“When Saul was in a blue funk, David’s music would soothe him (1 Sam. 16:14-17). When the musicians of the Temple came to prophesy, they did it with musical instruments (1 Chr. 25:1). When certain children wanted a jig, they played a pipe (Matt. 11:17). When the prodigal son returned home, the residents of that …
Inverted Pride
Paul tells us in Ephesians that no man ever hated himself. But at first glance, this might seem counterintuitive to some, especially in this age of self-absorption. Can we really say this about someone who is consistently depressed, filled with self-loathing? Or assert that a suicide really loves himself? Why could we not say that …
Live in the House, Not on the Mantle
I am continuing to interact with Greenbaggins’ review of my book, “Reformed” Is Not Enough. When I draw a distinction between a law/gospel hermeneutic (which I reject) and a law/gospel application (which I accept), this is what I mean. With a law/gospel hermeneutic, each text is either demand or promise, and it is the job …
Good Stuff
For those who are following the Auburn Avenue fracas, and especially those who are going to be attending the General Assembly for the PCA, I heartily commend to you Joel Garver’s interaction with the PCA study committee report. You can find that here.
An Alter Eden
“The city is the direct consequence of Cain’s murderous act and of his refusal to accept God’s protection. Cain has built a city. For God’s Eden, he substitutes his own . . .” (Jacques Ellul, The Meaning of the City, p. 5).
Suicide of the West
“Human rights doctrine is thus the principal cultural weapon to undermine the fundamental values of Western society—with an activist judiciary turned into culture warriors, marching behind the banner of militant secularism” (Melanie Phillips, Londonistan, p. 29).
Infotainment
“Those who run television do not limit our access to information but in fact widen it. Our Ministry of Culture is Huxleyan, not Orwellian. It does everything possible to encourage us to watch continuously. But what we watch is a medium which presents information in a form that renders it simplistic, nonsubstantive, nonhistorical and noncontextual; …
Propriety
“Rejection of a particular kind of music for worship is not the same thing as a rejection of that kind of music. I like jazz, I like rock and roll, some of it, I like classical, I like the blues, and I love the psalms. Now give this hash of musical interests and appreciations, you …
Audio Reading of Post
My Question Exactly: “Why?”
Never tiring of fulfilling the need we have for yet another angle on evangelism, somebody came up with this — a guilt trip with baby Jesus as the driver. We need to try an evangelistic rally in a stadium with one of these on the JumboTron. Watch it for a few minutes to get the …
East and West
The late Richard Weaver hated the title of his book, Ideas Have Consequences. That is unfortunate because the title is outstanding, and carries a wealth of theology in three simple words. Ideas have very pointed consequences, and very particular destinations. One of the best illustrations of this is the profound differences that have developed between …