“Through the outpouring of water is meant that the one on whom the water is sprinkled belongs to the Church and the people of God, that just as water washes away the smudges and stains of our bodies, so also the one upon whom there is this outpouring, being received by grace, is washed with …
Break Their Evil Arms/Psalm 10
As with so many of the psalms, this psalm shows one of God’s saints in great turmoil over the condition of the fat and sassy attitude of those who rebel against heaven. “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? . . .” (Ps. 10:1-18). In a world …
Prerequisites
Once there was a man whose eye was always on the horizon. He cared very much about international and foreign affairs, and was constantly writing his congressman about national issues. He viewed the evening news every night, usually with alarm, and he did whatever he could to involve his friends in this sort of thing. …
Out of a Clear Blue Sky
True story. My wife and I earlier today were driving back home from the airport in Spokane, and about a second before it hit, I saw a cloud of what looked like pellets coming down out of the sky toward us. A bunch of them hit the windshield, and a moment later revealed their true …
Owning the Curse
We are starting to get thoughtful disagreements to our latest edition of Credenda, particularly on the issue of “owning the curse.” There is much to clarify and discuss, and after that, to debate, but allow me to head off one misunderstanding that I see developing right now. “Owning the curse” does not mean capitulation to …
Time Zones
Had a wonderful visit to Atlanta, and the ACCS conference was one of the best yet. Anyhow, being out of town precluded posting to this thing, which accounts for my uncharacteristic silence. But there it is. I’m back, anyhow. But it is a strange thing waking up in Georgia and going to bed in Idaho.
Natural Selection and Sin
Dear visionaries, Susan tried to saddle Christians with believing in some form of natural selection by pointing out that God once used a flood to get rid of some people who weren’t quite up to scratch. To this I reply that the issue is not whether God can inflict suffering as a judgment for sin. …
Crossroads
This is the beginning of all spiritual wisdom. Among the sons of Sarah, we find sons of both Sarah and Hagar. Among the Jews, we find Jews and Gentiles. Among the regenerate, we find the regenerate and the unregenerate. Among the elect, we find the elect and the reprobate. Until the resurrection, why do these …
Audio Reading of Post
A Perennial Problem
But these pockets of “unregeneration” have caused more than a few theological headaches. How can a part of the whole not have what the living whole has? Moreover, how can a part of the whole not really have what that part, as part of the whole, has?
Pockets of Death
It should not surprise us to find pockets of “unregeneration” in this world made new. The yeast works through the loaf gradually. But the yeast is alive, and brings life to the whole. Thus we find creatures who hate the new creation around them. Thus we find baptized covenant members who inexplicably hate the church …