Posts by Philip Ryken

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Chicken Little Scholarship

Philip Ryken
Sep 27, 2006
When possible (I am often hopelessly behind), I try to include the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society in my regular reading. A week or two ago I quoted from Daniel Wallace's excellent piece in the June 2006 issue -- a review of Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus . Wallace makes a comment at...

Mission Mississippi, Part 5

Philip Ryken
Sep 27, 2006
A fifth and final principle from Dolphus Weary: "We must maintain a 'Big Kingdom' perspective. Reconciled relationships can occur when each individual believes and perceives that he or she is an equal partner and in need of the other. Each church and denomination must avoid the temptation of seeing...

Mission Mississippi, Part 4

Philip Ryken
Sep 25, 2006
Another principle for racial reconciliation in the church from Dolphus Weary: "We must develop safe environments for reconciliation to be pursued. Strong relationships can be forged through honest dialogue. Without efforts to reach a shared mutual understanding of one another, efforts to achieve...

To Florida and Back

Philip Ryken
Sep 25, 2006
I am just back in Philadelphia this morning from an overnight trip to Florida, where I participated in the ordination service for a friend from Tenth (Andrew DiNardo) who now serves with Rick Phillips at First Presbyterian Church in Coral Springs/Margate. It was encouraging to hear by every account...

Lion King

Philip Ryken
Sep 23, 2006
The lion is the only animal that can dare lay claim to the title "the king of the beasts." Really, there aren't any other serious candidates. What other animal has the regal bearing of a lion, with its magnificent mane? What other animal sits with such quiet dignity, enthroned on its four great...

Lion King

Philip Ryken
Sep 23, 2006
The lion is the only animal that can dare lay claim to the title "the king of the beasts." Really, there aren't any other serious candidates. What other animal has the regal bearing of a lion, with its magnificent mane? What other animal sits with such quiet dignity, enthroned on its four great...

Mission Mississippi, Part 3

Philip Ryken
Sep 22, 2006
Another principle for racial reconciliation from Dolphus Weary: "Relationships are the key. By definition, reconciliation is relational: first with God, then with each other. Reconciliation does not automatically happen because we preach it, discuss it, or write books about it. Reconciliation is...

Madonna's Blasphemy of the Cross

Philip Ryken
Sep 21, 2006
Yesterday NBC TV confirmed that it is planning to air footage from Madonna's "Confessions" tour in which Madonna wears a crown of thorns and is mounted on a mirror-laden cross while she is raised up from the stage. NBC, which is paying Madonna a reported $15 million, will air the program as part of...

Holding Hands, Holding Hearts

Philip Ryken
Sep 21, 2006
I am delighted to say that Rick and Sharon Phillips will be giving a seminar on dating and relationships at Tenth Presbyterian Church on September 29 and 30. Presumably most readers of this blog are familiar with Rick's excellent teaching ministry. What you may not know is what a warm, caring, and...

Mission Mississippi, Part 2

Philip Ryken
Sep 21, 2006
A second principle for racial reconciliation from Dolphus Weary: "Reconciliation efforts must be intentional. True reconciliation is a marathon, not a sprint. Intentional steps must be taken to reach out to those who are racially different." This principle provides a helpful and necessary...

Covenant and Corporate Responsibility

Philip Ryken
Sep 20, 2006
In response to Justin Taylor's recent rejoinder ("Race and Responsibility"), I agree that the concept of covenant should not be applied to relationships beyond the proper biblical boundaries. One thinks, for example, of the destructive ways that covenant was allied to nationalism in South Africa,...

Mission Mississippi, Part 1

Philip Ryken
Sep 20, 2006
Last week I received the latest issue of The Messenger , which is a newsletter published by Mission Mississippi. Under the leadership of Dr. Dolphus Weary, Mission Mississippi seeks "to encourage and demonstrate unity in the body of Christ across racial and denominational lines." I believe that...

To Ehrman is Human

Philip Ryken
Sep 18, 2006
Writing in the June 2006 issue of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society , Dallas Seminary's Daniel Wallace explains why Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus became such a publishing phenomenon. Why would a book on textual criticism, of all things, sell more than a hundred thousand copies and...

