Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog
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Monday Miscellaneous
04/02/2007 - James White
Looks like the blog flood has subsided a bit! Wore TQuid and cds and DV out, I do believe! By the way, I wanted to especially thank cds for that tremendous series on Qadar. If you missed it, head for the March archive and make sure you catch up! Speaking of that, I have been playing catch-up on "real life" stuff that I had to put on hold while the book was being written (you know, like, cars and family and stuff---son getting married, daughter headed off to college, little things like that), and I even rode El Tour de Phoenix on Saturday (I hadn't had time to really train or anything, so it was a survival ride--but a most enjoyable one that now has me hoping to be disciplined enough to ride El Tour de Tucson again and then try to really improve my time in El Tour de Phoenix in '08).This week brings us the LDS Easter Pageant in Mesa, and though we are running into this week without nearly the preparation we have enjoyed in years past, Mormonism is still Mormonism, and the gospel is still what Mormons need to hear. I've written a new tract for this year's pageant, and I hope the KJV Only radicals have finally found some other mission in life other than mocking the Mormons, mocking the church, mocking...everything. I have a feeling things will be a little more active this year if only because the emotions will already be a bit inflamed due to the distribution of the new film on Mormonism. One of the local talk show hosts was talking about how the Mormons are all upset that thousands of videos have been sent to the homes of local Mormons. "Upset? You invented door to door!" In any case, pray for us as we seek to witness to all who attend the Pageant in Mesa, Arizona.
Next, From Toronto to Emmaus arrives tomorrow! If you have pre-ordered it, Rich has been diligently working, and your package is already labeled and ready to go. As soon as the books get here, we will be shipping them out. Of course, if they get here late in the afternoon, right as we are leaving to go to Mesa, then they will go out Wednesday (which is the probable scenario). But we will turn them around as quickly as possible.
We also got some more nice commendations that we will include in future printings of the book. Phil Johnson, grand-mufti of the Pyromaniacs (I bet he hasn't even been notified of that promotion/exaltation, and centuri0n will be miffed), commented,
We've come to expect that every year, just before Easter, the worldwide media will publish some ostensibly monumental new finding about "the quest for the historical Jesus." These are actually thinly-veiled attacks on core Christian beliefs--rooted in shameless cynicism. The "lost tomb" hoax of 2007 was one of the cheesiest, most offensive such assaults, boldly claiming that after nearly two millennia, credible scientific evidence--including DNA tests--had led certain "experts" to conclude that the tomb of Jesus had finally been located. "He is not risen; He is here," the media reported with breathless gullibility.Now that is so kind I might even have to talk to Angel about drawing a nice caricature of Phil some day. Maybe. First I have to send Angel the new book, and at least a Tomb t-shirt. I would send him an aomin.org t-shirt, but he could just buy a t-shirt and draw it himself. Which sort of ruins it. Along with Phil's comments came these from John MacArthur:
The fact that it took James White barely more than two weeks to write a book that conclusively debunks the entire "Jesus tomb" hoax demonstrates two important things: 1) The claims were obviously total rubbish and should never have been publicized in the first place; and 2) There may be no one better equipped than James White to defend the gospel skillfully in every major arena here it is currently under attack. Whether the battleground is historical, theological, textual, linguistic, or biblical, you can count on James to be ready to give a skilled defense of the truth and a convincing reason for the hope that is in him. I love him for that.
James White adroitly dismantles the latest pseudo-scientific ploy of the skeptics. These increasingly clumsy and self-contradictory attempts to discredit the biblical account of the resurrection seem to reflect a growing level of desperation among Christianity's postmodern critics. Dr. White wonderfully responds to this flash-in-the-pan silliness with some timeless truth, highlighting why the Resurrection is vital to all Christian belief, and demonstrating why the testimony of Scripture is trustworthy.
James Swan pointed out some very interesting quotes from Jonathan Prejean this morning. I thought this one was instructive enough to provide it:
"In my view, sola scriptura is the #1 problem (like Joseph said in a comment on my blog), and I WANT to be the guy who is doing theology outside of the "The Bible says it; I believe it; that settles it!" mentality. The problem that I see is that Protestants have the idea that the way White does theology is the only way theology is done. I just want them to see that isn't the case, and that if something more appeals to them, there are other options out there. On the other hand, if people think that is the way to do theology, then I would go as far as to say that they *should* stay Protestant. I'm not out to steal sheep who aren't called to leave the flock. I'm content to wait on God's grace for that. I just provide the occasion for them to see how I live Catholicism, as the Spirit moves me. If it doesn't appeal to them, that's OK. If it needs to do so, it will."If you will but press Rome's apologists they will eventually say things like this. Remember when Gerry Matatics, in response to my asserting that his choice to follow Rome was a fallible choice, replied that my choice to follow the Bible was likewise fallible? Excellent example. Here Prejean is admitting quite openly that the realm in which he "does theology" is not circumscribed by the Scriptures. It was obvious, from his phone call, that he is far more concerned about knowing obscure opinions of Cyril of Alexandria than knowing how John testifies of the deity of Christ or Paul presents the glory of God in salvation in the golden chain of redemption in Romans 8. He is not an exegete, and he knows it. He cannot stand in the realm of the Scriptures and defend his views, for his views have precious little connection to the divine revelation that Jesus said "could not be broken." He is more concerned about throwing about the accusation of "Nestorianism!" (what percentage of people have a clue what that means?) than he is discerning the mind of God in the Word. And so we definitely differ, fundamentally, and always will. But what seems painfully obvious to me is that God's grace never leads anyone to embrace Prejean's odd viewpoints. His blog presents his mission: "Sharing the Christian metaphysics of Xavier Zubiri and the fullness of Western Tradition under the patronage of St. Cyril of Alexandria and St. Bonaventure." Yes, that's what the grace of God and the Holy Spirit are doing in the world, leading folks to...that. Not to the Word, but to...Xavier Zubiri. There you go. If I had just read more Zubiri, and less Paul! Then I'd be up to taking on the likes of Prejean and I could laugh at the uniqueness of the incarnation and the outmoded law of God against the worship of images! That's where I missed the boat! It is all so clear now.
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