As we continue to learn the nature of body life, we have to understand the distinctions that are made between those with special gifts and all the rest of us who need to learn a basic competence in those gifts. Not every Christian should be a scholar, but every Christian should know how to read. …
Before You Now
Many unbelievers have dismissed this Table before us as a great superstition. Two thousand years after Jesus lived and died, here we are gathering to eat His flesh and drink His blood. What kind of sense does that make? The first thing to note about this charge is the truth of Chesterton’s observation—a man who …
Audio Reading of Post
What God Calls Sin
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, Your Word tells us to rend our hearts and not …
Dwarves Are For the Dwarves
Over the last few weeks Obama has added to his growing list of gaffes by insulting surgeons, saying that they would rather cut off a foot than pretty much anything else, because there is apparently some real money to be made in cutting off feet. The doctors responded all huffy-like, and so the saga continues. …
For the Most Part
For those who still care about these issues, allow me to point out what Calvin says in the course of today’s reading. He says that in order to understand the biblical phrase “many are called but few are chosen” we have to realize that there are two kinds of call, general and special. The general …
General and Special Call
Book 3/Chapter 24 In Christ alone (section 5) 1. Where is election alone to be found? 2. Who alone is the fountain of life? 3. If we then have been chosen in Christ, where will we not find assurance? 4. If we want more than to be sons and heirs, what would we have to …
Our Man Sven
Since none of us apparently have enough to do, let us try to analyze this “birther” controversy with an objective and dispassionate eye. At issue, for those who were born yesterday, is whether or not President Obama was born in Hawaii or not, upon which issue his eligibility for health care benefits . . . …
Election and Call
Book 3/Chapter 24 Election and the call (section 1) 1. Why does God teach His elect? 2. Can grace be received by a hard heart? 3. What does Scripture couple together so that we know that free mercy is to be sought? 4. How does Augustine turn around the view that “willing and running” are …
It Took Her Five Minutes
Do not conclude from the fact that I am about to mention Sarah Palin that my blog traffic numbers are down and I am trying to juice them. Not at all. I am just being a dispassionate observer of the Republic here. The fact that some folks will not be able to discuss her without …
Balanced Augustinianism
Book 3/Chapter 23 No injustice (section 11) 1. When God chooses some for life, and others not, why is He free from accusation? Not encouraging carelessness (section 12) 1. What is the next objection to this teaching? 2. Does Calvin acknowledge that some distort the doctrine this way? 3. But what does Paul say we …