Author: Pastor Rich Lusk
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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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Notes on Classical Christian Education: What the School Cannot Do and What Parents Must Do for their Children
Two things can be true at once: Formal education answers the question, “What kind of person do you want to be?” Vocational training answers the question, “What do you want to do with your life?,” or perhaps even, “How do you want to provide for yourself and your family?” Educational training is about who we…
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Recent X posts on marriage, family, etc.
The pulpit is a male space. Always has been, always will be. Women can no more be pastors than they can be husbands or fathers. The pastorate is intrinsically male and masculine. Obviously there are plenty of domains that are open to men and women (though that does not make us androgynous beings in those…
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