Richardson Hosts Free Kindle Book Giveaway at Amazon from April 18th-22nd

It is a blessing to be able to return to The Center for Theological Studies (CTS) to make yet another announcement.

I have partnered with Amazon to offer a free Kindle book giveaway on three of my four published books. The titles are as follows:

1) Lydia's Heart: The Case for Prevenient Grace (an informal Arminian theology that argues for resistible grace)

2) Doctrinal Deception: Responding to Carlton Pearson's The Gospel of Inclusion
3) More Doctrinal Deception: Bishop Carlton Pearson's Inclusion, Further Examined

Remember, as I said above, only Kindle Books on the above three titles are free. As for paperback versions of these books, I have discounted the books to "at cost" -- meaning I'll make next to nothing on the sales. Amazon will get the profit. I get the satisfaction of seeing folks pick up copies of books to aid them on their Christian journey. Lydia's Heart: The Case for Prevenient Grace, a book I published on December 15, 2018, has been discounted from $22.50 to $14.50. Of the new discounted cost on the book, I'll only see a profit of 50 cents. Literally. I'm THAT determined to get books into the hands of those who've been wanting the titles but are paralyzed financially right now and have bigger financial problems to worry about.

The Amazon free book giveaway starts today, April 18th, and goes through SonRise Sunday (April 21st, known to many as Easter) to Monday, April 22nd. The giveaway lasts only 5 days, so don't put off tomorrow what you can pick up today.

Write back and let me know if you've picked up any of these three books, and the titles you downloaded on Kindle. If you decide to purchase the paperbacks, let me know which titles.

I look forward to hearing about your purchased titles. If I can be of service, please feel free to let me know.

In Him, Deidre

Essential Church Pastor makes the case for Prevenient Grace in New Book

Prevenient grace is a topic that seems to be relegated to the field of scholastics with regard to theology. It isn’t taught, preached, or pondered much these days in typical bible studies and church discussions, but that could soon change.

Pastor D.M. Richardson, the shepherd of internet-connected The Essential Church and author of books Short-Sighted Faith: Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) and the Doctrine of Perseverance, Doctrinal Deception: Responding to Carlton Pearson’s The Gospel of Inclusion, and More Doctrinal Deception: Bishop Carlton Pearson’s Inclusion, Further Examined, is back with a book regarding prevenient grace. Titled Lydia’s Heart: The Case for Prevenient Grace, the book uses well-known biblical doctrines to assert that the grace of God that goes before faith (as taught in Ephesians 2:8-9) is resistible in nature, not irresistible. While prevenient grace isn’t a term one finds in the Scriptures, it can be inferred. For example, the word Trinity isn’t found in Scripture either, but it is inferred based upon Scripture’s mention of “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit.” Grace is mentioned, but “prevenient” is an inference (“prevenient” means that it goes before something; grace goes before faith).

Richardson draws from a number of well-known biblical doctrines that Baptists, in particular, would find encouraging, such as the idea of infant grace (that is, every infant is born in a state of grace). Infants have “angels in Heaven,” Jesus says in the Gospels, a statement that doesn’t set aside some infants for salvation and others for damnation (a statement John Calvin held in high regard). A chapter titled “The Good News About Hell” shows that Hell is a choice for humans, who were not created for Hell. Hell exists only for the Devil and his angels, though humans can choose to enter this dreadful place through rebellion against God and sheer unbelief. Hell wasn’t created for a single human person, meaning that Calvin’s Doctrine of Reprobation is not only distasteful but also highly unbiblical. Richardson also tackles the Doctrine of Atonement regarding God’s universal love for the world as a whole, not just some in it.

The main heroine of the book happens to be Lydia, the God-fearer and worshipper whose heart and mind was opened to the revelation of Jesus Christ in the gospel message, preached by the apostle Paul. This is the center of the book, and Richardson saves the best for last — with the title chapter as the last chapter (chapter 7).

Richardson says that she has written such a book because of Calvinism claims that prevenient grace doesn’t exist but is an Arminian concoction to bolster the Arminian view of human depravity. “There aren’t different views of human depravity in Calvinism and Arminianism,” Richardson says. “All depravity is the same. Calvinists and Arminians led by James Arminius, the founder of Arminianism, both believe that man can do nothing meritorious of himself and is incapable to do any good apart from the aid of divine grace. The notion of prevenient grace within Arminianism is an acknowledgment, not a denial, that man needs God’s grace to respond in faith. It’s grace-enabled responsibility at its finest.”

Pastor D.M. Richardson, apart from being Founder and Pastor of The Essential Church, is also an undergraduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, having received baccalaureate degrees in History (Modern Europe) and Music (Performance) in 2006. Since then, Richardson has gone on to graduate with a Master of Divinity degree in Christian Apologetics from Southeastern Seminary in 2011. She entered the seminary’s postgraduate, Master of Theology (ThM) program for four years after receiving her MDiv, studying under the Seminary’s Dean of the Faculty and Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach author, Dr. Kenneth Keathley.

You can pick up your copy of Lydia’s Heart over at Amazon.com. Both Kindle (digital) and Paperback versions are currently selling at the low price of $15 through January 15, 2018. You can preview the book at the link below.

Richardson has more work in store for 2019: among it, a groundwork theology and an introduction to theological systems in salvation (soteriology).

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07JYV9F43&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_FdMlCbBFV0BC6

New Book on the Gospel of Inclusion Takes On Former Pentecostal Bishop

 The Gospel of Inclusion, known by other names such as “inclusion,” “inclusivism,” “universalism,” “universal reconciliation,” or “ultimate reconciliation,” is nothing new in church history. Certain church fathers endorsed the view, and the early church ultimately took a turn in its theology where the fire of Hell was viewed as “purgatorial” or “transformative” in nature (out of which, the doctrines of Purgatory and Annihilation were born).


Today, however, the Gospel of Inclusion, universalism by another name, is making inroads into the church once more. Pastor D.M. Richardson, Founder of internet-connected The Essential Church, has taken up the mantle to respond to this controversial doctrine. In her work, Doctrinal Deception: Responding to Carlton Pearson’s The Gospel of Inclusion, Richardson tackles certain claims made by the Bishop that are contrary to sound doctrine. Pearson makes claims such as 1) the idea of a personal God or Jesus as one’s personal Savior is foreign to Scripture, 2) one can be saved yet “not know it,” 3) The idea of original sin is unscriptural, 4) and the idea of Hell as a place of eternal torment is “a divine torture chamber” whose God has “an anger management problem.”


