New Letters for a New Year

Regarding Hemingway and the 2020 setup, the big hole in your argument is that the GOP had a federal trifecta early on, and here in Georgia they still have a trifecta in state government. All of this would not be possible without this other partner in our political WWE. Here’s the voice of the Georgia GOP on matter of what happened in 2020:

Until the average GOP local activist leader who shares your concerns understands their own party’s part in this mess then the leftists will carry on.

Ricardo

You suggested in “An Election With More Rigging Than a Five-Masted Clipper Ship”—

Posted on Monday, January 3, 2022 by Douglas Wilson that someone should send to “:every state governor, every state attorney-general, every state secretary of state, and every state legislator…”.

Do you TRULY believe that they would read the book? I would be willing to buy 3 books for each of the 50 states’ top three leaders you mentioned. Right now the book is about $15 at Books A Million. Can you get them delivered?

I suspect the corrupt “leaders ” won’t bother. What we need is to prove that the votes were changed via software changes when the counting stopped between 1-3 am the day after Election Day. Who can prove that?

That’s what we need proven. And we need to prove who made the changes happen. Can we do that?

And, lastly, can we prevent the same thing from happening in the Mid-term elections this year?

I believe that only a concerted, coordinated disruption of the powers that be will stop the corruption. No one seems to up to that and so the status quo remains.

Kathryn

“One of the best things that could happen at this point would be for someone with big money to buy a copy of this book for every state governor, every state attorney-general, every state secretary of state, and every state legislator, and to have some intern hand-deliver each one.”

You think this would really be news to them? Really?

Jeff

To the chief cook and bottle washer around here:

I have benefited greatly from your content, and I am grateful for the work you do.

To my knowledge, the only way one can come by an edition of Credenda magazine is by luck at a local used book store. Do you have an online archive or store?

Thank you.

Yours,

John

My name is Melissa and I’ve been watching your sermons and updates online for some time and have been richly blessed by your work. I have deep respect for you as a leader in Christ and for the stalwart defense of the gospel that you have shown against the ungodly leadership in America today.

I am writing today on behalf of my friend, Jennifer Bridges. Her name will likely sound familiar to you. She was the nurse who spearheaded the lawsuit against Methodist Hospital in Houston after they were the first company in the United States to mandate the COVID vaccine for their employees. At present, this case has gone to the 5th circuit court of appeals, the same court who originally stayed the unconstitutional Biden OSHA mandate requiring all employers with 100 or more employees nationwide to compel their employees to receive the COVID vaccine. As this lawsuit moves forward, it stands as a beacon of hope for any employee of a private company who wishes to maintain autonomy over their own body and medical choices. Here is a Fox News Article with Jennifer’s story.

I am contacting you because we need help. We need support from people across this nation to stand up and make their voices heard saying that they do not support this governmental overreach. We need help to support the funding of this lawsuit so that it can continue to be fought, even going as far as the Supreme Court if need be. However, we can not do this alone.

Would you please consider hosting a speaking engagement/fundraiser through your ministry to help bring the awareness and financial support necessary to allow this lawsuit to continue to go forward?

I believe you have shown in your messages that you too believe that the government has overstepped and has trampled on the rights of it’s citizenry. I have heard your frustration as you pray for our divided and rebellious nation. We have seen ungodly leaders claim that people can change their gender on a whim, and who fight to be able to maintain the genocide of helpless babies being murdered in their mother’s womb. It is no surprise therefore, that we see our beloved country falling apart. As John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” We are the unfortunate generation to see exactly how true that is.

Finally, please join me in prayer over this nation that they will repent and awaken from their drugged and drunken state. Pray for favor over Christian candidates and that God will elevate Christian leaders as we approach another election season. Finally, please pray for our lawsuit, that God will grant us favor and will protect us from the increasingly oppressive reach of the federal government.

Please let me know if you can help us by hosting a speaking/fundraising event to help this lawsuit move forward.

Thank you for your time and your prayers,

Here is Jennifer’s website so you can learn a bit more about her

Melissa

2021 was fantastic. Your reading log from the previous years inspired me to keep a log as well, and I hit 50 books this year. Looking forward to seeing your list from this year!

