The Scroll - March 20, 2014 by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Volume 69, Number 10

Campus Newspaper of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary • Fort Worth, Texas

Thursday, March 20, 2014

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Gala provides time of worship, musical enjoyment pg 3 »

Former evangelistic atheist becomes passionate Christian evangelist By Michelle Tyer | SWBTS Students and faculty at Southwestern can easily recognize first-semester student Putti Sok riding her longboard, often with a flower in her hair. Even more recognizable is her passion for the Gospel and evangelism. But just a few years ago, she did not even know the Gospel. Sok’s parents are both Cambodian, but she was born in Long Beach, Calif., and grew up in Dallas. Despite being raised in the United States, the Cambodian culture still influenced her life. “My identity as a young girl, I saw myself as a Cambodian Buddhist girl,” Sok says. “Why? Because my parents told me.” Cambodia is about 95 percent Buddhist, Sok says, and her family continued to carry out the religion’s traditions when they came to America. But those traditions meant little to Sok. “As for the meaning behind what we did in the Buddhist belief, it was confusing to me,” Sok says. “I didn’t really understand it.” Sok considered Buddhism a ritual that came with the culture, just as she saw Christianity as a religion only for Americans. In junior high and high school, Sok began to realize that religion is a decision and not inherited culturally. But instead of choosing either belief, she became an “evangelistic atheist.” She would ask others what they believed about God, challenging them to try to convince her that God exists. Beginning her college education at the University of Texas at Arlington in

by James R. Wicker | Associate Professor of New Testament

2008, one of Sok’s goals was to build deep relationships. She succeeded in that as she made many friends, several of them Christians and active in the Baptist Student Ministry on campus. Despite the differing beliefs, Sok participated in Bible studies and attended church with her friends, whom she says were faithful in telling her about Christ. “They shared the Gospel with me over and over again,” Sok says. At times, Sok would even serve neighbors alongside her Christian friends, doing chores or other projects for those they met. While her friends would tell those they served that they did it because they wanted to show Christ’s love, Sok could only say that she was doing it because of her love.

“It wasn’t until later that I saw everything I was doing was becoming meaningless and in vain if it didn’t have eternal meaning,” Sok says. Her sophomore year, Sok began to realize that if God were real, He would be able to hear her prayers. Each night, she began to pray that He would help her understand what she heard from her friends and read in the Bible because it seemed like foolishness to her. Then one day, Sok entered a closet in the BSM’s building that had been turned into a prayer room. Inside, she found a bowl filled with pieces of paper with the names of students’ lost friends. One after another, Sok looked at the slips of paper, Putti Sok pg 2 »

Get to know your professors: Paul Gould By Michelle Tyer | SWBTS Jan. 1, 2014, brought not just a new year but a new home and position to Paul Gould, a recent addition to the faculty at Southwestern. Spending the past 16 years serving with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), Gould now serves Southwestern as a professor of philosophy and Christian apologetics. Born in Milwaukee, Wis., Gould came to know Christ as a college student through CRU, despite his initial doubts. “I didn’t believe that stuff, but if it’s true then I missed the boat, is essentially what I believed,” Gould says. Wanting to discover the truth, Gould began asking questions, reading about

Thank You for Bringing Jesus Back to the Big Screen: Movie Review of “Son of God”

Christianity, and speaking with Christians. Finally, while reading the Bible while home from school, Gould realized the foolishness of unbelief. “I knew in my mind that it was true,” Gould says. Gould’s wife also became a Christian through CRU’s efforts, and they both became active in that ministry. “We had a huge heart for college students, so it was a real natural fit to join staff with them when we graduated,” Gould says. His first few years on staff with CRU, Gould began to see himself not just as a generalist but as someone with a specific calling.

“I realized that in my evangelism, I always seemed to veer toward the intellectual types,” Gould says. Those first few years with CRU, Gould treated his love for truth and defending that truth like a beach ball that he would push under water, only for it to reappear. But he began to realize that God would use this passion in a more specific way. That third year, Gould began to teach an apologetics class and came to realize he had an ability to teach. His students’ desire to learn how to give a reason for the hope they had also encouraged him. Paul Gould pg 2 »

Jesus has been missing from the big screen for too long. It has been 10 years since Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ,” and it focused only on the end of the Passion Week. But for a Bible-based full life of Christ, it has been 35 years since the “Jesus” movie (1979) and 49 years since “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965). Roma Downey (star of the television series “Touched by an Angel”) and her husband, Mark Burnett (producer of “Survivor,” “The Voice,” “The Apprentice,” and “Shark Tank”), said the idea Son of God pg 4 »

Preaching workshop explores 1 John By Keith Collier | SWBTS Several hundred pastors and students developed a better understanding of the book of 1 John and how to preach it during Southwestern’s 10th annual Expository Preaching Workshop, March 3-4. Sessions led by seminary faculty and guest speakers ranged from sermons on specific passages to helpful resources and strategies for preaching through the book to handling difficult texts. “Do you want to know how to have power in the pulpit?” asked Robby Gallaty, senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. “Start preaching what God says.” “When you preach what God says, that’s what motivates and moves the hearts of men and women.” Gallaty led two sessions during the workshop, his first being a sermon on 1 John 2:28-3:3 and his second being “Five Pitfalls that will Sidetrack Your Preaching Ministry.” During this second session, Gallaty explained his sermon preparation process and gave helpful instruction on understanding the meaning of the text, delivering a text-driven sermon and developing as a preacher. Steven Smith, vice president for student services and communications at Southwestern, gave instruction on preaching EPW 2014 pg 2 »

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Putti Sok » continued from page 1 and over and over again, she found her own name on the slips. Witnessing the faithfulness of her friends after a full year, despite her previously telling them not to pray for her, Sok burst into tears that day in the tiny prayer room. “I [had] told them,” Sok says. “I was very adamant about it—‘Stop praying for me. I’m never going to become a Christian; that’s never going to happen.’ God was softening my heart then, and I started asking God, ‘God, please allow me to have this faith that I do not have.’”