Pearson also says that all religions and beliefs are equally valid manifestations of God and that the true God can’t be fully known in any one faith. Not even atheist Bertrand Russell agreed with Pearson (and Russell was a staunch atheist with little regard for Christianity). Pearson was disowned by his Pentecostal denomination when he started preaching from the pulpit that “everyone goes through Hell, but nobody goes to Hell.”


Richardson’s new book is part of a two-book series that seeks to provide a biblically faithful and theologically robust Christian response to Pearson’s decade-old book, The Gospel of Inclusion: Reaching Beyond Religious Fundamentalism to the True Love of God and Self. The fourth-generation, Classical Pentecostal preacher and Bishop has emerged again in the news in recent days due to a new biographical movie about him at Netflix titled “Come Sunday.” The movie arrived on Netflix last month.


Though this is Richardson’s first book on the Gospel of Inclusion, The Essential Church Founder and Pastor is no stranger to the false doctrine. While attending seminary for her Master of Divinity degree in Christian Apologetics, she studied the doctrine under the Seminary’s Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Kenneth Keathley, author of Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach. Keathley mentored Richardson in her subsequent post-graduate, Master of Theology degree, where she concentrated in the area of Theology of Religions while studying the historical Filioque Controversy.


The Filioque Controversy is a historical church debate that engages the Trinity to answer questions about the procession of the Holy Spirit (“Does the Spirit proceed from the Father, or the Father and the Son?”). Filioque is a Latin term, meaning “and the Son.”


Book 1 of Doctrinal Deception is on sale at Amazon in both digital (Kindle) and paperback versions for $9.99 (Kindle) and $20 (paperback). Book 2 of Doctrinal Deception will arrive on Amazon next week. In it, Richardson answers deeper theological questions pertaining to the Doctrine of Reconciliation and whether or not the appropriation of the atonement is automatic.


To pick up your copy of Doctrinal Deception, head on over to Amazon by way of the orange "Doctrinal Deception" link below.

Doctrinal Deception

November Update

                                                   Dear CTS Readership,

 It is your blog owner, Deidre here. I just wanted to write and give you an update about where I've been and what I've been up to for the entire month of October.

I did find work, and I have been publishing some stuff around the Web. For those of you who are curious as to what I've published, see the last post. I have published something this past month (October 2011) that you may find intriguing. It is another post at the "Residence Hall Linens" blog, titled "No Taxation With Education: Three Strategies in the Textbook Revolution You Should Join" (http://www.rhl.org/blog/blog/date/2011/10/page/3/). It's the last post at the bottom of the page link. I actually liked the picture they provided. What I liked most, though, was the genius idea the Lord provided about textbooks. Somehow, I combined my history background in my undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill with my love of knowledge and being "in the know," and...VOILA! The article was born.

Other than publishing online content, I've been busy preparing my bibliography for the Master of Theology program. Annotating books late at night until 7am or 8am has not been fun, but looking at the books has reignited a spark in me to return to theological research and all the things I love about it. A few of the books I checked out from the seminary library are actually books that I've been wanting to buy for the longest time but forgot to. It's pretty awesome when you meet the books you crave on your bibliography!

This semester has been a semester off from blogging as usual, but I'm not done with this place. I intend to return and resume my defense of the Christian faith and all that such a defense entails. Whenever I get the chance, I will continue to return to CTS and update my readers as to my whereabouts. For those of you who desire to contact me, just send me a line here or look me up on facebook. If you contact me at facebook, let me know you're a follower in the e-mail when you attempt to facebook friend me. That way, I won't think you're a stalker or something (trust me: stalkers are on facebook these days!)

It sure feels good to come back here and write. Just so you know, I've missed CTS too! Life hasn't been the same with work and bibliographical research. However, I intend to make a full return here once the bibliography has been completed...so watch and see. If you have any questions, leave them here in the comments section. I pray that the Lord is doing amazing things in your lives and that you are living each day for His glory and His glory alone.  Soli Deo Gloria, Deidre

Update: My Whereabouts

                                 Dear Readership,

 It has been an entire week today since I last made my way to The Center for Theological Studies! It feels good to check in on things here and to brief you about my whereabouts.

 Just for the record, I have not given up blogging. I intend to return and blog on topics of interest when free time allows. I desire to continue my work on Edward Fudge's "The Fire that Consumes," so don't think it's over and done yet. There is more to cover, and I will cover it as time permits.

 Having said that, I would like to announce that the Lord is faithful. I received the job as a theology writer with the international writing corporation I mentioned one week ago. I just wrote my first paper two days ago---and it was actually a paper comparing and contrasting two sculptures. I wrote the paper well and was awarded a nice little bonus from the corporation. Who knew that hard work could literally "pay" off? :-)

I have also been blessed to be named the Research Assistant of "What's Your Impact?" Magazine, an international magazine based in Montreal, Canada that is devoted to preventing global warming at all costs. My first project for the magazine will be to talk about gasoline cars vs. hybrid cars, as well as the negative effects of gasoline cars on the environment. I can't wait for hybrid cars to become more affordable so everyone can have a hybrid!

In addition to these jobs, I also took on a corporate writing job with a corporate writing firm. My boss, named Lisa, and I have a great working relationship. We talked on the phone for the first time some days ago, and she told me, "You have a lot of potential in this business." I sure pray so. My desire is to do great work for my boss (or bosses) and make a great income. I am depending on it in order to eat and live. In some ways, you can call me a "corporate businesswoman," to use my mother's terminology: I work for a corporate firm and I make corporate pay rates. Thank you Lord, for such blessing in my life...

I just wanted to write and update you all on the vast amount of work I've taken on myself. I know it's a lot, but I have a lot of bills that require money. Losing my mother was the hardest thing for me, but now, I've got to step in her place and afford the big bills. Still, though, I've gotten to write a bit. If you want to see some of the work I've done (though anonymously labeled), please see the following blog posts at the Campus Living blog on the Residence Hall Linens site (http://www.rhl.org/blog/):

 (1) "Dorm Room Theft Prevention Tips"

(2) "The Best and Worst Study Places in College"

(3) "Don't Settle for Less: How to Make College Life Work for You"

This will do for now. Thanks again for tuning in to read about where I've been and what I've been up to. Pray much for me that I will please my employers and the Lord in my jobs. It is because I take these jobs that I can return to CTS and do what I really love: write theology to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless.