Wes

It may be the case that you’re bombarded with this one, but I just wanted to make sure somebody mentioned to you Timothy Keller’s latest tweet, which reads: “The problem Christians and non-Christians both have: we think we really know what Christianity is about.”

This man should be strongly rebuked for the stumbling blocks of obscurity he continues to place in the way of sinners in need of the gospel, all in the name of woke tolerance. I’m of the opinion that you’re the man to do this in the public square.

God bless you as you fight the good fight.

Thanks,

Tim

Greetings Doug, thank you for continuing to fight out cultural drift with biblical insights. In desiring to further establish solid ground beneath my feet in such things, I am wondering if you could recommend a couple of books that apply Old Testament wisdom, i.e. God’s law, to our current times? I have seen some of that in reading Ploductivity, and am looking for more. It is a strange feeling of firmness that seems to fight discouragement and depression, to read along this line. My soul could use a good dose. Sincere thanks,

Gordon

Hey, I am curious if you have read Robert Alter’s translation of the Hebrew Bible? If so, thoughts? I ask because I have noticed you and your son have some critiques of newer translations. Thanks for all you do.

CWB

Dear Mr. Wilson,

First, I apologize if I got your salutation wrong. I know you likely don’t care, but I do.

Second, I thought most, if not all of what you said made a lot of sense, even to a sloven dispensationalist such as myself. (Then again, if I’m finding a lot to agree with . . . maybe there’s something wrong with you?). I digress.

But now to my main question, which has a glancing relationship to your topic. I wrote to you earlier. I am about to complete the legal part of my divorce in less than a week, having already settled in mediation. But the cancer has stricken in earlier stages along the way. No physical intimacy in years. No emotional in more than that. I have three children and have been sterilized. I am well remunerated for my low physical effort job although I am not above average compared to my peers. I’m 38 and the loneliness is crushing. While I have my children with me, I can crush rock with my fists, and spit nails after chewing on hematite, I become terse and maudlin when they leave. They are the best of me and I hope and pray that I honor the Lord with my stewardship of their childhoods.

I have been alone (and faithful) for a long time. I did not leave my wife. She left me. I don’t want to gargle the chainsaw again (meaning I think I know some of the things to run away from this time), so my question is more empirical: how will I know when I can start to pursue a relationship with someone again? I will concede the first point, because I agree with it, which is, when you are ready to marry. I agree. So assuming the necessary (the state says I’m single) and proper (the Bible allows for remarriage, as she has abandoned me—there is more, but that is not necessarily the point), when can I finally pursue companionship?

And are there any books that would fit me that are in the category of, “What [the heck] now?” Surely, if the first time around wasn’t fraught with particular dangers, I cannot imagine the second time. So many more things which bother me and demotivate me.

And this, just for your knowledge, was even more emotionally difficult after the mediation was “successful,” even though my uncle has even told me that not knowing anything that has transpired, he saw daggers coming from her eyes at me. “Hatred” was the word he used. And uncles are known truth sayers. I was looking forward to being able to not be under the microscope, but the enormous strain and fatigue must have finally unloaded on me. If you search for my name under my county’s judicial search, you’ll find a listing of actions enormously long.

Sincerely,

Brock

I found your post “Calvinism and Girls” very encouraging. I have been married for 14 years, and am not looking for dating advice, but the principles apply to life in general.

While considering if moving across the country is “God’s Will” for my family, I serendipitously (or providentially) find this episode on YouTube.

After reflecting, I have come to the conclusion, that trying to decipher the “Will of God” is little more that divination with Christian nomenclature attached to it. Growing up in an Arminian Baptist church this sort of mystic approach to decision-making was encouraged, while the “reckless abandon” approach of taking risk and trusting God was discouraged.

What is your advise for tackling the Sovereignty topic with close family that are staunchly Arminian and view Calvinism as an evil heresy?

K

I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your article “Calvinism and Girls.” First of all, the title intrigued me—I am a girl, and also a Calvinist, and I was curious how you would tie both points together. A couple lines from the article made me laugh out loud: “This is why the difference between ‘sweet’ and ‘creepy’ is often an underlying doctrinal one,” and also, “Nothing like that is going to happen or, if it does, you need to check yourself into a hospital, the kind where they strap you into your chair.”