The very next day, Sok went to the Riverbend Retreat Center with the BSM where they heard from a guest speaker. “I felt that God was asking me to respond,” Sok says. “All my questions and concerns and doubts that I had, I finally laid aside, and then that night I prayed to receive Christ.” The next morning, Sok still felt unsure that her decision was enough or genuine, but in her time over the previous year with the BSM, she had heard that there would be fruit of her faith. Such fruit became evident after

returning from the retreat and going back to UTA. “All of a sudden, I just had a desire to go and share with people,” Sok says. “God is real, and He has changed my heart.” After making that decision to follow Christ, Sok also decided to follow His leading into ministry. Upon completing her undergraduate work at UTA, Sok served as a campus missionary for a year, led the BSM’s Friday evangelism group and a dorm ministry, and this year is serving as an intern for the BSM, discipling student leaders as well as new believers.

But Sok also believed that to continue in that ministry that she should continue her education at a theological school to equip and prepare her. “I looked at different seminaries and felt God was really leading me to Southwestern,” Sok says. “I love it.” Taking just one class this semester, Sok says she looks forward to being a full-time student studying missiology in the fall and getting involved with the evangelism opportunities Southwestern provides.

Paul Gould » continued from page 1 “Christianity is true; truth is on our side,” Gould says, “but we’re losing the classroom, and that wasn’t an option for me. … I found these newfound passions as I engaged students with the Gospel. I realized I just wanted them to know how to defend their faith.” A Bible study in Luke—which says Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, where His purpose was found on the cross—and a testimony quoting Olympian Eric Liddell, who said he experienced God’s pleasure when he ran, led Gould to seek his own purpose and passion further. “What is it God that, when I do it, I experience Your pleasure?” Gould prayed. “And for me it was immediately obvious,” Gould recalls. “It was sharing the Gospel in the context of the life and the mind.” With that realization, Gould applied for graduate school and received his Master’s in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Purdue University.

Gould continued serving with CRU and transitioned to the faculty the last 10 years, helping professors integrate their faith with their scholarship. But as he rose in leadership, Gould found he did not have as many opportunities to teach. In recent years, while continuing to teach apologetics with CRU, he also taught at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. “This is indeed what God has created me for,” Gould says, “to write and to speak and to engage the Gospel in the life of ideas.” Gould was drawn to Southwestern through conversation with friends and Southwestern professors Travis Dickinson and Keith Loftin. The work of God on the campus and the vision of an apologetics program for the school attracted Gould. “Crusades’ DNA is win, build, send,” Gould says. “And Southwestern is very much about preaching the Gospel and faithfully defending and upholding the

Word of God, so my DNA resonated with it. … There’s a vision to build a program that would make a difference in the culture and in people’s lives. I was drawn to that.” Gould enjoys serving with the apologetics faculty at Southwestern, already

“people will lose confidence in us; but that’s not the bad part. If we ignore hard texts, they lose confidence in God’s Word. God has no other plan to relate to your people outside of His Word. “If you can explain [difficult texts] in a winsome way, without glossing them, taking your time and walking your people through it, … you’ve given people an unbelievable gift. They will trust their Bibles, and as a consequence, they will trust you.” Southwestern’s dean of the School of Theology David Allen dug from his decades as a pastor and preacher to provide what he considered the best resources for preaching 1 John, including books and commentaries. Allen authored 1–3 John: Fellowship in God's Family in the Preaching the Word

series by Crossway, released in 2013, which he considers an “expository sermon-tary” more than a commentary because it is a collection of sermons through John’s epistles. Matthew McKellar, associate professor of preaching at Southwestern, challenged pastors to deliver the message of 1 John as a pastor-evangelist. He appealed to 1 John 2:1-2 and John’s emphasis on Jesus’ substitutionary atonement and advocacy on behalf of Christians. “According to this text,” McKellar said, “every believer has an advocate at all times in the best place who offers real help.” Jerry Vines, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., also joined the conference, as he has done since 2005. Vines preached a chapel sermon on

considering what new courses will be offered as well as annual conferences on the subject. “There’s no objection that Christianity can’t handle,” Gould says. “We worship a God that is not only beautiful as our Redeemer but also brilliant as our Creator and Sustainer. … In Him are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Gould hopes Southwestern’s programs will train and equip believers to engage in apologetics and evangelism both inside and outside the church. “Jesus is our greatest need and our highest good,” Gould says. “If we can effectively [teach] students, that of all the competing stories that are out there that compete for our allegiance and invite our participation, that Christianity is the one true story of the world that understands me and will satisfy all my desires for happiness and significance and love, I think that’s a good place to start.”

EPW 2014 » continued from page 1

difficult texts in Scripture, primarily using passages from 1 John as examples. He warned pastors not to ignore difficult texts but to interpret and explain them with humble confidence. “If we ignore texts,” Smith said,

Psalm 51, which he called the Old Testament version of 1 John 1:9. Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson concluded the conference with an exposition on 1 John 5:1-12. “The Spirit of God is a witness, and He’ll take the preacher with a heart for God and a love for the lost, and He’ll ingrain that message in your heart until, like the prophet, there is fire in your bones and you cannot keep silent,” Patterson said. As part of this year’s Expository Preaching Workshop, Southwestern hosted about a dozen pastors from Brazil who were on campus for the workshop as well as intensive classes in preaching and pastoral ministry later in the week.

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Gala provides time of worship, musical enjoyment By Michelle Tyer | SWBTS

The School of Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary provided an enjoyable evening of music at the 11th annual Gala, Feb. 27. “We’ve come to lift up the Lord,” Leo Day, dean of the School of Church Music, said in his introduction, reading Bible passages of praise and songs. “Let everything that has breath tonight, praise the Lord.” About 1,200 members of the community and the Southwestern family attended the event. “It was a beautiful, collective, unified School of Music function that everybody knew why they were there,” Day said. “And that was to worship God and not to be seen.” Day felt that God did bless and magnify the Gala even as the performers and members of the audience worshiped. “I think it went very well,” Day said. “I don’t take it for granted when God walks into the room.”

