Piper on Obama

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1595_how_barack_obama_will_make_christ_a_minister_of_condemnation/

How Barack Obama Will Make Christ a Minister of Condemnation

January 17, 2009 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

At Barack Obama’s request, tomorrow in the Lincoln Memorial, Gene Robinson, the first openly non-celibate homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, will deliver the invocation for the inauguration kick-off.

This is tragic not mainly because Obama is willing to hold up the legitimacy of homosexual intercourse, but because he is willing to get behind the church endorsement of sexual intercourse between men.

It is one thing to say: Two men may legally have sex. It is another to say: The Christian church acted acceptably in blessing Robinson’s sex with men.

The implications of this are serious.

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The Best Commentary

In starting this new year, I resolved to do something that I have never done before - to read through the Bible in a year. The particular Bible reading plan I'm using came from the website - www.apuritansmind.com. It's basically 6 chapters a day (3 from the Old Testament, 3 from the New Testament). This format sort of leads me to the main thought I want to express, which is: the Bible is the best commentary on itself. Many times I've found myself coming across a difficult passage and wondering what it means, only to later see this same scripture expounded or explained in the most helpful way. For example, in Genesis, the Lord promises Abraham that "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed". In Galatians, Paul explains this verse in 2 places. One in particular, Paul says that "seed" refers to one, that is, Christ. This helps me in my understanding when I go back and read the Genesis account of God's promise to Abraham. While some commentaries are good and they do have their uses, I believe the Bible is the best commentary on itself.

Not to bump a great post....

If you haven't read the previous post, please do so. My brother makes some excellent points.

This is my new response to most every preacher I hear on television or radio from the TBN/emergent/non-reformed camp.

Depart from me, Lord...

..."Depart from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Luke 5:8b

This is the confession of Simon Peter after unsuccessfully fishing all night and beginning the process of cleaning the nets. Jesus boards Simon's boat and begins to teach the crowd of people from the boat. After Jesus finished speaking, He commanded Simon to put out to deep water and let down the nets for a catch. Simon explained that he and the other men had already been out fishing all night and had not caught anything, but he reluctantly submitted and said "but because You say so, I will let down the nets."

Tithing and the new year.

My pastor began a series this morning on "Overflowing Joy." He was using 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 in order to encourage Christians--especially our local church body--to give of themselves through finances, time, talent, love, etc. It was a wonderful sermon that called us all to give 100% of our life to God. Of course, this topic also carried with it the discussion of money and tithing. No problem. I believe that tithing is an appropriate sermon topic and that we should give to God what is his--and even more.