Dr. Michael F. Bird

Deputy Principal at Ridley College. Neutestamentler. Anglican Priest. Love Jesus, hate coffee! CEO Evangelia Media. Views my own. Pronouns: χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

The evangelical world needs leaders who embody holiness, not hubris; who grow disciples, not groom sycophants; who see themselves as naked before Christ, not robed in the prestige of their platforms; who know that when success becomes an idol that bullying becomes a sacrament.

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

Goodbye to Perplexity AI
Perplexity Pro was the ultimate AI research tool? Clear sources, great shortcuts, and excellent model choices. But now, core features have been aggressively credit-gated. A Pro subscription seems worthless.💸 https://t.co/qrllNvFXDo
#perplexity

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

The Self-Exaltation Hymn: Teacher, Angel, or Messiah?
The Dead Sea Scrolls’ Self-Exaltation Hymn (4Q491c) offers a stunning parallel to how the early Church understood the suffering and super-exaltation of Jesus. https://t.co/dNWy3sRCfk

[Matthew R. Crawford @mattrcrawford]

Tomorrow night Jodi Magness will be giving a public lecture for us here at ACU Melbourne. It's not too late to sign up to attend! Details below.

https://t.co/5EmOqCAsny

[John Dickson @johnpauldickson]

The towering intellect of third-century Christianity, Origen of Alexandria (185–253), opened his celebrated rebuttal of Greek arguments against Christianity with a striking claim: the best defence of Jesus Christ is not a series of counter-arguments from an educated elite like himself, but simply "Christ's own life and actions" and “the lives of His genuine disciples.”
_______________________
"Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ was silent when false witnesses spoke against him, and answered nothing when he was accused; he was convinced that all his life and actions among the Jews were better than any speech in refutation of the false witness and superior to any words that he might say in reply to the accusations ... He is still silent in face of this and does not answer with his voice; but he makes his defence in the lives of his genuine disciples, for their lives cry out the real facts and defeat all false charges, refuting and overthrowing the slanders and accusations." (Origen, Contra Celsum, Preface 1-3)

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

The Self-Exaltation Hymn: Teacher, Angel, or Messiah?
The Dead Sea Scrolls’ Self-Exaltation Hymn (4Q491c) offers a stunning parallel to how the early Church understood the suffering and super-exaltation of Jesus. https://t.co/dNWy3sRCfk

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

Goodbye to Perplexity AI
Perplexity Pro was the ultimate AI research tool? Clear sources, great shortcuts, and excellent model choices. But now, core features have been aggressively credit-gated. A Pro subscription seems worthless.💸 https://t.co/qrllNvFXDo
#perplexity

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

@megbasham Megan, I’m only as liberal as Deborah, Huldah, Mary, Phoebe, Lydia, Nympha, and Priscilla!

[Jeremy Wayne Tate @JeremyTate41]

This is the illumination of the Passion Façade at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

Happy King's Birthday to Republicans and Revolutionaries.
Long live the King!
Long live our constitutional monarchy!
Long live our liberal democracy which is secured and safeguarded by the crown!

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

@DennyBurk Denny, if prohibiting women from certain offices/functions has confessional status with a cooperative basis, why not make protecting women and empowering women a confessional tenet with a cooperative basis? Otherwise, enjoy that Florida sunshine!

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

"Other Potential Prohibitions"

I wish all the SBC delegates in Orlando well, but I ask them to consider:

Why is it that patriarchs can follow their conscience in how prohibitive they want to be of women, but everybody else’s conscience and congregation is constrained in how far they can enable women in Christian service?

Big limits on what SBC churches can let women do!
But no limits on what SBC churches can prohibit women from doing!

Is that fair to SBC women?

https://t.co/jrPHtN2lzo

[Premier Unbelievable? @UnbelievableFE]

Is patriarchy part of the fall? Should Christians still tithe? @profntwright & @mbird12 explore Genesis, giving, and how we handle tough questions today. #AskNTWright #FaithQuestions #ChristianGiving
https://t.co/DiSJlcKY4Q

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

I had no idea that @UniofOxford was now run by a thuggery of rainbow guards from the gender revolution.

[Michael Foran @michaelpforan]

Due to escalating disruptive protests, I have decided to cancel the remainder of these lectures. This is deeply lamentable, but the disruption has undermined the academic nature of this series. Students shouldn't face bullying or harassment when attending academic events.

[Robert P. George @McCormickProf]

Amen, brother Frank. Amen!

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

This Week in Word from the Bird
Mon: “Other Potential Prohibitions” for Women
Tues: The Monarchy of the Father
Wed: Live Q&A Response
Thurs: I’ve made you a God to Pharaoh (Exod 7:1)
Fri: More ANTWA https://t.co/IUao22M6wm

[Jason A. Staples @jasonstaples]

Just learned that _Paul and the Resurrection of Israel_ is on sale at Amazon for $24.65, which is the cheapest I've ever seen it. Take advantage! Buy an extra few as gifts! https://t.co/ADRDayuuGe (affiliate link)

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

@DennyBurk Say what?

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

Denny, forgive me for chiming in, but I gotta ask, given your analysis:
(1) How is "specifically" different to "such as"?
(2) What are these "other potential prohibitions"? Women can't be deacons, pray in public, vote? Give us some examples!
(3) Is there some kind of award for who makes the most prohibitions?
(4) Are there any prohibitions that you believe should be prohibited?
(5) This amendment would disfellowship or censure (or whatever term) a church with a female youth pastor, but would YOU do the same to a church that does not let women pray in public worship, or teaches that women should not vote?
It sounds like patriarchs can follow their conscience in how prohibitive they want to be, but everybody else is constrained in how their conscience lets them promote women in Christian service.
It sounds like all prohibitions are permissible, but there is no interest in protecting women from needless and unfair prohibitions.
Where is that famous Southern chivalry that stands up and says, "Leave that woman alone or I shall be forced to take action that will be most injurious to your person good sir"?
BTW, these are genuine questions. I'm looking in and telling you what I see.

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

@brandon_d_smith Alas, we have to deal with the world the way it is, not as we would like it to be. AI is not going anywhere, so we have to prepare students on how to use it or devise assessments where it cannot be used or its use does not interfere with learning outcomes.

[Dr. Michael F. Bird @mbird12]

If William Wolfe believes in doing the opposite of whatever I say, then “I would like to declare that Southern Baptist should forever abstain from pouring honey and fire ants into their underpants.” Now we wait!

[William Wolfe 🇺🇸 @WilliamWolfe]

The Australian egalitarians (@danitreweek and @mbird1) are cheering on Bruce Frank’s endorsement of the change to Mohler’s Truth & Unity Amendment

Not good!