“Part of the unpleasant side of The Pilgrim’s Progress lies in the extreme narrowness and exclusiveness of Bunyan’s religious outlook. The faith is limited ‘to one small sect and all are damned beside’. But I suppose that all who read old books have learned somehow or other to make historical allowances for that sort of …
Jefferson’s Wall Is Not to Be Found in Some Places
“In a thousand different ways naïve Europeans who think they are showing noble tolerance to a mere religion are actually inviting a very potent political invader into their societies” (Richardson, Secrets of the Koran, p. 170).
Why We Shouldn’t Worship Smoke
“That is the fact; whether we like it or not, the universe is made that way. This commandment [against idolatry] is interesting because it specifically puts forward the moral law as the basis of the moral code: because God has made the world like this and will not alter it, therefore you must not worship …
Men Like Tozer
“Of course, some might object to quoting a writer like Tozer, a man outside the Reformed tradition, but we live in confused times. So men like Tozer might be worth half a dozen of our contemporary pretty boys, men who subscribe to the Westminster Confession because they think they might have read it once” (Mother …
The Devil Loves to Fish in Troubled Waters
“It is a misfortune when men do not care what the divisions are, whether against good or against evil, if their turn may be served. This is abominable and cursed in that man who wishes for, or rejoices in, or seeks the continuance of, divisions for these base ends” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 104).
A Different Zone
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 110 “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger” (Prov. 19:15). Anyone with a minimal acquaintance with the book of Proverbs knows that laziness is not considered a good thing. Not only is it not …
Personal Loyalty
A few weeks ago, I made the point that leaders among the anti-FVers have been extremely reluctant to admit the obvious, which is that I hold to the historic Reformed view of justification and so on. The reason for this, I suggested, was political. In other words, to admit publicly that I had a clean …
A Caveat
As the previous post made clear, I genuinely appreciate a lot of what N.T Wright writes. Not only do I think it is true, but I believe that many in the Reformed world desperately need to learn many things from him. That said, I have been recently looking again at some of the issues we …
Evil and Debt Forgiveness
Today I just finished reading a new book by N.T. Wright — Evil and the Justice of God. I have quibbles and quabbles here and there, but the book as a whole is simply magnificent. If you want a treatment of the problem of evil that functions within the categories of biblical theology, and concludes …
Shoot, Follow the Money
Later this month, John McCain is going to be speaking in Seattle at an event cohosted by the Discovery Institute, an organization that has been behind a bunch of the Intelligent Design stuff. And so, predictably, a lot of advocates of Approved Thought have expressed their disapproval of this most recent outbreak of Disapproved Thought, …