Contents
Cleaning House
I have to think the threat of Trump, who could not be bought off, exposing Epstein’s and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ “clients” might be driving threats on his life. There is an impassioned zeal among the Democrats to keep Trump from the White House, especially since he has learned from the past to clean house when he gets there.Bart
Bart, yes. Cleaning house in those areas should be priority one.
Early Marriage Comeback?
I don’t know if the statistics for marriage will hold true for the kids that were high school/college during the Covid disruptions. Our child, who just turned 20 this year, got married this August, and several of her friends/classmates have done so recently as well. We’re talking about kids who went to a very large public high school, not private Christian school. That trend seems to hold also for the kids I know who were homeschooled or Christian schooled. I wonder when we will start to see numbers reflecting the kids who turned 18 somewhere between 2016 and now. I expect the numbers will be toward earlier marriage. The pandemic and everyone’s response to it, including government, seemed to shake a lot of their existing paradigms, and trigger a reset toward things that were more important long-term like marriage.Jim
Jim, thanks. That would be great if it starts to go that way.
Seeking an Apology
Is it ever appropriate to ask for an apology? If so, how? And what if the request is denied?Cait
Cait, if it is the kind of sin that love covers a multitude of, I wouldn’t seek it. If it is from the kind of person that you know would be receptive, regardless, then I would go ahead. If it is a big deal, then I would go to the person in order to explain how you believe you were wronged by them. If he accepts it, you have gained a brother, as the Lord puts it. If he does not, then it either goes the route of church discipline, or, failing that, you move out of range.
Preterism and Daniel
Between your blog, your commentary on Revelation, some of the teaching materials on Canon Plus, and my own study of Scripture my eschatology has undergone some revision in the past few years. I’ve come from a pre-trib rapture premillennialist to being postmill, but I still have some spots I need to iron out. I’ve been looking for additional material on postmill eschatology, specifically a commentary on Daniel and something that specifically addresses the “problem passages” of the postmill view. I’m looking to really dig into the details, but I’m having trouble finding such literature. I am wondering if perhaps you could point me in the right direction?
Thanks for considering.Tim
Tim, the only preterist commentary on Daniel that I know of is Jim Jordan’s Handwriting on the Wall. I have it, but have not read it, so I will not be much help here.
Charlotte Mason
In response to the Charlotte Mason query in “Letters That May Cover the Waterfront,” I would reassure them that Charlotte Mason is classical. She was trying in her era to do the same thing that the current CCE movement is trying to do now—even going back to the same classical sources to figure out how to do it. Her focus on character, attention, soul-shaping, rich texts, memory, and guiding children to love the right things (she was a strong Christian) are very compatible with classical education. I would encourage the questioner to check out Karen Glass’s books on Mason, which are excellent and accessible introductions to her approach—In Vital Harmony is the best Mason intro, and Consider This is specifically about Mason and classical education.Jandy
Jandy, thanks very much.
Grape Juice in Communion
A big objection I continually hear about using grape juice instead of wine during communion is that it may cause former alcoholics to stumble. In your experience as a pastor have you or someone you know encountered this problem? If so, is there a solution to this problem?David
David, there can be an occasional challenge in this area, but it is not significant at all. I think this is used mostly as a hypothetical argument. It shows up in arguments much more often than it shows up in the course of pastoral care.
Actually . . . Not
In a recent interview on “Does a pastor need to be a seminary grad” Doug mentioned he studied engineering. I’ve looked for a more extensive bio and am unable to find where he did his undergrad, or if he obtained a BS in engineering ( what kind? EE, Civil, Mechanical, etc?) and where from. Also, where did he obtain his M Div? Thank you. I am a Canon Press, Mablog, and Ligonier fan. Keep up the good fight as we continue to contend for the faith.Bob
Bob, I am not sure what I said that gave that impression . . . I have a BA in philosophy, an MA in philosophy, and a second BA in classical studies. No, MDiv or anything like that.
Critique of a Biblical Timeline
Re: letters “I Was Told There Would Be No Math”
The video mentioned was critiqued at Creation.com:
Creation Ministries International is a trustworthy ministry originally started in the late 70s in Australia by Ken Ham and Carl Wieland. They published the magazine “Ex Nihilo”.Laurel
Laurel, thank you.
Learning from Disqualified Men
Sorry if this is already been asked, I could not find it in your blog history.
I don’t want to join in the pile on that is going online about Steve Lawson but I would like your take on how we should deal with the ministry he left behind.
I found great value in a lot of his teachings and that he was easy to listen to. Now that we know he was or should have been disqualified from teaching, does this mean that we can no longer treat his teachings as reliable (the existing teachings available online) and should we avoid him or does that make us like the cancel culture left?
