Dear visionaries, Anthony writes that “restorative justice is a value driven approach.” This is correct, because everything is a value-driven approach. And we return to the question that folks in this pluralistic little town of ours do not want to face squarely. Whose values? Why? Societies cannot function unless certain values are imposed and others …
Random Gifts
We get the odd contributions now and again. Just yesterday, some very thoughtful Wisconsin folks responded to the new Credenda devoted to cheese by sending us a wheel of Colby that was made in their neighborhood just a few days before. And it was really good too. And a few months ago, a woman named …
Potboiler Preterism
I’d like to take this opportunity to recommend a book that I am more than halfway through. The book is The Last Disciple, written by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer, and is an fictional preterist counterpart to the enormously popular (and futurist) Left Behind series. The novel is set in the years of the Neronian …
Take It Slow
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 32 We have been emphasizing the possibility of progress, and, because we believe the promises of God we may even assert that progress is inevitable. Using the glorious imagery of the prophet, the lion will lie down with the lamb, …
Debate With James White (DVD)
Off to the right, third item down, is the debate I had last year with James White on whether or not Roman Catholics are members of the new covenant. It is now available through Canon Press (sorry about the delay), and we hope you are edified by it.
A Just War?
Dear visionaries, I was asked off line for the reasons I oppose the war in Iraq. But before summarizing those reasons, allow a brief response to John’s translation of my request. John said, “Translation: Do not comment about the war on terror or the war on Iraq. I might disagree with you.” Actually, I would …
Architectural Progress
“Look at the arrogance of technopoly–the skyscraper, the outside covered with reptilian mirror-like scales. Look at the impressive design of the thing–a box set on its end. Now look at a medieval cathedral and explain to us all why you still believe in progress. The flying buttress was a technological marvel, but it was built …
Jesus and the Law
In the course of working through the Sermon on the Mount, we inevitably must come to a subject that has been greatly debated among Christians. Unfortunately, the debate is not caused because the Scripture is all that ambiguous theologically on the point under discussion. It is caused because the teaching of Scripture is difficult for …
Theft
Just as Moses assumes the permanence of marriage in His prohibition of adultery, so does he assume the legitimacy of private property in his prohibition of stealing. And as we have discovered with the other commandments, obedience is not as simple as it may appear — not all thieves break into houses at night. “You …
The Thirteenth Clown
I am enjoying my discussion with Brian Mattson on incrementalism and problems presented to Trinitarian orthodoxy by the syncretism of President Bush. I think Brian’s responses are thoughtful, biblically-based, and worthy of interaction. His site is worth checking out. In his latest post on this, he raises a point worth noting. I said that any …