Halcyon Letters for Halcyon Times

I have a question regarding communion. I am part of a church that was baptist for many years before switching over to covenant theology, including paedobaptism but not paedocommunion (PC). It took a few months to become convinced of the former and so I baptized all my young children. The question of PC I really never even considered but, at a gut level, now that my kids were baptized, it “felt” wildly inconsistent, even wrong, to not commune them. This lead me to naturally study this topic of PC—which I did thoroughly, on both sides of the debate, even reading all the anti-PC material my pastor recommended. Soon enough, the case for PC seemed to me very compelling, almost to the point of obvious and common sense. I’ve seen then visited a CREC church that practices PC and to see it first hand is the most sensible thing—as sensible as giving kids food at our dinner table at home. Now, my question is: I am still at my current non PC church—all pastors whom I like and respect a lot—but every week during communion I am viscerally pained. My gut reaction is to go with current church’s non PC practice while we are there and wait it out until we move this summer. Would you recommend something different?

Foster

Great interview with Tucker.
Hard to nail down where exactly he is going but you did better than anyone else yet.
Thanks for trying.

Paul

I saw you recommend Ed Welch’s Blame it on the Brain again recently, and I wanted to call attention to it to make sure readers pick up the first edition (1998). I just happened to buy the first edition (didn’t know there was a second) on your recommendation, and it was really solid—but I just read a CBMW article on the second edition where Ed unfortunately revised much of his chapter on sexual orientation to be much more aligned with Side B. Just wanted you and your readers to be aware if they weren’t already. They don’t write books like they used to.

Tim

If I wanted to start writing on apologetics by engaging with an unbeliever, and I only knew how to do basic apologetics (Like Bahnsen’s Always Ready) would that be a good place to start?

Ichigo

To your knowledge, have Pete’s views on building the third temple changed since 2017 when this video was made?
Do you think God would be pleased by such a thing?

PPM

I like and have adopted your definition of Godly masculinity . . . The glad assumption of sacrificial responsibility. I use this definition and have taught it to my sons.
My question is . . . Couldn’t one argue that Godly women exhibit this very same character?
I’m not saying that the definition of Godly femininity is the same.
But, how is this definition of Godly masculinity uniquely distinct for men? Couldn’t many Godly women point to this definition and say, “I do that too, and it is a good thing!”?
Why/how is it unique to men?

Jeremy

I enjoyed your take on the prison system and agree with much of what you said. I currently work in a county jail where we house anywhere from 450 to 550 inmates at any given time. What I didn’t see in your critique was addressing the drug-related incarcerations (including alcohol), which make up one of the largest subcategories of crimes. In my county, which is relatively high income, drug-related incarcerations make up about 25% of what we see here, and somewhere upwards of 80% have drug addiction, which likely contributed to their original offense, even if that was not the arresting offense. Bureau of Prisons stats show over 40% of the total federal prisoners are incarcerated for drug offenses. Which of your proposed changes would cover this, and would decriminalizing all drugs be a part of it?
Thanks

Tim

The James Talarico Prayer, aka, the Progressive’s Prayer, aka the PCUSA’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name privately,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
in heaven but not on earth, because that would force religion.
Give us this day our fair share of billionaire wealth,
And forgive us our ancestor’s trespasses,
as we excuse the trespasses of those they oppressed.
And keep all temptation legal,
But deliver us from the consequences (especially unwanted pregnancy),
For secular is the kingdom, the power, and the glory
Forever and ever,
Amen

Nathan

I hope you’re doing well. As a preface, I know that you and your son, N.D. Wilson obviously have different ideas and opinions on things. I’m not intimately aware of all the ways in which you and your son differ, but knowing human nature, I’m sure it happens. However, I am curious as to your thoughts on something really interesting and cool he said recently on his (and Brian Kohl’s) podcast “Stories Are Soul Food.”
The immediate contact regarded America’s recent international actions. N.D. Wilson said: “America first isolationism is a non-Christian approach to the world. As God blesses nations, they become empires; it is just going to happen that way.”
I completely agree with the first sentiment; America-first isolationism is a one-way ticket to more problems happening in the nation. I was wondering as to your thoughts about the second part of the line. I think I agree with it, but I would like to iron out the implications. By God’s grace, I attended Christian schools, even into my postgraduate teacher certification. I was a history major, and throughout my entire time going to school, it was an almost accepted belief that any form of empire or nation building was a net negative for the world. Usually, textbooks/teachers would argue that empire-building destroyed and enslaved other cultures and people groups for the sake of financial gain and glory.
However, there are precedents and accounts within God’s Word which see it differently. Old Testament Israel becoming more powerful, when it was obedient, was a judgment on disobedient nations, and was a blessing for the ancient world. Not only that, but sometimes the Lord used pagan nations’ ambitions to judge His Covenant Nation of Israel. Then, God would judge that pagan nation. Also, Christ expanding His Kingdom on Earth in the present age is the greatest blessing. We Christians are part of that.
I’m curious as to the implications on history, as well as perhaps current events. This is where it gets sloppy, and I recognize that we can’t simply copy and paste every single thing which happens in God’s word into the present day. I want to know the general equity of how to apply this kind of thinking into everyday events. What, then, are the implications of America’s empire building? Does it mean that, despite all of the nasty going on in this country, the Lord is still showing us unmerited favor? Or, are our foundational Christian, reformed, Calvinistic principles the “failsafe,” and we keep succeeding because of the structures the founders put into the system? I don’t see America as the world’s savior, Christ is. I do Wonder about our place in the world, and what it looks like for Christians to apply theonomy in our current empire building. Which, let’s be clear, that’s what I believe we’re doing.
To expand this, what does it look like for other nations? What do we say about the British, Spanish, or the Russian Empires? To that end, what do we say about other, former christianized nations (beatings will continue until morale improves) attempting to rebuild their own empires?
I apologize for the really long question, and also the questions within questions. I find this topic fascinating, and I want to know your thoughts on the subject. I also recognize one could probably write thousands of essays on this topic. Thank you for your time!

O.N.

Listened to this writer on Joe Rogan (Rachel Wilson). Thought you might find her book interesting. It is titled “Occult Feminism: The Secret History of Women’s Liberation”—it dives deep into the occult roots of the movement “there’s nothing boring about the real history of feminism”

Blair

Twice recently, in two separate ”Ask Doug” videos, you mentioned shot put not being “fitting” for girls. Could you elaborate on this? By what standard is shot put inappropriate for girls? My assumption is that it’s because it’s a showcase of physical strength. But it seems to me that most athletics have an aspect of showcasing strength. High jump and long jump competitors are competing on the strength of their legs. Batting or throwing from the outfield in softball both are a showcase of strength. Attempting long shots in basketball, spiking in volleyball . . . etc. Sports as a general rule require strength among other things. What sets shot put apart as inappropriate? This is wisdom I will likely need to apply in a couple years with my own daughter. Thank you for your time.

Cloe

I like where you’re going here, so of course I’m going to jump straight to what I believe is the most difficult situation to get right.
You said, “The death penalty should be applied to violent criminals—murderers (Ex. 21:12), rapists and kidnappers (Ex. 21:16), abortionists (Ex. 21:22), and so on.”
I certainly agree with that for violent rapists, but how do we draw the line between that and the whole sliding scale down to “she regretted a bad choice made the previous night and now claims it was date rape”? It seems like the old testament biblical punishment for that was “you’re both married now.” And unfortunately far too many rape cases are he-said-she-said . . . so we end up with a situation where we would like to apply irreversible punishment for the most dubious of evidence…

Ian