My Thoughts On BJU’s Music Philosophy

by Rick Pidcock

Earlier this week, Bob Jones University released its long awaited “Music Philosophy” paper, which you can read here. Over the past few years, I have purposefully stayed out of the fundamentalist music debates. But I’d like to share my thoughts regarding BJU’s statement.

I graduated from BJU with a B.A. in Bible in 2004. We then moved out to Denver, CO for seven years to help plant a church. And in the Fall of 2011, we moved back to Greenville. Since our return, I have attended a few BJU events, and have been pleasantly surprised by a noticeable difference from when I was a student. While I have my differences with the school, I write this response as an alumnus who wants to be able to support the school. And I believe that the vast majority of recent graduates and current students will be sympathetic to the perspective of this review.

Book Review–Broken-Down House

by Rick Pidcock

The Bible uses many pictures to remind us of our human condition and of the hope of grace. In his book entitled Broken-down House, Paul David Tripp uses the picture of…you guessed it…a broken down house to show us how we can live productively in a world gone bad.

He divides the book into two main sections–Knowing, and Doing.

Apparent Contradictions In Scripture

by Rick Pidcock

My brother recently asked for my thoughts about an article by an atheist who listed some apparent contradictions in Scripture surrounding the Passion week.  So I have decided to post my response to that article on my blog.

To begin, however, we need to lay out a brief understanding of the inerrancy of Scripture, and of pre-suppositions.

One of the most fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith is the inerrancy of Scripture.  Regarding inerrancy, Wayne Grudem says, “Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact” (Bible Doctrines, p. 42).  In other words, the Word of God is truth, and contains no errors in the original manuscripts.

The reason this doctrine is so important is that it reveals the trustworthiness and reliability of God.  If God communicates falsehood in any detail, then He loses credibility and cannot be trusted.

Together for Adoption Conference 2012

by Rick Pidcock

Have you ever stopped to consider what all 7 billion people on this planet have in common?  No matter what country we are from, no matter what home we are born into, we are all born into this world as orphans.

We are all born fatherless.  We are all born alone.  We are all born into a more desperate, helpless condition than any of us could ever fully comprehend.

But the Story doesn’t end at helpless.  In fact, for the believer, it doesn’t even begin at helpless.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  The word translated “workmanship” is “poema,” which is where our word “poem” comes from.   This verse is pointing us to the reality that our lives are a poem, a Story, written by a Sovereign Author who called us out of our homelessness to be His children, before we were even born as spiritual orphans, so that we can extend that same grace to others.

New Sojourn Christmas Album: A Child Is Born

by Rick Pidcock

It’s getting to be that time of year again, when songs of chestnuts, an imaginary fat guy, and flying reindeer fill the airwaves.  It’s a time when unbelieving secular artists sing a song or two about a God they don’t believe in.  And it’s time for many of us to wish that there were more creative, excellent Christmas music choices to enjoy.

I’d like to let you know about a new album that has just been released by Sojourn Music, entitled A Child Is Born.

Sojourn Music is a group from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY that produces contemporary hymns, psalms, and songs of lament and praise, with a very modern, folk rock style.

In their newly released Christmas album, they provide a soulful, desperate, and fresh approach to a number of well known, and some not so well known Christmas songs.

I am especially excited about their rendition of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  I’ve always wished that this song would be recorded with a more upbeat, desperate rejoicing feel to it.  And their rendition did just that.

If you’re looking for some fresh, creative new Christmas music this season that rises above what you generally find on pop radio, then I strongly recommend checking out A Child Is Born.

You can listen to the album below for free, and purchase it at the link provided for as low as $9.

Continuationism: Orderly Worship & Speaking In Tongues

by Rick Pidcock

Earlier this year, I began a series on biblical continuationism. After an initial introduction article, I wrote two additional articles entitled, Continuationism & the Sovereignty of God, and Continuationism & the Sufficiency of Scripture.

When I began to come around to the idea of ongoing biblical prophecy, I really struggled with the idea of speaking in tongues.  And as I talk with other believers, I get this sense from them as well.

I hear questions like, “Isn’t speaking in tongues simply witnessing in another human language?  Doesn’t Paul say that speaking in tongues is selfishly prideful?  What about the modern day craziness that goes on in churches? What is the meaning?  What’s the point?”

I’d like to say up front that I have never experienced this gift in either private or corporate worship.  So I am writing this article, not based on experience, but rather based on my understanding of Scripture.

Speaking in tongues is a topic mostly met with very strong convictions, and a lot of confusion.  So I’d like to work my way through 1 Corinthians 14, in order to try to give as accurate and simple of an explanation of tongues as I can.

Theological Imperialism and the Black Community

by Rick Pidcock

Over the past few years, there has been an awakening of greater interest in reformed theology from some within the Black community.  However, this interest among some has been met with a racially-influenced skepticism by others.

In the following interview, Trip Lee, Eric Mason, and Lecrae reveal a very honest and thought-provoking assessment of the struggles that they face in their communities as reformed theologians, as well as share some thoughts on how to effectively communicate reformed theology to the Black community.