by Bret Capranica | Jun 7, 2005 | Blogging, Humor, Personal
The definition of a fundamentalist: too little fun, too much damn and not much mental: According to this little quiz, I are one: You scored as Fundamentalist. Fundamentalism represents a movement in opposition to Modernism, stressing the highest importance on foundational religious tradition. Science has brought on corruption of society. God is real and is watching. Scripture leaves little room for interpretation; man is God’s creation. About a quarter of the population in the U.S. is classified as Fundamentalist. Fundamentalist 81% Cultural Creative 69% Romanticist 38% Postmodernist 38% Existentialist 13% Materialist 6% Idealist 6% Modernist 0% What is Your World View? (updated) created with QuizFarm.com Wow! Still too much postmoderninsm in me for my fundamentalist...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 7, 2005 | General Theology
Justin Taylor’s blog pointed out this great post. I have recently finished a series of messages dealing with God’s judgment as portrayed in the book of Revelation. I found this post to be a good summary of the truth that God’s severity is a joyful occasion for the believer. Sobering, yet joyful. Joyful not in the mere destruction of the lost, but in the vindication of...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 7, 2005 | Culture
Albert Mohler has a superb commentary on the rise of a culture that plans to be childless.
by Bret Capranica | Jun 7, 2005 | Psychology
The mental illness business continues to try and draw virtually everyone into their net. According to the referenced report, most mental illness begins around age 14 and is typically detected through “mild, easy-to-dismiss symptoms such as low-level anxiousness or persistent shyness . . .” Ah yes, if this is so, we are all sick. Mental illness now embraces approximately forty-six percent of the people surveyed by a recent study. We’re getting closer and closer to having not only a majority of people mentally sick, but my guess is that the Mental Mob won’t be content until we’re all dubbed as struggling with or victims of mental illness. What is facinating about this report is that the suvey “excluded rarer illnesses such as schizophrenia and autism.” Generations prior to our “enlightened” society knew that discouragement is not an illness. Persistent shyness may be fueled by pride and the fear of man. I know it was and often is in me. The Psalms reflect life at war with circumstances and victory won through an intense battle to trust in God. Rather than run to a doctor upon persistent days of discouragement, begin to consider the true needs of your heart (Philippians 4:6-9) and the practical application of the forgiveness of sin through Christ and the life of sanctification that...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 6, 2005 | Pastoral Ministry
The referenced article details a recent study on the prayer life of pastors. The findings reveal a deep satisfaction among many pastors (if not most) regarding their personal prayer life. The level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction tends to be linked to the amount of time a pastor spends in prayer. The report notes: “The amount of time spent in prayer: Pastors who are very satisfied spend an average of 56 minutes a day in prayer; those who are somewhat satisfied average 43 minutes; those who are somewhat dissatisfied average 29 minutes; and those who are very dissatisfied average 21 minutes.” Satisfaction or the lack thereof is also linked to what pastors do during prayer: “How they divide their prayer time: Ministers who are very satisfied spend considerably less time than average making requests and considerably more time in quiet time or listening to God;” “The study clearly showed that what drives a satisfying prayer life for a minister is spending less time asking God for things and more time listening to what God has to say . . . ” Hmm, what exactly does this last item mean: “listening to what God has to say?” Could this be another illustration of our lack of trust in the sufficiency of the Scripture? Perhaps so, if this “listening” time is disconnected from the only infallible source we have from which to hear God speak. It is another sign of a postmodern (and unpublished) mindset when we suggest that what God says to us personally could be divorced from (and even contradictory to) what God has already revealed in the Bible. Some...
