Contents
Ben Sasse
RE: In Honor of Ben Sasse
More than one thing can be true at the same time, which a lot of society seems to have forgotten. It’s common sense and critical thinking.Edna
Edna, yes, and thanks.
You said,
“The former temptation is far more common, or at least it used to be. A story is told of an influential man about town, not well-liked but very powerful, who eventually made the great change, and half the town turned out for the funeral. Ten minutes into the eulogy people started checking their programs to make sure they were at the right memorial service. There is a tendency we have to treat death as something that automatically erases all debts, fixes all problems, and guarantees Heaven for everybody. But while it really is good manners not to dance on anybody’s grave, it remains true that when a wicked man dies, his hope perishes (Prov. 11:7). Death doesn’t magically fix anything.”
This reminded me of this quote attributed to Fyodor Dostoevsky
“People have beautiful things to say about you, but you must die first.”Todd
Todd, exactly so.
Re: Your article on Ben Sasse (as a appreciator of both you and him)
You are clearly self aware enough to note that this article could come across as “damning him with faint praise” (your words). You might try to get ahead of that complaint by saying that’s not your intention. But it’s clearly how this article reads, regardless of what you perceive your intention to be.
I humbly suggest that you work on a different version of NQN. One where you are able to offer praise without need for qualification or contextualization. I have seen those from the Moscow Mood complaining about the same thing on your behalf. Turnabout is fair play.
As someone who greatly appreciates your writing, I think it’s an area for improvement.T
T, you are absolutely right about everything!
Protestant Variations
Hello Pastor Wilson, so very grateful for you.
In your debate with Heschmeyer on Sola Scriptura there is a point where he challenges Sola Scriptura by presenting the massive differences on baptism between you and Gavin Ortlund, baptism being such an incredibly important sacrament for the New Covenant, how can Baptists and Presbyterian/Anglican/Lutherans have such an unified position? Can you provide more insight into this question, as i thought it was one of his better counter-arguments. Blessings!Benjamin
Benjamin, if Protestants held that baptism was important in the same way that Catholics hold to its importance, then that would be impossible. But though we differ amongst ourselves on baptism, we nevertheless can have fellowship across those lines of disagreement. And that gives us an opportunity to grow up into the unity of the faith together.
The Idaho Governor’s Race
I’m curious who you’re voting for in the Idaho primaries for governor? I didn’t work for anyone, I just wanna know.Anon
Anon, I am planning to vote for Mark Fitzpatrick.
Many Thanks
In the department of “really good”; the article,
“Coming of Age and Life Between the Sexes #3” is “really good”!Melody
Melody, thank you.
Messiah ben Joseph
Reading Messiah Ben Joseph. Trying to figure out if these prophesies are fulfilled by the name of Jesus’ legal father being Joseph or if I need to significantly upgrade the weight of “Christological Type.” What do you think?Nate
Nate, the fact that the Lord’s legal father was Joseph is just one piece of it. So I would go with the upgrade option.
A dear friend of mine recommended your commentary on Revelation. I found it to be edifying, and I am glad that it was recommended to me. If that commentary is indicative of your longer projects, I hope you will one day write a commentary on Job, as I have rarely seen pastors preach from that comforting book.
Amazon suggested your “Get The Girl” book. Frankly, I am a twenty-eight year old bachelor who has never been in a serious relationship. I am moderately successful by worldly standards, but I am somewhat socially inept. Would “Get The Girl” be applicable to my situation? Or am I too old?
Sincerely yours,Tyler
Living Life Backward
Looks very good, but one Amazon reviewer said it left out 5:8-20 and chapters 6, 8, and 10? Is that so? (Neither you nor the Amazon description mentioned this.)
If so, it can still be a very good book (reviewer gave it 4 stars out of 5), but how do the omissions matter?Andrew
Andrew, it is a really good book, but you could not describe it as a line-by-line commentary.
I wholly concur with your ringing recommendation of David Gibson’s “Living Life Backwards.” I ran across it in seminary and pulled from it heavily when I took an adult Sunday School class through Ecclesiastes one semester. Gibson is a talented writer whose exposition packed quite the homiletical punch. I hope your discovery and endorsement leads many more to appreciate this excellent contemporary workAnother Bibliophil
Another Bibliophil, yes, and thanks.
Transactional Friendship?
To what extent are friendships transactional? My friend is beginning to stress the dynamic by making it feel like he’s been “pulling the weight” of the relationship in terms of success and material return. Not a fan of this ROI attitude. Do I need to step it up and “be more successful”? Is he putting too heavy of an emphasis on the transactional nature of friendships? Do I need to distance myself or call him out?Anon B
Anon B, the answer depends on what is meant by “success and material return.” If he means material return, that would be a perversion of friendship. If he means emotional return—i.e. he invests more heavily in the relationship than you do—you need to have a conversation with him about it. There are two main possibilities. One is that he is a bookkeeper time, and remembers that he has bought lunch three more times than you have over the last two years, or you are free rider type. I would certainly talk with him before “calling him out.”
