Categories: Culture

20 Aug 2010, Comments Off

Then They Are Mine

Author: Elijah Layfield

Is there a secret agenda for some professors in Higher Education? Over at the Christian Post, Al Mohler makes the case that there is.

“We need to encourage everyone to be in college for as many years as they possibly can,” this professor wrote, “in the hope that somewhere along the line they might get some exposure to the world outside their town, and to moral ideas not exclusively derived from their parents’ religion. If they don’t get this in college, they’re not going to get it anywhere else.”

This professor minces no words. The college experience, the argument goes, is the best (and perhaps last) opportunity for someone to break students’ commitments to the moral convictions “derived from their parents’ religion.”

“The children of red states will seek a higher education,” he explains, “and that education will very often happen in blue states or blue islands in red states. For the foreseeable future, loyal dittoheads will continue to drop off their children at the dorms. After a teary-eyed hug, Mom and Dad will drive their SUV off toward the nearest gas station, leaving their beloved progeny behind.”

Then what? He proudly claims: “And then they are all mine.”

2 Jul 2010, Comments Off

Thank You, Al Mohler

Author: Elijah Layfield

The Christian Post reports,

Known for “intelligent Christian conversation,” prominent theologian and cultural commentator Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., is hosting his final live radio program Friday.  After nine years of providing a biblical perspective on cultural issues and engaging with a live national audience, Mohler has decided to end his radio stint.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I’ve spent listening to Mohler’s radio program.  There are very few people who could absolutely pull off a live, intelligent, gracious, edifying, Christian radio program.  Al Mohler did it every weekday for 9 years.

Thanks again, Al.

29 Jun 2010, Comments (2)

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

Author: Elijah Layfield

Washed and WaitingIn September, I will be ordering this book, Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality. Wesley is a man I greatly respect. He’s a graduate of The Bethlehem Institute.  He combines a passion for Christ and his Word, and heartbroken openness about his homosexual desires.  In our quickly changing world, I would recommend everyone to pay attention to his message.

From the back cover:

This is a book written primarily for gay Christians and those who love them. Part memoir, part pastoral-theological reflection, this book wrestles with three main areas of struggle that many gay Christians face: (1) What is God’s will for sexuality? (2) If the historic Christian tradition is right and same-sex behavior is ruled out, how should gay Christians deal with their resulting loneliness? (3) How can gay Christians come to an experience of grace that rescues them from crippling feelings of shame and guilt? Author Wesley Hill is not advocating that it is possible for every gay Christian to become straight, nor is he saying that God affirms homosexuality. Instead, Hill comes alongside gay Christians and says, ‘You are not alone. Here is my experience; it’s like yours. And God is with us. We can share in God’s grace.’ While some authors profess a deep faith in Christ and claim a powerful experience of the Holy Spirit precisely in and through their homosexual practice, Hill’s own story, by contrast, is a story of feeling spiritually hindered, rather than helped, by his homosexuality. His story testifies that homosexuality was not God’s original creative intention for humanity—that it is, on the contrary, a tragic sign of human nature and relationships being fractured by sin—and therefore that homosexual practice goes against God’s express will for all human beings, especially those who trust in Christ. This book is written mainly for those homosexual Christians who are trying to walk the narrow path of celibacy and are convinced that their discipleship to Jesus necessarily commits them to the demanding, costly obedience of choosing not to nurture their homosexual desires. With reflections from the lives of Henri Nouwen and Gerard Manley Hopkins, Wesley Hill encourages and challenges Christians with homosexual desires to live faithful to God’s plan for human sexuality. 

7 May 2010, Comments (2)

Radical, by David Platt

Author: Elijah Layfield

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth (Genesis 2.25).

Radical:  Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.

David Platt.

Multnomah Publishers.

217 pages.

“I realize there is never going to come a day when I stand before God and he looks at me and says, ‘I wish you would have kept more for yourself.’ I’m confident that God will take care of me’ (123). This is Radical in its pure essence. Created for God’s glory, we must go forth to the ends of the earth telling the good news of Jesus Christ. Instead, too often, we horde the gifts he’s given us and reject his radical call in Christ.