While in past years Gala featured special guest artists such as Steve Green, this year the music school displayed its own students and faculty in the Southwestern Singers, Chamber Chorale, Chapel Choir, Mansemble, Jazz Combo, and other performers, alongside the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

College and graduate students and faculty performed a wide variety of styles, including jazz pieces, hymns sung in traditional and more contemporary ways, opera, spirituals, as well as songs sung in different languages. “In the past the Gala was more classically geared, and that was the goal,” Day

said. “My vision is a more inclusive one for all of the different styles we are, all of the different people we are, all of the different sounds we are. … Why not use all of who we are?” After the program, Day received an email from a faculty member of some 40 years who wrote that he believed that the Gala represented the true self of the school more than it ever had before. Former music minister and Southwestern alumnus Phil Jones attended the concert with fellow members of a local church. “I was encouraged by the giftedness of the young performers,” Jones said. “Their skills coupled with their Christian foundation will make a difference for Christ in the years ahead.” This was also Jones’ first time to see and hear Day, who was taking part in the Gala for the first time since joining Southwestern in 2013. “His musical artistry was wonderful, and his obvious love for the Lord will help church musicians understand the depth of their role in ministry,” Jones said. President Paige Patterson pointed out the blessing the music school is at Southwestern. “When every other seminary music school in the country has gone out of business, God is blessing ours,” Patterson said. Day says the endurance of the program is largely because of the leadership that has a passion for it. Near the end of the program, Day introduced the old spiritual song, “Calvary,” saying the song and the entire program was “all about the cross.” The concert ended with a non-traditional, soulful version of the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah that had the audience on their feet and clapping. Day, David Thye, John Simons, and Kurt Sprenger each conducted songs through the evening. Vocal soloists included David Robinson, Angela Cofer, Chan Yang Lim, John Green, Leo Day, Genesis Miranda, and Reynier Carballosa. The evening also featured violin and organ pieces.

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Son of God » continued from page 1

Variations from "the Bible"

for the “Son of God” movie came while filming “The Bible” television miniseries. The cast and crew watched weekly cuts of the series, and they decided to add some footage and make the feature-length film “Son of God.” One hundred million people watched the television series across the world, and one hopes even more people will watch “Son of God.” It is a positive movie about Jesus, and the world needs to hear and understand its message.

“The Bible” miniseries opened each episode with a helpful disclaimer: “This program is an adaptation of Bible stories that changed our world. It endeavors to stay true to the spirit of the book.” Although this reviewer was somewhat irritated by adaptations that seemed unnecessary, the miniseries remained true to this claim. One wishes this same disclaimer were placed somewhere in “Son of God.” It did not have to be in the opening credits. It could have been placed in the closing credits, but is does not appear. The inaccuracies in “Son of God” were in specific details, chronological changes, conflations of events, or additions to what is recorded in the four Gospels. Although these inaccuracies are mostly minor, it is helpful to note them for clarity about what the Gospels actually say.

Surpassing the Miniseries Although largely lifted out of “The Bible” miniseries, the “Son of God” movie has notable improvements. Rather than using the Sam Waterston-type of all-knowing-but-impersonal narrator of the miniseries, the narrator is now the Apostle John. The film opens with him exiled on Patmos. He is lonely, sitting in a cave by a fire. The movie is John’s fond reminiscing about his time with Jesus. So, his narration is personal, passionate, and poignant. Jesus has forever changed his life since they met more than 60 years ago. Of course, this narrator choice is fitting because John was likely one of the first Apostles (John 1:3540), he wrote the Gospel of John, and he outlived all of the other Apostles, writing Revelation while on Patmos (Rev. 1:9). The gospel message is very clear in the movie, and this is its greatest strength. The first words spoken are John saying the theologically packed words of John 1:1. Jesus says the concise gospel message in John 3:16 to Nicodemus. He says John 14:6 to the Apostles. He clearly states that He is the Son of God to Caiaphas and the chief priests and says His kingdom is not of this world to Pilate. Fittingly, this conversation is one of the longest extended conversations straight from the Scriptures (John 18:33-38). Later in the movie, these evangelistic conversations are recalled as flashbacks—effectively emphasizing their importance. Nicodemus is a key figure in “Son of God,” as he converts from being a willing collaborator with Caiaphas to an unwilling cog in the wheel of the Sanhedrin’s kangaroo court condemnation of Jesus to finally being a follower of Christ who sings a prayer while Mary anoints Jesus’ body for burial. Matthew goes from being a hated tax collector to an Apostle. Clearly, the movie shows why and how one must become a follower of Jesus. The musical score is beautiful, and this is not surprising since this collaborative team also worked on the movie “Gladiator.” The special effects are excellent, such as the hole in Jesus’ hands (even though the hole is in the wrong place). Other improvements over “The Bible” miniseries are more panoramic scenes and large group shots. Too many scenes in the “The Bible” miniseries appeared claustrophobic—close-ups likely to accommodate a small cast—but “Son of God” has a larger feel to it. Two video montages in the movie are quite moving. One thought-provoking scene of contrasts involves Jesus praying His agonizing prayer at Gethsemane, Caiaphas reciting his prayer in the Temple, and Claudia praying to her ancestors by an idol of a Roman god while her husband Pontius Pilate stood beside her. This is a powerful scene as it shifts back and forth between three people fervently praying. But as the movie depicts and the Bible

