Category: Uncategorized
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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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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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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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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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Recent X posts…
Here re some posts on various topics from the first couple weeks of March…. — Postmillennialism is simply the view that Christ’s lordship will make a long march through the institutions. It has already begun, is continuing, and will result in a transformed, discipled world. — I’m not sure where this came from but it’s…
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Notes on a Man’s Mission and Marriageability
Notes on a man’s mission and marriageability: In Genesis 2, we have a detailed account of the creation of man and woman on day 6 of the creation week. The man is made first. And God gives the man a job before he gives the man a wife. Adam is commanded to guard and keep…
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Notes on Calvinism
Some notes on Calvinism: God’s sovereignty and human choice are not a zero sum game. The way Scripture presents reality, human choices are genuinely free, but also foreordained by God. This is known in philosophy as compatibilism – the view that freedom and foreordination are compatible. Theologically, it is known as Augustinianism or Calvinism. A…
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