Theological Issues

Human beings are wonderfully made by a loving Creator.  We actually image Him and this gives each of us infinite value.  As His image, we have faculties for rationality, creativity, morality, spirituality and communality.  God pronounced to be good, but shortly after we were created, something went radically wrong (radix = at the root).  We rebelled against our Maker and fell away from Him.  

FROM A NEW ESSAY JUST POSTED at http://www.reformedliving.org/

What is a transgendered person?  Is gender essential to being human?  Is gender part of the Image of God within us?  Here is a fascinating story that raises these and other important issues.  How would and should Evangelicals react?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/september/transgender-professor-azusa-pacific-heath-adam-ackley.html?

Ball State [University] is currently reviewing its "Boundaries of Science" course with professor Eric Hedin to ensure that the curriculum fits within university and academic standards. Its original syllabus—which included books by intelligent design proponents such as William Dembski, Stephen Meyer, and Michael Behe—drew controversy.  

Ball State's website describes the course as "examining the nature of the physical and the living world, to increase our appreciation of the scope, wonder, and complexity of physical reality. The objectives are to give a scientifically accurate introduction to the origin and development of the physical universe (cosmology), which has led up to the formation of Earth as a uniquely suitable environment to support life. The biological complexity of physical life will also be briefly examined. We will investigate these physical realities and the boundaries of science for any hidden wisdom within nature which may illuminate the central questions of the purpose of our existence and the meaning of life." [Emphasis added- CF]

UPDATE: The class will be scrubbed to remove any discussion of intelligent design.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/may/ball-state-will-investigate-course-on-boundaries-of-science.html

"Daniel White Hodge is a producer with a Ph.D. In his twenties he had production credits on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's first album, E 1999 Eternal, as well as helping to score the first two seasons of New York Undercover. With a Ph.D. from Fuller Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, he is now the director of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies and assistant professor of youth ministry at North Park University in Chicago.

Hodge's books, Heaven Has A Ghetto: The Missiological Gospel & Theology of Tupac Amaru Shakur and The Soul Of Hip-Hop: Rimbs Timbs & A Cultural Theology are explorations of "theomusicology." CT's Wes Jakacki talked with him at the Calvin Festival of Faith and Music about Reformed rappers, why many Christians are still uneasy about hip-hop, and the religious themes that pulse underneath even the most secular rap."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/may-web-only/starting-dialogue-with-hip-hop.html?

The Kingdom of God defined as the dynamic Reign of God is constantly, irrepressibly "breaking into" our every day world, our current events.  What are its Major Signs?  These 5 Movements-

   Pro-Missionary: world wide Evangelism and the consequent making of Disciples of Christ
   Pro-Life in every sense, especially the birthing, nurturing and well-being of every child conceived
   Pro-Biblical Marriage and Family
   Pro-Environment: Stewardship of Natural World, its care and cultivation
   Pro-Freedom- Political and Economic: Democracy and Free-Market Capitalism

Where we find these Movements, we see the Reign of God at work and the coming of His Kingdom on Earth

I write about these Topics on my website as well as here on this Blog  http://www.calvinfox.com/

Here is a film library of "stealth" movies that are not overtly Christian in nature, but open up opportunities to dialogue with people about spiritual issues.  It is a good List from Church & Culture Blog and James White-

And here is the list of all movie titles suggested (in alphabetical order) by blog readers-

I have just posted 2 short Bible studies and one 8 Part, extensive study on the unpopular and strong but Scriptural Doctrine of Providence. The latter is based on the Westminster Confession of Faith and Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology.  - Lots of Scripture.  Very thought provoking.

http://www.reformedliving.org/

"It is not be an overstatement to say that evangelicals are experiencing
a "sea change"—a paradigm shift—in their understanding of conversion
and redemption, a shift that includes the way in which they think about
the salvation of God, the nature and mission of the church, and the
character of religious experience."

Read the full article in which I respond at length to the writer of this statement published in Christianity Today

http://www.reformedliving.org/

"Stop, look, and listen."

"That could be the motto for Christianity Today's list of the Most Redeeming Films of 2011. A number of them, including No. 1 Of Gods and Men, are slower-moving, contemplative movies, films that ask you to put the popcorn aside, pay close attention, engage your heart, soul, and mind, and invest in the movie. brain and your heart, and engage. In other words, everything Transformers 3 would never ask you to do.

"... the year's best movies that include stories of redemption. Several feature characters who are redeemers themselves; all have characters who experience redemption to some degree. Some are feel-good flicks; others, less so. Several of the films are rated R and PG-13 and are not intended for young viewers, so please use discretion. But in all of these films, redemption itself is one of the main characters or plot points."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/commentaries/2012/10redeemingmovies2011.html