Mohler on Driscoll - A Fair Assessment

Al Mohler

David Murray shares an audio clip here from the recent Expositor's Conference in which Al Mohler shares his opinion on Mark Driscoll during a Q&A session. I believe Mohler's thoughts were fair, full of wisdom and Biblical. I've distanced myself from Driscoll recently as I have found, what I believe to be, some disturbing facts about him and his ministry. Rather than delve into that here, Mohler's comments are sufficient. Thanks for posting, David.

Studying The Scriptures and Finding Jesus - Albert Mohler - TGC 2011

Another tremendous session from TGC this year. Click on the link to see them all.

Studying The Scriptures and Finding Jesus - Albert Mohler - TGC 2011 from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

You meant it for evil...

Good stuff...

Are we ready?

Joel Osteen found himself forced to answer a question that every Christian — and certainly every Christian leader — will be forced to answer. When that moment comes, and come it will, those who express confidence in the Bible’s teaching that homosexuality is a sin will find themselves facing the same shock and censure from the very same quarters. - Al Mohler

Mohler nails when he states that we'll all have to answer tough questions some day. Sooner or later someone, knowing or not knowing of our faith, will ask, what do you think about __________? We are Biblically bound to answer. Are we ready?

Moreover...

To [Piers] Morgan, making any moral judgment amounts to judgmentalism. Of course, this leads logically to total moral insanity, since the only way to avoid being identified with judgmentalism is to make no moral judgments whatsoever — which no sane person can do.

Ever been accused of that? If not, you will be. So, let's be ready. Let's be armed with the Word of God and be ready to answer the world. Let's not shrink back from the attack for as Mohler concludes, "Most Christians will not face that question on national television, but on a college campus, in a family discussion, in the workplace, or in the heat of debate. But, whatever the circumstances, that moment will soon come."

We have so much more to do....

A robust and rich model of Christian thinking—the quality of thinking that culminates in a God-centered worldview—requires that we see all truth as interconnected. Ultimately, the systematic wholeness of truth can be traced to the fact that God is himself the author of all truth. Christianity is not a set of doctrines in the sense that a mechanic operates with a set of tools. Instead, Christianity is a comprehensive worldview and way of life that grows out of Christian reflection on the Bible and the unfolding plan of God revealed in the unity of the Scriptures. ...Our intentional effort to develop a Christian worldview requires us to return to first principles again and again in a constant and vigilant effort to ensure that the patterns of our thought are consistent with the Bible and its master narrative. - Al Mohler

We have much to do, starting with what goes on in our heads.

Al Mohler Live Dangerously

This applies to all of us...

Mohler Cover Story in CT

I have to agree with Justin Taylor's assessment that the cover story on Al Mohler in the October issue of Christianity Today, was at best, condescending. Numerous unnecessary commments on everything from his clothes to his library permeate the article which is driven to focus on his unwanted denominational accomplishments rather than his Biblical vigor. Another let down from CT but let's face it, we don't read CT for it's astute compositions do we.

Mohler at the Resolved Conference

A great video of Al Mohler from the Resolved Conference.


Al Mohler on Reading from Resolved on Vimeo.

Mohler at T4G

T4G 2010 was fantastic. It was inspiring, enjoyable and encouraging. Take some time to watch or listen to each speaker. Below is Al Mohler's talk which I particularly appreciated.

T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

For all the T4G videos at Vimeo click here.

Another Look at "The Shack"

In another superbly written article, Al Mohler spells out the unbiblical errors within the pages of the popular fictional work by William P. Young, The Shack. The ultimate heresies in the book are the misunderstanding of the Trinity and its push for universal redemption. Mohler writes, While the literary device of an unconventional "trinity" of divine persons is itself sub-biblical and dangerous, the theological explanations are worse. "Papa" tells Mack of the time when the three persons of the Trinity "spoke ourself into human existence as the Son of God." Nowhere in the Bible is the Father or the Spirit described as taking on human existence. The Christology of the book is likewise confused. "Papa" tells Mack that, though Jesus is fully God, "he has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out of his relationship with me, living in the very same manner that I desire to be in relationship with every human being." When Jesus healed the blind, "He did so only as a dependent, limited human being trusting in my life and power to be at work within him and through him. Jesus, as a human being, had no power within himself to heal anyone." And further, The relationship of the Father to the Son revealed in a text like John 17 is rejected in favor of an absolute equality of authority among the persons of the Trinity. "Papa" explains that "we have no concept of final authority among us, only unity." In one of the most bizarre paragraphs of the book, Jesus tells Mack: "Papa is as much submitted to me as I am to him, or Sarayu to me, or Papa to her. Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect. In fact, we are submitted to you in the same way." As Mohler points out, the Church has spent centuries correcting these errors and the popularity of this book teaches us that many of us have returned to the heresies that have plagued the Church since the time of the early church fathers.

