CJ Mahaney with Hair, Mark Dever in People Magazine, and Other Signs of the Apocalypse

The picture above is of pastor CJ Mahaney and his wife, Carolyn. I assume it's on their wedding day, as it would be rather strange to dress up in one's wedding clothes on any other day. As you can see, it is a T4G promo pic. It is stunning for one reason (and that reason is not the slightly cheesy grins): CJ has hair. Alot of it. I once heard him say that the reason he thinks he is now bald is because his hair grew so long that it strained his roots. I am not sure about that theory, though I am sure that CJ's address at T4G 08 will be as memorable as his previous one.

Let's get to some comments and questions from the week.

Reid asked about Jesus' use of mockery in response to my post on that topic--

Yes, Jesus did indeed use those rhetorical tactics and devices. That is clear. He cut the Pharisees to the bone with His words. He did so, though, to people who were disingenuously opposing Him. He didn't walk up to the average lost person and start savaging them. In addition, He exhibited and passed on a posture of respect to culture and society that we see exemplified by Paul at Mars Hill in Acts 17 and in Romans 13. With this said, it seems that there is some ground for satire and mockery in argumentation. Where is that proper place? Discernment is required--heavy discernment. I cannot say such devices are categorically wrong because of Christ's example, but I can say that one should be careful to use them, and that the apostles and New Testament witnesses do not consistently employ them. Furthermore, the attitude promulgated by the NT does not accord with the posture of mockery that characterizes our culture today. If there is a place for mockery, and I think there is, it is much smaller than that which contemporary culture thinks it to be. Being a nihilistic, pagan society, we take nothing seriously, savage that which is unlike us, and find meaning only in mocking it. That's not good, and we should avoid such behavior.

Al commented on the basis of unity for the T4G conference--

The T4G guys are all reformed, so they share the same soteriology. I think that simple fact does alot to show how they can have doctrinal differences and yet support the same cause executed in very similar ways. There are doctrinal points on which they have disagreement, but the gospel and the Christian faith is not given to us to separate us but to unify us in Christ. T4G attempts, however imperfectly, to demonstrate this reality, and I think succeeds in its vision.

Jed asked about whether Mark Dever or Al Mohler would be landing on the cover of People anytime soon--

So these are the fruits of a Cambridge education, eh, Jed? Salacious interest in appearance and strength? Oh well. In all seriousness, there is no way that I could answer this question seriously, though I can say that Dr. Mohler was once described as "telegenic" by Decision magazine. I'll let you take that for what it's worth. On that edifying note, a blessed weekend to all.