My friend and I (both fathers) got into a spirited debate over whether a man’s duty to protect goes first to his children or to his wife. I don’t remember the details of how we got on the subject (as is often the case in such conversations) but the following hypothetical was posed:
Suppose your wife and child (think young, 5-year-old) were both drowning, and you only have time to grab one, who do you save?
I argued that my duty to save my child outranks my duty to save my wife, especially when considering she also has a duty to be willing to die for her child in a way he does not need to be willing to die for her. However, my friend argued that Scripture never commands fathers to love their children “like Christ loves the church,” and while he agrees fathers ought to love their children, their foremost duty is to their wife. He pointed out that while many passages exhort husbands to love their wives, none explicitly state fathers should love their kids to the same extent, and added that Paul Washer and Voddie Bauchum agreed with him.
While the debate itself may seem silly (and to an extent, it was frivolous) it touched on a deeper issue which I know you’ve spoken on; the best way to love your kids is to love their mother well. Does this principle extend to who you prioritize in safety, i.e., mom gets the lifevest, mom gets the food ration, etc? While I feel confident in my position, and my wife agrees that in such a scenario I should prioritize the kids, I do genuinely want to have my loves ordered rightly, and would appreciate your insight.
God Bless,JS
JS, to the extent this is an edifying thing to talk about (and in many cases, it would not be), I would change the scenario slightly. What would a godly couple do if the whole thing were in slow motion, and mom and dad had a chance to confer about it. Mother and child are in the ER and they each need a blood transfusion, and there is only enough for one. Mom and dad together make the decision, and I think it is obvious which way it would go.
Dealing With Porn in Marriage
My good, godly husband (we’ve been married 3.5 years) recently confessed that he looked at porn half a dozen times during a high-stress summer a couple years ago. I knew he had had a porn addiction before we got married, but he had been completely free of it for 18 months when we met, and I thought it was behind him. He confessed that he didn’t tell me at the time because 1) it didn’t turn into a habit, and 2) he wanted to spare both our feelings. Besides forgiving him, how should I respond? I’ve gathered from your writings that a good wife is designed to help her husband in this area, but I was so horrified, insulted, and confused when I heard the news that I’m not sure I was much help at all. I’m looking for a balanced take on my husband’s stumbling, especially since he said he would probably fall again sometime in the course of our marriage, despite all intentions not to. Is porn something that even a good man might look at from time to time, and I shouldn’t freak out? What’s a wise, gracious response, especially when my husband is repentant and makes no excuses and hates that he did this to God and to me? I’m afraid that since I do not understand this male sin, I am likely to put my husband’s problem at an 11 when it’s really only a 7—incidentally, downplaying my own female sins that are just as bad, they just don’t have the “ick” factor for me, and thus imaging that I somehow have one up on my husband and that I must be that much godlier. How to grow here?Olivia
Olivia, I would divide this into two pieces. As for the stumbling in the past, just forgive it, period. It is all over and done. It is repented of, and you are wise to be counseling yourself not to freak out about it. The second piece is that you should have another talk with him, addressing the issue of “future possibilities.” If it were to happen again, you would forgive him again. But at the same time, neither you nor he should be “budgeting” for it to happen again. That is not mortification, and this is a sin that requires mortification.
Somebody Wronged Micah
Hello, my name is Micah! You recently made a video about a boy using the AI friend pendant, that boy was me! I would like to clarify! I was paid to film that ad! It was an act! I don’t even use the necklace! What you, and the comments said about me and my family on your video has been hurting us.. I’m so ashamed that this is what Christianity has come to. I believe Jesus is king of kings and so does my whole family! I’m an actor! Please clarify this in your comment section! I am 15 years old!!Micah
Micah, two things. First—and I am sorry I have to do this—we need to budget for the possibility that this letter is a fine example of somebody trolling us. But second, if you really are the boy in the video, and you were just a paid actor, then it was the responsibility of the company to make that clear in the ad. This is standard operating procedure when actors give testimonials for a product. So if I were you, I would ask the company for an apology.
Regarding “A Primer on Worship and Reformation” and Bach
Grace and peace to you in our Lord
My questions for you come from two places: The comical and the serious.
