Doctrine, heresies and other irrelevancies
Issue 369: June, 2009 |
One of the few remaining community events in my part of the world happened again last week: the biannual council clean-up. Twice a year, our local council gives people the opportunity to throw whatever rubbish is cluttering up their homes onto the footpath, and then they come and take it all away. Of course, everyone sifts through everyone else's rubbish just in case they're throwing out something valuable.
During the couple of days it takes the council to collect all the waste, I get to walk past other people's trash on my way to work. It's amazing how much junk we have. And it's even more amazing when you notice how much junk was state-of-the-art five to 10 years ago. The streets are littered with computers, monitors, televisions, stereo gear and all manner of electrical wonder. But it's all passé. Most of it still works perfectly well; it's just that there's a newer model.
This issue of The Briefing is dedicated to some old-fashioned ideas that Christians are in danger of throwing out—to their own peril. ‘Name 'em and shame 'em?’ takes up the question of false teaching and false teachers, and asks what the Bible really says about them. Is it possible to deal with false teaching in a godly way without starting a witch-hunt? We hope so. Michael Jensen's excellent article ‘In defence of doctrine’ goes on to question whether Evangelicalism has lost the ability to be theological. It's a great encouragement to keep thinking theologically about all that God has revealed in his word. Finally, Rob Smith tackles that hopelessly outmoded model of communication—the sermon—and encourages preachers to think carefully not just about the content of their sermons, but what it's like for those who are listening. Are there ‘borers’ in the pulpit? We hope not!
May God use these antiquated ideas for his glory. PG
Up front
- If Galatians was published in Christianity Today
- What is a tree for?
- To mourn or not to mourn?
- The unease of the next generation
- Reading the Bible with your ears open
- An abominable word
- Jars of clay: Introducing God to my friends—Karen Beilharz reminisces about the year she spent trying to introduce God to her friends.
Features
- Name 'em and shame 'em?—Paul Grimmond investigates what false teaching is and how we should respond to it.
- In defence of doctrine—Michael Jensen argues nothing is more important and essential than doing doctrine because the gospel itself demands it.
Departments
Pastor's brief
- Borers in the pulpit?—Rob Smith offers some reflections on how preachers can minister the word of God more faithfully and more effectively.
Bookshelf
- Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament edited by GK Beale and DA Carson—Nigel Fortescue takes a look at a book that claims to be a commentary on every Old Testament citation and almost every Old Testament allusion in the New Testament.
- Evangellyfish by Douglas Wilson—Paul Grimmond reflects on a web novel satirizing American evangelical life.
Resource talk
- The tract is back—Tony Payne introduces us to the main tool behind the ministry revolution of the new millennium: the tract.
Bible brief
- Daily readings on Revelation 4-11—by Darren Box.
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