Additional Site and Additional Series!

                                                        Dearest Readership,

 This is your blog owner here. First, before I get started, let me thank so many of you who read my work on the Reformed Epistemology series this past three weeks. I felt like my posts could drag on forever, but I'm thankful that you all stuck with me through it. I don't know where I would be without my readership!!!

Along these lines, I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, for his work in promoting the blog as much as he can at SBC Today. I must also thank Peter Lumpkins over at SBC Tomorrow for his work in promoting my critique of Alvin Plantinga. I believe he labeled me "this young, talented Christian philosopher." Peter, I will remember this when I begin my Master of Theology studies :-) I thank God for you reading my work and never thought that day would come as soon as it did. Before I end this, I would also like to thank Roy Ingle, one of my avid, faithful followers here at The Center for Theological Studies. Roy has promoted me at his blog (Reformed Arminian, now at Wordpress), and I am so thankful for our friendship and partnership in the Lord. Roy has been a constant encouragement to me and is quite the writer himself. I think he's made more "top blog posts of the week" at SBC Today than I have (chuckle).

Now that I've gotten some awesome "kudos" out of the way, let me get on to the announcements. First, I would like to announce to the blog readership that I have created a new site. It will not replace this one---I plan to keep CTS going for as long as I live (at least the next several years, anyway). The new blog I created is devoted to book reviews. I feel called to spend more time this year than in the past on writing good, solid book reviews on theology books. The reason I've decided to create the new blog (called "Theology For Review") is because I've been searching for good book review sites over the weekend, sites that would allow someone to write reviews...and the only sites available out here on the world wide web are review sites for fiction books on suspense,  mystery, love, romance, etc. In other words, you will probably search in vain for a site (such as "Theology for Review") that is completely devoted to theology book reviews. I hope to meet this urgent need for believers by providing the new blog, "Theology for Review." You can access the site by going to the following page:

http://theologyforreview.blogspot.com/

Next, I am also starting a new series here at The Center for Theological Studies. I have spent the last two to three weeks on Reformed Epistemology and the analysis of the view itself. In the near future (beginning no later than next week), I plan to return to a subject that hasn't been discussed here for some time---the doctrine of eternal judgment (doctrine of hell). While reading Clark Pinnock's "A Wideness in God's Mercy" this past Spring for my independent study course with Dr. Ken Keathley, author of "Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach," I noticed that Pinnock credits Edward Fudge for his turn from hell as eternal torment to annihilationism. As a result, I decided to read Edward Fudge to see if he could convince me to turn away from my view of the doctrine of hell. Fortunately for me (though unfortunate for annihilationists), my view has not changed on the doctrine of hell. Nevertheless...it is a good idea to spend time analyzing Fudge's argument. I want to say off the bat that Edward Fudge did a great trace of historical theology in his book on annihilationism. It showed me that in church history, debates are always complex and not so clear cut. That doesn't mean that I don't think the answer is:  I do believe in the perspicuity of Scripture, that the Bible is clear on everything it reports (though we may never understand all there is). Church history, unlike the Bible, is not so clear.

Last but never least, I would also like to announce that I'm starting my Master of Theology studies this coming Monday, August 22, 2011. My first class of the new degree is "Philosophy of History" with Dr. Ivan Spencer, teacher in the History of Ideas (HOI) program as well as Church History and Apologetics here at Southeastern Seminary. Dr. Ivan Spencer is a dear friend as well as an awesome professor...and I am so thankful to know him and have a lasting friendship with him. It's a 1pm-4pm class, but it's the only class I have all week! The remaining four days of each week will be devoted to compiling my bibliography for the new research project as well as writing here at the blog, researching, writing book reviews, etc. Now that I've come out of the Master of Divinity (what I like to call "The Great Tribulation"), I can find true rest in the work of the Lord :-)

Just wanted to update my readership with all the new events that are transpiring in my life. I am so blessed to have you all to read my work day in and day out. You have made the dream of a little country girl come true---who knew the day would come when I would have a voice in this world???

 Continue to pray for me; and, as always, know that as long as the sun stands, by God's grace, CTS will always be around. God bless.

Graduate Update

                    Dear Readership,

 It is your blogger, Deidre Richardson here. I am writing to provide you all with a graduate update.

The last post I sent (prior to the Rob Bell response) was on May 20, 2011, the day of my graduation from the Master of Divinity program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since graduation one week ago today, I can say that I have been relaxing and enjoying the time away. Something that I haven’t done in my five years in the MDiv program is what I now find myself doing a lot of---playing video games. What very few people know about me is that I was a huge video gamer back in the day. I own a Sega Genesis that is soon-to-be 18 years old this December 2011. Lately, I have been playing NBA Jam, one of my favorite games on the Sega, for a couple of hours each day. I managed to play video games while reading the Rob Bell book, and got it all done in record time. Not bad for a new graduate!!!

Graduation itself was marvelous. My mom’s parents did a great job of standing in my mother’s stead. I have informed you all (and do every year) that my mother died 2 years ago this Spring from brain cancer. She battled breast and lung cancers prior to brain cancer and died after having fought cancer for three years. She was my dearest and best friend, someone I missed more than words could ever say on last Friday. I carried my mother’s Duke University undergraduate Bible with me into Binkley Chapel on that day, proud that I could have a little piece of my mother with me. As Dr. John Boozer, head of the music department at the seminary, began to bellow out “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” and all the seminary congregation joined, I began to cry while singing the words. I thought to myself, “Man, how my mother would’ve rejoiced to see this day.” I know that, though invisible to me, she was there. She saw it all, and she rejoiced in heaven. I said it then and I’ll say it now: the angels couldn’t rival mom’s praise to God on that day J

Dr. Daniel L. Akin, president of Southeastern Seminary, preached on the Great Commission text of Matthew 28:19-20, reminding us graduates of our responsibility to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. He said something that I think is worth repeating here: when speaking of the great commission, he told us that we don’t need to pray about whether or not we ought to go to the ends of the earth. God has given the command, and the Lord did not stutter when He gave it. He has told us that we should go to the deep, dark places of the earth, and preach the gospel to those who need to hear it. So, what are we waiting for?