Inaccuracies in specific details

makes clear, sincerity and ritual are not enough. Caiaphas attempts to pray to God while rejecting God’s Son, and that simply cannot work. If one rejects the Son, one rejects the Father (Matt. 10:32-33; John 15:23-24). Claudia prays to ancestors who cannot hear and to a god who does not exist. Only Jesus, the Son of God, was truly communicating with the one true God. In another moving montage, Jesus is being whipped—accurately portrayed as He is chained to a low wooden post. The camera cuts back and forth between the soldiers brutally whipping Jesus, a man counting each lash by moving rocks on a board, His mother, Mary, and some disciples painfully watching through a gate, Pilate and Claudia observing from a distance, and Judas hanging himself. This scene is quite effective and also not as gruesome as the one in Mel Gibson’s movie. Interestingly, some key cuts from “The Bible” miniseries made “Son of God” a stronger presentation of Jesus and His message. They omitted all scenes of Herod the Great. Even though he was accurately portrayed in the television series as fat, sweaty, gross, murderous, and maniacal, omitting him from this film allowed more footage of Jesus’ ministry. They cut out Gabriel in human form, and that is good since those scenes came off as slightly cheesy. However, the cheesiest and most controversial omitted scenes—and also the inappropriately funny scenes—were those of the Satan figure who was inadvertently a President Obama doppelganger. Those scenes detracted from the message of “The Bible” miniseries, so omitting them was a smart and effective move.

Accurate Story with Many Accurate Details Before listing the inaccuracies in the movie, it is important to note the movie got the story right. It clearly and effectively shows Jesus’ teaching, such as His emphasis on love and forgiveness, His miracles, and His message that resulted in His crucifixion. He is the Messiah (the Christ) and

the Son of God. Also, it got most of the details right. Here are some examples: 1. The costuming is very good, and the building architecture is accurate. 2. The size and type of Galilean boat Jesus and the Apostles use is correct, based on the discovery of the Galilee Boat in 1986. 3. Peter uses a circular net that is weighted around the perimeter—a common single-person fishing net for that day. 4. The Jewish phylactery on the male Jewish foreheads is correctly depicted. 5. Jesus uses His favorite term for Himself: “Son of Man” (see Matt. 8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8, 32, 40, for just a few examples). 6. Caiaphas correctly calls Pontius Pilate a “prefect.” Prefects ruled Judea from AD 6-41, and the higher-ranking procurators ruled after Agrippa I’s death in AD 44. 7. It correctly shows the Jewish hatred of Jewish tax collectors as collaborators who helped the despised Roman oppressors. 8. Refreshingly, here is a movie that shows that Mary Magdalene was not the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53-8:11) nor the woman who anointed Jesus in Luke 7:36-50! Also, it does not depict that entrapped woman as a prostitute, but just as a common woman. 9. It depicts Pontius Pilate as a ruthless, strong Roman ruler that got backed into a corner with what to do about Jesus. He could not let Tiberius hear that he let an accused insurrectionist free. 10. It records all seven sayings of Jesus from the cross in the correct order (Luke 23:34; 23:43; John 19:2627; Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34; John 19:28; 19:30; Luke 23:46). 11. Spoiler alert: it shows that Jesus bodily resurrected and appeared to followers over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3), and then He went to heaven (Acts 1:9-11).

1. The movie depicts three magi arriving to see the baby Jesus the night of His birth. However, Matthew mentions three gifts but does not say how many magi came. Also, they came later, when the family was living in a house (Matt. 2:11). It was up to two years later because Herod the Great killed baby boys two years of age and younger in a futile attempt to kill this baby king (Matt. 2:16). 2. It depicts crucifixion nails going through the palms of Jewish revolutionaries early in the movie and then the palms of Jesus later in the movie. However, medical doctors say the spikes must go through the wrist in order to hold a person to the cross.1 The Greek word cheiras (“hands,” Luke 24:39; John 20:20, 27) can refer to the palm, the hand, or the wrist, as indicated in Matt. 22:13; Acts 21:11; and 12:17 when referring to binding chains on one’s “hands”—actually the wrists. 3. When Jesus calls Peter in the fishing scene, He asks Peter to go to deeper water and fish. Yet, Luke records that Jesus first taught the multitudes from Peter’s boat, and then told Peter to go fish in deeper water. The movie has Peter with three baskets and a net full of fish. However, there were actually so many fish that Peter had to call his partners in another boat to come help—and the fish filled two boatloads so full that they began to sink (Luke 5:1-7). 4. It has Mary Magdalene asking Jesus to feed the 5,000 and Peter bringing the five loaves and two fish to Jesus. However, it was the Apostles who asked about feeding the crowd, and Andrew who brought Him the fish and bread (Luke 9:12; John 6:8-9). 5. It shows Jesus kneeling and praying to God the Father prior to feeding the 5,000. However, He prayed while “looking up toward heaven”2 at this event (Matt. 14:19; Mark 6:41; Luke 9:16). The typical Jewish prayer position was standing and looking up toward heaven. 6. When Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus’ dead body just has a

