Author: Pastor Rich Lusk
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Slow to Anger, Quick to Forgive
James 1:19 includes the exhortation to be “slow to anger.” The wise man controls his emotions, especially his temper. While it is possible for anger to be a constructive force when it is guided by virtue (see Mark 3:5 and Ephesians 4:26), more often than not, anger is a destructive force and therefore a deadly…
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Nature, Grace, and New Creation
The gospel = God restores (and glorifies) nature/creation through the death and resurrection of Christ. When we use the slogan, “grace restores nature,” we need to keep two things in mind: 1. Grace doesn’t just put creation back where it started, but ultimately brings us to the eschatological and glorious end God intended from the…
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The Original Paedofaith Essay
PAEDOFAITHA Primer on the Mystery of Infant SalvationBy Rich LuskAugust, 2004 In Psalm 22:9-10, David asserts that he had faith as an infant. He sees continuity between the faith he possesses now as an adult and the faith he had as a child, even in the womb. He explains that he had a God-ward orientation…
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Notes on Effeminacy, Feminism, and Other Odds and Ends
Effeminacy is the lack of masculinity where it ought to be. In that sense, only men can be effeminate, and in classical discussions of this vice that’s how it was presented. Effeminacy is a softness in men that prevents them from fulfilling their peculiarly masculine responsibilities. The term could also apply to speech or mannerisms,…
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X Marks the Spot on Baptism
Some of my X posts on baptism, collected into one place: A few notes on the debate over covenant baptism…. Some Baptists will claim the old covenant was merely physical (thus it included physical children) whereas the new covenant is spiritual (so physical children are excluded). But the core promises of the old covenant in…
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Legalism, Antinomianism, and Preaching the Whole Counsel of God
Teaching on the practicalities of Christian living is not legalism. It’s every pastor’s responsibility. — Christians need to know the difference between legalism/moralism and making every effort to be holy (Hebrews 12:14). — There is a ditch on both sides of the gospel – legalism is the ditch on one side, antinomianism is the ditch…
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Sermon follow-up: 1 Samuel 22
In 1 Samuel 22:2, a rag tag bunch of 400 men come to David. They are obviously outcasts and losers. These were angry, disaffected young men (you’ve probably seen the type – they are common today as well). These men are in distress, in debt, and discontent. We are not told if their suffering is…
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Thread on the Imputation of Christ’s Active Obedience
It’s time for a mega-thread on the doctrine of “the imputation of Christ’s active obedience” (IAO). The doctrine is spelled out in various ways by those who adhere to it, but basically it goes something like this: Christ’s actively obeyed the law, thus accumulating righteousness (or merit, on some formulations); that righteousness is then imputed…
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Post-which-war consensus?
An X thread from 2/21/25, explaining that the “post-war consensus” is much older than the post-World War 2 era: The so-called postwar consensus that sought to weaken religious, civic, and familial loyalties as a peace-keeping measure in the aftermath of WW2 was really nothing new. Indeed, this tactic might be considered a post-Reformation consensus, as…
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There’s No Such Thing as Religious Liberty
Just a friendly reminder: there is no such thing as religious liberty. Why? Two reasons. 1. There is no such thing as “religion in general” – only particular religions. Thus, freedom for one religion will often come at the expense of another religion. 2. There is no such thing as religious neutrality. It’s impossible to…
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