David Platt calls us to take up the cross of Christ and reject the siren’s call of the American Dream.  It’s a very good introduction to radical (biblical ) Christianity. Written in a compelling way that keeps the readers’ attention, Radical could have been a little bit deeper. It seemed that he defaulted to the surface of some very common texts. At times, I think he pressed too hard to make his point. He made the mission life seem to simply be in going without answering the logistical issues that these raise. Also, his chapter on “Living When Dying Is Gain” sounded alot like John Piper, but I didn’t see any note of him in the citations. All in all, I think this is a great book for those who’ve never considered the call to missions.

3 out 5 stars.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

7 May 2010, Comments (2)

A Word About Reviews

Author: Elijah Layfield

Doing any type of review is generally a subjective thing anyway, but in this post I’m going to try to take the mystery out of the ratings of our 225 Book Reviews.  In essence, there are 5 questions that I’m asking as I reflect on the book that I’m reading.

Does the book accord with what I believe is absolutely true about reality, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem fallen man?

Is the book well-written from a grammatical and literary standpoint? Can’t get away from this one. I mean, it is a book. This should be a give-me for any book.

Is the book written at an engaging level, or is it written too high (academically) or is it written too low (popularly)? This is a subjective thing, I know. But, if I get the sense that the book could have went a bit deeper, or could have stated things a bit simpler, then it affects this rating.

Did the book accomplish the aim of its thesis? Whether or not I agree with what the author is stating, this question addresses whether he was able to do what he set out to do in the book.

Did I enjoy the book? Another subjective category, but a vastly important one in my opinion. No matter how good the writing is, or how important the material is, if the writer doesn’t actively seek to engage the reader, then the book will fall flat.

In summary,

  • A 5 Star book is one of the best books I’ve ever read.  It changed my life.
  • A 4 Star book is a very good book that is worth reading again.
  • A 3 Star book is a good book that may be worth reading, but not more than once.
  • A 2 Star book is an average book that would be a good choice when you can’t find anything else to read.
  • A 1 Star book is one that doesn’t advance anything in the field written. There are other books, and better written, that address the author’s topic in a more important way.
27 Apr 2010, Comments (1)

Humility: The Most Important Thing Learned at Seminary

Author: Elijah Layfield

Over at The Parchment and the Pen, you can read a great post on the most important lesson to be learned at seminary:

But I believe all the lessons, both inside and outside the classroom pale in comparison, to the greatest lesson to be learned – humility. All other learning is fruitless without this. I am not talking about a contrived form of servanthood, but the reality of who we really are. All the seminary education should reinforce the conclusion that only by God’s grace and gifting, are we able to participate in the learning program. Only because he has made provisions. And only because he has opened blinded eyes to embrace the beauty of his truth. There by the grace of God go we.

21 Apr 2010, Comments (2)

Rainer on Seven Characteristics of Highly Evangelistic People

Author: Elijah Layfield

Read the full article by Thom Rainer.

1. They are people of prayer.

2. They have a theology that compels them to evangelize.

3. They are people who spend time in the Word.

4. They are compassionate people.

5. They love the communities where God has placed them.

6. They are intentional about evangelism.

7. They are accountable to someone for their evangelistic activities. 

20 Apr 2010, Comments (2)

A 4-Step Plan to Critical Thinking

Author: Elijah Layfield

In a document “Answering New Atheists,” Greg Koukl gives a four-step plan “of critical thinking… to weed out distracting or irrelevant details so you have an unobstructed view of the structure of the core argument and can assess its strength. “

  • First ask, “What is the claim?”
  • Second ask, “What are the reasons given to support the claim?”
  • Third ask, “Which appeals are irrelevant?”
  • Finally ask, “Does the conclusion follow from the evidence?”
8 Apr 2010, Comments (1)

Tocqueville on the Greatness of America

Author: Elijah Layfield

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers–and it was not there..in her fertile fields and boundless forests–and it was not there…in her rich mines and her vast world commerce–and it was not there…in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution–and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great” (qtd in The New Guidebook for Pastors, James Bryant and Mac Brunson, 199).

Great and good only in Jesus Christ.

8 Mar 2010, Comments Off

The Dangers of Mixing Theology and Sin

Author: Elijah Layfield

“No matter how intelligent, if the student does not continue to pray for God to give him or her an understanding mind and a believing and humble heart, and the student does not maintain a personal walk with the Lord, then the teachings of Scripture will be misunderstood and disbelieved, doctrinal error will result, and the mind and heart of the student will not be changed for the better but for the worse” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 33).

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