Author: Pastor Rich Lusk
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FROM THE ARCHIVES: THE ART OF BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IN PRACTICE — INTERTEXTUALITY AND TWO PAULINE CASE STUDIES
The Art of Biblical Theology: Intertextuality Biblical Theology is really an art. Like other skills of this sort, it is not a matter of following rules (though there are certainly guidelines and techniques). Rather, it’s matter of “practice makes perfect.” Peter Enns describes it well in a thought-provoking question: “What if biblical interpretation is not…
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Putting Horseshoe Theory to the Test
[I wrote the following post as a way of thinking out loud after several recent conversations. I don’t stand by all my assessment — for one thing, the Gen Z far right is still a moving target. Trump is shifting on a variety of political issues, including economics and possibly abortion; it is too early…
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Christian Imperialism
Given our action in Venezuela, perhaps it’s time for Christian nationalism to give way to Christian colonialism, or even Christian imperialism. There have been Christian colonizers and empires in history, just as there have been Christian nations. A good case can be made that when Christian nations colonized (and at least to some degree, Christianized)…
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Immigration, Identity Politics, and the Way Forward
Overview on the immigration issue, identity politics, and the “Christian nationalist” way forward: ADDENDUM: “But a lot of Roman Catholics from South America came over the border so this isn’t about Christianity.” That misses the bigger picture. When the border was wide open, ANYONE could come in. So, yes, that included some South American RCs.…
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Christian Prudence and Shifting the Overton Window
The Christian man is a practically minded man. He will deal with the world as it exists not as he wish it existed. Althusius understood this in the realm of politics when he said a wise civil magistrate will “accommodate his sails to the wind as a skilled sailor does, and permit for a time…
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Free Trade vs. Free Markets: Will the Real Capitalism Please Stand Up
Many people, especially young people, who critique capitalism have no idea what capitalism is. Capitalism is just freedom in the economic sphere. It’s just freely buying and selling. The only way to set a just price is to find one the buyer and seller agree upon. If someone with power – the state – tells…
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Usury (Again)
Ronald Wallace summarizes John Calvin’s view of usury (charging interest on loans): “For centuries before Calvin’s day, the Church and most other authorities had applied the Biblical condemnation of usury quite directly to commercial practices, and had prohibited loans at interest… Calvin was the first to question the older method of interpreting the Bible on…
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Whose Rainbow is It? Notes on Genesis 9
The rainbow (or “war bow”) is a sign of God’s covenant fidelity to Noah – he will preserve the created order and will not destroy the world in a flood again (even though men will continue to be sinners). Further, the rainbow is a sign that God himself will bear the judgment his people deserve…
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JESUS’ BAPTISM — THE FOUNT OF LIFE: A Study in Biblical and Practical Theology
[These are Sunday School notes from a class taught during Epiphany, 2004.] Introductory Note: January 6 is Epiphany in the traditional church calendar. Though Epiphany is often treated as a single day, with the Sundays following counted as “Sundays after Epiphany,” we will treat Epiphany as an extended season. “Epiphany” means “revelation” or “manifestation.” Following…
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Notes on Suffering
Thanksgiving is the key to the enjoyment of any gift. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks joy. Thanksgiving in all circumstances, especially in the midst of suffering, is crucial. When we are suffering, the great temptation is to think God isn’t good, meaning he isn’t generous, he doesn’t love us, he doesn’t have our best…
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