Mohler, on the subject of universal redemption, continues, The most controversial aspects of The Shack's message have revolved around questions of universalism, universal redemption, and ultimate reconciliation. Jesus tells Mack: "Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions." Jesus adds, "I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, my Beloved." Another heresy that is has been fought and we shall continue to fight. A concept that the liberals just won't let go.

Mohler wisely and convincingly concludes, In evaluating the book, it must be kept in mind that The Shack is a work of fiction. But it is also a sustained theological argument, and this simply cannot be denied. Any number of notable novels and works of literature have contained aberrant theology, and even heresy. The crucial question is whether the aberrant doctrines are features of the story or the message of the work. When it comes to The Shack, the really troubling fact is that so many readers are drawn to the theological message of the book, and fail to see how it conflicts with the Bible at so many crucial points. ...The Shack is a wake-up call for evangelical Christianity. ...The popularity of this book among evangelicals can only be explained by a lack of basic theological knowledge among us -- a failure even to understand the Gospel of Christ. The tragedy that evangelicals have lost the art of biblical discernment must be traced to a disastrous loss of biblical knowledge. Discernment cannot survive without doctrine.

Let's pick up our Bibles and Confessions and Catechisms and get back to work. Let's get and maintain a Biblical view of these two crucial doctrines for our Lord and King.

Read the entire article here.

A View of Al Mohler's Library

Is it ok for a bibliophile like me to envy Mohler's library? Have a look:

Al Mohler - Study Video from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

Another One Bites the Dust...

The very fact that several different positions may be bound to Scripture means that we cannot assert one interpretation of Scripture over another but are called to respect consciences in the community of faith on this matter. The emphasis of "conscience-bound" is not on declaring oneself to be conscience-bound; rather it is that we recognize the conscience-bound nature of the convictions of others in the community of Christ. With those words, the presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Mark Hanson, took his stand on the homosexuality issue that the denomination voted on recently. However, as we read in Al Mohler's post from Monday, Luther had a very different view on a bound conscience:

The concept of being bound by conscience goes directly back to Martin Luther, the great Reformer who established what became known as the Lutheran tradition. On more than one famous occasion, Luther publicly took his stand and held his ground, claiming that his conscience was bound by the Word of God. He most famously made this case as he stood on trial before the Diet of Worms on April 18, 1521. Before the impaneled church leaders and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Luther declared:

"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason ..., I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience."

Of course, Luther was not merely claiming to be bound by conscience. He was specifically claiming that his conscience was bound by the word of God. Luther, unlike the ELCA, believed that the Scriptures offer a very clear presentation of the Gospel and of moral and theological teachings. Luther affirmed the inspiration, authority, sufficiency, and clarity of the word of God and he took his stand on the authority of Scripture alone. The Word of God bound his conscience by its clear teaching.

How disappointing but not totally unexpected. Another denomination bites the dust. We live in a world of compromise and what's worse is that it seems "Christians" take the lead and show the world how to compromise with our deepest beliefs - the Word of God. May our consciences be bound completely and exclusively by the Holy Scriptures that the Lord has so graciously given to us. Read the entire article here.

The Cross of Christ is Not a Secular Symbol

Below is a link to an excellent article on one more constitutional messy situation we as Christians are facing - is the Cross a Christian symbol and if so should it be permitted on public land. With his usual clarity Mohler follows the twists and turns of the case which goes to the supreme court this week. The situation involves a 6 ft. cross on the Mojave National Preserve in California. I found the statement by lawyers for the American Center for Law & Justice quite interesting: This case is only the most extreme example of a phenomenon that has plagued the federal courts for the past three decades. Ideologically motivated citizens and public interest groups search out alleged Establishment Clause violations, almost always in the form of a passive religious symbol or display of some sort, and make a federal case out of offense at the display. The basis for standing is typically that the religious display offends the sensibilities of the plaintiffs. The offense may be characterized as an affront to religious values, or as one in which plaintiffs feel stigmatized as political or community outsiders. But the sum and substance of the injury is that the display bothers the plaintiffs.

