This Week’s Good Reads

Here are some interesting articles from around the web. You’re sure to find something that catches your attention here.

1. “Religious Iconography Revamped” by Tyler Coates
Mina Anton has done some interesting artistic work here to bring a contemporary feel to some old pieces of art.

2. “Can Driscoll’s Army of SuperMen Save the Church from Death and Destruction?” by E. Stephen Burnett

Burnett responds to more overly dramatic rhetoric from America’s favorite macho pastor.

3. “Badly Broken” by Chris McNerney and David Lee

Over at The Gospel Coalition these authors suggest that the AMC hit series Breaking Bad isn’t merely a compelling drama, it’s also an “all-too-realistic depiction of the corrosive effects of sin.”

4. “The better we see the big picture, the better we see Jesus: Schreiner talks The King In His Beauty” by Josh Hayes

An interview with New Testament scholar Dr. Tom Schreiner on his brand new Biblical Theology book.

5. “The Telos of Biblical Counseling” by Pat Quinn

Quinn states that the goal of Biblical counseling should not be abstract but needs to help counselees stand firm on solid ground. So he states that the goal is “for the counselee to increasingly serve others in love by the example and power of Jesus.”

6. “Credit the Calvinists” by James Rogers

Rogers isn’t a Calvinist, but he thinks that they don’t get enough credit. Whether you agree or not, Rogers says, give some credit to the Calvinists for challenging the sinful anthropology of our age via a strong doctrine of election which makes man ultimately transparent before God.

7. “Why It’s Still Terrible To Be A Hipster” by Cody Delistraty

A beautifully written, and challenging rebuke of this demeaning trend to romanticize the working class. This was one of my favorite pieces from the whole week.

8. “The State of the Church in America: Hint: It’s Not Dying” by Ed Stetzer

Contrary to the media, and Mark Driscoll, Ed Stetzer points out that the church is not dying. Rather, he says, “It’s just being more clearly defined.”

9. “Crack, Meth, Addiction, and the Puritans” by Michael Graham

This is a great reminder that addiction is a spiritual battle. I find myself often talking with men and women in our recovery program about the reality of false worship in their temptations to use. Graham points to some good research here to quell the voice of neurological factors, and then also points us to the Puritans and their focus on fighting idolatry as part of the discipleship process.

10. “Reading Literary Fiction Improves Theory of Mind” by The New School

In the words of one of my friends, “I like it when science proves the value of the humanities.”