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It's N T Wright week...

If you've read this blog over a longer period of time, you'll have noticed that I'm quite a fan of N T Wright. Imagine how pleased I am then that he's going to be spending the whole of the week at my college giving a series of lectures each evening. He has a new book on Paul out this month which I haven't read yet so I was hoping that the lectures were going to be on Paul but instead the topic we're going to be lectured on this week is 'Life After Life After Death', which will be a four-part series looking at the New Testament teaching on the resurrection, the afterlife, and the world to come.




I intend to post a rough outline of each lecture each night this week along with a few of my own thoughts and any interesting questions that are raised. Stay tuned.

Another thought from Thomas a Kempis

I couldn't resist another quote. The Imitation of Christ is superb and so full of spiritual wisdom, and is still being published almost 700 years after it was written. Here's another warning to all us theology students out there:

"What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect of things which are profitable and necessary and 5 undue concern with those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly.

What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing. For from this Word are all things and of Him all things speak—the Beginning Who also speaks to us. Without this Word no man understands or judges aright. He to whom it becomes everything, who traces all things to it and who sees all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God.

Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.

If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived."

Thomas a Kempis on learning

I had a day off work today so I spent in sat in the university library trying to get my head around my Galatians thesis. My thesis is on Paul's theology of law and covenant in Galatians 3:10-14 and is proving rather tricky to say the least. I love studying scripture and theology but sometimes it's so easy to get bogged down in the mire of argument and counter-argument and forget the purpose behind all the studying you're doing.

I've been reading The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis on the bus to work this week and came across this passage which serves as a warning and challenge to all of us who like to bury our heads in learning and knowledge. It speaks especially to Christians who like to get stuck into the process of learning but who run the risk of forgetting God himself in the process:

"EVERY man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.

If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds?

Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.

Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.

The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?

If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself."

Wise words indeed.

Christian Carnival XCII

Welcome to Christian Carnival XCII! All the entries are in and I've divided them up into the following categories: Biblical Studies, Theology, Philosophy and Apologetics, Spirituality and the Christian Life, Politics and Culture, and Church Life and Mission. Of course not all the entries fit neatly into these categories but they're a useful guide. Enjoy reading the posts and feel free to have a good look around!

Biblical Studies

Otho from The Pros and Cons reflects on the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The posts looks at why we believe what we believe, and how and why these three men stood up for what they believed in. Dadmanly also continues the theme of perseverance and certainty with his reflections on Romans 5 in a post entitled Death and Rebirth.

Hebrews 12:14 tells us that without the pursuit of holiness, no-one will see the Lord. The Online Pilgrim offers some useful insights into this verse in this post on Holiness. 

Dokeo kago grapho soi kratistos theophilos is always worth reading, and this week's post is no exception. This post on Repentance in the OT looks how at how various OT writers treat the subject of repentance.

Lastly in this section, last week's carnival host Matt Jones gives an analysis of various Bible translations and looks at both the pros and cons. Lots of pictures and exciting diagrams :) Matt also has a very useful archive of all the previous Christian Carnivals here.

Church History

Once upon a time heretics used to be burned at the stake, now they have their own TV channels. Ah well. But what is heresy anyway? Team Hammer (love that name) take a look at what heresy is, and what it isn't from a historical viewpoint.

Scot over at Magic Statistics reflects on the martyrdom of Latimer and Ridley, which took place 450 years ago this week. Check out the post here.

Church Life and Mission

Attention Span grapples with the often thorny issue of church finances by asking the question: where is ministry money used best? Rev-Ed sings the big church-little church blues here. 

Christian leadership is the theme up for discussion over at intheouter. What is 'toxic' leadership, and what can we learn about it from the lives of Saul and David? The Bloke's series on the subject continues here.

Lastly in this section, Pastor Bill has returned from a disaster relief trip to New Orleans and is about to leave on another one. He offers some reflections and some pictures from his trip here.

Politics and Culture

Is it just me, or have faith-politics-culture issues quietened down in the blogosphere lately? Maybe I'm just reading the wrong blogs. Anyhow, CWV warrior looks at Christianity's cultural mandate and Church leadership in the postmodern relativistic quagmire in this post.

Blogcorner Preacher takes a rather incisive look at the theology and politics of the TV show The West Wing, the "liberals' wet dream". Read the full post here.

Spirituality and the Christian Life

Rev Bill looks at growing up in Christ and suggest how we might move on from being spiritual babies to more mature believers.

Give a warm welcome to Carnival newcomer Kim of Mother Lode who reflects on the Tower of Babel story and suggest about we might restore humanity's single mother tongue of praise and worship.

Postmodern relativism comes in for another bashing in this post from Kim over at Sharing Spirit.

Gary proves himself to be supremely organised by actually providing me with all the HTML to link to his post all in one go, here goes:  Gary Sieling of The Secret Life of Gary presents On Christian Honesty. Nice one Gary.

"Are you ready for war?" asks Philthreeten in this post which ponders the question: "Is offense the best form of defence?" or for my fellow speakers of the Queen's English: "Is offence the best for of defence?". Exciting stuff.

There's also a bit of personal testimony this week from Kypackrat who shares how God has twice humbled him in the past week. It's called simply Being Made Humble.

I'm not the most domesticated of people, so this post found me completely out of my depth: it's called simply Kitchens and comes from The Common Room.

Be Thou Ware is the title of this week's entry from A Penitent Blogger, and is a challenging look at at how Christians relate to both their friends and enemies.

Katy Raymond gets all autumnal on us with this post entitled Autumn Vision from her very nice looking blog Fallible.

Science v Religion debates burn with the same intensity as always, but they are asking different questions. Science asks 'how?' whereas Religion asks 'why?'. Ales Rarus chips in with a thoughtful contribution entitled Religion as Sacred and Science as Profane looking at the two different approaches that science and religion take.

I'd always thought the Vikings were a bunch of maruading pillagers from across the North Sea, but in turns out that now they have a football team that are having some off-the-field problems. Ron of the Northern 'Burbs blog looks at the Vikings' recent troubles and shows how our character and example affects others in this post.

Lastly in this section, Adam has a rather challenging poem entitled The Devil's Hand.

Theology, Philosophy and Apologetics

Weekend Fisher considers what it really means to know God in this fascinating post entitled Omnipotence, Weakness, and the Cross of Christ. Do pop over and have a read of this intriguing post.

Steve Pavlina offers a look at Life After Death from an intellectual rather than a religious perspective.

Dave of Logical Meme contributes some ideas on Intelligent Design and its implications for philosophy.

One of my fave bloggers John Pettigrew has submitted a post named Proof, Evidence, Doubt and Decision which examines why we decide things the way that we do.

Bobby Grow of Credo (good blog name) gets into some really meaty theological discussion with this post on the differences between a semi-pelagian and a semi-Augustinian viewpoint. Here's an outline in Bobby's own words:

 "A controversial look at what differentiates a "semi-Augustinian" position from a "semi-Pelagian" stance. This article was prompted by a personal desire to clarify my own position relative to the typical caricature of non-"Reformed" soteriological constructs; i.e. usually considered to be Arminian or semi-Pelagian. I contrast the teaching of Pelagius, Augustine, and briefly speak of Thomas Aquinas to accomplish my desired end. "

Interesting stuff, well worth reading.

You can't fail to have noticed that GodBlogCon took place last week. Pseudo-Polymath describes how he spent the return journey from the convention pondering some issues in Christian ethics with what he describes as an 'Aha!' moment of revelation.

The atonement is also an issue that is frequently a hot blogging topic. Athanasius of Papercut Theology ask us:  "Should the Christian doctrine of the atonement be grounded in an appreciation for cultural context? Not every culture is like Western culture, where the penal substitution view of Christ's saving work dominates. Can this view of Christ's work (and thus the gospel itself) be relevant in a culture that does not share the same value we place on such concepts as law, transgression, and guilt?"  Be challenged here.

The ever-readable Parableman continues his series on theories of knowledge and reality by looking at some of the no-evidence arguments about God, and how a "lack of experience of God affects how a nonbeliever responds to a lack of evidence for God." Check it out here.

Kenny Pearce has submitted an entry which looks at the thought of 17th century German thinker G W Leibniz and suggests how Christians ought to approach natural science and miracles.

What does the 'good life' really mean? Tidbits and Treasures offers some thoughts on a recent article in Christianity Today magazine featuring Chuck Colson and Harry Fickett. Read all about it here.

Finally, Pastor Mark reflects on how he ran 'Amazing Grace' through the Babelizer and discovered some interesting truths...and falsehoods. Take a peek here.

So that's the end of this week's carnival, thanks for everyone who took the time to submit an article. If you e-mailed me an entry and I've missed it out, let me know as soon as possible and I'll include it.

Next week's carnival will be hosted over at Lady For Christ.