Thank youDave
Dave, I have largely stayed out of the Lawson thing because I know next to nothing about it. As to your question, I would at least be wary of his teaching in retrospect because they chances are good that the double life was not nearly as contained as everybody thought at the time.
Prison Reform
Our prison systems here in the US seem to be in disarray. Recidivism is high, internal violence is through the roof, and general conditions appear to be more in line with an environment for animals than humans. In fact, most people would object to animals being housed and “protected” like our prisoners are.
What can be done? Any recommendations for maintaining justice but doing it in a way that is more honoring to these image-bearers?
Thanks!Caleb
Caleb, a biblical vision for prison reform is greatly to be desired. Serious violent crime should be addressed by means of execution. Serious non-violent crime should be addressed by prisons where the prisoners work until their victim has received restitution. A third of their wages pay for their own upkeep, a third goes home to family, and a third to the victim. When the victim is square, the prisoner goes free. And petty crime should be dealt with by restitution and a flogging.
Older College Student?
What would you say to someone thinking about applying to NSAC at age 47?
Having gone through the “normal” education channels I haven’t had any direct experience with a classical Christian education, and I’ve come to the conclusion that its absence has left a giant hole in my thinking.
I’d like to fill that hole, but I’m not sure how to proceed. One one hand it doesn’t feel like reading on my own is going to cut it, and on the other hand taking the leap to go back to school seems drastic.
Your thoughts?Mike
Mike, yes, it seems drastic to me also. Unless you are independently wealthy, and have no family, I don’t see it accomplishing what you wanted it to. I would suggested a carefully curated reading list.
Preaching as Prophecy
If I understand your position properly from former blog posts—namely, that preaching is more or less the heir to the gift of prophecy—how does such a position reconcile with the OT and NT examples of prophetesses? If women can be prophets, then would it not follow that women can be pastors? Or are there exegetical and theological reasons for regarding prophecy and preaching as distinct gifts of the Spirit and operations in the body?Frederick
Frederick, I regard preaching as continuing some aspects of the prophetic ministry, but not all. The part of prophecy that was open to women—originating a text that was from God—is no longer extant for anyone, male or female.
Somewhere in the Workshop
Per your recent Plodcast: please do write What I Learned in the Field of Arbol!
I’m a huge Lewis fan, but I’ve never had a satisfactory way of dealing with the gods (or planets) possessing Merlin. Lewis says that Merlin lived in a time when it was slightly more appropriate for man to be in contact with the gods, but even if there is some truth behind this idea—which I doubt—I think the example would have to come from before Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill, not after.
So, as a fellow Lewis fan, how do you handle Merlin?Andrew
Andrew, I would love to do that. And you are right . . . Merlin would have to figure into it.
The Looming Election
Ref. the odds of Trump winning or losing.
The thing is, Christians aren’t looking for the mercy of a little more time, we’re looking to the mercy of eternity, which has already been gifted to us.
But okay, you’re talking about something immediately in front of us and how we should think about it. To which I still say what I said above is our focal point. Anyway, from a postmillennial view point—a little more time for what? I understood the postmillennial view (which I do not share) to be the long view, not the “a little more time” view. Out of curiosity, how does whatever the election results may be fit into your taking the long-view eschatology?
The other question I have is: When you talk about one or the other candidate winning by a squeaker or by a blowout, you mean electorally, which is the only kind of win that is going to matter? How about the very real possibility (but I think this time no certainty) that Harris plainly wins the popular vote by a big margin, but loses the electoral vote narrowly? What will happen then? Not good things, I think. Too many people with too little to do and not all that much to lose either. If Trump wins the popular vote this time, which I actually think is not impossible , I do think it will be narrowly, but also almost certain (not about to bet on anything though) that he will win the electoral vote as well in that case; I don’t think it is likely there will be a split if Trump wins the popular vote.
Of course Trump has already decided the election is fraudulent unless he is declared the winner, no matter what, and MAGA voters have decided to believe him no matter what, and we’ve seen what they will do too. The difference between them and the wokesters is that most MAGA voters do have responsibilities and something to lose, and that might restrain them this time. Or not. Just musing and wonder what you think about split results.John
John, I think it is going to be turbulent, no matter what. You are right that MAGA voters have something to lose if they act up, but this is not reassuring if the vast majority of them believe that they are going to lose those same things if they don’t act up. In 2020, I believe the cheating was obvious enough, but that allegation split the conservatives. The Dems wanted Biden to win, and half the conservatives wanted to believe that the system was not all that corrupt. If Harris wins, and there is even the same amount of midnight funny business, I don’t think the election results will be accepted by anybody on the right. And if Harris wins, I think there would have to be a lot more funny business. So . . . there’s that.
