Deception is an act of war, and the same distinctions that we make between murder and killing must be made between lying and lawful deception. The sinful forms of deception are those which introduce a state of civil war and animosity into communities that ought to be at peace. The ninth commandment is primarily about …
Charges and Lies
When Christians collide with each other, and get themselves into what I have called “sociological events,” one of the first things to disappear is a sense of measured justice. When this happens, it is not the case that there is no sense of justice, because all the principles of justice can still be articulated, appealed …
Stricter Sanctions
We have now come to the first great warning of this epistle. As the force of the warning makes clear, this is not an exercise in academic theology. True theology is never merely academic. How we think is important to how we live, but how we think must never be taken as a substitute for …
Regal Communion
The disciples, Jesus said, were those who continued with Him in his temptations. And closely associated with this, He said that He appointed to them a kingdom, just as the Father had appointed one unto Him. Confession of sin is certainly appropriate in the worship of God, but it belongs in our first approach to …
Worship As the Key to History
We are continuing to address the great theme of Christ’s supremacy over the angels. Here in this passage, His greatness is declared in His work of creating and dissolving all created things, and in His mediatorial reign. And: “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work …
Upside-Down Conquest
At the establishment of the Lord’s Supper, the Lord Himself occupied the position of the server. Who is greater, He asked, the one who sits and eats, or the one who serves? And yet, He, the Lord, was the one who served. More than this, He has done the same thing at every celebration of …
Why the Silence?
I didn’t have a chance to post anything today because Nancy and I were en route to the Auburn Avenue Pastors’ Conference. Tonight we heard D.G Hart on the spirituality of the Church, and Rich Lusk on the cultural identity of the Church. Lots of good stuff. And the singing here, as usual, is fantastic. …
Brian McLaren and Chuck Colson
This evening I read Brian McLaren’s open letter to Chuck Colson. Colson had apparently done a radio spot on his view that postmodernism is on its last legs, and that now would not be a good time for Christians to clamber on board. This is a reasonable point, in my mind, but the radio spot …
If I Could Script the Hearings
“Judge Alito, I am afraid that I must come right to the point. If confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, would you allow your personal beliefs and morals to dictate anything with regard to your behavior in office?” “Senator, thank you for this opportunity to address this important question right away. I have had a …
The Voice of Many Waters
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! The Lord reigns! His cloak and clothing are majesty. The Lord is clothed with strength, He has tied His strength on as a belt. The world is founded, And cannot be moved. Your throne, Oh, God, is established of old, You are …