My New Blog: Nordic Preacher

Just a quick note for those who might be interested. I will likely not be updating this blog anymore, but instead be writing every now and then on my theologically focused blog Nordic Preacher.

www.nordicpreacher.com

Vankka perustus - New Christian blog in Finnish

A couple of months ago I started a new Christian blog in Finnish that I update once in a while. Check it out if you're interested: www.vankkaperustus.blogspot.fi

The Nature of Science

Great short video animation (part of the Check This Out mini-video series produced by Answers in Genesis) explaining the nature of science and how it relates to the Bible and the evolution vs. creation discussion.

What would Jesus say about your church?

Here's a recent video of Art Azurdia preaching at The Master's Seminary. Great and convicting sermon about orthdoxy in theology and love toward God and people.

"Loving God First" Revelation 2:1-7.

Allegorizing Israel - J.C. Ryle

Here's a very good quote from J.C. Ryle, protesting against the habit of some Christians to allegorize Old Testament prophecies and plain sayings concerning the future history of the nation of Israel.

“What I protest against is the habit of allegorizing plain sayings of the Word of God concerning the future history of the nation of Israel and explaining away the fullness of their contents in order to accomodate them to the gentile church.”

Ryle held to premillennialism and to a distinction between Israel and the Church, strongly criticizing the views that would seek to allegorize the Scriptures to say that the Church is the 'new Israel' or that this present age is the kingdom of Christ (amillennialism).

I highly recommend reading Ryle's book 'Coming Events and Present Duties', especially the chapter 'Scattered Israel to be Gathered' for a more detailed exposition on the matter.

The book is available for free online:
http://futureisraelministries.org/j_c_ryle.html

Was Darwing Wrong?

Great video that completely refutes the National Geographic cover story 'Was Darwin Wrong?' (Nov. 2004) The real answer: YES. The evidence for evolution is weak and pathetic!

Mikael Agricola Day

Today (April 9th) is the day when Finland celebrates the life of Mikael Agricola, the founder of the written Finnish language. Agricola was also a protestant reformer and he played a crucial role in bringing the Bible into the Finnish language as he translated and  the whole New Testament and parts of the Old Testament into Finnish.

The Finnish embassy has a short and informative article about the life of Mikael Agricola. Here's a paragraph that describes his literary work:

Creating religious literature in the Finnish language became an entire life-work for Agricola, as according to the principles of Luther, everyone was entitled to the ability of reading the Bible in their own language. Agricola started to translate the New Testament into Finnish already in Wittenberg and it was published in 1548 under the name ’Se Wsi Testamentti’. Five years prior to that, he had already published the first book in the Finnish language, ‘Abckiria’, which consisted of the basics of reading and the Christian doctrine. A grand goal of Agricola was to translate the entire Bible into Finnish but he has no funding for it. He, however, translated various parts of the Old Testament in a number of books and he also wrote church manuscripts for the church services.

It could be said that what William Tyndale is for the English language, and Martin Luther for the German language, that is what Mikael Agricola is for the Finnish language. As a Finnish Christian, I am very thankful for his life and legacy.