by Richard Barcellos | Jul 23, 2010 | Hermeneutics, Historical Theology
Basil here illustrates a fundamental patristic hermeneutical principle. The old must be read and interpreted in light of the new. The narrative of Scripture is a continuum progressing to a culmination in Christ. As the texts of the old covenant are watered by the revelation the new covenant brings, they themselves blossom even more fully. (Hall, 92)
Dr. Richard Barcellos is associate professor of New Testament Studies. He received a B.S. from California State University, Fresno, an M.Div. from The Master’s Seminary, and a Th.M. and Ph.D. from Whitefield Theological Seminary. Dr. Barcellos is pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Palmdale, CA. He is author of Trinity & Creation, The Covenant of Works, and Getting the Garden Right. He has contributed articles to various journals and is a member of ETS.
Courses taught for CBTS: New Testament Introduction, Biblical Hermeneutics, Biblical Theology I, Biblical Theology II.
by Richard Barcellos | Jul 22, 2010 | Current Events
Building on the insights of thinkers from Plato to McLuhan, Carr makes a convincing case that every information technology carries an intellectual ethic — a set of assumptions about the nature of knowledge and intelligence. He explains how the printed book served to focus our attention, promoting deep and creative thought. In stark contrast, the Internet encourages the rapid, distracted sampling of small bits of information from many sources. Its ethic is that of the industrialist, an ethic of speed and efficiency, of optimized production and consumption — and now the Net is remaking us in its own image. We are becoming ever more adept at scanning and skimming, but what we are losing is our capacity for concentration, contemplation, and reflection.
You can read it here.
My internet was down for one week recently and I purposefully did not check email or get on the net elsewhere. What a relief! I found more time for Bible reading and the reading of other things worth reading (i.e., Irenaeus’ On the Apostolic Preaching). I read no blogs, no sports news, no book news, no email discussion lists, etc. I actually spent more time with my family as well. I even drove my boys to and from soccer practice more than once! My wife was astonished.
What did I miss? I suppose I am not an expert on whatever new issue is out there because I did not read four paragraphs and loads of discussion from people who did.
In all seriousness, I am leaning in the direction that the internet is worse for us than TV. At least TV has limits. Also, it’s too easy for someone to go on the internet, read a blog or two or three, or even a thousand, and give the appearance of knowing something about a subject they were ignorant of three days prior. Both TV and the net depersonalize. Everything becomes virtual.
My conclusion? Read books, especially from dead guys whose books are still in print for a reason. 🙂
Dr. Richard Barcellos is associate professor of New Testament Studies. He received a B.S. from California State University, Fresno, an M.Div. from The Master’s Seminary, and a Th.M. and Ph.D. from Whitefield Theological Seminary. Dr. Barcellos is pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Palmdale, CA. He is author of Trinity & Creation, The Covenant of Works, and Getting the Garden Right. He has contributed articles to various journals and is a member of ETS.
Courses taught for CBTS: New Testament Introduction, Biblical Hermeneutics, Biblical Theology I, Biblical Theology II.
by CBTSeminary | Jul 22, 2010 | Book Reviews, Church Planting, Practical Theology
Today we continue our chapter-by-chapter blog discussion of the book Church Planting is For Wimps. For those of you who may have just been browsing so far, it is not too late to join in! Simply pick up a copy of the book and start reading. If you have missed the previous posts, please read my thoughts on chapter 1 and chapter 2.
In our latest reading, Mike moves to Washington DC in preparation for revitalizing a church in the area. On his first day at CHBC, someone tells him of a struggling church in Sterling, Virginia. Open to the possibility that this church is an answer to prayer, Mike contacts Guilford Fellowship for an opportunity to preach.
Let’s just say that this visit did not go very well. Everything was wrong, from the location and grounds to the carpet and plumbing. The worship service was small, unorganized, and included people not actually there to worship God. Mike even mentions two teenagers publically displaying affection in the back pew throughout the service, including his sermon! Everyone from CHBC left thinking that this church was too far gone. Everyone except Mike’s wife.
His wife’s intuition ultimately proved correct. CHBC realized that the area’s economic and real estate environment meant this church was their best option. And the church came to recognize Mike as their best pastoral candidate. He became their pastor on June 1, 2005.
Given all of the immediate problems, challenges, and issues of Guilford Fellowship, what did Mike believe their greatest need was?
“Let me suggest an answer that may not be immediately apparent: the one thing that Guilford Fellowship needed most from its new pastor was to have God’s Word preached in a clear, systematic, and compelling way” (47).
Did he replace toilets, put down new floors, pull weeds, and spread gravel? Sure. But he would only complete this work after taking care of his primary responsibility to preach and teach God’s Word. Thus, Mike concludes his chapter with three enemies which can keep church planters and pastors from keeping the Word of God central.