What I appreciate the most, however, is your encouragement to follow God’s will according to His Word, rather than searching out what we deem to be His will. I didn’t encounter that idea until I got to college. Growing up, I believed that God had a set path for me and I had to find that path, and if I didn’t, I would be lost. I really struggled with this as I was trying to decide which college to attend. All my friends went to visit college campuses and somehow just ‘knew’ which one was right for them. I had no idea! Eventually I came to the conclusion that I just had to pray about it and pick one using my best judgement. Which, of course, is the correct way to choose anything, but I didn’t know that at the time. I felt so much relief when, a few years later, I realized that God did have a set path for my life and all had to do to follow that path was what he commands of me in Scripture, to bring glory to His name by loving Jesus and loving others right where He’s placed me. Simple, but not often easy to execute.

Keep writing!

Your sister in Christ,

Hannah

“This means, not to put too fine a point on it, that you must marry a Christian (2 Cor. 6:14), a Christian who would not be disobeying God by marrying you (Luke 16:18), a Christian of sterling character (Prov. 31:30), a Christian whose personality gels well with yours (Amos 3:3), and a Christian whom you find sexually attractive (Prov. 5:19).”

Dear Pastor Wilson,

What happens when one thinks these are the case, gets married, and then they find out that they weren’t necessarily the case, particularly those last two?

Kind regards,

H

Calvinism and Girls: So good been saying this for years

“i don’t think God is calling me to work at that place.” Translation: “i don’t wanna”—but you’ve articulated the reason with “the secret things of God”

Thank you.

Murk

Re: Calvinism and Girls

I really didn’t think I’d write again but I wanted to tell you how wise your advice is.

I’m now 73. About 40 years ago I had been married for 10 years to a wonderful Christian woman. She always wanted to be a teacher and that is what she did. I never had that kind of certainty. During those 10 years I attempted college twice, quit the post office twice and had many jobs.

I was seeking God’s “perfect will” for my life.

After being hired by the post office a third time with the promise not to quit again I still struggled with wanting to know God’s will. Surely I was destined to be more than a mailman!

Then one night I had a most vivid dream. I was talking with God through my radio! My first thought was to ask those questions that troubled me.

As I prepared to ask why innocent children suffer I was made to understand that God knew and cared far deeper than I could comprehend. As I was thinking of my next question I was made to understand that my questions had an unstated predicate: If God exists . . .

My questions were couched in doubt and wanting to understand “the secret things that belong to God.” God exists! I was talking with Him. My doubts, though I still wrestle with some from time to time, are answered by: God exists.

Still, I asked God, “What is your will for my life?” I felt enveloped and submerged in a warm embrace of Love as He replied, “You are doing it.”

I then understood that His will was to follow Jesus. Everything else would unfold as I did that. I retired as a mailman. The other stuff was what was important.

Larry

RE: Calvinism and Girls

You said, “Now I am not saying that this fellow is wise…”

Minor quibble: Kinda hard to argue with results. Given the thrust of the article, I’d be more inclined to give this fellow the benefit of the doubt. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and it would appear he was quick to learn and adjust when the fish weren’t biting. He knew what he wanted and had no problem pursuing it.

FP

When young people are looking for “the One” what is it they are actually looking for? A perfect personality match? Just someone who gives them the warm fuzzies?

Josh

I’m not writing in response to a particular blog, but more so Doug’s stance on COVID in general.

This week our church had numerous people contract COVID, including the Senior Pastor and the Worship Leader. The decision was made (in response) to cancel the in person service and do everything purely online.

Our church did this once before in May, and I was okay with it then because all the people who could feasibly run the service were out sick. It kinda made sense. However, this time there WERE people able and desirous to run an in-person service, and the decision was made to shut down anyway. We didn’t have to shut down, but we did. That disturbs me.

I am in a position of leadership in the church. I spoke up strongly about my concerns but my concerns were ultimately dismissed.

