Link'n Blogs 2/18/12

I haven't done a regular list of links yet on this blog because I had not yet come up with a good name.  "Link'n Blogs" is not a particularly good name, but it will do for now.  To the links!

Discriminating Preaching.  Tom Ascol calls preachers to the right sort of discrimination.  His conclusion: Discriminating, expositional preaching is a great need in our day. We must be willing to show from the text what God says is right and true and then distinguish that from all of the counterfeits that plague the world and church today. Failure to preach and teach like this leads to a mongrel religion that may fly under the banner of Christianity but has missed Christ altogether. It is a frightening prospect. Where there is no discriminating preaching, it has been and remains a tragic reality.

Christians Are Confused About Forgiveness. Jeff Crippen and Anna Wood have started a blog addressing domestic abuse in the church.  It is a challenging read and deals with difficult subject matter, but shame on us if we turn a blind eye to this great evil in our midst.  This post of forgiveness is worth a careful read and thorough reflection.  Crippen writes: If I come across such a person I have forgiven and their car is broken down – I can stop and call a tow for them.  If they are beaten up lying along the highway – I can be the Good Samaritan (and I should).  I MUST forgive!  It is Christ’s command.  Forgiveness is a characteristic, in fact, of a truly regenerate, converted heart in Christ.  This is why Christ says that if we are not a forgiving person, He will not forgive us.  BUT we are laying an unduly heavy and unbiblical burden on one another when we turn the traditions of men into the Word of God, and I think that is what is happening with this subject of forgiveness.  We are making it out to be more than it is.

Reading the Classics Together.   Confession time: I may be the worst Reformed Baptist ever... I've never actually made it cover to cover through Pilgrim's Progress.  That's Reformed Baptist sacrilege, akin to a Libertarian who has never read Atlas Shrugged or a Catholic who has never seen a picture of the Pope.  Tim Challies is facilitating a structured group reading at his blog.  I'm thinking of jumping in... want to join me?

Dr. Gonzales lectures on the Inspiration and Authority of the Old Testament for Reformed Baptist Seminary and the Midwest Center for Theological Studies.  BTW, happy birthday Dr. Bob!