Yet, the suggestion here is that the logical inconsistencies are not crucial and that instead effectiveness is more important.”

Dear Mark,

With apologies in advance, I’d like to transpose your argument (in a very rough sense) to the buzz about the Manhattan Declaration and you being an Orthodox “Christian”. There was deep concern (others may phrase it differently) from Protestants who opposed the MD that the MD obscured and/or blurred the Gospel. They disagreed and were disappointed with fellow Protestants who signed and supported the MD. I could show you quotes saying that it’s wrong to call those who are not Christians, Christians. And that they (they being the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church) were enemies of the Gospel. Albeit qualified that there are indeed (some) Christians in the RCC and EOC but in spite of and not because of the doctrinal teachings in those Churches.

Well, when you wrote “But that the nature of the difference which we highlight was not important to them” and “Yet, the suggestion here is that the logical inconsistencies are not crucial and that instead effectiveness is more important” it reminded me of some of the reasons why I joyfully signed the Manhattan Declaration.

Anyways, I want to thank you for being a co-blogger for Evangel and I don’t think that you being an Orthodox “Christian” would or should obscure the Gospel for Evangel.

Pax.

So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the YHVH is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

Mark — It’s interesting that Elijah came to the people not asking, “who is more effective?” but instead, “who is God?”

That is, “who is ‘elohim’? who is truly the ruler of all things?” It is followed by this:

And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the YHVH, but Baal’s prophets are men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the YHVH, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.”

I think it’s not a question of “who is more effective?” I think Elijah is saying that because he is specifically sent by YHVH, he has the authority; the men who serve Baal are just guys standing around, not sent by the true God.

Elijah’s question is not about who is more effective, and this test is not about whether Baal and YHVH can coexist: this is a question of who has the authority to receive Israel’s worship, and who is actually “God”.

FWIW, I think that the argument is still the same argument — and when “materialism” is subservient to YHVH in Christ, it has rained down blessing for this world. When “materialism” has instead made itself superior to Christ and YHVH with its prophets of science demanding to be morally-superior to the author of life and the law-giver for the sciences, it rains down curses.