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simple tunic and no head cloth. This makes a dramatic scene as Jesus prays over the body in the tomb and Lazarus then opens his eyes. However, John says Jesus called out in a loud voice to Lazarus and certainly seemed to be outside of the tomb (John 11:43). Then John says Jesus told the people to unwrap Lazarus because his body and face were wrapped with cloths (v. 44). This affirms the typical Jewish method of burial: the body was wrapped with cloths and spices. The head was tied with a cloth napkin to hold the jaw shut. 7. When Jesus says to render to Caesar what is his and to God what is His, the coin depicted is bronze and much too large. Yet, the coin was a Roman denarius (Mark 12:15; Luke 20:24) that was used for the “poll-tax” (Matt. 22:19)—a small silver coin that varied in size between a U.S. dime and penny. 8. Jesus and the Apostles are seated upright at the Seder meal and Last Supper. However, for special meals like this, Jews reclined around a low table (Matt. 26:20; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:14; John 13:23), leaning on their left arm and eating with their right hand. 9. It depicts Judas Iscariot present during the Last Supper, but the Last Supper was the meal after the Passover Seder meal. Judas Iscariot was present for the Seder meal, then he left to betray Jesus, after which Jesus and the eleven Apostles had the Last Supper (Matt. 26:21-29; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:14-23; John 13:2130—although Luke does not give the chronological order here). Also, it has Judas Iscariot seated at Jesus’ right side and John seated across from Jesus; however, the only mention of where an Apostle sat in relation to Jesus at this meal was John, who sat at Jesus’ right side (John 13:23-25). 10. It shows Jesus giving the bread morsel to Judas Iscariot, and then all of the Apostles realize that Judas will be the betrayer. However, John clearly shows only John knew what Jesus did at this moment. When Judas left, the Apostles thought he was leaving to buy more food (John 13:23-30). 11. It depicts Golgotha as being far from the Temple and on a large hill. Although it was a hill, tradition says it was just outside of the city walls and likely not as high as depicted in this movie. Also, historians say the crucifixions would have taken place at the base of Golgotha rather than on Golgotha itself. 12. The movie includes Jesus’ crown of thorns, but it does not show His scarlet robe nor His reed (Matt. 27:28-29). 13. It depicts the crucifixion earthquake and darkness (although the darkness is not fully rendered in the movie), but it just shows a multi-sectioned Temple veil sort of billowing about. However, the one-piece veil was clearly torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51). 14. It shows the soldiers putting a sponge of sour wine on the end of a spear to give Jesus a drink after He says, “I thirst.” However, John notes the sponge was on “hyssop” (so, a branch of hyssop, John 19:29). This is an important detail because at the first Passover the Jews used hyssop to

apply the blood of the lamb on their lintel and doorposts (Ex. 12:22), and Jesus was the final Passover Lamb (John 1:29, 36). 15. When Jesus departs to heaven after 40 days of post-resurrection appearances, He appears to just fade away. However, Acts 1:9 says “He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

Chronological Inaccuracies 1. It has Claudia’s dream about Jesus early in the movie. However, Matthew mentioned it happened on Thursday night of the Passion Week. Also, the movie depicts Pontius Pilate discussing the matter with Claudia inbetween Jesus’ trials, but Matthew mentions she just sent him a note (27:19).

2. It shows Jesus’ evangelistic conversation with Nicodemus late in the Passion Week, but John places it in the early Judean ministry of Jesus (John 3:1-16). Nicodemus is a key figure in the movie as he comes to faith in Jesus late in the story, but it may be that he came to faith early in Jesus’ ministry, when the John 3 conversation occurred. 3. It places the scene during the Passion Week in which Caiaphas said they must get rid of Jesus in order to save Israel. Yet, John records this unwitting prophecy by Caiaphas after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead—likely some three to six months or so prior to the Passion Week (John 11:46-54). 4. The movie shows Jesus clearly telling His Apostles during the Last Supper that He will be betrayed, crucified and resurrected. However, the Gospels do not record Him saying this during the Last Supper. He did give these prophecies three times prior to the Passion Week (Matt. 16:21; 17:2223; 20:17-19—all three have parallels in Mark and Luke). 5. It depicts Peter’s three-time betrayal of Jesus on Friday morning after the full Sanhedrin passed sentence on Jesus, but Mark, Luke and John say it was Thursday night while there was a warming fire and while Peter was “in the firelight” (Luke 22:56). 6. It shows Peter giving his first two denials to a soldier or official, but all four Gospels depict Peter’s denials to servants (Matt. 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-65; John

18:25-27). The minor differences in the Gospel accounts are easily explained in that each time someone questioned Peter, others nearby echoed the same question. 7. The movie has Pilate ordering Jesus’ scourging prior to the release of Barabbas, but all four Gospels say Jesus was scourged after Barabbas was released (Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:1). 8. It has Pilate washing his hands after pronouncing judgment on Jesus, but Matthew and Mark seem to place this event prior to Pilate’s final pronouncement (Matt. 27:24-26; Mark 15:15). 9. It shows Caiaphas objecting to the three-language title for Jesus’ cross prior to it being written. However, John records the objection by the chief priests was clearly after the title was written and affixed to Jesus’ cross (John 19:19-22).

Conflations of events 1. In the movie Jesus gives the parable of the praying Pharisee and Publican when He calls Matthew to be an Apostle (Matt. 9:9-13). But Luke placed this parable much later in Jesus’ ministry: during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Luke 18:9-14). 2. The movie depicts Mary Magdalene asking Jesus to tell them how to pray during Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and He responds by giving the Lord’s Prayer. However, Luke 11:1-4 clearly records that at a different location (Judea), and much later in Jesus’ ministry, a disciple asked this question and Jesus responded. 3. It records Jesus giving some of His teachings on seeking God’s Kingdom from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6) during His feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:4-13). Of course, there were certainly times that Jesus repeated His teachings, and He could have given this same teaching to this large crowd that He fed, but of what is known about Jesus, this is a conflating of events. 4. It has Peter give his great confession of who Jesus is around a campfire near the shores of the Sea of Galilee right after Jesus feeds the 5,000. However, this confession happened later and up north—at Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:13-20; Mark 8:2730; Luke 9:18-21). 5. It has Jesus at the Temple during Passion Week saying it is easier for

a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven. However, He gave this teaching to His disciples after talking with the rich young ruler earlier, during His Perean ministry (Matt. 19:23-24; Mark 10:23-26; Luke 18:24-26).