As to your postmill question, I am largely thinking about religious liberty issues—keeping the right to preach and teach and plant church. Not having to go underground, in other words.
As to your postmill question, I am largely thinking about religious liberty issues—keeping the right to preach and teach and plant church. Not having to go underground, in other words.
Revelation and Preterism
My wife and I recently read your commentary on Revelation “When the man comes around.” I recently have started to embrace partial preterism. The book was great until we got to chapter 20. We have some questions regarding the defeat of Satan and the great white throne judgment in chapter 20. Are both past or future? I guess our question is, is Revelation entirely fulfilled? If not, then what passages in Revelation have not been fulfilled yet? Thank you in advanceJim
Jim, I take a preterist view of the entire book of Revelation, up to chapter 20. The last three chapters, I take in an historicist way, seeing it fulfilled down throughout church history, culminating in the Second Coming.
Efficacy of Baptism
My family has recently attended a CREC church in south Georgia. At this church, they hold the sacraments in very high esteem. Even to the point that they seem to believe in a form of baptismal regeneration. The position they hold to seems similar to what pastor Rich Lusk proposes in his writings. As this position was new to me, I naturally did some reading. One of the books I recently finished was your book “Reformed” is Not Enough. This book helped open my eyes to the objectivity of the covenant and efficacy of Baptism. However, I feel like you are arguing for something different than what I’m hearing from guys like Rich Lusk and Peter Leithart. I hold these men in high esteem, but do not fully agree with their understanding on baptism and salvation. How would you differentiate the efficacy and objectivity you give to baptism from a Federal Vision oatmeal stout guy like Rich Lusk? I am familiar with your Federal Vision No Mas article and know you would not label your view as FV anymore. I’m curious to hear how you differ and if this is part of the reason you are FV no mas? Thank you for your time and wisdom!
Your brother in Christ,Noah
Noah, the main point of difference would be my insistence on the absolute necessity of the new birth, distinct from water baptism. Jim Jordan wrote a monograph on regeneration that I differ with sharply, and Peter Leithart has said that he agrees with Jim. But I believe that Rich would agree with me about the need for a change of heart, a change of nature. And so, ironically, Jim and Peter would deny baptismal regeneration (in the classic sense) because they deny the possibility of regeneration itself. They don’t believe that we have “natures” that can be regenerated. At least that is how I understand it. I would refer you to my book Against the Church.
Is Postmill a New Thing?
I have a question about an argument often used against postmillennialism by its detractors, and I would like to know how you respond to it.
The argument is similar to what many amillennialists use against dispensationalists: How can you believe something the Church didn’t consider or take into account for 18 centuries (in the case of dispensationalists)?
In the case of questioning amillennial thought, it would be: How can you believe in a doctrine that only appears 4 centuries after Christ and that none of the apostolic fathers believed? (if we consider that Augustine is at least somewhat postmillennial).
Thank you so much, brother!!Diego
Diego, I don’t believe that any of the eschatological systems had coalesced in the early centuries of the church. You can find strands of all our modern systems in various fathers, but nothing complete. Athanasius can sound quite postmill, but I wouldn’t think of claiming him because the questions we are asking were not present to their minds. I regard eschatology as one of the great issues of maturation that we need to grow up into. And we all need to do a lot of work to that end.
Cedar Campus
Greetings from Michigan. It was enjoyable to read about your experience at Cedar Camp in the Upper Peninsula as my family has greatly enjoyed vacationing there the last few summers. It is no longer run by InterVaristy and is now called Cedar Bay. It continues to be a wonderful place to vacation and enjoy God and his creation. Lastly, the sauna next to the frigid lake water is still there.
Blessings,DJ
DJ, thanks. As you are facing the lodge, the place where the creosote miracle was on the left side of the lodge, way up on a ladder.
The Business of Forgiveness
Could you please elaborate more on what the “transaction” of forgiveness looks like? Do you have any guidelines for discerning when Prov. 10:12 or 1 Peter 4:8 is appropriate, and when Matthew 18 applies? If someone, a family member, refuses to acknowledge an offense as defined by Scripture (e.g., gossip, which carries the danger of ongoing offense), what does that relationship look like going forward? Perhaps you could write an imaginary scenario to demonstrate how a Christian should handle such things.Jeanie
Jeanie, yes. I should write more on this. The short form is that there are three options—confront the sin, cover the sin, or complain about the sin to others. The last is excluded by Scripture, and so we have to make our decision between the first two. I would opt for the “cover it love” option, provided two things are true. First, that you are emotionally up to covering it, such that resentments are not regularly leaking out. Can you actually cover it, and forget about it? And secondly, does the teaching of Scripture allow you to cover it?