When the time arrived for the conferring of the degrees, the faculty stood as Dr. Akin conferred upon me (and 86 other graduates) the degree “Master of Divinity, with all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges pertaining thereof.” Dr. Kenneth D. Keathley, author of “Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach,” Dean of the Faculty of Southeastern, as well as Vice President of the Seminary, called the names as nearly 126 students walked across stage to receive their degrees. When he called my name, he addressed me as “Deidre M. Richardson.” While walking across stage, he also took time to give me a “Congratulations, Deidre,” before all of the faculty, graduates, and friends gathered on that day. To say the least, I know that Dr. Keathley is pretty biased towards me. It’s alright...I’m pretty biased towards him as well. I told him during last Thursday’s graduate reception at Dr. Daniel Akin’s home (“Magnolia Hill”) that I guess he has reasons for being biased, to which he responded, “I do.”

The greatest part for me was to walk out of the chapel a graduate, waving at all my friends who have become so dear to me in the last five years of my MDiv degree. Coming down the chapel steps, I felt that a new day had dawned in my life. Dr. Keathley wanted me to introduce him to my mother’s parents (my only set of grandparents still living). I got them to meet him, and I felt so honored when Dr. Keathley told them, “Your granddaughter has a mind greatly attuned to theology, and I am honored to be working with her this coming fall.” I could’ve had a heart attack I was so honored! In addition, “grandma” and “grandpa” got to meet many of my other professors, chief among them being Dr. Bruce Little, head of the Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern. Rather humorously, he told them, “Your granddaughter was a wonderful student...that is, when she wasn’t sleeping.” I have to admit: I did sleep through quite a bit of Dr. Little’s lectures. Do you wanna know how much I slept? So much so that I actually managed to sleep through three semesters with him: Intro to Christian Philosophy, Problem of Evil, and Christian Faith and the Arts. In the intro course, sleeping was a bad idea (considering the class number was so small). In Problem of Evil, I drooled on the wall one day (I’m so sorry, Dr. Little!)...and in Christian Faith, I was awakened by an adopted brother of mine (and classmate) who kicked my foot to wake me up in the middle of a Dr. Little lecture. My grandparents laughed as Dr. Little recalled my sleeping techniques. The interesting thing is that, while I slept in all three classes I took with him, I always awoke recalling everything he had said in class. Call it “sleep osmosis,” I guess.

They also met Dr. David Stephen Hogg, professor of Christian Theology and Church History at SEBTS. He is leaving this June to assume an admin position at Samford University in Alabama. I talked with him privately when asking him for a recommendation to the Master of Theology (ThM) program, and he said that he was excited to be working under Timothy George. I am excited for him. Dr. George is an honorable man of God who loves the Lord, and having Dr. Hogg on his staff is another marvelous blessing in and of itself. I told Dr. Hogg that SEBTS was losing an amazing man of God. I have a right to say that, since I took Dr. Hogg for Church Histories I and II, as well as Christian Theologies II and III (a total of four semesters under his instruction). I recommended him here to students as much as possible, and not one student I recommended him to ever came back and told me, “I didn’t like his classes.” I guess that’s pretty telling of how gifted Dr. Hogg really is. I pray much for him and his transition to a new place. May the Lord watch over him, his wife, and his children, as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

There is someone else that my grandparents got to meet, one who is extremely dear to me, one I cannot finish this post without mentioning: my dear adopted brother, Billy Birch, author of “The Arminian,” as well as a new graduate of The College at Southeastern. For those who know Billy Birch (and those who don’t), he is planning to attend Southeastern Seminary to pursue a Master of Divinity degree this coming Fall 2011. I am praying that he and I get to take classes together. Maybe we can take some classes with Dr. Keathley and totally “overwhelm” him with the presence of two heretics in the room (just kidding!). Billy also got to meet my father, James A. Richardson, whom I’m so thankful got a chance to attend his second-eldest daughter’s seminary graduation (my twin sister is the eldest of his five daughters). Dr. Keathley got to meet him as well, and it was such an honor to get to introduce my dad to all the professors in my life who have impacted me in so many wonderful ways. My dad may never know it, but his “high school sweetheart,” my mother, Teressa A. Richardson, winked at me from above as my dad walked on the campus. I think dad coming was the Lord’s way of making my mother smile as she looked down and saw him there. Mom always wanted me to grow my relationship with my dad, and I think we’re getting there. We’ve had a rather rocky road, particularly after her death...but we’re growing closer. I love my dad and want him to be a part of my life, but I’m still struggling as to how to include him in the everyday things. I trust that the Lord is gonna help me to learn how to bring my father back into my life in a more tangible way. Pray for me in this, will you???

All in all, graduation day was a wonderful success. Although I missed mom dearly, I know that she is extremely proud of my commitment to the Lord’s work and His service. Her parents have been such “angels” in my life, without which, I could not be the woman of God I am today. Mom’s memory will live on; I carry her with me, wherever I go, in whatever I do. And I rejoice that some day, I will see her again. I’ve learned in the last two years that I do not sorrow “as those who have no hope.” I do not cry tears of sadness because I’ll never see her again. Rather, I cry tears of sadness because I miss her now, but I know that the end will more than make up for the time she and I lost here. And I rejoice in the thought of a Savior, a Lord, who has said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And some day when I stand in glory, the Lord will wipe away every tear from my eyes and I will cry no more. And everything will finally make perfect sense. 

http://grooveshark.com/#/search?q=I%20can%20only%20imagine%20 (mercy%20me)

Graduation

                               Dear Center for Theological Studies,

 It is your blogger, Deidre Richardson here.

 I am writing to announce that on May 20, 2011 @ 10am, yours truly will graduate from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC with a Master of Divinity degree in Christian Apologetics.

This summer, I plan to return to my work at the blog, with a class I'm taking somewhere in-between now and August. In any case, I intend to get back to the research I love. I have started a good series on the Doctrine of Eternal Judgment, and so much remains to be written.

Let me say for now, that I am so honored and thankful to the Lord that this day has come. Over the last five years, I have suffered so many hardships, including the deaths of a great uncle, a close cousin, and last but never least, my mother, Teressa Richardson. The Lord has been gracious to me in my program and has helped me through all the grief and hardship I've faced. On today, I carry my mother's Duke University undergraduate Bible as I walk into Binkley Chapel to honor my late mother, who was (and still is) my biggest inspiration and my dearest of all friends. I am truly missing her this day, as she would have been the proudest mother in all the world. I thank God for her presence in my life for 24 years, the godly principles she taught me, the way she taught me to be successful for Christ. I was so graced by the Lord to be born into a God-fearing family that loves the Lord, His Word, and His kingdom, and it is a grace bestowed upon me that I promise never to forget. My mother was such an example for me in her lifetime, and she showed me what it means to never let hardships and trials get the best of you. It is because of her presence in my life (and her example) that this blog has become what it is and that I will graduate today.

