Two Questions for KJVOs
1. Has anyone else noticed that the standard language in the doctrinal statement of Crown College (and the approximately 130 other churches and ministries that use it verbatim) is inherently contradictory? "The King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice." Where does it say in the Bible that the KJV is the only English version Christians should accept and use? If the Bible doesn't say it, what other...
Nick Kristof Is Right and (A Lot of) TV Preachers Are Wrong
Kristof says: Centuries ago, serious religious study was extraordinarily demanding and rigorous; in contrast, anyone could declare himself a scientist and go in the business of, say, alchemy. These days, it’s the reverse. A Ph.D. in chemistry is a rigorous degree, while a preacher can explain the Bible on television without mastering Hebrew or Greek—or even showing interest in the nuances of the original texts. It’s sad when a NY Times liberal, the kind who admits to going to cocktail parties...
How to Find Every Unicode Greek Character in Microsoft Word
I may need to change the typeface of every Greek word in my dissertation from Gentium Book to Gentium Plus. That would take a while if I had to do it manually. I’m going to show you instead how you can do it automatically. I’m going to take you through all my steps to show you how I got the answer, not just what the answer is, starting with step zero. (Sorry, this is just for Windows users right now—I haven’t tried it in Word for Mac because I don’t have it.) 0. Your Greek characters have to...
Bloodlines Review
Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian is the latest book penned by John Piper. In it he applies the impassioned exegesis for which he is known to issues of race and ethnicity. But his Christian Hedonism appears little in the book: it is mostly an exposition of scriptural truths which can help blacks and whites in America do more than just get along. The one part of the book that is not dominated by scriptural exposition is part one; it instead deals with natural bloodlines, the issue of...
1Marks Interview Series
Some moons ago, I interviewed Dr. Robert Bell in the first of what I hoped would become a 1Marks Interview Series. It is now officially a series, because Dr. Robert Vincent agreed to sit with me for an hour-long interview (right click link; choose "Save Target As") about church and personal evangelism. I have worked under Pastor Vincent in evangelism for quite a few years, because he has been the pastor in charge of evangelism (and church education) at my home church, Mount Calvary Baptist,...