Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog
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An Apologetic Christmas
12/24/2004 - James White
Apologetics and Christmas. Not the most common pair, is it? In fact, for most, you'd be pretty crass to be practicing apologetics on Christmas. But is it really that odd a combination? A few thoughts.We all know there is an all-out assault on the Christian faith that is manifesting itself in the demand to stop saying "Merry Christmas" (lest you "offend" someone--evidently, the only folks who are insensitive to offense are Christians). The major news media have been rolling out their tired, but seemingly obligatory, attacks upon Christ and the Bible, assuring us that we celebrate nothing but a myth at this time of year. Indeed, one is more likely to see Barry Lynn or John Shelby Spong at this time of year than a picture of the manger. But these attacks upon the historicity of the Christ event and the Bible require apologetic responses. How many believers will be prepared to give a cogent, clear defense of their faith in the historicity of Jesus over Christmas dinner when unbelieving family members raise the issue? And can that response be offered without the all-too-often accompanying hyper-ventilation? ...
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11:00:36 - Category: General Apologetics - Link to this article -
Anti-Christ in a Clerical Collar
12/18/2004 - James White
"There is no inerrant Bible. There is no one true Church. There is no faith once-for-all delivered to the saints." Once again Bishop Spong has expressed his deep and abiding detestation for the Christian faith, this time in a dialogue/debate with Al Mohler on Faith Under Fire. He likewise denied the resurrection, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement---i.e., the entirety of the core of the Christian faith. He is, without question, an anti-Christ. Does that surprise you? Does that make you flinch? Why? Let's remember what John said long ago:1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. // 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. ...
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22:41:53 - Category: General Apologetics - Link to this article -
Stuttgart Electronic Study Bible
12/15/2004 - James White
I've been experiencing techno-envy for quite some time while awaiting the release of the Stuttgart Electronic Study Bible from Logos. I had mentioned to Hermeneutika years ago that they should seek to add the textual data to BibleWorks, but it seems Logos beat them to the punch. In any case, the textual data alone is worth the investment for those who are interested in that field of study. They are currently back-ordered, but Lord willing by January that new resource will arrive. I might even find the time to get back to the textual critical discussion we started a few weeks ago (see, I didn't forget: just a lot of irons in the fire at the moment). Wow, think of it...BibleWorks 6.0 (actually 6.0.011p at the moment!) and the SESB from Logos running concurrently. I'm in biblical-geek heaven...!Now this is fascinating...
Google is looking to digitize millions of books (here's the article). When I saw this I could not help but think of the Bill Gates type character in "I, Robot" who commented to Will Smith (Detective Spooner) "You probably opposed the Internet just to save libraries."
BTW: in the "barely worth noting" category...
Yes, I know a certain left-leaning Presbyterian scholar is running about calling me a hyper Calvinist and even putting in writing his inability to either read or listen fairly to a word I say. But since all those who have seen his most recent blasts have immediately recognized their incoherence and their dishonesty, the collected wisdom of godly men with whom I have discussed it has been to let the man continue to condemn himself by his transparently hostile actions and his equally transparent "crusader" mentality. The facts can be discerned by reading Debating Calvinism, p. 378, this paragraph, listening to the last two Dividing Lines, and reading this article.
09:07:52 - Category: General Apologetics - Link to this article -
Woops, Senior Moment
12/13/2004 - James White
I was downloading some Adrian Rogers audio, listening likewise to some Herb Reavis audio, when all of a sudden it hit me: I had started reviewing the presentation of Paige Patterson at New Orleans Baptist Seminary from earlier this year, and had dropped it after I started it. Why? Simple: I forgot. I think it was right before the big "push" in October and November, and I simply forgot to continue it. Picked up this Kelly Powers stuff. I think Patterson is a definitely more interesting person to listen to, so I will try to find out how far we got way back when and get back to that response on the DL tomorrow. So many Arminians, so little time! :-)From Sunday Morning's Scripture Reading Before Bible Study:
The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. (Ecc. 9:17)
22:32:49 - Category: General Apologetics - Link to this article -
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