Author: fundyreformed

Take the Quiz

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Take the quiz, click on this image

Any other Arm Chair Theologians out there? Listen up! You need to do more than just theorize and quantify everyone else’s problems. Better check out yourself too.

Take this quiz to see if you rank as a heretic. Yes a bonafide heretic.

Really, all kidding aside, you need to check out this quiz. It is a test of both your orthodoxy and your knowledge of church history–specifically, the historical identification and rejection of unorthodox teachings.

Now you need to do the quiz first! But afterward, you can check out the answers here. And while you are at it, you might want to bookmark that blog (Theology and Biblical Studies by Steven Harris)! It looks really interesting and beneficial.

So, did you pass? Are you Chalcedon compliant?

We all might not answer each question correct but let us use this to sharpen our theological understanding. For more on Chalcedon, check out this article by Wikipedia.

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7

Pyromaniacs, Lone Rangers, and the Bible

~ fundyreformed ~ 1 Comment

Pyromaniacs, these guys are hot!If you have ever checked out the “bobspotted blogs” section of my sidebar, you know that I am a Pyromaniac fan. And if you actually read my lengthy blogroll from yesterday you know that Phil Johnson has decided to manage the Barbarian hordes of violent commentors and insistent visitors by turning his popular blog into a team blog–Pyromaniacs.

The new blog promises to be as attractive, popular, and controversial as the last one. I know, you never really imagined those three adjectives being used together in reference to a blog. But then again, that is what makes Pyromaniac (and now Pyromaniacs) so intriguing.

Aside from continuing Phil Johnson’s reputation, Pyromaniacs is picking up his latest and most controversial subject. For quite a while, Phil has attempted to discuss the evangelical fascination with personal revelations and generally poor hermeneutics (for a brief recap check out this post by Phil). He began by highlighting some of the most egregious of charismatic soothsayers, attempting to get everyone to agree at how heinous (just plain wrong) it is to make specific prophecies in the name of Christ such as those made by Benny Hinn and company. But the cessationist debate kept coming to the forefront of the comments and in this post, Phil explains that he has been practically forced to deal with the cessationist debate.

Now what I want to discuss about this debate is more an offshoot of it–the principle of the sufficiency of Scripture. You may wonder why I call this an offshoot. But in truth, a large number of charismatics/continuationists (for a simple definition of some of these terms check out the box at the top of this post) are reformed and believe strongly in sola Scriptura. Many of these are the commentors plaguing Phil’s blogs of late. Some of the principle “Reformed charismatics” understand spiritual gifts much differently than the more mainstream and typical charismatic you remember from years gone by.

Anyway, the sufficiency of Scripture has been debated in the midst of this controversial blog-o-debate. So I wanted to bring together some good posts on this subject for your (and my) benefit.

  • First, check out James Spurgeon’s treatment of the closing of the canon here and here (over on his main blog, Howling Coyote).
  • Then, go back and check out Phil’s post which birthed the above treatment.
  • Now in from a slightly different but related angle, check out James Spurgeon’s post on Lone Ranger Christians. THIS IS A PHENOMENAL AND VERY GOOD POST, A MUST READ!! [Also check up his clarifying follow up post.]
  • And finally, in a similar vein check out my earlier highlight of an article by Ryan Debarr entitled Just the Bible. And also check out a similar post by Ray on the importance of study in relation to Bible interpretation.

Bobspotted Blogroll: January 29, 2006

~ fundyreformed ~ 1 Comment

This is my first Blogroll. I will use these to list posts I find interesting and worthwhile. Rather than load my blog with entries highlighting every valuable post I see in the blogworld, I can make a few remarks and add links to the good stuff here.

So, without further ado, I begin.

On Reading

Al Mohler and Mark Dever share insights into their reading habits over on a fascinating new blog, Together for the Gospel. (Click on both names to read both great posts.)

And if you are looking for some good suggestions as to which books to read, Justin Taylor directs you to Riddlebagger’s Recommended Reading.

On Preaching

For a colorful post on the importance of thoroughly Biblical preaching, check out Bill Cosby & Content of the Sermon by Ray.

On Church Discipline & Justice

Douglas Wilson has an interesting and helpful post with a predictably-catchy title, Glory, Greed, and Girls.

On Perseverance

For a challenging call to personal soul examination (2 Cor. 13:5), read what Steve Camp has to say in Could I Be Called a Christian?…what is the evidence of your salvation.

On “The End of the Spear Controversy”

Dan Phillips, one of the new team members for Pyromaniacs (what Phil Johnson’s old blog Pyromaniac has morphed into), has an interesting post dealing with the controversy from an unexpected angle. He reveals the evangelical excuse that allows anyone to do anything and be above Biblical scrutiny. “But God told me so….” Read his article here.

On God’s Plan for the Ages

Check out James Spurgeon‘s (another new Pyromaniacs team member) thoughts on Eph. 1:10, What God is Doing Through the Church.

On the Relation of Human Compassion and Sin

Dan Phillips has another great article worth reading, entitled When Compassion is Satanic.

Hebrews 3: Chist–our Apostle & High Priest, and Perseverance

~ fundyreformed

Douglas Wilson has some excellent exegetical comments on Heb. 3:1-6 over on his blog, Blog and Mablog. Below are some excerpts.

The phrase “apostle and high priest” is striking. This is the one place in Scripture where Christ is called an apostle, that is, one who is sent out. A “sent one” has the authority and commission of the one sending. For example, an apostle of a church is one like a missionary or church planter. And apostle of Christ is sent out by Christ and has His authority, as did the Twelve. In this instance, Christ is described as an apostle. He was sent out by God the Father, and represents God to us. At the same time, He is described as a High Priest””that is, as one of us to represent us to God. A priest is chosen from among the people and stands before them to represent them. This phrase “apostle and high priest” therefore means that Christ is the perfect bridge between God and man. As an apostle of God, He represents God perfectly to us, and as our High Priest, He represents us perfectly to God….

We are that house. The Bible is very clear that we are God’s building, God’s house….

Given this, what is necessary? We must hold firm to the end. We see here, stated plainly, the doctrine of perseverance. Whose house we are, if . . . Three classes of men exist. Some are never in the house. They have no connection to the Christian faith at all. Some are in the house, but only temporarily. They are covenantally connected to Christ, and the connection is a real one, but they are not elect. The true sons of the house, however, the elect of God, abide there forever. “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Then if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8: 35-36). [Read the whole post.]

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7

The Idea of Fundamentalism

~ fundyreformed ~ 2 Comments

Check out two interesting posts attempting to define the “idea of fundamentalism” over on Nos Sobrii, Dr. Kevin Bauder’s blog. His definition of that idea is here, and further elaboration on that definition is here.

These posts are thought provoking. What exactly is the essence of fundamentalism? Is its very essence wrong or has the movement deviated from its great idea? Or can the movement honestly claim exclusive rights to the idea of fundamentalism?

Give me your thoughts. And check out my comment on his second post.

∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7