Book 3/Chapter 4 Full satisfaction (section 26) 1. What doctrine was Calvin countering here? Two problems (section 27) 1. What two things is Calvin concerned to press home in this section? Venial and mortal (section 28) 1. What does Calvin do with the distinction between venial and mortal sin? 2. What objection does he dismiss? …
Don”t Start What You Cannot Finish
The execution of Tiller is the kind of thing that reveals the glaring weaknesses in contemporary theology when it comes to dealing with the magistrate. We are so muddled on so many levels that when a crisis comes, we respond with simplistic illustrations, as though ethics dealt with individuals and individuals only. The scenario usually …
Free Forgiveness
Book 3/Chapter 4 Deep uncertainty (section 21) 1. What is the central problem with auricular confession? Protestant absolution (section 22) 1. Why is the Protestant practice free of “these absurdities”? Discipline (section 23) 1. Why do passages like Matt. 18:15-18 have nothing to do with auricular confession? Twin errors (section 24) 1. What are the …
Getting the Whole Thing Arsy Varsy
As many of you have now heard, the late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller was shot in a vigilante execution yesterday, while he was serving as an usher at Reformation Lutheran. A suspect named Scott Roeder is now in custody. And of course, all those who hate ungodly revolutionary violence need to condemn this execution, and …
The Spirit and the Keys
Book 3/Chapter 4 Pernicious effects (section 18) 1. Does Calvin agree that sins should be confessed singly? 2. What promise from the prophet Ezekiel does he quote? Wholesale confession (section 19) 1. What is the problem with the requirement that Catholics make confession once a year? Power of the keys (section 20) 1. According to …
That’s a Good Idea
A guy was driving down the road and got a flat just outside the fence of an mental hospital. Muttering to himself — he was having a bad day — he started to change the tire, but nothing about it was going right. As he was changing the tire, a bunch of the inmates came …
Bronze Tint Notwithstanding
You know, technically, there wasn’t anything wrong with what she said — at least not in the sound byte part. “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” I too would …
Arms, Branches, Twigs and Leaves
Book 3/Chapter 4 More on private confession (section 13) 1. What does Calvin ardently wish was observed everywhere? 2. This with the provision that two things are avoided. What are they? Power of the keys (section 14) 1. What are the three occasions, according to Calvin, when the power of the keys is to be …
True Confession
Book 3/Chapter 4 Chrysostom (section 8) 1. What did Chrysostom teach on the subject of confession of sin? Confession before God (section 9) 1. What mistake in interpretation did the defenders of auricular confession make? 2. Calvin then cites a number of passages to prove what? Confession before men (section 10)? 1. If we have …
Capernaum Had No Gay Pride Parades
It used to be possible to say that the issue of homosexuality was one on which few believing Christians were confused. However, there was still a problem, and it led to our current cultural impasse. Over the years, much of the strength of Christian opposition to homosexuality has been instinctive and cultural, rather than a …