My question is how should I respond? I feel so strongly that this decision was wrong that I’m tempted to walk away altogether. However, that feels like a betrayal of long-standing relationships I have with others in leadership. I’m wondering if the best choice would be to use what influence I have to start teaching on why COVID shouldn’t determine our church decisions, playing the long game.

If Doug were in my shoes, what would he do? Thanks for taking the time to read, and thanks for all the extremely helpful insights you post.

B

So this isn’t a letter and I doubt it is well written. It’s a question. :-) I just tried calling Canon Press and the mailbox is full and I couldn’t find an email. I’m wanting to ask Pastor Wilson a question. :-) I’m a homeschooling mom in Boise. We use some of your curricula. THANK YOU! Anyway, I wanted to ask a question to Pastor Wilson pretty please. What does he think of the Constitutional party? I saw a video today of someone switching from Republican to Constitutional Party as they believe the Republican Party is just as unconstitutional even though their platform is Constitutional. When asked about this, Republicans in the office say they have ‘discretion’ regarding the Republican Platform. What are the advantages/disadvantages of trying to fix the party or joining another? Is he willing to break down some of the voting choices here in Idaho and share the pros and cons? If not I understand, but wanted to ask. Thank you!!!

Kristen

Have you figured out where the line is for elders between doing their required job and meddling in the lives of the flock?

Timothy

My 15-year-old son is to memorize and deliver a historic speech for his Classical Conversations class. We enjoy all of your book recommendations and are curious if you have a favorite historical speech or speeches that we might consider.

Thank you!

Heather and Mathias

Doug, you have put out a lot of material on this subject, but what would you say to the critics—”if you are single and struggling sexually get married.”? Single guys struggling sexually are called to chastity while single, but what do you say to them about whether or not to pursue dating/courtship to help with this issue. I know there is a sliding scale on this spectrum with how severe the lust issue is, and there is not a one size fits all, but what qualifiers would you give to whether or not to use marriage during this struggle? Thanks, and keep up the good work.

M

I was listening to the eschatology lecture on You Tube and I wanted to pass this by you. Isaiah 65:17-25.

When I compare the Isaiah 65 scripture with the blessing of Deut 28, I am thinking that if the children of Israel had obeyed God after coming out of the exile, which were when these promises were given to them, they would have received these things in Isaiah 65. It was not the fullness of the New Heaven and New Earth because we see that there is still death within these promises of Isaiah 65. These promises given to them in Isaiah are (in it’s immediate context) promised to the Israelites coming out of exile from the Babylonian Empire. These promises are conditional according to the context of Isaiah in it’s fullness . . . they would receive these things if they obeyed the Lord (Deut 28/ Isa 65). Often God would break into this realm a “taste” of the final promises in the New Heaven and New Earth to come. We see much of that in Jesus’ ministry . . . healing, feeding people, casting out demons, etc. I believe that Isaiah 65 is just that. (We see a micro/macro thing going on here). Edenic promises (though not in it’s fullness because we see people dying at age 100) to the Israelites who are coming out of the exile if they walk in obedience . . . a type pointing to a greater reality of those promises to all Christians (whether Jew or Gentile) whose faith is evidenced by obedience and who will receive the new heaven and new earth because of Christ’s obedience. .These Promises to the exiles coming back into the land foreshadow a greater reality, a fuller and more perfect reality to come in the New heaven and New earth to those who are faithful in Christ. Isaiah 65 was promises of Eden restored, though not in it’s fullness yet then to Ethnic Israel if they obeyed (Deut 28 blessing), but a shadow, picture, type of what is to come for those in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile. Well, we know that when the Israelites came back into the land after the exile they didn’t obey God and therefore they didn’t receive these promises of Isaiah 65 which were the same blessings spoken of in Deut 28. The fullness of those promises then could be given to no other than Christ because He earned the promises through His obedience. Isaiah 65 also shows us how Israel failed because they never did receive those promises given to those who were coming out of exile. We receive them because of Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and Amen.

