There has been quite a lot of discussion in the blogosphere recently about
the penal substitution theory of the atonement, beloved of Calvinists. It
seems that many Protestant evangelicals who have previously accepted it
are now having doubts about it.

I tossed in my 2c worth from an Orthodox point of view at:

http://khanya.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/salvation-and-atonement/

in case anyone is interested.

Any thoughts about the topic, anyone?

How Not to Be a Heretic

Jason Scully's review of Heresies and How to Avoid Them: Why It
Matters What Christians Believe is intriguing and makes me want to
read this book. Here's an excerpt from the review:

When Jesus says, "The Father is greater than I," are we supposed to
think that he is inferior to the Father? Does Jesus' prayer, "Not my
will but yours be done," imply that Jesus is subordinate? Today...

Jackie Bruchi
[Bumped: FINAL DAY To Submit Comments on Title IV] Goosestepping
Through The Canons With TEC
Monday, June 30, 2008 • 8:29 am

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Periodically I'll be bumping this article by Jackie, since there is a
deadline for commenting by Episcopalians until June -- Jackie supplies
the email address for those comments.]

Is it just me or is the Episcopal Church coordinating their timing so
that the most offensive and potentially lethal bombshells have an
opportunity to “fly under the radar?”

An interview with Peter Bolt Sandy Grant
Peter, how did you come to Christ?

In my final year of high school, I came across some Christians who
told me the gospel. I thought, “If that is true, that is the best news
I have ever heard”. It took me about 12 months to work out that it was
true.

How do you occupy your time?

I have the privilege of working at Moore College, teaching students
eager to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tell us a bit about your background or other interests.

I'm Tasmanian by birth, then from country NSW. I was converted at 17.
I studied medicine and left it to go into ministry. I love music of
all kinds, I love swimming, I like humour and good conversation. I
have four daughters who are my life.

What are some books that really helped you grow as a Christian?

OREMUS for Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Canada Day
O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
ruler of all hearts,
you call us to obey you
and favor us with true freedom.
Your Son calls us to leave behind all that hinders us,
that we may fix our eyes on him
and steadfastly follow in the paths of your kingdom.
For these and all your mercies, we praise you,
Blessed be God for ever!

An opening canticle may be sung.

Psalm 49
Hear this, all you peoples;
hearken, all you who dwell in the world,*
you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom,*
and my heart shall meditate on understanding...

TRADITIONALISTS LAY OUT BOLD CHALLENGE TO ANGLICAN LEADERSHIP

At their meeting in Jerusalem, Orthodox leaders reject authority of
churches that teach a 'false gospel,' signaling an intention to vie for
influence within Anglicanism.

By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of
The Christian Science Monitor
from the June 30, 2008 edition

Threats of schism in the Anglican Communion are a thing of the past, but
the world's third-largest Christian community faces a historic challenge
over who will shape its future.

That's the message from a gathering of 1,200 orthodox Anglican bishops,
clergy, and lay people from several continents who met in Jerusalem over
the past week to hammer out a response to what they see as "revisionist"
liberal thinking within some churches.

The traditionalists have decided to replace schism threats

*Sightings* 6/30/08

More Pew Findings

-- Martin E. Marty

In this business and with pleasure one cannot not comment on the Pew Forum
on Religion and Public Life surveys. They are the most ambitious and
expansive polls and draw the most public attention. Chancy as all opinion
polls are, these Pew products provide at least some broad-brush
understandings of the subject. In the nature of things, press releases lift
out and slightly exaggerate evidences of trends in the face of so much
continuity in American religion. For example, last winter we were told that
there is much "switching" from one church community to another, which is
true—but when historians checked in we also learned that there has long,
perhaps always, been much of such.

Anglican Church conservatives move to form power

ARE YOU REALLY SAVED?

Christianity has fallen away from God! Most of the organized church
system has wandered so far from the truth that it refuses to even
listen
to the truth. The apostle Paul warned us that this would happen. He
said:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate
for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and
will turn away their ears from THE TRUTH..."
2 Timothy 4:3 NAS

The Psalmist defines "the truth":

"and THY LAW is THE TRUTH."
Psalms 119:142 KJV

Thanks to "one of our Canadian members" for turning me on to this CBC
video interview with Fred Hiltz, the Primate of Canada. The video
interview may be viewed at either of these two links:

http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-hi/hiltz-anglican-intv-080629.rm

or

http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/hiltz-anglican-intv-080629.mov

My personal comment is: not bad. We New Englanders would gladly invite
him to pilot TEC...if the Canadians would take Schori off our hands
and pack her away to the Arctic where she can watch the glaciers melt!
Hiltz does seem a bit nervous and hesitant...but his answers are
thoughtful, diplomatic, and well-prepared, to the extent that the CBC
apparently gave him their "cheat sheet" of questions in advance, so he
could be ready for them.