by Bret Capranica | Dec 9, 2005 | Uncategorized
Jim Hamilton has posted two more articles on his “Shakesperean Worship.” The one referenced here in the title is a response to the Emergent Church in light of Hamilton’s proposition for a more liturgical approach (in a Southern Baptist Church no less). In the second article he provides an illustration from the church he is pastoring of how practically this worship is carried out. Interesting stuff. Still thinking through some of his...
by Bret Capranica | Dec 9, 2005 | Uncategorized
Tim Challies posts the second part of the interview with Dr. Sam Waldron on speaking in tongues, signs and wonders. I’ll update a little later with a few comments.
by Bret Capranica | Dec 8, 2005 | Uncategorized
For years I have searched the Scriptures looking for the elusive but much acclaimed private prayer language. As of today, I still can’t find it in the Bible. No where! I do have some good friends who tell me they have found it in the Bible and in their mouth and they regularly engage in a regular private prayer language sessions in their prayer closets. The only passage I have yet to hear them quote is 1 Corinthians 14:4 “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.” For a moment (more like a split second), they had me convinced. Then I read all of chapter 14. Convinced no longer. In fact, there seems to be nothing “private” about tongues in any passage of the Bible where the infamous “speaking in tongues” is mentioned. Only one Gospel mentions the phenomenon (Mark 16:17 confirmation of eye apostolic witness 16:20) and it is a very PUBLIC speaking gift. The book of Acts mentions “speaking in tongues” a few times (contrary to the claims of most modern day tongue talkers). Acts 2, 8, 10 and 19 are the passages. Interestingly, each time a group spoke in tongues it was when a new people group was confirmed as those included (Acts 1:8 note the geographic parallels) in the emerging church (oops, that is probably not a good phrase to use today). Furthermore, all of the Acts accounts are PUBLIC scenes. The only other place in the Bible (yes, the whole Bible – I’m open to suggestions) where the phenomenon of tongues is mentioned is in 1 Corinthians,...
by Bret Capranica | Dec 8, 2005 | Uncategorized
Jim Hamilton, professor at the Houston Campus of Southewestern Theological Seminary, posts a thought provoking article on deeping our public worship expressions. I’m still trying to digest the biblical notion of using the book of common prayer and other confessional statements in public worship (I’m not forcefully opposed – still thinking it through), but the jist of his plea for more intentionally God-focused public worship resonates in my heart. Any thoughts from any readers? How about from Justin and...
by Bret Capranica | Dec 8, 2005 | Uncategorized
Tim Challies posts a portion of his interview with Dr. Sam Waldron on the subject of cessationism and continuationists. Great discussion. Here is the concludinng paragraph from today’s post: But you see, here’s the thing, Tim. I’ve tried to be very kind and focused on what all continuationists say and even the most moderate of them. But clearly the charismatic movement is not characteristically like Wayne Grudem and John Piper. The practice of tongues speaking and prophecy, as carefully as it’s defined and restricted in their theology, is somewhat rare and so when you take my thesis and begin to apply it more broadly to even mainline charismatic churches I think it’s going to serve to make a radically more Word-centered kind of Christianity. I don’t want to say that about Grudem and Piper, but they are theologians and pastors who understand all the issues and qualifications that they need to make even as continuationists. The people in the pew, the people in the Assembly of God churches out there, the other charismatic churches, aren’t making those restrictions and qualifications and for them I think my book would strike a tremendous blow – the thesis, the argument of the book – would strike a tremendous blow against something that is very distracting and takes them in an emotional and distracting direction that is not true to a Word-centered Christianity. I think my book would help them to see the problem and reject it root and branch and become more Word-centered and avoid a lot of the misguided practices and the false directions of life and guidance that they’re taking...
