I’ve been jotting down a good number of notes for this book review / summary, so it looks like this will be a two-part series.

I recently read With One Voice: Singleness, Dating & Marriage to the Glory of God by Alex Chediak (with Marni Chediak), seeking a biblical perspective on singleness and dating that does not follow directly with theological dating frameworks of Joshua Harris or Cloud/Townsend. I first came across Chediak’s book last year when I found my way onto his website and found reviews and a good summary of it. I suppose I have been planning on reading it soon, but the plethora of books on Christian dating eclipsed this less popular work by a less popular writer.

As I have previously mentioned, Alex Chediak was an apprentice at The Bethlehem Institute under Pastors John Piper and Tom Steller. The Bethlehem Institute is the seminary-level training program of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. Alex is currently an Associate Professor of Engineering at California Baptist University, so it seems that he is pursuing his ministry and calling in a non-vocational role while earning a living as a professor of a non-theological subject.

What drew me to buy this book was first because of Chediak’s credentials as an apprentice under Piper, and further, the book’s endorsements made it very reputable (the endorsement at the top of the front cover is from none other than Al Mohler!). With all this in mind, I was hoping that this would bring a new perspective to the topic of singleness and courtship from a biblical (and likely a Reformed Baptist) perspective.

When the book arrived, I was somewhat disappointed at its large font size which basically averages to about 6 words per line in its overt Verdana-like font type. Add to that, the title page font and the number and titles at the beginning of each chapter are in a weird looking thin, faded font that made it look really out of place. In short, the design of the body of this book did not match its simple and attractive cover, and this short 150-page book should really be even shorter consider its use of a large, modern font. I certainly was hoping for a longer explanation of Chediak’s insights into relationships between Christians, but I felt somewhat shafted for what I paid for it.
Read the rest of this entry »

A new study from LifeWay Research (branch of the SBC) reveals that more than two-thirds of young adults who attend a Protestant church for at least a year in high school will stop attending church regularly for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.

• According to the study, 70 percent of young adults ages 23-30 stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between ages 18-22.
• The paths toward college and the workforce are also strong reasons for young people to leave church: “I moved to college and stopped attending church” (25 percent) and “work responsibilities prevented me from attending” (23 percent).
• In addition to moving to college, others simply “moved too far away from the church to continue attending” (22 percent) and, it can be assumed, did not find a closer church.
• Many of those who drop out do eventually return. Among church dropouts who are now ages 23-30, 35 percent currently attend church twice a month or more. Another 30 percent attend church more sporadically. Thus, about two-thirds of those who leave do return at some level.

Read the article here.

It’s another reminder why integrated family ministry is so important, and a sign of the effectiveness of life-stage segregated ministries like that of youth ministry.

(HT: Said at Southern)

The question for this week at “On Faith,” the joint project of The Washington Post and Newsweek magazine, is this: After 175 years of existence, is Mormonism entering the mainstream of American religious life or are people still suspicious of it?

Southern Seminary president, Dr. Albert Mohler responds:

Mormonism holds that God is an exalted man, with a physical body. Christianity teaches that God is Spirit. Mormonism denies the historic Christian understandings of the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, and the doctrine of salvation. Christianity promises salvation through Christ’s atonement and the sinner’s justification by faith. Mormonism promises deification. Christianity calls for personal faith in Jesus Christ. Mormonism calls for obedience to its own teachings as the path to exaltation. Mormonism replaces belief in the sole authority of the Bible with other writings, including the Book of Mormon. This list is only a brief summary of the vast chasm that separates Christianity from Mormonism. Put simply, Mormonism is not just another form of Christianity. It is a rejection of historic Christianity.

That is a theological summary, but there is a sociological dimension as well. From that perspective, Mormonism can certainly claim to have achieved a comfort level in contemporary American culture — especially in what might be called “Middle America.” Most Americans would feel quite comfortable with Mormon neighbors. The Mormon effort to identify with American culture has been stunningly successful, and the movement’s idealization and inculcation of family values has won it the admiration of millions of Americans — including many evangelical Christians. The convergence of Mormon and evangelical Christian concerns on a host of cultural, moral, and political issues is no accident. The preservation and conservation of the family is a prime concern of both groups.

That’s one short and sweet refresher on what Mormonism is It’s definitely not a new kind of Christianity…

Continue reading Mohler’s article here.

Dear friend and fellow Jaffray member, Catherine Ngai, has published a blog post on “inspire, dream, love” on her Facedown blog.

For some reason, she has a brief mention about me in the 3rd group of people in her post.

I am humbled by the mere mention — thanks Catherine! I only wish we could all encourage each other more often and make it a regular habit to build up the body of Christ.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13, ESV

It’s a sad day.

~sighs~

This one hurts. Bad.

Understandable, and he did it in a very honourable, humble manner. But much can be said about this:

Dr. Francis Beckwith, President of Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), explains his conversion to the Roman Catholic Church & rightly steps down from the ETS.

Carl Trueman, of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, has posted a few comments in response.

See also this.

Read Pastor John Piper’s response to the question, “If singleness is such a blessing, why would I want to be married?” in his recent sermon “Single in Christ: A Name Better Than Sons and Daughters“. (You can also download the sermon mp3 or video)

Falling birthrates worldwide continue to have a huge impact on society. But there is one subset of the population that is producing a larger percentage of the world’s children. In this brief article, Dr. Albert Mohler tells us who that is and what it means.

Wow… John Stott is retiring. His work has probably shaped my understanding of atonement much more than I even know it! Wish I could hear him speak in person before its too late..