This Week’s Good Reads

Here are some interesting articles from around the web to check out:

1) “A Major New Defense of a More Biblical Way than Dispensationalism or Covenant Theology” by Justin Taylor

In this post Justin Taylor highlights a new book coming forth next month. He discusses some of the distinct features of the book, gives us the promotional reviews of other scholars, and let’s us read a few interview questions with the authors about the work. As a Covenant Theologian, and as a former student of the authors of this new book I am anxious to read Kingdom Through Covenant by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum. This certainly whets my appetite. I am not certain that I will agree with the work, but I am certain it will challenge me to think.

2) “A Little Bit Indian” by Ross Douthat

Douthat picks up on a rather humorous news story surrounding Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren. At one point in her career as a law professor at Harvard Warren attested that she was part Cherokee. This assertion won her accolades and attention as the school’s one tenured female minority. It turns out she was wrong. Douthat, in this interesting piece, does not necessarily fault Warren so much as he does the system that rewards a person for being one-eighth Native American. Such a trend does not actually build and create genuine diversity, he states.

3) “What Happened at Nicaea” by Fred Sanders

Sanders gives us an insightful survey of the what happened at the historic church council at Nicaea. He articulates an important historical point: Arianism was not some outside heresy but one that developed from within the church and in fact had elements from a long-standing theological tradition. This is an important point, and while Sanders doesn’t necessarily make this modern-day connection we must be aware of the ways in which small errors can lead to big theological fallacies.

4) “Biological Dispositions Toward Homosexuality – and Other Sins” by Justin Taylor

In this post Justin Taylor quotes, at length, from David Powlison’s chapter in a four views volume on Christianity and Homosexuality. In the chapter Powlison sensitively, knowledgeably, and Biblically argues for faithful Christian obedience in the midst of sexual temptation. He directly addresses the discussion around Biological factors related toward homosexual tendencies and draws some helpful parallels for us to think more critically about this point. I look forward to reading the actual book, but for the time being you can check out this excerpt.

5) “The Demise of Guys: How Video Games and Porn are Ruining a Generation” by Dr. Philip Zambardo and Nikita Duncan

I am not certain that I agree with all the premises of this work but I think it is worth paying careful attention to. If the information is even remotely accurate we have a serious “guy” problem on our hands. Of course the reality is that these problems are hardly isolated to men, though that is often the stereotype. I wonder if the church is prepared to address these matters in a discipleship process with young men?

6) “Has the Passion Gone Out of America’s Fabled Love Affair with the Automobile” by Ashley Halsey III

This interesting pieces speculates on why Americans, particular those of my age bracket, are driving less and some not even at all. The answers aren’t surprising – social media, economy, traffic, environmentalism – but it’s all still interesting.

7) “The Service Patch” by David Brooks

The sagacious Brooks offers a critique of younger generations, stating that they are more concerned with questions of what than of how. That is to say he believes that many young people think their job will make them a good person and in the process are making blind assumptions about themselves and the work they do. It’s an insightful piece and worth considering, especially if you’re in the age group fascinated by entreperneunialism. Character is not found in career.