Therefore I don’t seen this as a “millenial” period nor do I see it as the final new heaven and new earth in it’s immediate context due to the fact that death still takes place. However I do see it as promises to ethnic Israel if they obeyed when the came out of exile and which they didn’t and so they never received those promises . . . and I do see it as pointing to a future reality of the New Heaven and New Earth to be given to believers at the consummation due to Christ’s obedience..

I would like to know your thought on what I just sent you.

Thanks and God Bless,

Sherry

Hello. I have been reading your site for a long time and I hope you can give me some direction. In short, I have made an absolute train-wreck of my Christian life.

I moved out on my own and became a Christian at 19, met a Christian girl shortly afterwards, and got married quickly (we have been married almost 30 years now). We immediately began butting heads over spiritual matters. I was new to the faith and she came from a charismatic/Jesus people background, and I soon found myself in her family’s church. I was uncomfortable with a lot of the practices, had a lot of questions, but not knowing what else to do I just went along. What I really wanted was to go out and find my own way and not just automatically follow my wife’s family. This caused resentment that only grew.

That church ended up like most of those places do: a series of splits and eventual nonexistence. But by that time I was much older and had served in various leadership capacities along the way. I was finally free from that church that I never wanted to be a part of, had no direction where to go next (with a young family at this point), and ended up doing about the worst thing I could have done: I started a church in my living room. My wife’s family naturally came along.

It started out with high ideals on my part, but went downhill quickly. There is a bit in THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH that comes to mind: Lewis says at some point in any organization there will come a time when there is less elbow room and all distinctions become sharper, etc. This happened in our group. I usually found myself the odd man out in any given theological context. I was never comfortable being isolated with no outside counsel or accountability, and I became unable to see it as a legitimate church or me as a legitimate pastor. I had started learning about different viewpoints and found Reformed ideas very convincing, but everyone else was still operating in the charismatic/Jesus people mindset. By the end of it we barely agreed on anything.

This little group (never more than a dozen or so at any given time) lasted about ten years and was the single worst experience of my life. When I finally shut it down my relationship with my wife’s family lay in ruins, and my wife and I were exhausted from years of disagreements. At this point we barely talk about God in any meaningful way, and the experience made Christianity off-putting to my children; they mainly associate God with problems and want nothing to do with it. Not only did I not lead my family in the right direction, but I led them squarely in the wrong one.

At this point we are not part of any church, though I have visited many places and genuinely tried: but there is never any peace about it and there never seems to be a place where we fit. I don’t want to be in a leadership role again (I see myself as unqualified at this point), but just want to be a part of the Body. But at this point it seems as if Christianity has been ruined. There is no joy in the faith for me and there hasn’t been for most of my Christian life. I have lost the respect of my wife in these matters and have so many regrets.

You have been a pastor for a long time and I’m sure you’ve heard of messes like this before. What must I do to put the pieces back together again, and how do I move forward?

Thank you for reading my letter.

Sincerely,

Lost

I appreciate your consistency with the Chinavirus approach. I might be able to stomach more of the party line if Politburo admitted freely: “This is what we think now, but we may find out something different tomorrow. By the way, we should have called it a ‘shot’ instead of a vaccine (our bad), and we know it doesn’t prevent catching or transmitting the virus. We still think it’s better to have it than not, even though we now admit that a higher percentage than usual will have significant medical issues including death. In other words, we want you to take one for the team. We know masks don’t prevent transmission, but they do slow down transmission from ninnies, cretans, and dweebs who are careless about sneezing and coughing. We decided to quit making projections and concur with Niels Bohr’s learned observation: ‘Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.’ So our best advice now comes from Sgt Phil Esterhaus: ‘Let’s be careful out there.’”

Scott Adams has done a great job punching from the side in “Dilbert”. I commend his latest cartoon on the subject which is cloaked as a standard business situation. Dilbert’s reaction sums up the increasing awareness of the general population (i.e., people I know).

John

Hello! I am a young woman wanting to pursue certification as an ACBC counselor. As a woman I know that I would only counsel other women. I know counseling is a teaching role and I am deeply interested in teaching my sisters in Christ. Would it ever be the case that I would be overstepping by bounds as a woman in the church? Are the harder cases definitely in need of pastoral care? Thanks!

Andreina