I am so thankful and encouraged to read about Mike’s firm commitment to the centrality of Scripture. It is so easy to begin thinking about all that we need to do so that our church will be successful, slowly trusting in ourselves. But God’s way is simple: preach the Word; let Christ build His kingdom. As Mike says:
“You preach and people get saved to God’s glory, or their so-called ‘wisdom’ is confounded and you look like a moron, also to God’s glory” (51).
Am I willing to look like a moron? Am I willing to appear foolish for my Savior? Am I prepared to faithfully preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23)? I appreciate Mike providing three enemies of Word centered ministry, recognizing that I must assess my heart in light of them.
What about you?
John Divito
Member, Heritage Baptist Church
M.Div. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
CBTS Faculty fully subscribe to the 1689 Confession of Faith, hold an advanced
degree in their field of instruction, and possess significant pastoral experience.
by CBTSeminary | Jul 22, 2010 | Hermeneutics, Historical Theology
Underlying Gregory’s trinitarian analysis is the firm conviction that isolated texts of Scripture should be read in light of the overarching biblical narrative; because the Holy Spirit has inspired all the biblical authors, it is perfectly legitimate to allow one text to shed light on another. Rather than producing a forced harmony, the comparison of texts acknowledges the Spirit’s overriding authorship of the entire Bible. Becasue the New Testament Scriptures are in continuity with those of the Old Testament, Gregory feels free to interpret the Old in light of the New. To fail to do so is to practice a wooden literalism that fails to observe the Bible’s deeper unity… (Hall, 76-77)
CBTS Faculty fully subscribe to the 1689 Confession of Faith, hold an advanced
degree in their field of instruction, and possess significant pastoral experience.
by CBTSeminary | Jul 15, 2010 | Book Reviews, Church Planting, Practical Theology
Today we continue our chapter-by-chapter blog discussion of the book Church Planting is For Wimps. For those of you who may have just been browsing so far, it is not too late to join in! Simply pick up a copy of the book and start reading. And if you missed last week’s post, please read it first.
Now we come to Chapter 2. After talking about his decision to plant a church with Mark Dever and Capitol Hill Baptist Church in the last chapter, he moves on to discuss how they went about determining their approach to this new work. Mike would begin by spending a couple of years on staff at CHBC, working through the process of their church plant. This included Mike meeting with members who may be interested in church planting, meeting with other church planters and pastors in the area where they were going to plant, and building credibility with the congregation by becoming more involved in the church’s public teaching and preaching.
They ultimately decided to start a gospel work about forty-five minutes outside Washington DC (where CHBC is located). But this still left them with one major question. Mike explains:
“The last thing to determine was whether we would plant an altogether new church or have the planting team join an existing church in order to revitalize it. Church planting (starting a congregation from scratch) and church revitalizing (reviving the ministry of an almost dead church) share the same goal: raising up a faithful gospel witness where none exists. Both have a unique opportunity to grow by attracting people not currently attending a church and to bring fresh energy to the proclamation of the gospel in a particular community” (30-31).
While understanding the validity and need of church planting, they eventually decided on church revitalization. For the rest of the chapter, Mike explains the advantages and disadvantages of either choice. Next up? They had to find a church that was a good candidate for revitalization.
I admit that like Mike, I am personally attracted to church revitalization. Maybe it is because I have noticed a strong interest in church planting among my fellow seminary graduates while the idea of church revitalization seems to be neglected. Maybe it is because I have met a lot of dear saints in small churches who have been praying for a revival in their church and community. Maybe it is because I would love to see God working through the challenge of revitalization for His glory. Regardless, I appreciate it when Mike remarks:
“That’s why a number of my friends have joked from time to time that church planting is for wimps. There are challenges to setting up a new general store in a dusty cowboy town when none exists, to be sure. But the sheriff who has to ride in and clear out a town’s trash before building starts—he’s the real man” (34).
I don’t see myself as a sheriff (nor am I a fan of Westerns!). And I have no idea what God has in store for my future ministry. But I agree with Mike when he writes:
“Is church planting for wimps? Well, planting and revitalizing take different kinds of courage, and God appoints a particular task for ever y man. Go where God guides you. . . . I believe revitalizing may be more difficult at the outset, but I also believe that it offers all the rewards of planting—a new gospel witness—and more: it removes a bad witness in the neighborhood, it encourages the saints in the dead church, and it puts their material resources to work for the kingdom” (36-37).
What do you think?
John Divito
Member, Heritage Baptist Church
M.Div. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
CBTS Faculty fully subscribe to the 1689 Confession of Faith, hold an advanced
degree in their field of instruction, and possess significant pastoral experience.
