Economists talk about the problem of the commons. Every no one in particular is responsible for something, it often turns out that no one at all is responsible for it. We see this sort of thing on the macro-scale, with socialist experiments, and we see it on a small scale, as when none of the …
Covetousness and Sexual Discontent
Not all sexual covetousness is lust. When a man gives way to lust simpliciter the end result is arousal. When a man gives way to sexual covetousness, the end result is discontent and a vague sense of entitlement. Here is the distinction. In Romans 7, the apostle Paul says that he would not have known …
A Really Good Interview
And the Old Way is Closed Off Forever
“The materialism that came from the Enlightenment was a concerted way to get us back to the old way of knowing, the old way of relating to the authorities, the old way of dying. We are being asked to ‘know’ the world as though Jesus had not be raised from the dead in the middle …
Who’s Who in the Horse Race
As we continue to watch the gaudy show that we call the primaries, we need to keep all the factors in mind. Inductive arguments are not valid or invalid, but are rather strong or weak. In an inductive argument, you are reasoning from the particular to the general. If you say that you saw a …
The Plot Point of the Whole Thing
“So this means that the resurrection was not an odd event in the first century, with all ‘normal’ things staying just the same. The resurrection was the central event of all history, but we have to take this as the central event for all history. It defines history; it establishes the trajectory of the remaining …
Suffering as Means
“Suffering is not an accidental result of obedience. It is an ordained means of penetrating the peoples and the hearts of the lost” (Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, p. 195).
Musical Style in Worship
Apart from offering praise to God, the music of a worship service also has the important role of setting the tone of the service. Scripture teaches that music sets the mood. A particular kind of music is for mourning, and another is for dancing (Luke 7:32). When the prodigal son returned, and the elder brother …
The Future as God’s Gift, All of It
“The Lord’s promises to us are truly staggering, and it is not surprising that we cannot get our minds completely around it. But He delights to give to His people, and one of the greatest gifts that He has given to us is the future . . . What is the future of this world, …
When Relativism Hardens
“Therefore, speaking the truth is service to Christ and love to others, even if they consider themselves your adversaries . . . [but charges of arrogance are] “true now in the less-than-tolerant American public square, where relativism no longer means: Your claim to truth is no more valid than mine; but now means: You may …