Not So Quick Hits :: 02.02.07

* Dr. Mohler was recently interviewed by David Van Biema of Time Magazine, entitled “A Calvinist Faces Death.”  Having read Dr. Mohler’s commentary of reflections, listened to his recent convocation address, and now this interview, it is apparent that God has mightily used this event in Dr. Mohler’s life, and I praise God for that.  If you can recall, it was this time last year when both John Piper and David Powlison were facing prostate cancer.  It is amazing that God’s strange providence can bring such perspective on life, death, and every moment in between.  In this interview, Dr. Mohler gives clear statements and an encouraging testimony of the sweet sovereignty and governance of God.

* Paul Helm, renowned philosopher and theologian, has recently shared his chapter as well as his responses to Roger Olson, John Sanders, and Bruce Ware in a forthcoming book by Broadman & Holman entitled The Concept of God: Four Views (edited by Bruce Ware).  The four views are: Helm (classical Calvinism), Olson (Arminian), Sanders (Open Theism), and Ware (modified Calvinism).  This book should be very good, and it goes without saying that the concept of God (theology proper) is under attack today from many angles.  I have been most impressed with the direction and production of B&H publishing over the past year, and it looks like they are continuing to get great scholars and writers to address some key issues in Christian life and theology.  Look out Crossway!  Oh, and lest I forget, I wanted to mention a very helpful book in this regard, which also is in counterpoint format.  It is called Predestination and Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom, eds. David and Randall Basinger (IVP, 1985).  The contributors included John Feinberg (“God Ordains All Things”), Norman Geisler (“God Knows All Things”), Bruce Reichenbach (“God Limits His Power”), and Clark Pinnock (“God Limits His Knowledge”).  Especially see Feinberg’s chapter which is masterfully done, in particular his treatment of determinism and causality. 

* Bill Curtis, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North American Mission Board (NAMB), fielded questions at SBC Outpost (Marty Duren) yesterday.  The questions centered on an article written by Curtis recently published in the current edition of SBC Life entitled “Working Together for the Sake of the Gospel.”  If you followed the recent interview I had with Dr. David Dockery, you would see that he also shares the same goal of unifying Southern Baptists around the gospel of Jesus Christ (see my reflections here).  I believe in what these two men are saying and hope more of the discussion heads that direction.  Originally, this article was published in the Baptist Courier as an open letter in response to an article written by Bill Harrell, chairman of the Executive Committee of the SBC, in which Harrell stated his first two priorities is to deal with the problems of worship styles and Calvinism in the SBC.  I hope you take the time to read why we should work together for the sake of the gospel and the building of God’s Church.