More Interesting Links

Be warned, Pat Robertson doesn't like it much when you photoshop his picture.  Click here: Spring student sues school over Pat Robertson image (w/video) | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle.

Richard Roberts may have resigned as president of ORU, but still might keep that huge salary.  Click here: Will Richard Roberts Let Go of ORU? | Liveblog | Christianity Today.

Meanwhile, as Roberts tries to keep that big pay check coming, a benefactor has come forward to bail out ORU from its huge debt.  The only catch--Richard Roberts needs to be shown the door and the benefactor wants two seats on the board.  That's an easy one.  "See ya Richard and pull up a couple of chairs!"  How come there is no Reformed benefactor who can give 70 million to some truly worthwhile cause?  Is a hospital built by faith-healers really the best place to sow seed for the kingdom? Click here: Oral Roberts University Gets a Lifeline - AOL News

The soon to be Rev. Andrew Compton has a series of worthwhile links to a debate  over natural law between Dr. David VanDrunen and Dr. Nelson Kloosterman.  I'm with Compton on this one, VanDrunen clearly carries the day.  Click here: A Dialogue Between David VanDrunen and Nelson Kloosterman on Natural Law « Confessional Reformed Contemplations.

Finally, readers of this blog will be relieved to know that a recent poll of Christians determined that beer drinking is probably acceptable.  Click here: Christians Consider Drinking Beer Acceptable According to ChristiaNet.com Poll - Christian Newswire.  In honor of this wonderful news, I'm really going to enjoy my cold one tonight.  Poll-driven ethics can sure relieve the troubled conscience!

In honor of the above-mentioned poll, but sure to check out the Lutheran Advent calendar.  Click here: Riddleblog - The Latest Post - Lutheran Advent Calendar   

Comments

[walt]

"Are our Christian primary and secondary schools and colleges, so many of which proclaim the neo-Calvinist vision of transformation and worldview cultivation and dismiss the two kingdoms idea as "dualistic," stronger theologically and academically now than they were some generations ago? My interaction with the kind of people who read Ordained Servant leads me to guess that a great many of you would answer no (which is why a great number of you homeschool your own children)."

Ouch. I wonder what Tim Keller would think of that.

[Joe]

I guess Martin Luther is probably enjoying that poll on beer drinking since he also liked a"cold one". In fact his friends gave him a keg to take on his honeymoon. Hmmmm, I wonder if it was non-alcoholic?

[Scott Dennis]

Hi Dr. Riddlebarger,

Just an FYI - I recently have tried to download mp3 files from the Academy sessions and I am not able to do so for some reason, at least it will not open on my computer. Also, when I try to open the m3u file to listen in the streaming format, a box pops up asking me for a username and password. I use to be able to download the mp3 files before, not sure why not now. Am I missing something?

Thanks,
Scott

[presbyterian_keith]

of course beer drinking is acceptable...well unless you call Coors Lite beer...

[Paul]

A good theological discussion is always enhanced with a pint of Guiness, or a Black and Tan!

[Charlie]

This would work as a "reformed Advent Calendar," except that many Reformed Christians eschew Advent! Perhaps "Anglican" would work better.

[Alan Kurschner]

*Alan hopes that one day those same believers are consistent and view cigar smoking just as acceptable :-)

[Zrim]

Walt,

"Public schools ought to be thoroughly secularized and Christian kids ought to be in them."

I wonder what Keller would think of that.

Maybe he should have a couple of beers before I ask him. And maybe he should buy a round for the homeschoolers before he asks them the same question. That is, if all of them are in the affirmative part of the drinking poll...

Zrim

[Andrew Alvarez]

"There just isn't any good reason to drink alcohol, and it is not like it tastes good."

Clearly someone who has never expeienced the fine pleasure of a Guinness!

[Steven Carr]

So the poll is out on beer when does it come out on whiskey? I'm all for Jaimesson Irish Whiskey!!!!

Steve

[Alberto]

I was thinking about beer, cigarettes and drugs this week. One of my college instructors brought up the issue of why marijuana is still illegal, and beer and cigarretes are not. To all you beer guzzling and cigarette puffing Christians out there, how would you respond to people who put drugs, like marijuana, on the same moral level with alcohol and cigarettes? Does anyone know of any good literature that deals with these issues. I would really be interested in knowing why a Christian can smoke cigarettes but not marijuana. Also, please don't think I'm trying to start a fight with anyone. I'm just really interested in knowing truth.

[Will S.]

Alberto:

IMO, the only possible reason why drugs such as marijuana should be treated differently from alcohol and tobacco, is that in most countries, it is illegal, and for that reason alone, Christians shouldn't be breaking the civil law and partaking, in those countries where it is in fact illegal.

But, as for in countries where marijuana or other drugs are legal, or if the laws in countries where such drugs are currently illegal were to change, I see no logical or Biblical reasons to treat recreational consumption of such drugs any differently than tobacco or alcohol.

By which, I mean, excessive indulgence should be avoided, and the church should discourage such, and should discourage being stoned just as it discourages drunkenness, and the church might encourage the passage of legislation to make it illegal for kids to buy, etc., but as far as the use in and of itself, there is no logical or Scriptural reason to treat other drugs like marijuana any different from alcohol, for example. If anyone objects on the basis of the danger of such drugs, the same arguments can, and have been, made against alcohol and tobacco. And so if the principle that believers' freedom to partake alcohol or tobacco is a matter of individual choice, for each believer to exercise discernment for him/herself, and be prudent and careful, etc., there is no logical reason why this argument can't be extended to other substances. I suspect that many people will disagree sharply with what I've said here, but that their only basis for so doing will be on the grounds of deeply ingrained cultural prejudices against drugs which are currently illegal, and associated in many minds with the counterculture (hippies, punks, etc.). Hey, as a conservative, Reformed Christian, I share those prejudices myself. But I recognize that, admit it, and prefer to be internally consistent and not hypocritical, so I am inclined towards both a view of Christian liberty on all currently legal substances (on the grounds that such are adiaphora, things indifferent, in and of themselves) - and also, towards a view that, if deemed desirable, laws can be changed, to make what is now illegal, legal, that we have the Christian liberty to do this, too, if we please.

[Will S.]

Also, Alberto: here is a book that might be of interest, by a Reformed Christian.

http://www.razormouth.com/badtrip.html

[Will S.]

(And since, Alberto, I suspect you aren't favourably disposed towards us "beer guzzling and cigarette puffing Christians", you should also read these:

http://www.oakdown.com/books/both.shtml )

[Alberto]

I was just trying to be humorous Will S. Don't take it personal. Nothing else was meant by the statement, not even my opinion on drinking and smoking.

[Will S.]

Alberto, I didn't take it personal, but I didn't realize you were just joking; I thought you were seriously asking: "I'm just really interested in knowing truth.", you said; I was just trying to help. :)

[Charles S.]

Beer is good....wine is better!

[Will S.]

I see the razormouth link has gone stale; this one shouldn't:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0785261478/reasonmagazineA/