The issue facing many in the Corinthian congregation is a serious one.  Can we profess our faith in Christ, go to church on Sunday, but still part participate in pagan practices or ceremonies outside of church life?  How do we as Christians interact with pagan religions and pagan ceremonies?  What are we to learn from the account of Israel’s time in the wilderness, when YHWH was visibly present with his people, provided them with his word and means of grace, and yet the Israelites grumbled about God’s prohibition against their participation in pagan ceremonies?  In what way is Israel an example to us?

We now make our way into chapter 10–the heart of Paul’s discussion of idolatry.  Paul has already spoken of his great concern for the weak in this congregation, those people who cannot separate the eating of meat from idolatry, and who think that if they eat meat which has been used in a pagan sacrifice, they are somehow endorsing or participating in the same paganism they are striving to leave behind.  As we have seen, Paul has gone to great lengths to defend his apostolic office and to make clear that he practices what he preaches.  Paul has even voluntarily given up that to which he is entitled for the sake of the gospel.  It is Paul’s purpose to become all things to all men for the sake of the gospel, so by all means, some might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  

In typical Pauline fashion, Paul now introduces an illustration from redemptive history to bolster this point about the damage done when the people of God continue to engage in idolatrous practices–turning from the true and living God to worship and serve created things, all the while professing faith in Christ.  Throughout the Old Testament, Israel experienced countless blessings from God (including spiritual baptism, spiritual food and drink) only to have fallen into idolatry even when YHWH was visibly present among the people.  The result–that generation of Israelites stumbled badly and did not obtain the promised inheritance.  Countless Israelites died in the wilderness of the Sinai.  Against the backdrop of Israel’s own history, Paul’s point is crystal clear.  If, like Israel, the Corinthians continue to make peace with idolatry, they too may suffer the same fate and come under God’s judgment.

To read the rest of this sermon, Click Here

Here's the next installment in my series on basic Reformed doctrine on the Westminster Seminary California blog:

Click Here

In the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounces a blessing on his disciples saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”…”blessed are the meek,” “blessed are the pure in heart,” etc. But what does it mean to be meek, or pure in heart, and how does one qualify for this kind of blessing? If only the “pure in heart” are blessed, how can any of us be saved? On this program, the hosts will address these questions as they conclude their discussion of the Beatitudes in their new series on the Sermon on the Mount.

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Mike Horton has responded to Frame here, in Mike's usual charitable way.  Click here

Admittedly I have had no contact with Professor Frame in recent years.  He was helpful to me when I was working on my dissertation, and I have nothing against him personally.  And so far as I know, he's never said anything negative about me or my work--if he even remembers me.  I have not yet read Frame's recent book, and am seriously wondering whether to spend the time and money on it.  When WSC speaks officially on this matter with such collective ire, that, in my humble opinion, says a great deal about the book's worth. Click Here

I will say that I find it very disconcerting when a professor of Frame's repute spends so much time and energy trashing the work of some of his best former students.  Horton, Clark, and VanDrunen all studied under Frame.  Yet, it seems to me, because they find John's views problematic or unconvincing in certain areas, Frame takes personal affront.  Given what these men have accomplished, he should be glowing with a professorial pride.  But he's not.

I say this based on Frame's down-right mean-spirted and petty review of Horton's Christless Christianity.  And now Frame lets it fly toward his old institution and his former students and colleagues in his Escondido Theology in such a way that they do not recognize their own theology in his hands, nor do they have anywhere near the same recollection of events that he does.

Frame's recent theological texts are an important contribution to the Reformed world.  But John Frame passes himself off as a fair-minded and reasonable statesman-like figure who seeks to rise above so many of the issues which unfortunately divide Reformed and Calvinist Christians.  No doubt, that sounds noble, and indeed it would be, if that was Frame's track record. 

Yet this is the same man who throws out the pejorative label "Machen's warrior children," and who actually sides with Joel Osteen over Horton when reviewing the latter's Christless Christianity.  This is the man who who seeks to pick a fight with a yet another shot across WSC's bow with his Escondido Theology. 

On this matter, John Frame has sure not risen above controversy.  He's stooped to create it.

Two new installments of my series on basic Reformed doctrine have been posted on the Westminster Seminary California blog:

The Death of Christ, Click Here

The Law and the Gospel, Click Here