Libertarian Catechesis? (Ron Paul, Is that You?)
But if we truly take Christ seriously, we *have* to part ways from the libertarians when they say “charity is optional.” Charity–uncomfortable, sacrificial charity–is essential to what Christ referenced when he said “Do this and you will live.” Bryan Caplanoffers, in the question-answer format of a catechism, one of the most succinct summaries of true... Continue Reading
Starving Under Expository Preaching?
I am a big fan of expository preaching and teaching. To preach the Word of God verse by verse and “give the meaning” is one of the highest forms of honor to God’s Word, and the most fulfilling food to the sheep…unless… …it is devoid of Christ and His Grace. “The Law was given through... Continue Reading
The Christian, Manly Discourse and the Democratization of Information
“Your answer is now required Marcion, murderer of the truth…you utter scoundrel, who pronounce ‘innocent’ the assassins of God…” Tertullian @ Nicea “O Praxeus, you heretic who has crucified the Father and driven away the Holy Spirit.” Tertullian, Against Praxeus A friend tells me that Duke University singled out the PCA for egregious offense in... Continue Reading
The Turmoil in the Middle East; Another View
Westerners are looking at what is happening on the Egyptian streets and wondering if it is good for an oppressed people to protest against a semi-dictatorial regime. Most of these young protesters cannot find jobs, and inflation has ravaged the middle class, to say nothing of the gulf between the very rich and the very... Continue Reading
The Supreme Court Is Not Our Benevolent Dictator
The Supreme Court is, or should be, what Chief Justice John Roberts rightly called “an umpire.” As he said to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing, “Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don’t make the rules, they apply them.” The clear... Continue Reading
The Dark Side of the Super Bowl – Police watch for sex trafficking
“As a man and as a father of two beautiful girls, I’m not buying it — and neither should you,” Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff says in one television ad. “If you’re one of these men buying these young girls, I’m telling you that real men don’t buy children. They don’t buy sex.” As... Continue Reading
A Caution for Expository Preaching
Published sermons of any other kind are few and far between, for publishers definitely favour the “expository” on the grounds of their popularity. In our view, however, it is time that the disadvantages of this view of preaching are at least considered In a number of circles today “expository preaching” is in vogue, and it... Continue Reading
Behind The Scenes In Egypt – The ideology of protesters may have little to do with who ends up in power
With Egypt in a state of crisis and the armed forces stepping in to manage that crisis, however, elections are nowhere near assured. What is now in question is what groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and others are considering should they fear that their historic opportunity could be slipping. . . . There is more... Continue Reading
Left State University
Professor Irvine has discovered something I have also discovered about the liberal professoriate; namely, that they see no reason for debate. In their eyes, the debate is over on all the major issues of the day. Of course, in their eyes they won all the major debates. William Irvine is a professor of philosophy at... Continue Reading
The Anxious Parent – Lessons from a Trampoline
The second, I think, suffer the most anxiety, because while they worry about the alternatives, they will not adopt the tiger mother style, which is just too alien, too different from the dominant, affirming style of affluent American parenting. Most of us would feel a little silly, if not false… The trampoline, that upset them.... Continue Reading