Comments for Cross Talk ~ crux probat omnia

Comment on What I’m Up to… by MJG

MJG — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:44:32 +0000

Thanks, all. Back from vacation—and plenty of sleep, as well as fun.

Greg: God willing, the justification papers are going into a book, with one of them, the one on justice, scheduled for a journal first (the first issue of the Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters—early 2011, I think). The atonement paper will be in the 2010 issue of the journal Ex Auditu, which is only published annually,

Comment on What I’m Up to… by Trey Palmisano

Trey Palmisano — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:09:15 +0000

Sounds like a lot. God bless!

Comment on Babylonian Economics by Trey Palmisano

Trey Palmisano — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:08:14 +0000

This is a particular issue I’ve struggled with mightily, coming from an evangelical, non-denominational background. I’ve been to churches on 4th of July where the leadership has taken full advantage of the military message. Flags are prominently raised next to the cross. At some point in the service, the pastor breaks with the message and the huge television screen shows photos of military men and women holding their children and tearful reunions on bases. We’re called to pray for our soldiers, oftentimes with little direction for what we’re praying for. Of course, what is not shown is suspiciously absent, but nonetheless speaks to the Americanizing (as you put it) of the gospel message. I have been disgusted on a number of occasions when soldiers have been brought in to share something of their experience in an attempt at shameless self-promotion. Unfortunately, I am entirely in the minority in my church as evangelicals, and fundamentalists with which I’ve spent most of my life, consider military duty, law enforcement, and firefighting to be endowed with the kind of holy calling one calls to mind when taking about the clergy.

Working for government, I’ve also grappled with my own moral responsibility. Is there a tacit institutional sin underlying the operation of our government so that by serving government I’m guilty of cooperating in the use of the technology provided by my company even though I’m removed from the decisionmaking process? You must wonder how far you are removed in any profession from the moral consequences of your decisions. How do your decisions directly or indirectly affect the lives of others? It’s a thorny question.

Shifting gears to another example, I’m also struck by the pugilism that is passed off as professional fighting and is directly challenged by 1 Timothy 3:3. There seems to me no small amount of irony with professional fighters who claim a relationship with Christ. Is it acceptable to bash an opponent’s brains in so long as there is no malice of forethought? It’s interesting you mention Tertullian who was passionately opposed to the gladiatorial contests of the day and questioned how one’s attendance at such events could be squared up with the gospel.

Comment on What I’m Up to… by Greg Smith-Young

Greg Smith-Young — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:32:47 +0000

Thanks for the updates, and the thought-provoking comments. I have just waded through the downloads from the NT Wright Conference at Wheaton, and am appreciating your blog posts about them from a while back. A question: Do you know if your upcoming papers North Park (on justification and the atonement) will be made available for the wider public?

Comment on What I’m Up to… by K. Rex Butts

K. Rex Butts — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:12:01 +0000

And when do you have time to eat and sleep?

Thank you for your ministry!

Comment on What I’m Up to… by Angela

Angela — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:06:42 +0000

I meant “only.” Let’s try it again.

Only by the grace of our crucified Lord that you are able to do all that you are doing–whew (a joyful whew)! Only by his grace! It’s good to hear you are doing well. Enjoy your time in France.

Comment on What I’m Up to… by Angela

Angela — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:04:17 +0000

Hi, Mike,
Ony by the grace of our crucified Lord that you are able to do all that you are doing–whew (a joyful whew)! Only by his grace! It’s good to hear you are doing well. Enjoy your time in France.

Comment on What I’m Up to… by MJG

MJG — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:13:42 +0000

Thanks, Andy, Chris, and Nijay. Hope you are all well. Now I’m adding vacation into the mix—to France, however!

Comment on What I’m Up to… by Gorman’s review of Dunn’s BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM « nijay k gupta

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:32:26 +0000

[...] review of Dunn’s BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM Dr. Michael J. Gorman has mentioned on his blog a review of J.D.G. Dunn’s Beginning from Jerusalem. I was happy to discover that [...]

Comment on What I’m Up to… by Chris Skinner

Chris Skinner — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:33:47 +0000

Mike, Good to read about all that you’re doing. I was wondering why I hadn’t seen much new from you recently. Hope you are well.