My Thoughts on the Golden Compass

I wrote two articles on The Golden Compass for two different online magazines. You can check out my first one here for Christ & Pop Culture, which also got picked up by The Pearcey Report. And you can read my official film review at Decapolis.com

God in the Dock...Almost Literally?

Men throughout all of history have thought themselves big enough to call God to account. If Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon and called it "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," the modern man would have it recast and remade to say "God in the Hands of Angry Sinners."

One particular sinner, I mean Senator, has decided to join the fellowship of judges over God, and he is actually filling a lawsuit against the Almighty. A Nebraska attorney, in an attempt to demonstrate how frivolous lawsuits are becoming, has made God an example. The Lord over Heaven and Earth is responsible for immeasurable pain and suffering, he asserts, and is the cause of every great calamity that comes upon men. He terrorizes men and compels them to fear and irrationality. So, this lawyer, a real atheist, has decided to sue God for all that He is worth.

The interesting thing to watch in this case is going to be the court itself. What will the court do? Will they deem it correct to sue God, or will they decide He does not exist and therefore cannot be sued? Their response will be interesting and telling. But a word to our this attorney: be careful friend.

The Old Testament tells of a man named Job who called God to account and the Almighty came to Him in a whirlwind and humbled the little man. He says, "Dress for action like a man; I will question you and you make it known to me." All of Job 38 is one big rhetorical question that God gives to the man, he asks: Who do you think you are that you can demand answers from me? Did you create the world, and do you keep it? The answer seems to be that we should sit down and shut our mouths! God is not a God to be trifled with. Hebrews tells us it is a "dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." So friend, before you continue with this foolish law suit, I urge you to consider God's response to Job. The only hope you have is the cross of Jesus, where the Son of God bore the wrath that you and I deserve for our rebellion against Him. Believe on Jesus for salvation, and come to terms with who you are before the living God of the Universe.

An Intersting Funny

Growing up we use to read the "funnies" on Sunday mornings over breakfast. It was often a fight to see who got the paper first. One of our family favorites was Calvin & Hobbes. Well I was reading one of those comics this afternoon and thought I'd share with you what I found interesting about it.

The Scene: Calvin and Hobbes are walking through the woods.

Calvin: Isn't it strange that evolution would give us a sense of humor? When you think about it, it's weird that we have a physiological response to absurdity. We laugh at nonsense. We like it. We think it's funny. Don't you think it's odd that we appreciate absurdity? Why would we develop that way? How does it benefit us?

Hobbes: I suppose if we couldn't laugh at things that don't make sense, we couldn't react to a lot of life.

(Calvin is speechless for a moment).

Calvin: I can't tell if that's funny or really scary.


I thought this was an intersting observation about the logical conclusions of the evolutionary worldview. What do you think about it?

Atheist Evangelists

Al Mohler has written on an interesting new development regarding the 21st century's leading atheist: Richard Dawkins. Dawkins desires that all un-believers would be honest about their denial of god, and "come out of the closet." He is launching a campaign to encourage atheists to come forth into the public eye and admit their disbelief in God. Here's Dawkins' game plan:

The OUT campaign has potentially as many sides to it as you can think of words to precede "out". "Come OUT" has pride of place and is the one I have so far dealt with. Related to it is "Reach OUT" in friendship and solidarity towards those who have come out, or who are contemplating that step which, depending on their family or home town prejudices, may require courage. Join, or found local support groups and on-line forums. Speak OUT, to show waverers they are not alone. Organize conferences or campus events. Attend rallies and marches. Write letters to the local newspaper. Lobby politicians, at local and national level. The more people come out and are known to have done so, the easier will it be for others to follow.

There are many questions that such a campaign will and should raise, especially for churches and Evangelical Christians. For sure we will want to anticipate a public response and prepare ourselves to respond in like fashion with truth, love, and large voices. Mohler is right when he says:

Professor Dawkins may be right -- his "choir" may be larger than many people recognize or are willing to admit. The intellectual elites are increasingly secular in worldview and the elite academic world Dawkins inhabits certainly has its share of atheists. But are they ready to "out" themselves?

Truth is not determined by numbers, but influence often is. This is what concerns Richard Dawkins, and this is why he wants atheists to come out of the closet. We will soon know if his campaign is successful.

The good news for us of course is that we not only have large numbers of supporters but we also have truth on our side! If Atheists want to be evangelists that is fine, but let us continue faithfully evangelizing our neighborhoods and do so with the truth!

The Southern Ohio Theological Society Against Atheism

The Southern Ohio Theological Society released a statement today saying that a special issue of The Southern Ohio Journal of Theology would be released this November dealing with the so called "New Atheism" of Christopher Hitchens and his buddies.

This is exciting news. The topic is an important one now, particularly as their books are gaining a great deal of popularity, which is allowing them to speak on a number of talking head shows. Hitchens' own book god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything is number five on The New York Times' Bestsellers List.

What else is exciting is that they have acquired gifted pastor and Biblical scholar Dr. Mark Roberts for this issue. He is writing on Hitchens'book, something he has had ample time to consider since he debated Hitchens on The Hugh Hewitt Show just a month or two ago. Be sure and look for this issue and check out their website which is up and running now: www.southernohiotheologicalsociety.com

Hitchen Up for the Battle Ahead

"Religion comes from the stupid infancy of our species..." so says Christopher Hitchens. If you haven't heard of this British author you are sure to hear his name soon. His most recent book has garnered him numerous appearances on TV talk shows. The title of the book? "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything."

What makes Hitchens worthy of discussion here is not that he is another atheist out to see Christianity run into the ground. Rather, it is the wit, and skill with which he argues his case. It is the publicity he is gaining and will gain as he spews pop-philosophy across the airwaves. His arguments aren't anything new, in fact most of them are old. He won't destroy the faith, that is not what makes him worth talking about. As Al Mohler has stated, "He excepts most of the most extreme criticisms of faith in God...the big issue here is not that...Christopher Hitchens [is] going to bring down the household of faith..." Rest assured friends that God's Word will stand as it always has.

So that being said, why have I wasted your time with information about Christopher Hitchens? Again Al Mohler provides a good answer:

The big issue here is not that Daniel Dennet,Richard Dawkins Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens are going to bring down the household of faith, that's not the problem. The issue is that it tells a great deal about where our culture is now going in terms of considering atheism in its most strident form to be a very legitimate alternative to Christianity. And celebrating many of the arguments made by these most caustic of atheists as indicating what they see as the basic underlying reality.

These New Atheists, as they are being called, are making strides towards a popular atheism. In the media atheism is popular enough. Among the high-brow liberals it is common enough. But when the average church member sitting across the isle from you comes into contact with the popular presentations of Christopher Hitchens, who is very intellegent and eloquent, what will you say? Friends there is a solid Christian response to what Christopher Hitchens, and his cohorts are saying. Their responses are not as tight, clear, or honest, as they would like you to believe. Read up, study, and prepare to stand your ground as this new wave of popular atheism comes to your town, your church, and your doorstep.

To get started here are few resources:
Hear the rest of Al Mohler's discussion on this over at http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2007-05-22


Read the series of articles that Mark Roberts has written in response to Hitchen's "reasearch" over at http://www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/godisnotgreat.htm#jun707


Finally listen to the guys at Apologetics.Com reveal just how old this "new" atheism is at http://www.apologetics.com/audio/06_02_07.mp3