Yes, someone's sensibilities have been offended and it turns into a court case. As Mohler aptly points out, This raises one of the central constitutional questions faced by the Court: Is being offended or bothered by a display sufficient cause to be granted standing for a federal lawsuit? As numerous observers have recognized, the only claims accepted by the courts in this regard are those related to religious expression or symbolism. "Offended observer" status is a legal disaster. Moreover he points out, At this point, Christians should pay particular attention. While the government's lawyers try to press their case, Christians should reject any argument that presents the cross as a secular symbol. There is nothing remotely secular about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Arguments for the constitutionality of religious language and symbolism based in the supposedly secular character of the speech or imagery may win in the courtroom, but the arguments are devastating to authentic belief.

Of all people, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ must be the first to insist that the cross is a symbol of Christian faith, pointing directly to the cross on which Christ died as our substitute. The cross must not be reduced to a generic symbol of death and the memory of loved ones.

Read the entire article by clicking on the link below.

The Cross of Christ is Not a Secular Symbol

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Mohler on Porn

Al Mohler on the Pornification of Cuture. This is the conclusion of his post:

Pornography is not just about dirty magazines and movies, or even just about the Internet and one-click-away sexual fantasies. Pornography now threatens to redefine the way this society views sex itself. The real danger here is that pornography becomes so pervasive that it is no longer distinguishable from the other images and messages transmitted and received within the culture.
A society that embraces pornography as a constitutionally protected form of "speech" will have a hard time policing sexually explicit material. When courts rule that filtering pornography from public computers in a public library is unconstitutional, the public library is transformed into a pornographic playground. When employees spend company time (and government funds) viewing pornography at work, the moral character of the entire enterprise is at stake.
The real cost of pornography cannot be reduced to lost hours of labor. The far larger issue is the cost to the nation's soul. When public libraries become places parents do not let their children go, something precious is lost.
The real cost of pornography is measured in broken lives, broken marriages, broken children, and broken dreams. In reality, the true cost is spiritual, for pornography destroys the soul.
This one fact is enough to prove just how immense this problem is -- 70 percent of pornography on the Internet is viewed at work. That explains why so many employees are distracted. It also underlines the fact that pornography is truly a spreading cancer. It will not easily be forced into retreat.

Election Issues

I don’t normally delve into political issues on this blog but I would like to pass along a link to Al Mohler’s blog where you can listen to a recent broadcast of his radio show where he addresses some issues about our two presedential candidates. I’m disappointed in both & endorse neither but it is clear that Obama has dug himself a hole which theologically will be difficult to lever himself out of. Thoughtful, obedient Christians should be working through these issues that Mohler points out. Since we should all have a list of “must haves” and “must not haves” for whomever we vote for, I encourage you to have a listen to Mohler’s show dated August 18th that can be found here.

Wonderful News about Mohler

It has been determined that the tumor removed from Al Mohler was NOT cancerous. Praise God indeed. The story is here and his comments are worth reading especially, "We do not know what is within us at any given moment," Mohler said. "I had no perception, no spiritual wisdom, to know that I had a tumor that was growing inside me. That is a reminder that we can think we are in control, but we don't even know what's going on inside ourselves."

And We're Off....

Its that time again. Time for an over abundance of political ads, mud-slinging, & endless considerations on every subject that affects us as humans and citizens of the United States. Its easy to get bogged down or wound up in the whole presidential election process. Al Mohler had some wise words for us in his latest post when he wrote: The rhetoric of the race -- and the rhetoric of many evangelicals -- is disturbing. This race is important and necessarily so. We are talking about the next President of the United States, after all. But evangelicals have invested far too much hope in the political process. No government can make people good, transform humanity, or eliminate sin. The political sphere is important, but never ultimate. Jesus Christ is Lord -- and He will be Lord regardless of who sits in the Oval Office. Let's remember that our Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) and #11 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, What are God’s Works of Providence? God’s Works of Providence are, His Most Holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. The Lord is control, let us be calm and settled in that fact.
Read Mohler's entire post here.

On Reading

Al Mohler has posted some good thoughts on reading. Here are a few:

Maintain regular reading projects.

Read all the titles written by some authors.

Write in your books; mark them up and make them yours.

I seem to always have several books I'm reading through and several more I want to read. I find these posts fun and insightful.

Read the entrire post here.