Additions to the biblical text 1. The Scriptures do not mention Judas Iscariot coughing up the bread morsel that Jesus gave him, but that is a fitting scene in the movie. 2. Another moving scene not from the Bible is the encounter of Jesus with Barabbas a few days prior to Jesus’ arrest. Barabbas insolently and somewhat sarcastically challenges Jesus to lead a rebellion against Rome, but Jesus declines and then calmly silences Barabbas. 3. It shows the traditional three falls of Jesus while carrying His cross. However, the Gospels do not record Jesus falling even one time. He may have fallen, but the Gospels do not record it (Matt. 27:31-33; Mark 15:20-22; Luke 23:26-33; John 19:17-18). 4. It has the traditional scene of Jesus’ mother, Mary, running up to Him after His first fall and a woman wiping Jesus’ face after the third fall. The Gospels do not mention these events. An extra-biblical legend names the woman Veronica and says that Jesus’ image miraculously appeared on her cloth. The name “Veronica” comes from the Latin words vera icon (“true icon”). It is not wise to add non-biblical legends to the biblical account of Jesus. 5. As did Gibson’s movie, this movie adds the touching pietà scene Michelangelo masterfully carved into marble. This beautiful statue of Mary cradling the dead body of her son is in St. Peter’s cathedral today.

Conclusion The movie’s inaccuracies, however, are mostly in minor details and do not detract from the overall positive story and message. The “Son of God” is an excellent, well-acted, spiritually moving, evangelistic movie about the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus that Christians across all denominations should support. A positive response at the box office can send a strong message to Hollywood that Christians want to see this kind of uplifting, positive, and biblical film. Also, “Son of God” can be an effective evangelistic tool to get the non-Christian viewer to read the book (the Bible), and more importantly: to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord. He truly is the Son of God. Endnotes 1. William D. Edwards, Wesley J. Gabel, and Floyd E. Hosmer, “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,” JAMA (3-21-1986):1459. 2. All Bible quotations in this article are from the New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1995).

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The Scroll

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Campus News »

Carroll, Scarborough award recipients honored for investment in Southwestern By Keith Collier | SWBTS Southwestern honored Gil and Ann Stricklin and Dale and Linda Behan as recipients of the L.R. Scarborough and B.H. Carroll awards, respectively, March 5. President Paige Patterson praised both couples for their commitment to the Lord and support of the seminary during a luncheon in their honor. In 1984, Gil Stricklin started Marketplace Ministries, which provides chaplains for secular businesses and care for their employees. Over the past 30 years, the ministry has expanded across the United States and around the world. “He saw a rising need that nobody had ever thought of,” said Patterson. “Who would ever guess that industry would need a chaplain?” Stricklin expressed his gratitude for the award, sharing his own experience as a student at Southwestern in the 1960s, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity, and then his return to the seminary in the 1980s to study biblical languages and earn his master’s degree. After serving in the Air Force as a military chaplain, Stricklin served in the public relations with Southwestern and then with Billy Graham and as youth evangelism director with the

Baptist General Convention of Texas before starting Marketplace Ministries. “Ann and I have been grateful to be a part of the history of the school, and also we pray to be part of the future of it, as this seminary shares the Gospel with the whole world,” Stricklin said. “I cannot express the difficulty it was to come here with a family and with children to earn a degree from the seminary, it was not easy. And at that time, we had a desire placed in our heart that one day we were going to financially help other students that came to this seminary to get their degrees and to serve God.” For Dale and Linda Behan, the pattern of the right person at the right place at the right time defines not only their business success but also their connection with the seminary. Despite experiencing all the highs and lows of business in the contracting and oil industries, they recognize God’s faithfulness along the way. Dale Behan shared the story of going from a bankruptcy in the contracting business through the lean years of starting over in water transfer services for the oil industry to selling his company for several million dollars in 2011. Each step of the way, God placed the right people in their lives just at the right time.

Gil and Ann Stricklin L.R. Scarborough Award Recipient

Dale and Linda Behan B.H. Carroll Award Recipient

Eventually, the Behans became the right people at the right time for Southwestern Seminary. When the seminary was in need of new pianos for the music school, the Behans stepped in and funded the purchase of eight new Steinway pianos. “While it is true that today myself and my wife are center stage along with Gil and Ann and the attention is on, the truth

is that it’s not at all about us. It’s actually all about you. God shines on our lives by the people He places in our lives.” Both couples gave glory to God for their awards, noting that they are simply vessels used by Him to accomplish His purposes. Southwestern is grateful for their rich generosity in training future ministers and leaders in local churches and mission fields around the world.

Dockery encourages spiritual unity despite denominational distinction By Alex Sibley | SWBTS

In a Gallup poll two years ago, only 16 percent of Christians said their denominational identity was important to them. By comparison, in the same study, 21 percent of the general population said it mattered to them what kind of toothpaste they chose. “So denominational identity is not nearly as important in the lives of some as it is for me and for you,” said David Dockery, newly elected president of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., during Southwestern Seminary’s 2014 Day-Higginbotham lectures, March 6-7. In his lectures, Dockery, who is completing an 18-year tenure as president of Union University, examined the topics of denominational development and decline, evangelical identity, and the future of theological education in the 21st century. “Why look at denominations?” Dockery asked in his first lecture. “Because, historically, denominations have been the instruments used of God to help men and women who think in organizational terms to provide structure for carrying forth three major things: (1) the supporting and

starting of churches, (2) maintaining shared beliefs and practices, and (3) the enabling of shared work of evangelism, missions, education, and benevolence.” Dockery began his series of lectures by summarizing the long history of denominations, beginning with the three broad traditions that have shaped the understanding of the Christian faith throughout history: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Dockery discussed how various denominations broke off from these three branches over the years such that now there exist thousands of denominations and variations thereof. Dockery then looked at evangelicalism, which he said is distinct from a denomination. “Evangelicalism is a cross-denominational movement,” Dockery said. “[Evangelicals are] people who are heirs of the Reformation, influenced by Puritanism and pietism, shaped by the 18th-century revivals and 19th-century mission movements. Largely it's a renewal movement that countered liberalism, rigid fundamentalism, and dead orthodoxy.” Regarding evangelical identity, Dockery said it is “grounded in a commitment to the truthfulness and authority of the Bible, to the uniqueness of the Gospel, to the necessity of conversion, and to the need, then, for taking this Gospel to the ends of the earth in forms of service and mission.” Dockery ended his series by discussing the future of theological education.

