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However the society decides this issue, I hope ETS will continue to see itself as a wide space for discussing biblical-theological and related issues within the bounds of an unshakable commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture.

What do you hope will come of renewed debates about the doctrine of justification?

I believe there is a need for discussing the basic doctrines of our faith over and over again, not with the intent of discovering a new doctrine, but discovering new dimensions of old doctrines.

Since the doctrine of justification was the "watchword" of the Reformation, and thus the one doctrine, perhaps above all others, by which Protestantism distinguishes itself from its Catholic and Orthodox communions, it is only wise that we should talk about it and try to understand why our understanding distinguishes us from other Christian brothers and sisters. In so doing, I hope we shall come to a better understanding of the theological dilemma we have and do face, and find that behind the doctrine of justification stands our common Lord.

From my point of view, this is not likely to erase the reformers' understanding of justification, but hopefully will bring us to a better understanding of each other, and that can only be a touch of God's grace.

Is there further need for ETS to discuss the resignation of president Francis Beckwith?

The executive committee issued a statement that we considered to be honest and balanced. We wanted to respect Professor Beckwith, a brother in Christ, while lamenting his loss to our society and to Protestantism more generally. Some think we said too much, and others too little, and some, the executive committee included, just enough.

But for sure, our statement is not and ought not be the last word on the theological issues that divide Protestants and Roman Catholics. We only spoke out of our specific context, one that took us by surprise and created a momentary crisis in the society, while raising an issue of importance far beyond the bounds of ETS.

While the society itself is not continuing the discussion in this year's meeting—the program theme had been planned several years ago—the Evangelical Philosophical Society, that meets alongside ETS, will hold a discussion on "Evangelicals and Catholics in Dialogue," hearing representatives from both theological traditions.

In addition to this, the society is sponsoring a discussion of Francis Beckwith's book, Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion, at which Professor Beckwith will be a participant. Speaking only for myself, not for the society, I would welcome a more focused discussion of this issue, particularly the topic of justification, at a later annual meeting of the society.

• Writing in Evangelical Missions Quarterly (print only), Rick Brown addresses Muslim objections to the term "Son of God." In doing so he also explains theological objections to some Bible translators who opt for different phrasing, such as "God's Beloved Christ," "the Christ whom God loves as a Father loves his Son," or "the Prince of God."
  
  
• "Lament in the Bible speaks of betrayal and abandonment, disappointment with God, injustice and enemy attacks, illness and death. It is both personal and corporate. Lament psalms are the most common type of psalms, which indicates that lament was voiced regularly," write Brian Webster and David Beach in Bibliotheca Sacra (online only for paid subscribers). They lament, "But a survey of most hymnals shows a startling lack of hymns that express lament, a gap also noted in contemporary Christian music." Webster and Beach use Jesus as the prime example of godly lament.
  
  

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November (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51