Theology Matters

Happy Reformation Day!

The Protestant Reformation was not a perfect movement, but it certainly did a lot of good. Specifically, God used it to wrench the biblical Gospel out into the open. The Roman Catholic Church was no longer allowed to shroud the Gospel of grace under its false, works-based teachings.

Martin Luther's nailing of his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany was a significant event. It occurred on October 31st, 1517 (as an aside, next year will hold lots of 500 year celebrations of Luther's act). However, it wasn't the most important thing to happen. Rather than one big thing, the Reformation was a conglomeration of many different, semi-related little things that happened over the span of a few hundred years. In the end, the true Gospel was freed from the clutches of those who hate it.

If not for the Reformation, I doubt that I would know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That's why I cherish the Reformation.

When You Have No Good Options...

What You Are Owed...

Meme Sunday

Straight Outta Seminary

SEBTS graduation circa 2006. Roy Sams, Alan Knox, and myself looking relieved.

Straight Outta Context

(Thanks to Christian Memes.)

Meme Sunday Begins Tomorrow!

Tomorrow morning I'm beginning a new feature on this blog: Meme Sunday.

Each Sunday morning I'll post a church-related meme. Why? Well, I like making memes, and sometimes memes convey meaning very effectively. Also, they are fun. These will be memes that I create (I won't be plagiarizing from anyone else). While I do not expect any of this to be earth-shattering, I'm still looking forward to it. I've chosen Sundays because, as we all know, that's the day that the church is most active (or passive if sitting in pews).

Feel free to comment, or simply enjoy the fun.

A Fun Reformed Meme

This meme may have been out for a while, but I still find it funny. Part of what makes it so humorous is that it is accurate. I've been through all stages myself.

Having been raised in a Wesleyan-Armininan church, the idea of God's sovereignty over salvation seemed nearly abhorrent to me. However, once confronted with scripture (this about 10-15 years ago while in seminary) I quickly entered the shock and then denial stages. After a few difficult months, I moved on to realization and acceptance. Unfortunately, shortly after that I began that very annoying phase where I tried to convince other unsuspecting Christians that predestination is true. I was, as they say, a bit of a jerk. A cage would have been a good place for me.

I don't know about that last stage. I've never been much of a sage about anything.

A word of clarification: while I strongly hold to Reformed thinking as it pertains to salvation, I disagree with much of it regarding the life and function of the church. Therefore, I'm not really Reformed. Rather, I just love the Doctrines of Grace.

Luther Meme

I'm not sure who created this one, but I like its simplicity.

Happy New Year!