Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Fire



HT: Tim Challies.

9 comments:

  1. patrick is that tim challies, i cant find that video in youtube.

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  2. Dear Patrick,

    If you sent that video to your unbelieving friends and family, who I assume span a wide spectrum of unbelief, how do you think they would receive the video, and how do you think they would receive your implicit endorsement of the video?

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  3. wow... nothing needs to be said after that.

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  4. Hi LonelyBoy,

    I originally found it via Tim Challies' website, but that's not Tim Challies. Have you tried Challies' link?

    patrick

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  5. Hi TUAD,

    It's hard to predict. I suppose different ones would have different reactions.

    BTW, I wouldn't necessarily send it to my unbelieving friends or family. For e.g., most of my family members don't even come from the same or even a remotely similar background to the one which seems to be targeted in the video.

    patrick

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  6. Of course, different people require different approaches. For instance, we may know some tender-hearted Christians (who, judging by the fruits in their lives, are indeed genuine Christians) struggling with a sense of assurance. I'd hardly forward them this video! Maybe something like Richard Sibbes' Bruised Reed would suit them better. Or MLJ's Spiritual Depression.

    Or someone may be a Christian but struggling with intellectual doubts about the faith. Well, there are tons of other resources to recommend for them, depending on what doubts they're having and so on.

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  7. this guy is a little harsh(for my taste) but definitely right on,i am not sure but i think there is a danger of misinterpreting what he is saying, that he is advocating sinless perfection what do you think patrick?

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  8. LonelyBoy,

    I don't want to knock this vid too much, but in my opinion he was about 80% right and 20% wrong.

    The 80% he was right on is unfortunately rarely ever said in pulpits these days (and thus the vid is very useful). The 20% he's wrong on is unfortunately ALWAYS said in pulpits these days (and thus it doesn't do any new harm, just reinforces bad ideas).

    Furthermore, I'd accept the claim that some of the 20% he's wrong on is simply him being unclear as to what exactly he means, so he's probably only 19.7% wrong.... :-D

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  9. Hi LonelyBoy,

    Personally, I didn't take him as advocating sinless perfection at all.

    Again, just to be clear, I wouldn't necessarily send this video to anyone and everyone I know. Maybe I'm wrong, but in my view the video targets a specific demographic: professing Christians who are stubbornly unrepentant and even content in their sin(s). Those are the sorts of people to whom I'd possibly send the video.

    Yeah, I do think it's possible for people to misinterpret what he's saying.

    I like what Peter said. He makes a good point.

    patrick

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