First, the LDS blog, New Cool Thang, fired me up with their charge of bibliolatry among evangelicals.

Secondly, Alister McGrath provoked my thoughts on Christian bibliolatry when I read his book, The Dawkins Delusion?  Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine (Intervarsity Press, 2007), castigating both atheist and Christian fundamentalism.

Thirdly, Ted Olsen chimes in on the Christianity Today blog with Moreland’s accusations of bibliolatry among evangelicals.  Today, I noticed Francis Beckwith’s sensitive comment in the thread on “Roman magisterium”. 

And I also, today, read Blake Ostler’s post on New Cool Thang that could be helpful in explaining Mormon magisterium (if this would be an accepted term by LDS).

I initiated my first question on bibliolatry last Friday.  But now, I want to backup to a section I read in McGrath’s book on NOMA (nonoverlapping magisteria) and POMA (partially overlapping magisteria).

I am wondering if there would be a common link where McGrath, Beckwith, and Ostler all believe in POMA, whereas some conservative evangelicals and Christian fundamentalists believe in nonoverlapping magisteria of Scripture.

Here is an excerpt from McGrath’s latest book fleshing this out: (more…)

Blake Ostler is interacting with some things that have been on my mind.

We discussed this in October.

And now ETS is discussing this in November.  I did ask in the thread how Dr. Moreland’s accusation of bibliolatry might be distinguished from LDS accusations of bibliolatry. (more…)

My preparation for this Sunday’s thanksgiving message has led me from Psalms to Genesis, back to Psalms, and then on to Hebrews.  I look forward to the time of exalting God on this Lord’s Day.  There is so much to be thankful for in America.

How can we as a people harden our hearts?

But here is again a side question for LDS that has been bugging me, today.  Which chief deity of all does the LDS Melchizedek priesthood, fundamental to church life and authority, point to? (more…)

Here it is, The Shepherd’s Scrapbook.  I am encouraged.  It offers free resources to the other side of happy, humble, godly Puritanism that Craig Harline didn’t quite convey in his latest book.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The post by Dave, Getting to know evangelicals, has provoked me to share this post, Getting to know Mormons.

Carolyn Jessop in her book Escape (NY:  Broadway Books, 2007) writes this about her Mormon family:

My children were terrified of the outside world.  We were taught that everyone outside our community was evil.  Impending doom is an integral part of the FLDS culture.  Instead of playing hide-and-seek as children, we played apocalypse.  The belief is that when God comes to destroy the wicked, everyone outside the community will be killed.  But those who’d proved their worth would be lifted up to the celestial kingdom and preserved as God’s chosen people.” (4) (more…)

I am excited about the upcoming Thanksgiving season.

Can Jesus be praised and thanked as the Most High this Thanksgiving? (more…)

This newspaper article was sitting on my desk when I came back to the office.

“Change by LDS causes a stir” . . . “The next edition of the Book of Mormon has an introduction indicating a possible change in the religion’s view of Indians.”

– The Post Register, Saturday, November 10, 2007 (more…)

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the church family of College Park Baptist Church in Cary, NC tucked inside the white collar triangle.  I am praying today for these brothers and sisters.  Great folks!

And I must mention one of my favorite landmarks in North Carolina:  Elon University.  Hey, I am famous.  For some of you who don’t know my full name, it’s Elon Todd Wood.  E.T. for the short version.  The earlier Hebrew professors rightly named the campus after the particular trees providing shelter and enjoyment for the student body.

And yet as an Idahoan, I am happy to be back in my home area.  Driving down 17^th street to our church building in Ammon, I slowly tagged along behind a 15 passenger van.  Family decals on the back window showed a husband and wife holding hands as eleven children trailed to the right of their picture.  Here are the letters I saw on the license plate:  “QUIVRFL”. (more…)

My wife and I have been observing the mission field of the highly, technological city of Cary, North Carolina.  It is quite a mix.  Hindus.  Buddhists.  Etc.

I am really enjoying the time of fellowship and sessions with the brothers and sisters of College Park Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina and this year’s missions conference, Courage in the Gospel.  Pastor Matt Walker has me intrigued about the American church planting network through Arch Ministries. 

The weather has been beautiful.  This afternoon, we will be watching Duke’s football team probably get stomped by Georgia Tech.

Noticing the Raleigh North Carolina LDS Temple, I feel right at home as a Southern Idahoan.  I read Gordon B. Hinckley’s prayer of dedication.  He certainly makes a strong case for Elohim as Father in contrast to the Only Begotten Son.  But cannot Jesus be Almighty Elohim?  Are LDS allowed to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in such fashion? (more…)