Comments for Don't Stop Believing

Comment on the new legalism? by Christians Do NOT….. | life of a female bible warrior

Christians Do NOT….. | life of a female bible warrior — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:18:19 +0000

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Comment on the new legalism? by stevenkopp

stevenkopp — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:10:26 +0000

Here’s my attempt to make the case that we use the term “legalism” too broadly.
http://slasherpastor.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/the-new-legalism-why-we-use-that-word-too-much/

Comment on the new legalism? by Jim

Jim — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:18:30 +0000

It’s a great book. Very insightful and convicting. I highly recommend it too!

Comment on against naturalism by mikewittmer

mikewittmer — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:01:02 +0000

That is a good way of explaining it, Seth, especially for an OT guy! Plantinga’s point is that every thought requires physical activity in the brain but also content–what the brain is thinking. The content of the thought is often about material things–e.g., the pie on the counter–but the content itself is immaterial, which is why it could so easily transfer to your brain, and so now you are hungrily pining for pie. A thought must be immaterial to be shared.

Comment on Brian McLaren, A New Kind of Christianity, Introduction by Micah

Micah — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:59:16 +0000

Hey there this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.

I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

Comment on against naturalism by Seth Horton

Seth Horton — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:46:02 +0000

@ Rick and Derek. I’m not a philosopher, but I think the claim that the content of beliefs is immaterial can be demonstrated by this exercise: Think a thought; for example, “God is simple (or love, or just, etc.).” Now draw that thought. To my knowledge, everything made of matter is drawable. Even sub-atomic events can be theoretically diagrammed. So can the chemical activity of the brain. A thought, “God is simple,” cannot be drawn (neither can its referents ["God" and "simplicity"] for that matter (no-pun-intended).

But take a simpler (no-pun-intended) thought, “Pie is yummy.” You can draw a yummy looking pie (maybe, depending on your artistic capacities, but that’s beside the point). You cannot draw the thought, “Pie is yummy.” [This one might break down, since I am assuming researchers can visibly represent the physiological response of the brain to pleasurable tastes. But even that is not the same thing as the thought I have created in your mind, despite having no current face-to-face interaction by which to express to you that some, currently imaginary pie, if consumed, will stimulate your brain to give you the experience of pleasure.].

Or maybe that’s not what Wittmer meant at all…

Comment on against naturalism by Derek Griz

Derek Griz — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:17:07 +0000

Mike, thanks for distilling this no doubt dense chapter. I do not, however, understand your third to last paragraph. You write, “The content of beliefs is an immaterial thing.” What exactly does that mean? Could you provide an example? Thanks so much!

Comment on against naturalism by The Glorious Unknowing: Chapter 1 | Saunsea

The Glorious Unknowing: Chapter 1 | Saunsea — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:37:18 +0000

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Comment on against naturalism by Universal Truth | Saunsea

Universal Truth | Saunsea — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:12:27 +0000

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Comment on the new legalism? by Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:05:23 +0000

You wrote, “Osborne thinks that zealous Christians should balance their use of the Gospels with an equal emphasis on Paul’s epistles. While it’s true that Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything to follow him, it’s equally true that Paul encouraged Christians to lead a normal life, quietly working with their hands so they wouldn’t be a burden to others (1 Thess. 4:11-12). We need a Christian faith that makes sense of both kinds of passages”.

Isn’t it true that the reason Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give to the poor was because the rich young ruler still thought that he was good? Christ was showing him that he was finding his identity in his riches instead of Christ. It’s all about Christ! Every exhortation in the Bible is in light of what Christ did for us. R C Sproul has an awesome sermon on the parable of the rich young ruler from the Christless Christianity conference. When we read the Bible as a list of imperatives, I believe that we have missed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The law says “do”, the Gospel says “done”. I would encourage every Christian wrestling with these kinds of issues to read Michael Horton’s book Christless Christianity. “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for justification and sanctification. The fruit of faith is real; it’s just not the same as the fruit of works-righteousness”. ~ Michael Horton

“Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing and realizing of the Gospel in our souls”. ~ John Owen (John 17:17, sanctification)