Reductio ad Absurdum

Recently, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution regarding alcohol (I'm not trying to tick off any of my many Southern Baptist friends). Below I have placed the text of that resolution, followed by my own resolution regarding sex, using the SBC's logic. This is one of my longer posts, so I'll apologize for that now.

On Alcohol Use In America

Whereas, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damages (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and

Whereas, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation's highways; and

Whereas, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and

Whereas, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and

Whereas, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating consumption of alcoholic beverages based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of "our freedom in Christ"; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-24, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb alcohol use in our communities and nation; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of alcoholic beverages; and be it finally

Resolved, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat alcohol-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries."


On Sex In America

Whereas, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that sex leads to physical, mental, and emotional damages (e.g., Romans 1:26-32); and

Whereas, Sex has led to countless injuries and deaths in our nation's cities and towns; and

Whereas, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to sex by one or more members of a family; and

Whereas, Sex as a recreational activity has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to pornography and toward the practice of other lascivious acts, both legal and illegal; and

Whereas, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating homosexuality based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of "our freedom in Christ"; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the messengers to the Bird and Baby Public House meeting in Blogsford, Internetland, June 20-21, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and practicing of sexual intercourse; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a contributor or member of any entity or committee of the Bird and Babe Public House that is a practicer of sex; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge Christians to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb sex in our communities and nation; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge Christians to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of sex; and be it finally

Resolved, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat sex-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries."

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The Significance of the Canon of Scripture

I am preparing to write a paper on the canonization of Scripture. I want to deal with the method of canonization, but most importantly, I think, I want to deal with the meaning of the canon of Scripture. That is to say, what does the canon of scripture mean for my life?

In my studies I have come across a puzzling phenomenon among some Christians, and I want to hear your thoughts on the matter. Perhaps this will aid me in achieving my intended goal of receiving an A on the paper, a job well done.

It is interesting to me that when we discuss events in Bible history (like the Creation of the universe, or the calling of Abraham, or the Exodus of the Israelites, or the coming of the Messiah, or the death and resurrection of the Messiah, or the supernatural works of the apostles and the beginning of the church), we think of these events as real events which took place in real time. However, when we discuss these events, often times we look beyond the event itself and we look to its significance in God’s overall plan of redemption. For instance, when we discuss the Exodus we tend to focus, rightly, I think, on the significance of that event rather than the fact of that event. That the Passover lamb represents the Messiah, and the Exodus itself represented God’s redemption of mankind from sin (this is not to say that the fact of the event is not important).

However, when we discuss the canonization of Scripture we talk about it as an event, a rather long event, in history, but we never take the time to look at its significance in God’s overall plan of redemption. We think that it merely contains a record of God’s plan of redemption, but we never think that it is part of the plan itself. That God, in His sovereignty, by the Holy Spirit through His chosen people, rightly assembled and preserved those writings which are His intended and complete revelation to mankind. This has a huge impact, I think, on God’s overall plan of redemption and should not merely be examined as a historical event.

Often time’s people question the canon and wonder if the canon of Scripture that we now possess contains the books that rightly belong in it. I think that this is a failure to trust in the faithfulness of God, and a failure to see how the canon of Scripture rightly fits (i.e. is part of) into God’s overall and complete plan of redemption. Furthermore, if God is faithful to lead His people out of bondage would He not be faithful in making sure that His people have all of His words which He intended them to have? What if God missed some writings? Is it right to assume that this same God would allow His people to miss some of His intended words for over 2,000 years?

Just some preliminary thoughts…what do you think?

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