I would also like to give honor to my mother's parents (my grandparents), who have taken on a somewhat parenting role since mom's departure from this life. My grandfather and grandmother have been "angels" in my life, without which I would not have this day to experience before my very eyes. I would also like to thank my twin sister, Danielle, for her support through the years. We have always "played in the sandbox together," and now, she is married to a godly man (my brother-in-law, George), and we are both achieving our educational dreams. Mom would be so proud of my sis and I if she were here. Somehow, though, I know she knows...and she is beaming in glory. I promise, the angels will not beat her praise to God today :-)

I would also like to honor my church family for their support in my life, their constant prayer and encouragement when I needed it. Special thanks to my Pastor, who supervised me for my field ministry course this semester. He supervised my work in ministry and had to give an account for my efforts. I thank God that I was allowed to shine for the Lord in my ministry work this semester. He allowed me to be creative and do what God has called me to do. Without such space and support from my Pastor, I would never have been able to achieve my ministerial dreams. Thanks Pastor, for your continued presence in my life.

I couldn't let this day go by without giving a special thanks to two dear men in my life: Ken Keathley and Steve Lemke. Dr. Lemke, thank you for taking a chance on little 'ole me and allowing me to write for the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry. I am so honored that you would show interest in my work. I thank God for meeting you in New Orleans, getting to know you, and I look forward to future endeavors as you and I labor for the glory of God.

 Last but not least, to Dr. Ken Keathley, someone who has become extremely dear to me in my life. Words cannot express how proud I am to be mentored by you, and how overjoyed I am at the thought of pursuing a Master of Theology degree with you at my side. I don't know how or why the Lord graced me with your help, but I am so grateful that He did. I thank God for your example in my life, your numerous moments of grace, and your heart for God and love for His Word. It seems as if God "bonded" us together, and what an amazing ride it's been. I anxiously await and look forward to the things God is going to do through us for His kingdom. To God be the honor and the glory.

I ask that you, my readership, would pray for me as I enjoy this special day with family and friends. Today is proof of the wonders God can do when you take one day at a time. I love you all, and hope to write more soon.

http://grooveshark.com/#/search?q=Graduation%20march

The Blogger's UpGrade: Technological "Eternal Security"

                                                 Dear Center for Theological Studies,

 It is your blogger, Deidre here. I am writing to announce that I have now upgraded my blogging life to a Macbook Pro laptop. How cool is that?

 While preparing the April 23rd post, my computer decided to get infected with viruses. I think one of the images at google images produced the virus, as something was in it. All I know is that I clicked on the image, and my old computer (a Dell) proceeded to alert me that I had viruses in my hard drive, documents, and shared documents. In short, I had 38 infections, 26 viruses...and the majority of the infections were due to spyware...two of the infections were due to having bad "cookies" software, etc. In short, it seemed as if the life of the Dell was over.

 Now...that doesn't mean I can't still use it. I am currently planning to get the Dell fixed. It has been a faithful companion of mine for 4 years, and I intend to get every last bit of my money's worth out of it. However, at the same time, I am fed up with viruses ruining my computer. To use theological terms that I discuss here at the site all the time, I wanted a little "eternal security" in regards to my software and computer...so I upgraded to an Apple Macbook Pro, one of the newest models coming from the Apple corporation. My sister happened to work for Apple a couple of years ago, so I knew what to look for. She helped me purchase a laptop for an affordable price, while hooking me up with a "Time Capsule" containing 1 Terabyte. Read that again: the capsule contains ONE TERABYTE (at least 1000 gigs if not more) of memory! How awesome is that???

 Having said all this, let me now say that I am extremely thankful I made my purchase yesterday. I am now back on the blog (the viruses on the Dell kept me away for the last few days). While I am extremely thankful for my computer, let me also give a "kudos" to Dell, Inc., for the last four years of faithfulness. I bought the Dell straight from the Dell factory, with three years of antivirus, warranty, repairs, protection of all sorts...and it did not disappoint. For those who are not quite ready to make the jump yet, buy a "Dell." "As for me and my house," we're doing the Mac thing now :-)

An Introduction to the Doctrine of Eternal Judgment: Reconciling the Love of God with a Literal Hell

A few days ago, I was sent a very angry e-mail by a theologian whose theology I wrote on at another blog some time ago. The individual stated that he disagreed with my interpretation of his work, cited pages in his book where he supposedly “proved” he disagreed with me, and told me that I was not being “intellectually honest” about his position. I received his e-mail that night, and, upset about being labeled a “liar” (that’s basically what I was called), decided to write him back and begin to show all the places where he said things that contradicted what he claimed he believed. He wrote me back and basically told me that the “A” (one of his claims) and “non-A” (another of his claims) could not be reconciled...that he was not trying to reconcile them...that they are merely “tensions” of the Scriptural text that we have to affirm and live with not knowing. My response? This person affirmed such tensions in the text because he wants to argue on one hand (as a Calvinist) that one does not need faith to be regenerated (saved) by God; then, however, his inclusivism (this theologian is inclusivist) turned around and wanted to argue that God can save individuals without explicit faith, but the evangelized must explicitly confess the name of Jesus in order to be saved. If the evangelized do not, then they will eternally perish because they have rejected the Gospel. What this theologian is doing, however, is setting up two standards: one for the the evangelized, and one for the unevangelized. But where does Scripture do this? Does Scripture state that there are “two” kinds of belief that Christ will accept: explicit and implicit? Do the Scriptures ever state that anyone, anywhere, will be “unevangelized” and allowed to respond to general revelation for salvation? The text does not state any of this; rather, the text distinguishes between “those who believe” and those who “do not believe” (John 3:18). In addition, the apostle Paul himself stated that

“truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:30-31a, NKJV).

The testimony of Scripture is that now, all men must “repent” of their sins, confessing them, and believe on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation. Nowhere does the apostle Paul state that some will never get the opportunity to hear the gospel or to confess and believe. As much as it may seem that geographical circumstances are varied, no one will be able to say in the end, “I could not believe because I never got the gospel.” God is sovereign enough to reach individuals, even those who do not have access to a human missionary. This is why the apostle Paul as a prisoner could write, “I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:9). Because the Word of God is not chained, not bound by human strength, God’s Word can travel to even the deepest, darkest recesses of the earth and transform the hardest of hearts.

