Flotsam and jetsam (6/10)

• James MacDonald claims that Congregational Government is from Satan.

Down with congregational government. Not the people who believe in it or appreciate its history, not the good or bad people who try to function well in a bad system—down with the system itself. It’s unbiblical, unhealthy and too often a tool of Satan for the discouragement of good Pastors, godly Elders, and local churches everywhere.

• A few days ago, James McGrath discussed the Inerrancy of the Bible and Sarah Palin, arguing that those defending Palin were just doing the same thing as traditional defenders of inerrancy. And now, Collin Hansen has responded with Inerrancy, Not So Arrogant. You should read both articles to get two very different perspectives on the issue.

Interpreters who believe the Bible is utterly authoritative and without error in the original writings are commonly regarded by opponents as arrogant in their certainty and lazy in their confessionalism. Critics such as McGrath describe their exegesis as strained beyond credulity.

• On a similar note, Brian LePort discusses whether historical Jesus work can be done by those affirming inerrancy.

So yes, in some sense, one can affirm inerrancy and do historical work as long as one is willing to admit they believe something happened on the basis of a confessional stance rather than on its likelihood when examined through the lens of a historian.

• Tony Woodlief argues that bad art derives from bad theology. (HT Joe Carter)

I’m convinced that bad art derives, like bad literary theory, from bad theology. To know God falsely is to write and paint and sculpt and cook and dance Him falsely. Perhaps it’s not poor artistic skill that yields bad Christian art, in other words, but poor Christianity.

• Kyle Strobel discusses Oliver Crisp’s argument that Jonathan Edwards is a Panentheist.

• You can stream the new Bon Iver LP Bon Iver, Bon Iver in full.

• FlavorWire offers A Collection of Wonderful Books by Morally Questionable People.

• What do you get a 7-year-old girl for her birthday? Why, a $10,000 voucher for a breast enlargement, of course.

• And, here are 18 Seriously Cool Bookshelves & Bookcases