He encouraged renewed emphasis on a number of topics, including biblical, theological and ministry formation (including the use of mentoring models rather than just lecturing hundreds of students at a time); helping students think about church health, renewal, and church planting; careful biblical interpretation and theological reflection; and a global vision that includes cross-cultural and inter-cultural conversations that are contextual, yet convictional.

In conclusion, Dockery said denominations are still important, as is evangelical identity, but he also stressed overall unity among Christians. “It is possible,” Dockery said, “to hold hands with brothers and sisters who disagree on secondary matters and work together toward a common good to extend the work of the Gospel around the world and advance the kingdom of God.”

The Scroll

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Page 7

around campus »

HOURS OF OPER ATION

On - C ampus jobs

A. Webb Roberts Library

Southwestern Outfitters

Security Dispatch Officer, 3–11 p.m. shift

Mon., Tues., Thurs., 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Wed., Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

Mon.– Fri., 7:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on weekends.

Southwestern Grill Breakfast (Mon.– Fri.): 6:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. Lunch (Mon.– Fri.): 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., 5:30–8:30 p.m. Closed on weekends.

Bowld Music Library Mon., 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tues., Thurs., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wed., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat., 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

Mon.– Fri., 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. RAC pool closes one hour early. Call for lifeguard hours. Closed on Sundays.

Position Requirements and Preferences 1. Physical ability to perform duties as defined by security policies and procedures.

3. Monitor campus mechanical systems via the energy management system.

Pastor Olive Baptist Church Pensacola, Florida

Campus Clinic

5. Respond to maintenance calls.

4. Maintain proper security logs.

6. Direct and monitor parking on campus. For the full job description or to apply please visit swbts.edu/humanresources. For questions, contact Heather Welborn at ext. 6200 or hwelborn@swbts.edu.

MAR 21

MAR 24

MAR 27

APR 25

APR 24

March Madness Viewing Party

More info: swbts.edu/musicacademy, musicacademy@swbts.edu or ext. 3241. SPRING 2014

MAY 22JUNE 8

The College Spring Finale 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | SBR. Spring Finale is a time for the entire college to come together to celebrate our seniors.

Southwestern Singers and Chamber Chorale Concert

JULY 2-20

Metochai 6:30-8:30 p.m. | SBR. Metochai is an organization for student wives. Guest speaker for March 24: Mrs. Cindy McCoy. Free childcare available for ages 6 months through 6th grade. Childcare reservations must be made by noon Monday, March 24. Contact Women’s Programs with questions or to make childcare reservations at mbullens@swbts.edu or call ext. 3600.

Arkansas Baptist State Convention Spring Visit

Marriage and Family Conference

Madagascar Mission Trip Up to 6 credit hours available. For more information, contact Daeyoung Lee at wmc@swbts.edu or ext. 7500.

SPRING 2014

Chiang Mai, Thailand Mission Trip Up to 6 credit hours available. For more information, contact Daeyoung Lee at wmc@swbts.edu or ext. 7500.

SPRING 2014

Afterschool Fun 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., Mondays or Wednesdays | NCC. Contact: Cheryl Bell at ext. 2970 or cbell@swbts.edu.

Kindermusik • Family Time | Mondays, 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. Birth–7 Years with parent. Sing, dance, play and make music with the whole family while building listening skills, self-control, turn-taking, cooperation and more! • Cuddle and Bounce | Mondays, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Birth–1 Year with parent. Play, dance, sing and bond with baby while helping baby develop and grow! Classes begin Feb. 3.

Southwestern Music Academy Quality education in a Christian setting. Lessons begin Jan. 21. Private lessons for ages 5-adult in piano, voice, strings, organ, flute and guitar. Reduced rate introductory lessons for beginning piano and string students through age 12. Registration is open to voice, piano, organ and violin students. Ten percent discount for siblings and seminary spouses. More info: swbts.edu/musicacademy, email musicacademy@swbts. edu or call ext. 3241.

7:30 p.m. | RA. For more information, contact lbyford@swbts.edu.

Representatives of the ABSC will be visiting the campus on Thurs., March 27, to speak with any students interested in potential places of Southern Baptist ministry within the state of Arkansas. Representatives will be available in the student center throughout the day. APR 11

The 2014 Summer and Fall Impact Scholarship applications are made available upon email requests made to financialaid@swbts.edu. All applications must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. April 17, 2014.

One Magnificent Obsession

6-9 p.m. | RAC. Rather than watch March Madness basketball games by yourself, Student Life invites you to join us to view the games in the RAC multipurpose room.

SPRING 2014

RAC Childcare T/Th 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | NCC. Childcare is available for parents wishing to work out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Rates for 1.5-hour sessions: Walk-in: $3.50/ child. Monthly: $16/child with $40/ month cap per family. Contact the NCC at ext. 2970 for more information.

Mother's Day Out 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays | NCC. Now enrolling children 2 months to 5 years. One- and two-day programs available as well as dropins on a first-come, first-serve basis. Extended hours: 1-4 p.m. Information on prices and days at www.swbts.edu/ childrenscenter. Contact: Cheryl Bell at ext. 2970 or cbell@swbts.edu.

Paid Cl a ssifieds Christian Brothers Automotive provides free shuttle service to and from the Seminary, home or work.

RC. Featuring Jennifer Morse, Rob Gagnon and Freda Bush. APR 17

March 27, 2014

Dr. Paige Patterson President Southwestern Seminary

Dr. Ryan Stokes

Land Center/Women’s Program Dinner

6 p.m. | WMC. Evenings of praise, presentation and prayer for the nations. Mar. 21: Germany; Mar. 28: Philippines.

Dr. Ted Traylor

April 1, 2014

Announcements

MAR 21

Vice President, South Region, North American Mission Board, SBC

Mon.– Fri., 6:45 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

Call ext. 8880 to schedule appointment. Weekdays: First appointment at 8:30 a.m. Last appointment at 4:30 p.m. Closed during lunch. Closed on weekends.