Christ as Atonement and Example, Part 2

Philip Ryken
Sep 18, 2006
More from Charles Spurgeon on preaching the whole work of Christ: "He did not merely come to save us from the guilt of sin, but he came to save us from the power of sin. He does not merely bring us pardon, but he brings us holiness, and he comes to make us like himself. This, indeed, is the end of...

Race and Grace: A Clarifying Question

Philip Ryken
Sep 15, 2006
Justin Taylor writes: "18. Reject the theories of collectivist sin, guilt, or exoneration when dealing outside of a covenantal context." Whether I agree with this statement depends on what counts as "a covenantal context."

The Only Acceptable Intolerance?

Philip Ryken
Sep 15, 2006
Rosie O'Donnell has begun her new job on ABC's "The View" by claiming that "Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state." She went on to equate 9/11 with the apparently Christian-backed killing of innocent victims in...

Race and Grace: A Clarifying Comment

Philip Ryken
Sep 13, 2006
Many thanks to Justin for giving us some principles to use in dealing with issues of race in the church. I want to go farther with one of his principles, pushing for the kind of clarifty Justin advocates.. He writes: 10. Do not teach that there is a universal biblical mandate for all churches to be...

Christ as Atonement and Example, Part I

Philip Ryken
Sep 13, 2006
In his sermon "Servus Servorum" (or "Servant of Servants"), Charles Spurgeon speaks in favor of following Christ as our example, provided we first trust him as our Savior: "Years ago, Christ was set forth almost exclusively as an example. 'Concerning the Imitation of Christ' was the great matter of...

The Purpose-Driven Transition

Philip Ryken
Sep 11, 2006
Last week's article (Suzanne Sataline, "Veneration Gap: A Popular Strategy for Church Growth Splits Congregants," Wall Street Journal , front page, September 5) on the trouble some churches are facing as they transition to a purpose-driven format was illuminating for what it said about church...

Happy Birthday to Rick

Philip Ryken
Sep 8, 2006
posted by Philip Ryken I believe I am writing in saying that my good friend Rick Phillips is celebrating his birthday tomorrow, September 9. Let's see, Rick, are you 39 again this year? In any case, may the Lord give you a full and joyful year of ministry, with many reasons for praise.

How Bush Bombed the World Trade Center

Philip Ryken
Sep 8, 2006
posted by Philip Ryken Don't miss the "Houses of Worship" section in today's Wall Street Journal . Under the title "Anything goes," Heather Wilhelm writes on the newest publishing effort of the PCUSA's Westminster John Knox Press. In a book called Christian Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11 , David...

I'm Baaaack

Philip Ryken
Sep 8, 2006
posted by Philip Ryken After a long, full, and fruitful summer sabbatical, I am ready to take my laptop in hand and start blogging again. I hope to report on my time in South Africa soon. I appreciate Derek's forebearance in allowing me to step out of the conversation for three months. I hope you...

Is There a God Gene

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
What is it that causes some people to be more religious than others? Could it possibly be that some people are genetically predisposed to have certain spiritual experiences? Is there a "god" gene? Some people say that there is, or at least that this is what science is starting to show. In a book...

Is There a God Gene

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
What is it that causes some people to be more religious than others? Could it possibly be that some people are genetically predisposed to have certain spiritual experiences? Is there a "god" gene? Some people say that there is, or at least that this is what science is starting to show. In a book...

London Burning

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
Lisa and I believe that from the day our children first arrive in our home, our calling is to prepare them for the day when they will leave. It takes a long time for them fully to learn what it means to be a member of our household (at least it seems like a long time to us, and maybe to them), but...

London Burning

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
Lisa and I believe that from the day our children first arrive in our home, our calling is to prepare them for the day when they will leave. It takes a long time for them fully to learn what it means to be a member of our household (at least it seems like a long time to us, and maybe to them), but...

Call Me a Natalist

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
People know they're not supposed to stare, but sometimes they can't help it. You see, it isn't every day that people in our neighborhood see families with five children, and when they see us all walking down the street--or riding on a sled, like we did today in all the snow--they do tend to stare...

Call Me a Natalist

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
People know they're not supposed to stare, but sometimes they can't help it. You see, it isn't every day that people in our neighborhood see families with five children, and when they see us all walking down the street--or riding on a sled, like we did today in all the snow--they do tend to stare...

