Southern, Hogwarts, Wellum's Couples

Southern
Last week marked the beginning of my second year at Southern Seminary. And with it came excitement and, honestly, some anxiety. To make my last semester (Fall 08, Lord willing) lighter--so that I may focus on PhD applications--I am taking an extra class this go round. I'll say it again: I count myself among the most favored and blessed people who've ever lived! To have the opportunity to study these wonderful truths, exposed by men who've given their lives to these wonders, founded in God's revealed word. I am uniquely blessed! Consider this: That we may know at all the spendor and glory of God, because he has revealed himself in Scripture and has enabled his believers, by his Holy Spirit, to understand the Scriptures, to see ourselves there and to see a great savior there...astonishing!

Anyway, the classes:

Hebrew I. demlehwrevo dna regae m'I .gnihcaet si yrtneG reteP .rD ,srosseforp etirovaf ym fo enO (Learning a new language is no joke!)

Old Testament I. It's my second semester with Dr. Terry Betts (I took OTII first). Everyone who has ever lived may find themself in the Old Testament; because everyone who has ever lived has lived in Adam. Created by God, in his image to rule as his representative. Completely dependent on our Creator. Yet we all, like Adam, have rejected God's leadership and have gone our own way. Like Adam, we need one who is like us (human) and yet greater (God, faithful), who will succeed where Adam (and we) failed. One who will crush the head of the serpent's seed. In the Old Testament, especially, we see ourselves for who we are (great sinners who were made not to be so but for much more), and we see our need for Jesus (a great savior who redeems us to our relationship with the Father and who is restoring the fallen image in us that we may be all that we were created to be: God's image-bearers). I am thrilled to walk through these foundational texts with this pastor at heart.

Work of Christ. Another favorite professor, Dr. Stephen Wellum, will take us through the priestly work of Jesus. The material of this class will be most influential in the topic on which I hope to write my dissertation.

Humanity and Sin. My first class with Dr. Greg Allison. Before I leave seminary, I hope to have a better grasp on these two universal characteristics of humanity: 1) That all men and women are created in the image of God. And 2) that all men and women have distorted the image of God in them by choosing to sin. A greater understanding of these will no doubt result in a greater affection for the one who perfectly reflects God's image, who paid the penalty of sin and reverses its effects, and who enables humans to be truly human (knowing and loving God, bearing his image, without sin).

Personal Evangelism. A challenging semester is before me...Adam Greenway will require us to participate in the Great Commission. Considering that those who do not trust and obey Jesus will perish for their sins, it is sad, truly, that it takes a far lesser man than Jesus to compel me to do what our Lord left us to do: To share the good news of Jesus' life, death, resurrection. I am humbled by my negligence in evangelism and am thankful for this class.

Hogwarts
Kelli and I were loading into my uncle and aunt's car on Christmas Eve (because they had so generously invited Kelli and me to their church service). While we were taking our seats, my cousin said, "So Dagy says you hate Harry Potter.?." Now, I didn't hate Harry Potter. I never hated Harry Potter. So I did not appreciate this exaggeration...but it wasn't unfounded. Years earlier, I joined Christian groups who denounced the children's stories of wizards and witches. To be truthful, I had not exercised discernment in forming this opinion. In my spiritual immaturity, I did not base my decisions solely on Scripture. On this issue, I just had heard that Christians were to protest this magical fantasy for fear that its readers would be lead into the occult.

While I still fear that young readers (and old) are in danger of becoming too enamored with the world of Harry Potter, such that they would be carried away into almost worship of this great, fictional hero and miss the greatness and triumph of history's true hero, Jesus. Too, we muggles are in danger if we find Rowling's series more important or valuable than God's Word. I sincerely pray against that.

But, my prior evaluation of Harry Potter was hasty. Yes, I am hooked! So's Kelli. Our friends, the Borns, loaned us the first four movies to prepare to see Order of the Phoenix in the theaters, which I did twice! And, again our friends loaned us the last two books in the series, which we're both reading now. What a fantastic story! And I'm really involved. I care whether Harry finally defeats Voldemart (don't any of you dare Comment with the answer). Oh, how I hope Harry will end up with Ginny, and that they are lifelong friends with Ron and Hermione Weasley.

I think though my excitement for Harry Potter is for the hints of truth I find there. Epic battle of good and evil. Our need for one another. Stuff like that. But we know the enemy is far more cunning and evil than Voldemart, and our hero is infinitely more heroic, good, unselfish, powerful, triumphant than Harry Potter!

Wellum's Couples
(So this isn't a school in the sense that Southern and Hogwarts are. The marketer in me, though, craves continuity, but I rely on creativity to call my Sunday school class a school.) Some have asked where they might find the lesson I just taught on Jonah. At WellumsCouples.com, you may download it here. By the by, if you're for a community in The 'Ville, visit Wellum's Couples Sunday mornings at 10:30 on the second floor of Ninth & O Baptist Church.