not an empty sign as the Scriptures (see above) themselves teach. Appealing to prooftexts about cognate faith don’t alter the import of the three verses above as one can appeal to numerous mysterious texts that demonstrate clear paedofaith.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Okay, I haven't blogged on this flick yet because I didn't want to join the crowd. I have seen many reviews which hated it saying the plot was flimsy, the special effects could have been better, etc., etc. It seemed most of these were written by ADULTS who have never read the Chronicles of Narnia and don't get "it." The point is you have become like a kid to watch this movie which is based on a kid's story. Having done that I thoroughly enjoyed the film and let myself be carried away to a faraway land where armies and destinies are awaiting the arrival of four children.

Eyes to See

I was finally able to get back to John Frame's "The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God" during this holiday break and have found it quite enjoyable. Though his (and Poythress') "perspectivalism" and "multipersptectivalism" appear to be expandable to meaninglessness this, nevertheless, is the turf of adults. The Bible doesn't allow us the luxury of focusing on one doctrine or concept to the exclusion of others. I grow weary of hearing (through endless chains of propositions) how this or that position is "another Gospel." The stupidity of such pseudo-syllogisms is the fact that anything...anything, if twisted a certain way and chained out propositionally, can become "another Gospel." The antedote for this, it seems to me, is to sit and listen to the Bible. The Scriptures often present a "messy room" to our impatient, rationalistic, and untrained eyes.

Frame states on page 185 of "The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God":

The idea that there is one "master context" in Scripture that must always have some kind of supreme prominence in any theological discussion is dangerous. It suggests that we need some "bedrock of truth," some "ultimate starting point" other than the whole of Scripture (Matt. 4:4).

There seem to be some echoes of Newbigin in this statement which would have frightened my sensibilities several years ago. But having worked through many difficult texts in the original languages now, I find no problems here. We cannot bend God's Word to our will. We must apply ourselves to it. To pray through it. To stand in awe of its mysteries and to say "Amen."

The Crawdaddy's have landed!

After a miserable flight, delay after delay and sleeping on the floor of Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport, we have arrived in the OC. This morning it was overcast and a blazing 64 degrees. Even as I write the sun is coming out and promising a 70 degree day.  Note no shoes on my youngest. Ah, Christmas in LA.

King Bong?

I don't get all the hype for the new King Kong that is apparently flopping at the box office. I mean this flick always was and always will be total overkill. C'mon, you have a movie being shot on "Scary Skull Monster Dinosaur" Island, white natives in black face, giant insects, dinosaurs, a blond bombshell, and oh yeah, a huge ape who is filled with love.  The only thing that is missing is aliens hiding in the forest.

The Pigmenting of the Faith

Last night our Associate Pastor, Chris Smith, taught our evening service and discussed Philip Jenkin's, Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. Even as we speak, almost imperceptibly, the Christian faith is laying hold of vast numbers of converts. Often the statistics that are focused on are those of Africa (which will have perhaps 700 million Christians in just a few decades) but China, I believe will have a greater impact on the world. The article quoted below posits:

"There are about 80 million Christians in China, according to former Time Magazine Correspondent David Aikman, who predicts China will be a Christianized nation in 20 to 30 years. He does not predict a Christian majority, but a China that is 25 to 30 percent Christian. Enough, he says, to change society and government."

The Time correspondent says China will not have a Christian majority in 20-30 years but I ask, "why not?" The 80 million Christians in today's China (which may be under-counted) are committed believers as it costs much to admit to being a believer in China. This means there are probably more practicing Christians in China today than there are in the US. How many neighbors do you have that not only regularly attend church but would do so if they were faced with intense persecution?

My point is this. China may have 500+ million Christians at some point in my lifetime! Think of that figure because its astonishing. They will grow into theological maturity at some point and replace the USA as the evangelical leader of the world. They are also planning even now on how to evangelize the Muslim world via the old Silk Road. I believe that in our lifetime we will see vast numbers of Chinese martyrs pave the back roads of Central Asia with blood and sweat. Who knows what miracles God may bring. Perhaps, rather then focusing on an expanding and radicalized Islam, we should see a stagnant Islam sandwiched between the giant pincers of an ascendant and expanding Christianity in Asia and Africa. The question is, are we ready to accept and support a non-white and non-Western led Christian church? Its coming...Praise the God of all nations!

Update

A cache of icons have been discovered at the Secret "Federal Vision" Skull Mountain Theological/Ecclesiastical Indoctrination Center in Louisiana. The cache which was concealed in a cave with a small entrance contained several thousand icons, many in boxes with shipping labels on them for large and influential conservative Presbyterian churches. The photo posted here shows Presbyterian deacon Earl "Bing" Stumpwater pointing to the cave that he and his special "FV recon scout" team discovered. 

Will the tentacles of this conspiracy cease to expand!?!

Secret FV Headquarters Discovered!

Deep in the woods of northeast Louisiana a large and secret training and storage compound of the movement known as the "Federal Vision" has been discovered. Two intrepid Presbyterian ruling elders, Stanley Shybeam III, and Myrtle Phineas Schanks, men who have spent the last two years tracking down leads to this illusive facility, stumbled upon it almost by accident. "There it was. Right down a hidden track. When Myrtle and I saw Skull Mountain we were awed, shocked and filled with exhilaration. The Holy Grail of Presbyterian Court evidence!" said Mr. Shybeam, a lawyer from Mississippi. The map of the facility (recovered from an underground bunker) is posted here for the very first time.

Huh?

A friend of mine recently turned me on to this statement regarding the "Federal Vision" on the site of a PCA church. In it the following assertion is made:

"Fifth, because of their emphasis on the "visible, external, and tangible," many proponents of FV theology have logically moved into the realm of using icons in their worship. This practice is a clear breaking of the Second Commandment (LC109)."

Huh? Icons? That's nothing. They forgot to mention the Spring Equinox Baal ceremony and the Winter Solstace "water buffalo spirit dance." The photo above (surreptitiously  taken at a secret Federal Vision pastor's caucus) clearly shows two PCA ministers engaging in the wicked Auburn Avenue Buffalo "hustle." Not surprisingly, it was also the exact day of the Winter Solstace, 2004.

But...

For the record, I know many "FV" pastors and I do not know even one who uses icons in worship and they would all, to a man, find such a practice unnacceptable. It seems the writer of this statement must be extremely confused. If only they had inquired of the officiating minister (who had a long black beard, funny black hat and robe, and an incense censor in his right hand) they would have realised they were in St. Athanasius Orthodox Church instead of Hand of Predestination Reformed Presbyterian Church.

In all seriousness this is absolutely silly. See here for verification.

Finally

After many false starts, I awoke this morning to this wintry scene.