So I think that this theologian’s so-called “perceived problems” that he finds in the text are really his own personal “perceived problems.” God’s Word is clear and accurate on the way of salvation and of eternal judgment. God has clearly spoken and revealed Himself, and if we fail to understand, it is not because God did not clearly communicate. The fault lies with us.

It is because of this theologian (who is Calvinist, inclusivist, and a conditional immortalist), Rob Bell and his latest book, “Love Wins,” as well as the likes of Clark Pinnock, Amos Yong, and Todd Mangum (see last few posts), that I have decided to finally produce a series on the Doctrine of Eternal Judgment. I think this new series is fitting for the time in which we live, where the gospel of Jesus Christ is getting exchanged for nothing short of lies and deceit. Make no mistake, world: Jesus Christ is coming back for all those who believe. And for those who do not believe, Hell eternal is all that awaits. Yes, Hell is a real place and for those who do not confess Him, Hell is where such individuals will find themselves. The rich man in the teaching on the rich man and Lazarus is no exception (see Luke 16:19-31).

So what is the Doctrine of Eternal Judgment? The Doctrine itself states that there is a divine judgment for all persons who do not receive the gospel, repent of their sins, and trust in Christ for salvation. The goal of this series is to demonstrate that the Scriptures affirm this doctrine, that Hell is a real place, and that punishment is not just metaphorical (where, as Rob Bell says, “we create our own ‘hells’ everyday"), but also literal and physical. That the Doctrine of Eternal Judgment is a real Christian teaching is affirmed by the Hebrew writer’s words to persecuted Jewish Christians:

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2).

As can be seen from these two verses, eternal judgment is a doctrine taught by the earliest Christians, and it is a doctrine that is being destroyed and eliminated in these modern times. This series will tackle this doctrine and the passages that argue in favor of it. With each new post, I pray that your love for God is renewed and that, for those who read these words who have never repented and trusted Christ, I pray you will do so. Please respond here if you ever need to know how to trust and receive Christ as your personal Savior.

Universalism, Conditional Immortality, and Inclusivism are nothing short of deceptive doctrines that will lead you astray. Don’t be led astray; don’t be led from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:39). Trust and believe in Christ today---for “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32). God bless.

D.M. Richardson In Print

                                               Dear CTS Readership,


 It is your blogger, Deidre Richardson here, to provide some great news.


As of this past week, I am now in print in an academic journal. Several months ago, I was asked by Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, to write a review essay on Dr. Ken Keathley's book, "Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach." As many of you know, Dr. Ken Keathley is a dear friend of mine as well as my mentor. He is overseeing my independent research work on theology of religions this semester...and will mentor me for the Master of Theology degree (ThM) this coming August 2011.


The journal just came out this past week (this past thursday, if I recall) and can now be found at the "Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry" link I have posted on the top right of the home page. To view the journal, click on the link on the home page, and you will come to the New Orleans page. The new journal issue is the first thing you will see (yes, it's the Spring 2010 issue that just came out). Click on the Spring 2010 issue (Baptists and the Doctrine of Salvation), and the PDF file will come up. Scroll down to see the table of contents...where you can find my article. Feel free to read the other articles and reviews there as well. I've read quite a bit of the journal and think that all writers have something good to say.


 I wanted to take time to share this wonderful news with all of you. The Lord has blessed me in numerous ways since the loss of my mother. I have struggled through many hardships (academic, financial), not to mention the grief of the loss of my mom, my best friend in all the world...but things are looking up. After two years, I can finally see the sun peaking from behind the clouds. I celebrate this with you not because I think I deserve it...but because such an achievement at 26 is credited to God's goodness and God's glory alone. I ask that you would continue to pray for me with my upcoming Master's graduation as well as my entrance into the Master of Theology degree. I have not forgotten CTS, and with God's help, I will return to my work here as soon as possible.

                      
   

New Series!

                                                   Dear Readership,


 Happy New Year again to you! About a week ago, I wrote my latest post at CTS. I realize that it has been an entire week since I've written. I wanna take time here to apologize to my readership for the time that I have been away. I am currently registered in a January term class here at Southeastern Seminary, called "Critical Thinking and Argumentation." I've spent the last two weeks going to class everyday from 8am-12:30pm, followed by a nap at home...only to wake up, shower, get dressed, grab dinner, and study with a brother of mine. It's been one heck of a two weeks!! Continue to pray for me; I am doing well, but I've pulled all-nighters everyday for the last two weeks just to make sure I'm up and awake for class at 8am. I don't do very well with morning classes, so I've been sleeping about 5 hours or so doing the day in order to have just enough sleep to stay up and do homework all night. In addition to the chapters of reading and the 150-page book my class has been reading (which I'll talk about in a minute), I've also been given the joy of having computer software (called "LogiCola") that tests your knowledge of the chapters in the book. I recently took my midterm in the Critical Thinking class and was thankful that I played with the software during the week. Many of the questions came from the software...so it was good to see that my efforts did not go unrewarded :-)


 On to the book my class has been reading...the title of the book is called "Exegetical Fallacies" by D. A. Carson. Now that I've read the book, I have to write an 8-page sermon (exegetical), using ten of the 56 fallacies Carson mentions in his book. It's a fun assignment...but it's also a hard one. I'm gonna struggle most with committing logical fallacies. I've been taught as an apologetics major here at Southeastern that God is a God of logic, a God of order...as creatures made in God's image and likeness, we too, should strive to think God's thoughts after Him. So committing logical fallacies to get a good grade...it's what I'm required to do, but my fear is that I'll write a sermon thinking I've committed fallacies that may not even be fallacies :-) such is the fear of every seminary student...


