Just a few more comments on the vampire deal. First, everything in this fallen created order “answers to” something unfallen, with the possible exception of hyenas. In other words, the dragon is the archtypical emblem of sly, crafty, rebellion — and this goes back to the Garden. Satan is that ancient dragon. If we read …
Vestiges of a True Church
Book 4/Chapter 2 A corrupt church (section 9) 1. According to Calvin, is the Roman church better or worse than Israel under Jeroboam? 2. What two things are demanded by the Romanists if Protestants are to come back into communion with Rome? 3. Did the prophets of the Old Testament set up pure sacrifices during …
Christ’s Scepter
My apologies for getting behind on Calvin. I was out of range for the Internet for a couple days, and what a harrowing experience that was! Thanks to a Starbucks by the road home, the kind of place Bilbo sang about, we should be completely caught up in just a few minutes. Book 4/Chapter 2 …
Vampires With Self-Control
Yesterday in my sermon I mentioned in passing some of the problems with Christians allowing their kids to “get into” the Twilight series. Since this is an outrageous eruption of inexplicable legalism on my part, I thought I ought to defend it. Here is a brief four point discussion starter, and perhaps there will be …
When a Church Must Tumble Down
Book 4/Chapter 2 The basic issue (section 1) 1. What sorts of errors are to be pardoned in a church? 2. What is it that causes the death of a church to follow? 3. When must a church tumble down? Claims of Rome (section 2) 1. What does Calvin conclude then about Rome? 2. What …
Calvin’s Fundamentalism
American fundamentalism made a series of strategic mistakes in its battles with liberalism in the early twentieth century. In the first rank of these mistakes was the retreat from a full-orbed world and life view, where everything is understood to be under the authority of Jesus Christ. They held to the fundamentals of the faith, …
More Than Words Can Say
This is a meal, not a sermon. It is a meal with a meaning, of course, and sermons have meanings as well. Or, at any rate, some sermons do. But the fact that the meal has meaning and sermons have meaning should not make us think that a meal is a sermon—or that a sermon …
Senator Edward Kennedy
As you all know, this last week, Senator Edward Kennedy passed from this life. This drew national attention, and in the media virtually everyone—right, left and middle—paid their respects. Some considered him as the exemplar of what is needed, while others praised him personally while reserving to themselves the right to differ with him “on …
False Unity
Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all. Father, we dwell among a people who have wanted to overthrow …
Oh, Great—a Torture Czar.
The Obama saga continues. It does not look like he is going to be able to retrieve any kind of recognizable win out of the health care debacle, and thanks to God on that one. But because he is going to have to put some kind of happy face on whatever bill does get through …