Top Posts 2014
by Helwys Society Forum
2014 has been a good year for the Helwys Society Forum.
We began a new feature, entitled Reflections, wherein we occasionally post a 75-150 word reflection, usually from something we’ve been reading. Additionally, we have published about 75 posts. We have added a regular contributor, Zach Maloney. We featured numerous guest contributors, including Jeffrey Cockrell, Matthew McAffee, Frank Owens, and many others. And we have featured four emphasis months, including on 20th century persons and works, important Classical-Reformed Arminian texts, literary characters, and homosexuality.
Perhaps our biggest regret of the year is our saying goodbye to Jeremy Craft as a regular contributor. Though he will continue to contribute on an occasional basis as a guest author, we will miss his regular contributions.
We owe a debt of gratitude, not simply to our contributors, but to our readers too. We appreciate your faithful readership and your thoughtful engagement.
In this post, we remember each contributor’s top post from this past year. If you missed any of these, now is your chance to read them.
____________________
From Matthew Bracey, “Jacobus Arminius: On Predestination & Election“
In this week’s posts, we’re considering Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) and his views on the predestination of the elect. Although many believe that only Calvinists champion this doctrine, Arminius reminds us that this is decidedly not the case. So important is this doctrine to Arminius that he refers to it as “the foundation of Christianity, of our salvation, and of the assurance of salvation.” Over the next two posts, we’ll consider its definition, its basis in Christ, and its purpose unto righteousness. Throughout, I will refer frequently to supporting biblical passages; readers should note that Arminius himself supplies these throughout his writings. . . .
____________________
From Jeremy Craft, “Thomas Helwys: A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity“
Of all the works penned by Thomas Helwys, A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity is his most famous. A Short Declaration is Helwys’ interpretation of prophesies in John’s Apocalypse as taking place in England. Helwys uses apocalyptic imagery and prophesy to address the contemporary issues of his day. Before dealing with the book’s specifics, an overview is helpful. The volume is split into four books. The first . . .
____________________
From Zachary Maloney, “Homosexuality in Historical Perspective“
On September 29, the Supreme Court began their new term by considering cases for their court docket. Many assumed that the justices would take at least one same-sex marriage case. The outcome of their case would have almost assuredly ruled in favor of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage that applies nationwide. However, on October 6 the Supreme Court announced that they would not be hearing any same-sex marriage cases. As Richard Wolf has pointed out, the Supreme Court basically decided by not deciding.
Very few people have experienced such moral transformation in society as we are seeing today. . . .
How did these changes occur? In this article, we’ll . . .
____________________
From Phillip Morgan, “Churches Aren’t Radio Stations“
In Herman Melville’s classic work Moby Dick, the main character Ishmael tells of the last chapel service he attended before setting out on a whaling vessel. He details the odd pulpit used in the small chapel, which resembled a large ship’s bow. To further the nautical impression, the high pulpit could only be reached by use of a velvet rope ladder akin to the rope ladders used to reach a ship’s masts. Ishmael eventually concludes, “[T]here must be some sober reason for this thing; furthermore, it must symbolize something unseen” [1].
Ishmael’s assessment of the pulpit and its symbolism realizes the truth of . . . In this article I will consider the importance of meta-messages in our communications, and the ramifications they can have on our musical worship practices. . . .
____________________
From Jesse Owens, “Autonomous But United“
I grew up in Free Will Baptist churches, occasionally attended local association meetings with my father, and regularly attended the annual National Association Free Will Baptists. Even from a young age I knew that all Free Will Baptists didn’t share identical philosophies of ministry, nor did they agree on Bible translations, or what men and women ought (or ought not) to wear. But from what I could tell, we were a lot alike. I knew that we all wanted to see the Gospel spread to the ends of the earth.
It wasn’t until later (probably during college) that I began to wonder: “What is the purpose of my denomination?” . . .
____________________
From Chris Talbot, “Homosexuality in Biblical Perspective“
The topic of homosexuality is buzzing and alive, in and outside of evangelical circles. Just earlier this year Matthew Vines published God and the Gay Christian, in which he argues that a homosexual lifestyle and Christianity are compatible, eliciting a firestorm within the evangelical community. Neo-progressives have been fully supportive of Vines, while conservatives have maintained their historical stance. With this, the Supreme Court recently refused to hear appeals on gay marriage, thus catalyzing far-reaching implications on the legal front. Even more recent, Houston’s mayor issued subpoenas for sermons concerning homosexuality, and Hillsong International seems to vacillate concerning the same-sex issue.
All of this (and more) forces us as Christians to ponder this question and make a decision: What does Scripture say about this issue? If Scripture stands against it, do we follow biblical and historical truth and end up on the “wrong side of history?” Or do we revise Scripture on this issue in light of cultural norms?
Ultimately, we must trust Scripture as God’s infallible, inerrant revelation to His people, and we must approach the Bible as our guide on faith in practice—especially when it comes to such an important issue. . . .
____________________
From W. Jackson Watts, “Marshall McLuhan: Making Sense of Media”
Soon televisions will be saturated with ads and “logically irreconcilable one-liners,” to quote Carl Henry. Many jaded voters will switch the station, but still endure the rhetoric until the post-election aftermath dissipates. Though our attitude toward politics often consists of disdain and distrust, perhaps we overlook the fact that our feelings aren’t based on direct experience, but on indirect, mediated information. . . .
The field of media ecology helps uncover not simply the substance of the news, but the meaning of our mediums too. Perhaps more than anyone, Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) helps us understand the media, or mediation, and how it shapes our lives. This month marks the 40-year anniversary of McLuhan’s important work, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. Here we’ll consider his life, thought, and contributions to understanding media. . . .
____________________
From Guest Contributors Matthew McAffee and Barry Raper, “Donald McGavran and the Church Growth Movement“
One of the major developments in the church of the twentieth century has been the rise of the modern church growth movement. The key figure of this movement was Donald McGavran, considered by most authorities to be its founding father. The inception of this movement has been tied directly to McGavran’s seminal work, The Bridges of God (1955). This work arose out of his experiences on the mission field of India, raising questions about what he perceived to be a lack of growth among its churches. His nearly two decades of mission work there led him to research these questions more intently. Eventually, he published his results in the form of this book that became the seedbed for the church growth movement to follow.
The church growth movement is a multifaceted phenomenon. . . .
We cannot expect to offer an exhaustive treatment of the contours and nuances of the man and his movement in our limited discussion here. Rather, our concern is to highlight three principles central to McGavran and his followers. In doing so, we intend to assess briefly their theological fidelity. . . .
____________________
Thanks again, and have a Happy New Year.
Recent Comments