SBR. Guest speaker: Jennifer Morse. For female students, student wives, female faculty, and faculty wives. Free child care and free dinner for the first 75 registrants. To register, email mbullens@swbts.edu or call ext. 3600.

Dr. Stephen Davis

March 26, 2014

*All services are closed during chapel, Tues., Wed. and Thurs.

MAR 20

March 25, 2014

2. Provide radio dispatching and telephone operator services.

The Café

RAC

General security operations as well as respond to telephone calls and dispatch the information to patrol officers as necessary.

Chapel Schedule

Scholarship Deadlines The General Scholarship and Impact Scholarships will be open from March 17 – April 17. The 2014–2015 General Scholarship instructions are as follows:

Assistant Professor of Old Testament Southwestern Seminary April 2, 2014

Dr. Paige Patterson President Southwestern Seminary April 3, 2014

Dr. Ted Baehr Founder and Publisher of Movieguide® Chairman, Christian Film & Television Commission® Carmillo, California

follow on Twitter @swbts @swbtslife

Advertising Information The Scroll offers paid advertising opportunities for individuals, businesses, and ministries who want to reach Southwestern’s nearly 3,500 students, faculty, staff, and families. All advertising requires a contract prior to publication. Frequency discounts apply for ads in multiple issues. The Scroll reserves the right to refuse ads as well as void ad agreements. Rates and deadlines for ads available at swbts.edu/Scroll. Contact Keith Collier at Scroll@swbts.edu or ext. 4816 for more information.

1. Students must complete and submit the online application (found at swbts. edu/financialaid) before 11:59 p.m. April 17, 2014. 2. Students must send an email to financialaid@swbts.edu containing supporting documentation before 11:59 p.m. April 17, 2014. Required documents are: a copy of 2013 tax return and a copy of a current pay stub

*For all phone extensions, call the main line at 817-923-1921. SCM School of Church Music NCC Naylor Children’s Center Key: BH Barnard Hall CH Cowden Hall CMR Church Minister Relations F Fleming Hall FW Fort Worth Hall HHH Horner Homemaking House MC MacGorman Chapel NSC Naylor Student Center

PH RA RAC RC RL SBR

Price Hall Reynolds Auditorium Recreation/Aerobics Center Riley Center Roberts Library Seelig Banquet Room in NSC

S TA TCR WBR

Scarborough Hall Truett Auditorium Truett Conference Room Williamsburg Banquet Room in NSC WMC World Missions Center

pa i d c l a ss i f i e d s Paid classifieds can be placed at 25 cents per word. Contact Keith Collier at ext. 4816 or Scroll@swbts.edu for more information.

The Scroll is a publication of the Communications Group at Southwestern Seminary.

2001 W. Seminary Drive Fort Worth, TX, 76122 1-800-SWBTS-01 (toll free) (817) 923-1921 | swbts.edu

Page 8

The Scroll

Thursday, March 20, 2014

campus news »

Conference teaches photojournalists to honor God through storytelling By Alex Sibley | SWBTS An average of 55 million photographs are updated to Instagram every day. That’s 38,000 photographs every minute and 633 every second. “This is the heyday of photography,” said photographer Larry McCormack. “Collectively, we will take more photographs in six to nine months of 2014 than have ever been shot in the history of photography.” This prominence of photography was foundational to the 21st annual Southwestern Photojournalism Conference, Feb. 28-March 2, a gathering of visual communicators who believe that God has called them to tell stories, the greatest of which is the Gospel. Conference speakers included, among others, McCormack, a photographer for The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, Tenn.; Ron Londen, chief creative strategist for Journey Group, Inc.; and Greg Thompson, senior director and vice-president for communications at Chick-fil-a, as well as a tentmaker missionary. Speakers shared personal experiences, gave advice to young photographers, and stressed the importance of using photography to honor God. “As a Christian, I want you to be very careful not to confuse your job with your calling,” McCormack said. “Your job is something you do; your calling is who you are. Your primary calling is to magnify God's glory everywhere, at all times, with everyone. God has strategically placed you where you are to be salt and light. God has

a mission for you right where you are.” Speaking about workplace ministry, Greg Thompson said that “ministry is not necessarily doing something different; it's doing what you're doing differently. Sometimes you’re called to be a full-time supported missionary, but sometimes you're not.” Thompson concluded that wherever Christians are, be it in a newsroom or on the mission field, that is their place of ministry. In a similar vein, Ron Londen, in his presentation, stressed the importance of trusting God to provide the next steps in one’s career path, whatever they may be. “We don't have to be as concerned as we think sometimes about our profession,” Londen said. “Because when you're following Jesus, you're not blazing the trail. You don't need the map, because you're following. And all we need to do is follow him. It's not easy, but it is simple.” In addition to the speakers’ presentations, the conference also included a student workshop, a hands-on immersive experience for 30 college students.

This opportunity allowed students to go out in groups and shoot an assignment with a professional photographer (such as one of the speakers or a Southwestern staff member). Assignments included the Fort Worth Stockyards, Fossil Rim, and NYTEX Sports Center. These assignments were then critiqued, with coaches offering suggestions for improvement. “This was the best year for our student conference we've ever had,” said Matt Miller, director of photography at Southwestern and one of the conference’s coordinators. “We had to

close registration much earlier than we thought because we had reached our target number rather quickly.” Miller says, however, that the conference was not just about learning how to take good pictures. “Folks aren't just here to learn about lighting or shutter speeds or f-stops,” Miller says. “They’re here to learn how to tell better stories. They feel called into photojournalism [in order to] tell the greatest story, and that's the Gospel. ”

L I V E I N CONC ERT

CLOCK WHEN

APRIL 10, 2014 7:00 PM

� WHERE

MACGORMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER