Did Jesus ride two donkeys?

Caleb Jore recently wrote a good post addressing a common objection to Matthew 21:7. He discusses some problems with a popular Christian alternative to the skeptical interpretation and offers another reading that avoids the problems with that Christian alternative and the skeptical view.

Another recent post on the same blog, by Lucas, discusses some recent trends in scholarship that are favorable to Christianity.

The whole blog is worth following. There's a lot of good material there.

A New Feature

For those who haven't noticed, we now have a Featured Post section at the top of our sidebar on the right. The post highlighted there will be changed periodically. If you haven't looked much at the sidebar in general, you might want to do so. We have a lot of material there, including links to e-books we've written. We also have a few resources linked in the bar near the top of the screen, below the Triablogue graphic.

Christians Evangelizing For Secularism

There's a growing list of contexts in which many people think we should say little or nothing about God. Think of the radical redefining of separation of church and state and religious liberty in recent decades and the reaction to the intelligent design movement, for example. It's often considered too divisive, embarrassing, or whatever to bring up religious matters in school, in the workplace, in the media, or at family gatherings. The more that mindset is adopted in some settings, the more it tends to grow in others.

I recently heard somebody commenting on how Christians often use Facebook, Twitter, and other media to do things like post photographs of their children and discuss sporting events, yet say nothing about subjects like God and the Bible. I've been astonished by how many people's Facebook accounts are a form of evangelization for secularism. And that occurs even in nations where the large majority of people claim to be Christian. They have so much to say about their children and grandchildren, friends, music, movies, television, sports, their jobs, politics, travel, food, etc., but so little to say, if anything, about matters like God, theology, and apologetics. When people see something like your Facebook account, blog, or Twitter page, do they see a secular, or nearly secular, lifestyle?

You don't always know who your audience is or how much you're influencing people. If you live well, such as by speaking up about issues you ought to be speaking up about, that will influence other people to do the same. You don't know how much joy or encouragement you might bring some relative, former coworker, or somebody else who comes across your Facebook account or blog and sees you identifying yourself as a Christian or giving some indication of how much you've matured as a Christian. There are people who are looking for that sort of evidence where they want to find it, but aren't seeing it. I doubt that most people realize how damaging it is when so much of their life, including their online presence, is so secular.

"I am constantly astonished at people who say they believe in God but live as though happiness were to be found by giving him 2 percent of their attention." (John Piper, Desiring God [Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Books, 1996], 268)

Jared Moore's top 250 Christian blogs

Since Jared Moore plugged us, we thought we could return the favor, and plug his weblog as well. We've added Jared Moore to our sidebar under Blogspotting.

Also, just click on the image below to head over to his weblog:

Tribute to Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson is dousing Pyromaniacs. Well, not exactly. Frank and Dan will keep the Menorah alight.

1. To my knowledge, Phil was the first figure of note to plug Triablogue.

2. And for several years thereafter, most of Triablogue’s crossover traffic came from Pyromaniacs. So Phil has been a generous benefactor. Melchizedek to my Abraham. The greater blessing the lesser.

3. Years ago, he and I had a spirited debate over evangelical cobelligerance. Despite the disagreement, Phil was never petty or punitive about it. He continued to give Triablogue a prominent shout-out on his blogroll.

4. Phil has a great sense of humor. Anyone who’s read Pecadillo’s sadly intermittent blog will appreciate where the rich vein of satirical humor comes from. Hereditary talent.

Blogging about the evils of blogging about the evils of blogging about...

Internet controversy gives us the liberty to play theological video games. That is, it is vicarious, faux drama, exciting enough to keep us tapping away at our keyboards but not so exciting that we lose sleep. We read an attack site (discernment blog, as they like to call themselves), and find that the kingdom is crumbling because Joel Osteen’s book is being carried in some LifeWay store somewhere, or because a guy in our camp invited a guy in their camp to speak at a conference. We head over to our favorite guru’s blog to get the straight skinny on just what the respectable ones are saying about this issue or that.

In all this reading, all this key-stroking, what we are really stroking is our egos. We think that by keeping up with the controversy we are really fighting the battle. And because of all the Internet play it is getting, we know it is the battle for the ages. We think we are fighting off Suleiman’s Muslim assault on Vienna, preserving Western Christianity, when all we are really doing is playing with toy soldiers. Like those who fought in the Saint Crispin’s Day battle, we can then go to our beds thinking ourselves fine fellows for having been in the fight. We, in short, aim far and miss far.

The real battles are these: Will I speak graciously to my children today? Will I have a grateful and cheerful heart about my neighbors, my fellow employees, those with whom I worship? Will I go to war against gossip, not by pointing out the gossip of others but by tending my own garden? Whether some evangelical superstar embraces some mystical prayer form is less important to the kingdom’s future than whether I will pray faithfully for that little girl with the brain tumor.

It is true that the world out there matters. There are controversies that count. Martin Luther changed the world, facing bullies like David before Goliath. But when his beloved wife, Katie, trusted in the finished work of Christ alone, that changed eternity.

Not many of us worry about what we will eat or what we will wear. Sadly, that’s not because we’re so spiritual; rather, it is because we are so prosperous. Having been freed from such worries, do we then focus on pursuing the kingdom of God and His righteousness, or do we instead worry about the future of this theological coalition or the direction of that shared blog? Pursue the kingdom by pursuing His righteousness. And then all these things will be added to you. Stop your fretting. The future does not depend on you. It depends on the One on whom you depend.

There is someone wrong on the Internet. It’s probably you. Log off, hug your kids, kiss your wife, and go get some of His rest. The world will not only be there when you get back, it will have been made better.

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/someone-is-wrong-on-the-internet/ 

I’m afraid this is one of those pious-sounding bromides that doesn’t make much sense.

i) To begin with, I’ve never understood people who are oblivious to their own glaring contradictions. Sproul Jr. is, himself, resorting to the Internet to condemn the Internet. So is he on an ego-trip, too?

And this isn’t an isolated case. His platform is a major online ministry.

ii) In addition, has he forgotten the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30)? Sure, most Christian bloggers won’t have the impact of Martin Luther. So what?

What’s wrong with making the most of whatever God has given you? Due to talent, institutional position, and/or historical position, some Christians wield far more influence than others.

But does that mean we should disdain the efforts of Christians who labor in obscurity? Shouldn’t we bloom where we’re planted? God gives some Christians a vast ranch, and others a little vegetable garden. But shouldn’t we be just as faithful in a small calling as a great calling?

Success is cumulative. A series of little victories. Augustine was hugely influential in church history. But if it wasn’t for Monica, there’d be no Augustine. Many Christians doing their little best adds up to a great good.

iii) Yes, there’s a danger that blogging can siphon off too much time from other obligations. Blogging shouldn’t edge out friendship evangelism, or prayer time, or domestic duties.

But while single out blogging? The same can be said for sermon preparation, or writing commentaries.

iv) As a rule, I think it’s a good thing when young men get delve into theological controversies on the Internet. At least they’re interested in theology. At least they take it seriously. That’s a good way to channel their youthful energy.

Of course, there’s nothing virtuous about controversy for its own sake, but if they weren’t fighting theological battles, they’d be fighting for something far less important.

I’ve read Christians who complain about how our culture idolizes sports. Well, to the extent that that’s true, isn’t it good to divert some of that energy to Christian doctrine and ethics? Let’s be grateful.

Young folks could do a lot worse than blog about theology. Indeed, consider how young folks who are not into theology spend their time. 

16 Lessons From the 'Love Wins' Debate

Tony Reinke provides a list of observations from the Rob Bell Fiasco:

In retrospect a friend asked me to share a few lessons I saw in the Rob Bell, Love Wins debate so I typed them up and figured I would share them here. I was mainly just an observer, and I compiled this list as I watched the debate unfold. Here are 16 lessons that come to mind:

01: The gospel is eternal, but vulnerable, never to be assumed, and never to be left unguarded (1 Tim 6:20, 2 Tim 1:14).

02: Bloggers have emerged as the church’s frontline defense against popular-level theological error.

03: Academic-bloggers, pastor-bloggers, publisher-bloggers, and blogger-bloggers offer key strengths. We need them all.

04: Social media enables bloggers to piggyback and collaborate, resulting in a rapid response to error.

05: Bloggers can quickly and accurately apply revered theological writings (like those by J.I. Packer and D. A. Carson) to rapidly developing debates.

06: Yet there remain a number of online influencers who ‘enable’ bad doctrine. They may not believe it, but they keep it on the table.

07: Slower moving institutions (like SBTS) play the role of confirming blog findings, providing a platform for a follow-up discussion, and ensuring those findings are scattered broadly.

08: It is entirely appropriate to subject brief promotional videos to theological inspection.

09: Justin Taylor is quick, discerning, and gutsy.

10: In serious and timely theological discussions 92.6% of blog comments fail to advance the discussion.

11: Some will declare a 3-word Tweet definitively ungodly but cannot do the same after reading an entire unorthodox book.

12: Identifying false teachers is no good way to “win friends and influence people.” It forces the question: are we addicted to the approval of man?

13: Bogus theology follows a trajectory, meaning that careful discernment requires past experience with a particular teacher. Less experience can lead to unnecessary caution.

14: Discerning pastors, who are short on time, should be regular readers of a few key blogs, especially Justin and Kevin DeYoung.

15: When serious theological debate happens, the national media will be watching, so speak as a bold defender and a humble evangelist.

16: The theological errors of universalism and inclusivism have been around for a long time and will outlive us all.

Operatic Christianity

Ever since Paul Manata started his own blog, stealing all my best customers, I’ve been scheming how to lure them back.

Since Paul’s blog is dedicated to Aporetic Christianity, my rival blog will be dedicated to Operatic Christianity. If Paul can post academic disquisitions on aporetics, then I can post academic disquisitions on operatics

If Paul can pioneer aporesuppositionalism, then I can pioneer operasuppositionalism

If Paul can blog on analytic theology, philosophical theology, and modal metaphysics, then I can blog on operatic theology and mythology , viz. Die Zauberflöte, Don Carlo, Der Ring des Nibelungen, La damnation de Faust, Parsifal, Dialogues des carmélites, Moses und Aron, Orfeo ed Euridice, Samson and Delilah, Suor Angelica.

If Paul can name-drop James Anderson, Alvin Plantinga, Bill Vallicella, Robert Adams, Alexander Pruss, and Saul Kripke, then I can name-drop Maria Callas, Franco Corelli, Enzio Pinza, Ettore Bastianini, Renata Tebaldi, and Louisa Tetrazzini.  

Aporetic Christianity

The world famous Paul Manata has a new and already awesome weblog, Aporetic Christianity.

Blogging in the name of the Lord: John M. Frame

Blogging in the name of the Lord
An interview with John Frame.