Torrey Gazette is the combined work of everyday Christians blogging on books, family, art, and theology. So pull up a seat and join us. Family Table rules apply. Shouting is totally acceptable.
All tagged My Take
For the past year I was studiously investigating the book of 1 Peter. The Lord had different plans and I was unable to teach it. But I've been asked a ton of questions about what I would have taught. I am going to address this in a series of My Takes. This isn't meant to be a commentary so I won't provide as many of the arguments that exists in my notes.
So long answer short, I believe the reasons is to demonstrate the destructive behavior associated with the practice but also to show that God is capable of working through it.
Full written review can be found here. This book has serious flaws. It isn't without value but it is far from being generally beneficial to the church.
The full written review can be found here. Even those who disagree will be able to find edifying elements to this book.
In my view, Pharaoh is an example of God amplifying the desires of Pharaoh's sinful, faithless heart instead of softening it through the grace of His Holy Spirit (Eze 11:19; 36:26). Pharaoh was no more depraved or "fallen" than we are.
The ceremonial portions of the "Levitical law" were fulfilled once and for all in Jesus Christ's perfect life and death. The holiness portions of the law were ultimately fulfilled in the given of the Holy Spirit and the purification of the church through the Word.
I have not been so blessed by a book in a long time. I'm all for encouraging books. I've recently read very edifying books by Andrew Louth and Richard Gaffin. They were true blessings. But they don't hold a candle to the work of Long.
I've given up trying to type out all my notes for my reviews. Instead I'll turn them into some audio My Takes that let me express a little bit more fluidly. Or perhaps more confusingly. You decide.
These are the types of polarizing questions that I love. Not that I enjoy polarization in general. Surely there are better things to do with ones time. But if you're in the corner, reporting that you're in the corner is hardly wrong. If theology is truly going to be practical, then occasionally our practices will be different. Today's questions most certainly will highlight some of the distinct features of my theology and its application to civil legislation and moral integrity.
