Round the Sphere Again: These Get a Ditto from Me

Nothing Negative?
I’ve thought about writing on the subject of book reviews here on the blog and why I almost always think highly of the books I review. But today John Bird wrote on this subject so I don’t have to.

Things are pretty much the same here at this blog, book review-wise, and for pretty much the same reasons. Mostly, it’s that for me, reading and blogging are two hobbies among many*, and I haven’t time to waste, so I’m very careful what books I request for review.

I do try to mention anything in the books that I think some of my frequent readers may have issues with—even if those same things don’t bother me—because I’d feel bad if someone spent good money on a book at my recommendation and then ended up hated it.

Oh Andrée!
Andrée Seu is the only writer at World Magazine that I have on my feed reader. I really, really like her because she’s an excellent writer, she’s been widowed, too, and she writes frequently on suffering in the light of God’s sovereignty. Last night I read her article on Glen Beck and felt a little sick. I wouldn’t have written here about it—writing about these kind of things isn’t my cup of tea—but I’m sure glad Justin Taylor did.

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*Like making jam, for instance. Did I tell you that the raspberry-peach jam I made last week is the best jam I’ve tasted in my whole life? It makes me want to turn all those bags of raspberries in the freezer into jam while there are still fresh peaches to be had.

Theological Term of the Week

order of God’s decrees
The logical (not chronological) order of the plan made by God in eternity for his dealings with humankind, a plan that culminates in human salvation; the logical ordering of “the soteriological elements of God’s eternal decree”1; also sometimes called the plan of salvation.

• From The Plan of Salvation by B. B. Warfield:

  If we believe in a personal God, then, and much more if, being Theists, we believe in the immediate control by this personal God of the world he has made, we must believe in a plan underlying all that God does, and therefore also in a plan of salvation. The only question that can arise concerns not the reality but the nature of this plan. As to its nature, however, it must be admitted that a great many differing opinions have been held. Indeed pretty nearly every possible opinion has been announced at one time or another, in one quarter or another. Even if we leave all extra-Christian opinions to one side, we need scarcely modify this statement. Lines of division have been drawn through the Church; parties have been set over against parties; and different types of belief have been developed which amount to nothing less than different systems of religion, which are at one in little more than the mere common name of Christian, claimed by them all.

• From Introducing the Reformed Faith by Donald K. McKim:

  While the “order of the decrees” refers to the logical relationship of the “parts” of the decrees, and not their “chronology,” the discussions nevertheless use “chronological language.” Yet theologians recognize that there is no “sequence” in the mind of God, since God is outside time and is eternal. All is the “eternal now” in God’s sight.

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Order of God’s Decrees (The article is not particularly helpful, but the included chart is.)
2. Turretinfan: The Order of Decrees - Which Came First?
3. B. B Warfield: The Plan of Salvation
4. Curt Daniel: The Order of the Decrees (mp3) from The History and Theology of Calvinism

Related terms:

• supralapsarianism
• infralapsarianism

1From Notes on Supralapsarianism and Infralapsarianism by Phil Johnson.

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it.

I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.

Round the Sphere Again: Quotable

He Commands and Then Commends
Steve Hays:

One of the striking features in Gen 1 is the interplay between the divine “senses.” The interplay between divine speech and divine sight. In Gen 1, God’s speech is creative while his sight is evaluative. His speech is prior to the effect of his verbal fiat, while his sight is subsequent to the effect of his verbal fiat. He commands and commends. He commands something into being, then commends the outcome.

Read the whole post at Triablogue.

Lovingly Remove the Shelter
Francis Schaeffer: 

Every man has built a roof over his head to shield himself at the point of tension…The Christian lovingly, must remove the shelter and allow the truth of the external world and of what man is to beat upon him. When the roof is off, each man must stand naked and wounded before the truth of what is…He must come to know that his roof is a false protection from the storm of what is.

Found at Apologetics 315.