Quote of the Day

Hope is nothing more than the expectation of those things which faith previously believes to have been truly promised by God.  — John Calvin

Total Depravity: Depraved Religion

Total depravity makes itself known in the guise of religion far more often than the religiously inclined would like to admit. A child was killed in the name of faith after it failed to say ‘amen’ at the conclusion of prayers. It was starved to death. The Press Association reports

A toddler whose remains were found inside a suitcase in Philadelphia this spring was starved to death by members of a religious cult, including his mother, in part because he refused to say “amen” after meals, police said. Ria Ramkissoon, the mother of Javon Thompson, was charged with first-degree murder in the boy’s death, and Baltimore police said that three other members of a group called 1 Mind Ministries have also been charged with first-degree murder.

That’s despicable and depraved. Only persons totally devoid of any true semblance of faith could behave in such a way. They are counterfeit religionists, borne from the pits of Gehenna itself.

New In The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

Journal of Hebrew Scriptures – Volume 8: Article 15 (2008 )

Thomas Römer, Moses outside the Torah and the Construction of A Diaspora Identity

This article deals with how, in texts inside and outside the Torah, Moses became a figure of identification for the different Jewish Diasporas during the Persian Period The following themes are investigated: 1. The Shared Figure of Moses and the Pentateuch; 2. The death of Moses outside the land; 3. Moses, the magician; 4. Moses, the leprous; 5. Moses and the foreign women; 6. Moses, the warrior.

To access this article directly, please go here.

Ok, Please Stop Using That Term

Being a big fan of the Olympics I admire the athleticism, the skill, and the conditioning of the participants. But I have to confess that I’m not such a fan of the little phrases the media comes up with to describe teams or participants. “Phelps Phan”. Please stop. And the worst offender to my genteel sensibilities? “Redeem Team“. I beg you, broadcasters and press mavens, stop using this horrid phrase.

Every time I hear that phrase I get a mental image of Jesus, Paul, John, Luke, and Matthew playing basketball against Satan, NT Wright, Bart Ehrman, Hector Avalos, and Cardinal Cajetan. The former, naturally, being the ‘redeem team’ and the latter the ‘team of darkness and death’.

“Jesus drives the lane and with soft hands and deft touch passes the ball to Luke who goes to the hoop with a jump from the foul line!” “Score!!!!!” “Satan grabs the ball and attempts to hurl it inbounds – but it melts and the ref has to throw in another.” “NT Wright moves toward the lane but Matthew snatches it from him and makes way down the court. NT’s mad and he whispers something to Matthew that sets him in a fury.” “Matthew dumps the ball off to Paul who buries a three pointer!” “Oh no, Avalos has elbowed Jesus near the sideline!” “Jesus looks at him compassionately, and then takes the ball from Cajetan and scores the winning bucket!”

If you want the madness in my mind to be calmed, please, stop using the phrase ‘redeem team’. I can’t take it any more.

You See, This Is Why I Can’t Abide Politicians…

They just do stupid things so often- like cheating on their ill wives, (yes, I’m talking to you John Edwards) or just cheating for the heck of it (yes, you Newt Gingrich), or cruising toilets (yes, Senator Craig, I’m pointing my elongated finger at you), or even suing God for making terrorist threats.  Senator Chambers, you’re a doofus.  And along with all of your politician colleagues, you’ll do just about anything for publicity.  May your tribe decrease.  [HT. A.L]

Licensed To Dumb-ify

That’s the view of the excellent Drew on the recent California decision regarding homeschooling.  Read his post here.  I especially liked this snippet

So let’s get this straight.  As long as I think I can teach it’s all good?  I can teach my kids that the universe is about 6000 years old, that everything other than what I teach is a lie, and brainwash my kids in any cult I wish to call a “school” and it’s acceptable?  What is the actual standard for substantiating that one is “capable” of teaching?  That’s what certification is for!  This just seems to support the “right” to make American students with less thinking and knowledge standards than anything else.  It is absurd that Bush would no doubt support this and require public schooling to have stronger standards.  This makes no sense whatsoever.  I’m frankly at a loss.

Let me help you out, Drew.  It’s a court decision.  From California.  It’s not supposed to make sense, it’s supposed to make as many people as possible feel good.  That you don’t feel good about it just means you aren’t in tune with California law.  Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad!

Paper Accepted

Good news from the Programme Sub-Committee of the Society for Old Testament Study;

I am writing on behalf of incoming President Lester Grabbe and the Programme Sub-Committee to accept your offer of a paper for the SOTS Winter Meeting to be held at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, on 5th– 7th January 2009. Indeed, the Sub-Committee thinks your paper is so timely that we would like you to agree to it being the beginning of a somewhat lengthened session, with responses from three members who have also been thinking about how Old Testament scholars and the Society should be constructing an online presence. Our wish is to schedule your paper for 11.15 a.m. on Tuesday, 6th January, under the title “Tangled Web: The Internet, the Old Testament, and You”. We envisage a 25-minute presentation from you, to be followed by brief responses and further thoughts from Margaret Barker, Philip Jenson, and James Aitken, and then to open the floor for general discussion.

Cordially,
John Jarick

Should be loads of fun!  Perhaps when I’ve finished the paper I’ll upload it.  Perhaps.

How Churches Crumble From Within

The tale of the fragmentation of Two Rivers Baptist Church over the issue of contemporary versus traditional worship services should serve as a warning to other churches interested in becoming ‘all things to all men’. An essay by Paul Proctor in the Tennessean today spells it out pretty well.

What many churches fail to grasp in their envious quest to be all things to all people, is that establishing two different church services within a church body can create two competing churches inside one building — each vying for supremacy with opposing sets of values and priorities — a two-headed monster, if you will. Bringing a contemporary service and all that comes with it into a traditional church is the perfect formula for division. Still, churches attempt it time and again as if their very survival depended on it. Most telling was Bob Smietana’s comment on TRBC’s contemporary service in his July 28 Tennessean piece, where he reported: “That service was a success but created divisions in the church.” My question is: If it created division, how can it be deemed a success?

The answer is- it cannot. So questions about finances arose and the Pastor was forced out and given a huge severance package and, as Mr Proctor observes

You may think or hope Sutton’s departure will give peace a chance; but the fact remains, you still have that two-headed monster roaming your building. And that is Sutton’s legacy for which you so handsomely rewarded him.

Two Rivers wanted to be a mega-mega church; and they’ve paid the price, not only monetarily in the departure of their Pastor, but in public opinion- which sees the Church as nothing more than a battleground for power and money. So when your church decides to pander- be forewarned; the results will be unpleasant.

‘You Can’t Touch This’

The phrase made famous by MC Hammer has taken on new meaning since the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a new directive on appropriate and inappropriate touching by its Priests.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has issued a detailed list of inappropriate behaviours for priests, saying they should not kiss, tickle or wrestle children. The newest version of the archdiocese’s Decree on Child Protection also prohibits bear hugs, lap-sitting and piggyback rides. But it says priests may still shake children’s hands, pat them on the back and give high-fives.

Personally I think high-fives should be eliminated as well. They should be replaced by the much more chic fist bump. With thanks to Antonio for spotting it.