“Knowing this, we infer that periods of the past must have been much more elevated than our own. This, of course, is a questionable conclusion. What does seem to be the case, however, is that often, as periods succeed each other, some of what takes place is driven by reaction. The Apollonian impulse is often …
The Elective System
“The market system works just fine when we are seeking the kind of toothpaste that suits us best. But when the true, the good, and the beautiful are made into elective courses, no one should be surprised when freshmen consistently sign up for the far more popular courses promoting the false, the wrong, and the …
Unjust Men
We have looked at the basic principles of justice, and considered their necessary foundation in Scripture. Now when these principles are neglected, the result has to be injustice, although sometimes the injustice is the result of ignorance, which is less culpable. It of course remains culpable, but it is not high-handed. Many Christian people have …
Textual Shoulder Rub
Some people have trouble understanding what actually happened at the Second Council of Nicea, a key point in church history, at which time a new ecclesiastical office was created. It became apparent to our fathers in the faith that Deuteronomy 5:8-10 was far too tight, and rather than try to correct the problem in the …
Once Carefree
“We have known too many kids, like the younger son in the parable, who have separated themselves from their parents, thrown off the traces, and heard in the lure of the far country . . . the promise of adventure and boundless pleasure. And for so many this has turned to ashes. The grand and …
Where the Problem Started
“The declension of culture in America is comparable to well-meaning but naive parents who raise a child without discipline and without instilling self-control and who are then shocked at the extent of the rebellion apparent when that child gets away from home. The extent of our current rebellion can be seen in our cultural parade …
It Horrifies My Heart
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! Give Your Word back to Your slave On which You made me hope This is my comfort in my fears, Your quickening Word has made me live, Your resurrecting power is here. The proud have loved to laugh at me, And they …
Anything But Innocence
One of the oldest pagan tricks in the world is the practice of simply assigning guilt. The one to whom it is assigned is not permitted to argue about it, and it is considered very bad manners if he does. To do so is simply heaping additional guilt on top of his designated and assigned …
Enacting Our Agreement
We have said before that in this meal we are being knit together into the body of Christ, muscle and bone, sinew and tendon, joint and marrow. But too many Christians have reversed the order in this, wanting doctrinal assent or understanding to be the thing that knits us together, so that we may then …
Focus on the Family, Ralph Reed, World Magazine, Jack Abramoff, and Me
Lord Acton nailed it when he said that power corrupts. James Madison knew that if men were angels they would not need to be governed the way they actually have to be governed. C.S. Lewis made a similar point when he said that he was a democrat, not because each man is a repository of …