A Husband Looks at Genesis 3:16

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
Genesis 3:15 gives one of the Bible's greatest promises. It is God's curse against the serpent, and his first proclamation of the gospel: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." This curse...

A Husband Looks at Genesis 3:16

Philip Ryken
Jun 29, 2006
Genesis 3:15 gives one of the Bible's greatest promises. It is God's curse against the serpent, and his first proclamation of the gospel: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." This curse...

Grace Psalm

Philip Ryken
May 29, 2006
Nearly a decade ago now, Lisa and I went to visit an art exhibit at a private gallery on Manhattan. I had recently become acquainted with the Japanese-American artist Makoto Fujimura, and I wanted to see his work for myself. The exhibition was called "Images of Grace," and we were dazzled to...

Grace Psalm

Philip Ryken
May 29, 2006
Nearly a decade ago now, Lisa and I went to visit an art exhibit at a private gallery on Manhattan. I had recently become acquainted with the Japanese-American artist Makoto Fujimura, and I wanted to see his work for myself. The exhibition was called "Images of Grace," and we were dazzled to...

Surviving the Desert

Philip Ryken
May 8, 2006
"The most significant lesson that desert dwellers can learn . . . is to regard themselves not as exiles from some better place, but as people at home in an environment to which life can be adjusted." When I was in Phoenix a few months ago, I had the opportunity to see the extraordinary plant...

Surviving the Desert

Philip Ryken
May 8, 2006
"The most significant lesson that desert dwellers can learn . . . is to regard themselves not as exiles from some better place, but as people at home in an environment to which life can be adjusted." When I was in Phoenix a few months ago, I had the opportunity to see the extraordinary plant...

Overload

Philip Ryken
Apr 25, 2006
So how should we deal with the inescapable overload of life in the twenty-first century? Do you ever get overwhelmed by all the things you need to get done, and discouraged by all the things you probably won't? Almost every day, right? I've felt that way a number of times recently. I felt...

Overload

Philip Ryken
Apr 25, 2006
So how should we deal with the inescapable overload of life in the twenty-first century? Do you ever get overwhelmed by all the things you need to get done, and discouraged by all the things you probably won't? Almost every day, right? I've felt that way a number of times recently. I felt...

Every Last Word?

Philip Ryken
Feb 7, 2006
Is the Reformation over? That is the question asked and to some extent answered in a recent book by Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom [Mark A. Noll and Carolyn Nystrom, Is the Reformation Over? An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2005)]. The authors...

Every Last Word?

Philip Ryken
Feb 7, 2006
Is the Reformation over? That is the question asked and to some extent answered in a recent book by Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom [Mark A. Noll and Carolyn Nystrom, Is the Reformation Over? An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2005)]. The authors...

Fathers Playing Catch With Sons

Philip Ryken
Sep 21, 2005
I always try to act surprised, but when my children give me a gift, I can usually guess what it is. Last year's Father's Day proved to be no exception. My suspicions were first aroused when Jack made the following off-handed remark: "I told Mom that we could take your old glove to Goodwill." "...

Fathers Playing Catch With Sons

Philip Ryken
Sep 21, 2005
I always try to act surprised, but when my children give me a gift, I can usually guess what it is. Last year's Father's Day proved to be no exception. My suspicions were first aroused when Jack made the following off-handed remark: "I told Mom that we could take your old glove to Goodwill." "...

Cybersin

Philip Ryken
Aug 25, 2005
I want to speak with you about the single greatest threat to romantic love in America today, and possibly in human history. I refer, of course, to the ready availability of internet pornography. Nearly ten years ago, before I had my own email address (remember the good old days?), I warned in one...

Cybersin

Philip Ryken
Aug 25, 2005
I want to speak with you about the single greatest threat to romantic love in America today, and possibly in human history. I refer, of course, to the ready availability of internet pornography. Nearly ten years ago, before I had my own email address (remember the good old days?), I warned in one...

The Judas We Never Knew

Philip Ryken
Jul 14, 2005
Judas Iscariot was the last of the original twelve disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, also called the Christ (Matt. 10:1-4). He accompanied Jesus throughout most of his earthly ministry. He was there, presumably, when Jesus walked on water, fed the five thousand, and raised Lazarus from the dead. He...