Ancient Paths Blog

Evil - In the Heart or Out in the World?

Last week our family finally watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis's book by the same name.  It wasn't bad as a fantasy adventure type of movie. 

On the other hand, for those of us who are fanatics for textual faithfulness and as those who affirm the solid and intentionally Christian message of Lewis's Narnia books - the movie left a lot to be desired.

One thing my wife put her finger on right away was how the movie's script shifted the main plot line from the perils encountered while seeking Aslan's country to a journey filled with perils due to an external evil.

The Word, Sacred Texts, and the Ministry of Writing

It surely cannot have escaped our attention that God loves words and writing.  In fact, we’re told by the apostle John that words, as an expression of oneself, is at the core of who God is.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.” John 1:1-2.  God is One who expresses Himself in words – in this case the Word made flesh.

Furthermore, God’s revelation of Himself over the centuries has not gone undocumented.  God has taken great care that His revelation, His Word is not lost but is recorded. Yet, this record is not ultimately in song, or in pictures, or riddles.  Rather, it has been written down by God’s prophets and apostles (assume here an evangelical doctrine of inspiration) and preserved (assume here an evangelical doctrine of canonization) as sacred texts.

Should Christian Novelists Use the F-word?

I'm not a big reader of Christian fiction - those works making an overt presentation of Christianity in the form of a novel - so I can't claim too much expertise in this post.  Furthermore, I want to say at the outset that I'm going to paint with a rather broad brush and may even be setting up the so-called straw man - but here goes...

On the one hand, I am a great fan of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and have read most of everything they've written, fictional and otherwise.  I've been to Perelandra, Narnia, and Middle Earth countless times, both for my own enjoyment and that of my family.

Walking With God, by John Eldredge

The first time I heard of John Eldredge it was for Wild At Heart his book about manhood.  Though I am interested in biblical manhood I didn't read it.  Why?  Unfortunately it came out just after the theological controversy over Open Theism had rankled our denomination in the late 1990s.  It was pointed out to me at this time that the author - though denying he was doing so - entertained many of the concepts of this heresy in his book and I just couldn't see putting up with it.

So when this book, Walking With God, by the same author was handed to me I was reluctant to spend any time on it.  However, on a personal note, I am now dealing with cancer and am being driven to draw nearer to God in the process.  The subtitle to the book: "Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really" was what I wanted - so I began reading.

The World of the Bible: Factual or Fantastic?

How influenced are you by the scientific mindset?  Is science or scripture the pathway to truth?  When they conflict which do you choose?  Here's a challenge for you:

Did you know that the Bible teaches that unicorns once inhabited the world?  Of course the English Bible you read today does not mention them, but the Bible your grandparents grew up with does! 

Pastor Bob Reads A Book

At the suggestion of a friend at church - our organist - I read a book he had just finished called Jim and Casper Go To Church.  Published by the Barna people, it has been out for some time, but seems to be the latest book to be making a stir in the evangelical world.  I say "book," but of course nowadays that includes the accompanying DVD, website(s), blog(s), merchandise, and probably even their own breakfast cereal by now.