Jeanie, there is fourth option in the sin issue. You could be wrong, and it is someone else who did it. Then the person being accused could be defending themselves honorably.
In that part of New England I called home for many years, it was customary on election eve for the women of the town, all through the 1800s and into the early 1900s, to bake Election Cake (also called “May Meeting Cake” since annual town meetings took place in May). The rule was you only got a piece if you voted a straight party ticket, which back in those days would have been Republican. In the interest of bipartisanship and without requiring anyone to vote a straight party ticket, here is my grandmother’s recipe for Election Day Cake if anyone… Read more »
Yum! Thank you!
I have fond memories of attending IVCF training at erstwhile Cedar Campus in the early 80s. Had my first concerted exposure to Reformed theology in a systematic manner during the School of Discipleship Training.
Tim,
I’m currently reading In The Days of These Kings by Jay Rogers, recommended by Ken Gentry. It is a Preterist “commentary” on Daniel. Very good
The Deep State is currently perpetuating a color revolution in the country of Georgia. I only point this out because if they succeed and drag Georgia into Russia/Ukraine war you’ll be reading in this blog how the crazy dictator Putin must be stopped.
Perpetrate
Was the protests that brought down the Berlin Wall, and other movements in 1989 like the Velvet revolution in Prague and the Chinese student protests in Tiananmen Square also “color revolutions” instigated by the deep state?
I wasn’t watching those events in real time, probably US intelligence was involved.
So I assume this means that you find the American subversion of Ukrainian society and the downstream effects from brutal trench warfare to homosexual propaganda in Ukrainian schools in order to “quagmire” the Russians to be heroic?
As I recall, back in 1989, the Germans started singing at the East German churches and wouldn’t stop.
You ever see the movie Wag the Dog?
I keep seeing on these letters pages that people just don’t become convinced of postmillennialism, paedobaptism, paedocommunion and various other doctrines until they’ve read a lot of books by some very clever people. You have to read yourself into them, and it’s a long and slow process, in which you’ll need lots of outside help. I find that with these particular doctrines it’s so in a way that it just isn’t with other doctrines. I’ve met plenty of people who were convinced of justification by faith alone, creation in six days, the doctrines of grace, etc., through their own personal… Read more »
It’s just unbelievable, the “religious” devices we attach to our faith that cannot be clearly supported by scripture without a lot of calisthenics which is why it requires a lot of “cleverness.” It somehow meets the need to make us “feel” more spiritual, without just simple faith in Christ. As we should understand however…. the just shall live by faith….alone. The devices will tend to distract at a minimum or redirect our faith towards a different gospel at our own peril.
Rob, I agree while in and of itself not always determinative, but anytime there is a lot of scriptural dancing to arrive at a doctrine, it should always be a red flag.
Maybe, hardly anyone comes to the issue of paedocommunion with a truly blank slate. The first time it enters their consciousness is probably after they’ve already been in a church setting that prohibited it. It would be interesting to hear someone who truly was a blank slate tell us what they garner from what the Bible has to say on the matter. I did hear James White say once that as a Baptist, he thought paedocommunion was what a reformed presbyterian would naturally believe for consistency sake at least. Just a thought.
For paedocommunion, I think sacramental assurances can be very attractive. For anxious, online types, postmillenialism can be very attractive.
To believe anyone has a blank slate when reading scripture is delusional.
That’s a rather trivial observation for anyone to take refuge in, because it leaves the real problem untouched. Pastor Wilson, on this blog, responded to this strong exegetical argument – https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/postmillennialism-a-biblical-critique/ – with a hand-wave, saying that it was because he had a different paradigm. I’d expect that at least some people in Moscow love the Bible enough to find such a weak response from one of their pastors to one of their distinctive doctrines at least a little bit troubling.
You might have a point, but if so I think it applies to significantly more than just paedocommunion. We’re emotional, social creatures and rarely come to decisions based on reason alone.
My son was a freshman in college when Covid hit. He went to a Christian college somewhat known for having a high marriage rate, but it really went crazy while he was there. An unusual number of friends, including him, married before finishing college and more than usual shortly after finishing. I definitely thought at the time that there was something (good) happening there.
I did ask this question to Doug, but in all due respect, he really did not answer it. The question being: a lot of us will stand before the Lord one day with having taken the wrong position in Credo versus Paedo baptism. Will the Lord hold that against us having sincerely taken one position over the other —only to find out judgment day we were on the wrong side of the fence.
“Trump, who could not be bought off”
The alternative reality someone must be living in to formulate that phrase is wild.