Having read Carson's book, I noticed that he tends to critique the views of Arminians and the position I'd like to refer to as "Spirit-gifting" in regards to the issue of women in ministry. I have used the term "egalitarian" at my other site, "Men and Women in the Church," but I do so to distinguish it from the view of complementarianism. There are some things that egalitarians believe that I do not. Among these, some egalitarians, particularly feminists, like to refer to "women's rights"  in regards to women in the church. Instead, I focus more on Spirit-gifting because to me, the debate on men and women in the church is not political, but Scriptural.  I hold to the headship of men in the home, but I do so because wives are commanded to submit to their husbands in several places in the New Testament. However, I don't see the kind of evidence that complementarianism espouses  regarding women in the church  in the Scriptures themselves. Rather, I see the presupposition (or assumption) that 1 Timothy 2: 8-15 means that women cannot be in leadership, and then everything else in Scripture regarding women is defined in terms of that one text (others being Titus 2 or 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 14, etc.). I think 1 Timothy 2 as it has been interpreted by complementarians cannot stand up to the claims the Scriptures themselves make regarding the gifting of the Spirit. God didn't create roles irrespective of Spirit-gifting; rather, He created roles "in accordance with" Spirit-gifting. As a result, complementarians have to prove that a woman cannot serve in a role because she is not given certain gifts, rather than just "women have certain fixed roles in the church." And I don't think anyone can claim that God can't gift a woman to preach, teach, pastor, etc. To make that claim would amount to heresy, as some would begin to limit God's sovereignty. Calvinists (and even some Arminians) should think twice before making this mistake.


 And that brings me to the announcement. This coming week, starting Monday, January 17, 2011, I intend to start a new series here at the Center for Theological Studies titled "Exegetical Fallacies in D.A. Carson's 'Exegetical Fallacies.'" I think that Dr. Carson, as much as I respect him, has fallacies on his own (ironicly) in a book in which he tells believers not to commit exegetical fallacies. What I aim to do in this new series is show that Carson brings his own presuppositions to the biblical evidence, and that he attacks all views that disagree with his and uses both Arminians and egalitarians as part of his "fallacy" attacks. I have to be honest and admit that he does attack some of his Calvinist brethren who smear Calvin's name (and claim that Calvin separated faith and reason), but these examples are few compared to the "overwhelming" (I can use no less of an honest term) attacks he makes against egalitarians and their claims. I for one here at the Center often critique sharply the views of those who disagree with me...but I have my reasons. And I hope that you, the readership, will seriously study my views of theology and the Scriptures and question whether or not I hold to the biblical text. I desire to be faithful to what God says in His Word. I realize that we all have presuppositions, but that is not the issue; rather, the question to ask ourselves is, "Does the Bible support the way I think about this?", or, "Does the Bible support my perspective on this given issue?". These are the kinds of questions we must ask ourselves.


 So much for a brief announcement! In any case, I just wanted to let you all know that I am soon to return to CTS. I have much to tell and show in the coming days about the new understanding the course in Critical Thinking has provided. God bless you all...and keep studying the Scriptures for the glory of God.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! It is now the year 2011, and we find ourselves at the start of a new adventure. I pray that everyone had a blessed Christmas, great New Year's Eve, and a glorious New Year's Day today. If you're like me, you've enjoyed the holidays...but now, it's time to get back to work. Satan, evil, and sin are still alive in 2011, and we don't know what the future holds...so it's time to get back to the work we've already begun.


2011 will hold surprises unlike any other. Here at the Center for Theological Studies (CTS), I will still bring to you great research and great responses as I've made it my constant aim to do. As of this moment, I do not have insight into what new surprises I will bring to the blog this year. However, I will say that we are blessed to have the "Faith and Film" section here at CTS. The "Faith and Film" section will explode this year. One surprise for 2011 (there is one, after all!!!) is that I will begin to blog on "The Matrix" movies pretty soon. I've watched them, taken meticulous notes, and hope to transform notes into insightful blog posts in the coming days.


On another note, I start a January class this coming Monday called "Critical Thinking and Argumentation" with the distinguished Dr. Greg Welty. Pray that my class goes well and that I please the Lord with my studies. I certainly do need prayer for this...after all, who wants to get up for two weeks and have class everyday from 8am-12:30pm?


Now, on to the glorious news...I, your blog writer here at CTS, will graduate this coming May 2011 with her Master of Divinity Degree in Apologetics and Biblical Languages. I look forward to graduation day and all that it will bring. The best part is...I'M NOT DONE WITH SCHOOL YET! :-)  Spring 2012 is right around the corner (even though it's a year away), and I hope to start next Spring in my Master of Theology (ThM) program here at Southeastern Seminary. Dr. Ken Keathley has graciously agreed to be my mentor...and I am so honored that he would take up the challenge of dealing with me for another two years. Dr. Keathley needs prayer, too: I can be quite a handful at times (yes, I have my imperfections).


Aside from this, all is well. To my readership, I wanna thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You have made my time at the Center more exciting than I ever knew it could be. I have also been blessed to talk to folks on campus who are reading me (people I never knew would ever read my work). Hearing fellow seminary and college students say, "We're reading you," is a joy and a delight. They bless me by doing so, proving to me that my work is of eternal worth...and that others are being blessed by it as well. One thing that I always attempt to do is be faithful to the text. I am Classical Arminian not because I like the idea that I can fall away from the faith, or because I secretly wanna be Open Theist...or because I just don't like Calvinism. I am Classic Arminian because I believe that Dr. James Arminius's theology is faithful to both the text and sound hermeneutics. When I read warnings about falling away, I take those as providing warnings to believers who are openly (and unconfessedly) living in sin, while the promises still provide assurance for those who are striving to be like Christ (as well as motivate believers living in sin to wake up from their spiritual slumber and stand firm against the deceit of Satan). I think that both promises and warnings can be accounted for in the Classical Arminian system...and I think that Calvinists and Molinists struggle to accommodate the divine warnings into their systems. And if divine sovereignty has selected some and not others, then there is no responsibility. This explains why both Calvinists and Molinists hold that the warnings apply to fake believers. In those two systems, the warnings can only apply to disingenuous (fake) believers because God keeps His own...God makes them persevere...they are guaranteed perseverance and its end (eternal life) because God "claims responsibility" for them and preserves them. In other words, there is no human responsibility for the eternally elected children of God. Instead, there is only divine responsibility. What does this mean for human responsibility? We are left to wonder...


Once again, thanks to all who have supported me from my infant blogging days until now. If you think you've seen all of God's work in my life, get ready for 2011--- you ain't seen nothin' yet...

From the Movie Screen To The Computer Screen: Faith And Film At The Center For Theological Studies

I am writing to announce a new section at The Center For Theological Studies. Over the last near two years, I have attempted to provide what I’ve learned through much theological research, study, and prayer at the blog. That will continue...however, there will be a new section here at CTS: A section titled “Faith and Film.”

