Contents
- Faith, without expecting something in return
- Justification by Grace Alone
- Brendan O’Neill on the Intolerance of the Liberal Left on SSM
- The Bible Project
- Bible Characters Who Should Get Their Own TV Dramas
- The Righteousness of God: A Lexical Examination of the Covenant-Faithfulness Interpretation
- Exoskeleton gives paralysed man use of his legs
Faith, without expecting something in return
What does faith in God look like when you’re not thinking in terms of something you get in return?
Does that make sense?
What if we lived a life of faith without thinking of future outcomes? What if we lived a life of faith in God not centered on “Now I know what will happen to me if I die,” or “Now I know all my needs I will be cared for, ” or “Now I can be happier”?
What if the life of faith were defined more by the experience of the moment, and pleasure, inner peace, and joy of being where you are with the Spirit of God?
Wait, it just hit me. I know why I’m thinking about this. I’ve been looking at the book of Job a lot over the last few months, and I see a similar dynamic at work there.
Justification by Grace Alone
Protestants emphasize man’s complete inability, without special grace, to come to God after the Fall. Catholics also emphasize this but also teach that man was completely unable, without special grace, to have union with God before the Fall.
Catholic theology divides human acts into two kinds, natural and supernatural. Natural actions are those which God’s natural (or “common”) grace enables man to perform (e.g., build houses, plant crops, bear children, etc.). Supernatural actions are those which require God’s supernatural (or “special”) grace to perform (i.e., acts of faith, hope, and charity). Without supernatural or special grace, man is completely unable of performing these actions. They require a special infusion or outpouring of God’s grace.
(The Catholic doctrine of Justification is closer to the protestant than you may think…)
Brendan O’Neill on the Intolerance of the Liberal Left on SSM
Brendan O’Neill, the editor of Spiked, by his own admission a “godless Brit,” argues that the liberal left is illiberal and intolerant on how it treats dissenters of same sex marriage.
The Bible Project
We are creating free videos and resources that explore the narrative of the bible.
(I added it straight away to my overviews. Awesome!)
6 Bible Characters Who Should Get Their Own TV Dramas
ABC is currently working on a TV series based on the rivalry between Old Testament rulers, in a new show called Of Kings and Prophets. As this description from Deadline indicates, it’s got all of the makings of a Hollywood drama: “[It’s] an epic biblical saga of faith, ambition and betrayal as told through the eyes of a battle-weary king, a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd on a collision course with destiny.”
The Righteousness of God: A Lexical Examination of the Covenant-Faithfulness Interpretation
Charles Lee Irons, under the supervision of Donald Hagner at Fuller Theological Seminary, has written a dissertation that should have a far-reaching effect. He challenges the common view—one received as settled orthodoxy in many circles—that the righteousness of God should be defined as covenant faithfulness. I [Schreiner] think his case is convincing, so I will concentrate on summarizing his argument.
(I disagree. From I Schreiner’s description think he is inconsistent in his application of associating righteousness with concepts in the immediate context. i.e. Schreiner resists defining God’s righteousness as his covenant faithfulness when the words are in covenant contexts, but he affirms God’s righteousness is his justice when it is in judicial contexts. What a wonderful display of hypocrisy.)
Exoskeleton gives paralysed man use of his legs
Robotic exoskeletons have help paralysed people walk in the past, by both supporting and controlling their legs. But for the first time, a robotic exoskeleton has been paired with spinal stimulation to help a paralysed person walk using his own muscles.