The purpose of the new section is to engage the reader regarding the film and movie industry, and how theology (and philosophy) are both portrayed in the movies. As Brian Godawa says in his work,

“People may not call their philosophical beliefs by their academic names of metaphysics (reality), epistemology (knowledge) and ethics (morality), but they operate upon them nevertheless. When a person says that someone ought not to butt in line at a movie theater (ethics) because everyone knows (epistemology) that ‘first come, first served’ is the way the world works and that ‘what goes around, comes around’ (metaphysics), then knowingly or unknowingly she is expressing a philosophy” (“Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films With Wisdom & Discernment, Second Edition” by Brian Godawa. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009, pages 92-93).

Philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, and morality are all treated in the Scriptures, the Word of God. Because the Bible treats all of these subjects, and yet people discuss ethics, morality, and the nature of reality everyday, then the world discusses theology in everyday conversation (even if they are oblivious to it).

It is my prayer that the new section at the blog will be a blessing to you. If you desire to see certain movies analyzed at the Center (CTS), please feel free to comment here at the post (in the comments section) or, if a follower, send me an e-mail here and it will take you to my e-mail address. I praise the Lord for this glorious opportunity He has given me to reach minds for Christ...pray for this section, the work that will be done, and pray that the minds of believers will be enlightened regarding the Christian worldview. As ministers of reconciliation, let us go forward and not only reconcile men and women, but also the mind, to our great and wonderful Almighty God!

Changes

Dear Readership,

I hope all is well with each of you and that the Lord continues to grow you in grace and knowledge of Him each day.

I am writing to announce some changes that have been made here at the Center for Theological Studies (CTS). For many of you, you suddenly realized those changes when you visited (or will visit) the site sometime today. For others of you, you may get this blog post in your e-mail and not have any idea that changes have been made. To give you a pleasant tease so as to drive you back to the site, I will tell you about those changes now.

First, I've added a new blog poll to the site. The question for the poll is, "Which are you?"---and the question itself refers to the theological system to which you pledge allegiance. There are several choices to select from, some of the latter ones being humorous in and of themselves. I thought that by adding a little theological humor (not meaning to degrade or insult), that many would enjoy having a little change in the life of the blog itself. I can renew the blog poll for a long time, but I just might change up the poll each month. For you, that means that you'll have to come back to the site to see what I'm up to...

Next, I've also added a "Recommended Books" mass link at the site. From now on, you can click to the right of the page to see the top books that I recommend...and all of the clicks will take you to pages where you can order the favored book titles. This list will be updated rather frequently throughout the coming months (and years...yes! I plan to be around for that long!!!).

Last but not least, the "big whammy"...I've changed the blog template. Now, before I go further, let me just say that I absolutely love the new template. I adore it so much that I sat at my desk looking at the new template for an hour today...and, if it were not for a dear friend, I would STILL be looking at it (lol)!! Needless to say, like Zacchaeus, I had to "come down from the sycamore tree" and get back to life :-)

In all seriousness, I do love the new template...and I hope you do as well. Please comment back to this post to tell me what your thoughts are regarding the new template. It would help me better design the site to meet your theological needs in the present and coming future.

For now, let me just say that I am grateful to you, my dear readership, for the time you've invested in me to read the ramblings of an old seminarian. Thanks so much for all the time you've spent reading blog post after blog post. Continue to pray for me as I continue to research and publish to the glory of God...
so that all the world may know Him,
Deidre

Happy Birthday...to Me!!!

Dear Readership,

I am writing to announce that today, August 21, 2010, is my twenty-sixth birthday!!!

I won't write much, but I just wanted to give a hearty "thanks" to all of my readership for making the success of this blog possible. Next, I'd like to thank all of my friends (and brothers) who encouraged me along the way...who continued to remind me that the world desires to read and know my ideas and thoughts. Then, I'd like to thank my family, who has supported me in all my endeavors. A special thanks goes out to a dear professor and friend, Dr. Ken Keathley, who has always believed in me and has patiently (daily) read my work here at the Center for Theological Studies. Dr. Keathley, I am so grateful to God for you that it goes beyond words. First and foremost, I want to give all the glory and honor to God, without whom none of this would be possible. What grace I have been given...and I hope to share that grace with others.

Once again, thanks to my readership for all of your support (whether hidden or known). Continue to read and pray for my work here at the blog. May all that is said and done here bring the utmost glory to God!!

Soli Deo Gloria, Deidre Richardson

Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

Dear Readership,

Your writer here! It's June 1st...which means that it's time for an exciting announcement.

I am done with finals and ready to proceed in our studies of the Word of God. This past year, I tackled the Calvinism-Arminianism debate. There is still much to study regarding those two theological systems (and we will study them more in the future); however, the theological debate for the summer (one of the summer tackles) will concern "Dispensationalism vs. Covenant Theology." On an initial level, I have some books to recommend: (1) "Three Central Issues in Contemporary Dispensationalism: A Comparison of Traditional and Progressive Views" by Herbert W. Bateman IV, General Editor; (2) "Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must Be Challenged" by Barry E. Horner; (3) "Progressive Dispensationalism" by Darrell Bock; (4) "Understanding Dispensationalists" by Vern Poythress; (5)"Dispensationalism" by Charles Ryrie. I also recommend the work done by the Feinberg brothers on (6) "Continuity and Discontinuity" as well as (7) Robert Saucy's "The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism."

For those who, like me, love to read historical theology, I recommend a special book to you: (8) "The Scofield Bible: Its History and Impact On the Evangelical Church" by R. Todd Mangum and Mark S. Sweetnam. I own all of these eight books and will be posting on them here in the days ahead.

Since dispensationalism is often the position of the two above most attacked, I decided to start with studying it first. Having already finished one book of the eight above in my summer pursuits, I can say that I think progressive dispensationalism might be one of the most upsetting rivals to covenantal theology. To my readership, I would recommend the work of Darrell Bock in this camp and say that his work will be greatly prized here at the site. If you desire to know, I do own a work on covenantal theology that I am reading: (9) "God of Promise: Introducing Covenant Theology" by Michael Horton. I plan to do lots more reading on both dispensational and covenantal theology in the coming days.

Feel free to recommend books here and even comment on books you read if you desire to do so. Like the debate on Calvinism and Arminianism this past year, we too, will grow together as we embark on this new and exciting theological journey. May the Lord grant us grace, mercy, and wisdom as we seek to know His truth...and may the work done here at the site be to the glory of our God...