First, I am rereading portions of your book “A Primer on Worship and Reformation” in preparation for a workshop on worship. In the first chapter, I was reminded of your making an example of VeggieTales, showing how it illustrates a lack of reverence for God’s word. I chuckled at the mention of how people would get up in arms about VeggieTales trying to make a remake of the Lord of the Rings because I knew that they had (The Lord of the Beans. And because you singled out Aragorn being a cucumber in your book, if you are unaware, Larry did play Ear-O-Corn in the film Facepalm). I couldn’t help but flip to the front of your book to see when it was published and then look up when “The Lord of the Beans” was released. As it turns out, The Lord of the Beans came first. I was just simply curious if you were aware of the VeggieTales film when you were writing your book or not. Maybe you brought it up in your book because there was backlash to Aragorn being replaced with Ear-o-corn? It’s unclear from your book. I was 5 years old at the time, so if there was, I was blissfully ignorant while singing “Oh where is my hairbrush” from my car seat on the way to church.
Secondly, because you take such a sharp stab at VeggieTales, at risk of forcing your hand to speak against a friend, I am curious how you view Doug Tenapels take on VeggieTales. I do remember from Canonplus’ documentary on him that he expressly sought to bring the gospel (and maybe some reverence?) into the show. Thoughts?
Finally, I am delving for the first time into the beauties of classical music. This morning I am listening to Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Being curious, I looked up what was being said in each song. I was sort of shocked to find that many of the three to four-minute songs contained one line from a creed sung over and over and over again. I’m becoming less of a fan of contemporary worship music by the day, but how is what Bach, and I’m sure now what other composers like Handel, did different than the repeating of the Bridge of a contemporary song until our Lord returns? How would you explain that?
BlessingsDavid
David, thanks for the questions. I was entirely unaware of The Lord of the Beans when I wrote that Primer. I am finding out about it with this letter. You are right that I appreciate Doug’s work and stance very much, but I have not talked to him about VeggieTales. I am guessing that we would differ. With regard to Bach’s repetitions, I do think it is different because of all the musical variation. The same words are being approached in many different ways, instead of the same words/same music, over and over.
Which Portions of Scripture?
I was wondering if you have a recommended list of Scripture passages that are most helpful to have memorized. One of my current goals is to memorize 2 passages a week. The thing is—how do I pick which ones? Up until now I’ve been picking just based on finding verses for topics that are most personally applicable for my current life circumstances (forgiveness, rejoicing in all circumstances, duties of wives, etc) but I was wondering if there is a more methodical way to go about this. Do you have perhaps a list of the passages your family/you memorized over the years? Where would you start? Do you think there are certain topics to memorize more about than others? Thank you.Mae
Mae, I think your method is great for about half of what you are doing. For the other half, the next time you read through your Bible, have a highlighter with you and mark passages that exalt and glorify God. There will be many in the Psalms, and in Isaiah, for example. Make a point of including those.
Israel and Iran
I believe Israel has a right to defend itself against Iran. On the other hand, who is to say that fireball coming from Iran isn’t God’s punishment, just as the army from Assyria was?Russel
Russel, in the abstract, that question is quite a good one. There is no reason why God could not judge Israel by means of Iran. And if He did so, He is the Lord. But as a concrete question, however, if that were what is happening now, the war wouldn’t be going the way it is going.
Wilson/Demar?
Are you planning on releasing in some form (complete?, summary?) the Wilson/DeMar debate from last November?Ron
Ron, yes, the plan is to release it, but it still on the runway, awaiting takeoff.
Investment Concern
You recommended this investment company today but this announcement raises a concern.David
David, thanks for the heads up. Just keep in mind that politics can be pretty political.
American Judgment
Before I finished your article I did my own little rewrite of your words here: “The point of my tweet was that God could decide to destroy modern “USA” with a giant fireball from Heaven on account of this festival-by-the-“WHITE HOUSE”, and there would be no injustice done. That is true enough, and amen, and it is equally true that Iran’s hatred of USA is irrational and wicked… “USA” has no right, not to mention no ability, to shield themselves from the wrath of a holy God . . . In a conflict between USA and Jehovah, a conflict that would be evidenced by the fireball, I am with Jehovah. That’s one thing—and pretty straightforward, it seems to me.
I find it curious that Tucker and his ilk are deeply concerned for Christians in Iran and/or Gaza who’s lives are in jeopardy due to Israel’s bombing yet strangely unconcerned for those same Christians whose lives are in jeopardy due to the anti-Christian regimes that rule there. Conversely, these same folks are strangely unconcerned for the Christians in Israel who’s lives are in danger ( and may have been among those killed on October 7) of the war threat from Iran.Melody
Melody, yes. You make several solid points.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
I recently have been wrestling with the topic of forgiveness and the turmoil between forgiveness and reconciliation.
One view I have seen is that the two must be together in that you cannot forgive unless there is repentance. Examples such as forgiving just as Christ God forgave us are used, as well as this type of forgiveness puts the point of forgiveness on mental health. This view is primarily from Chris Brauns book Unpacking Forgiveness.
On the other hand, I see the view of forgiveness and reconciliation being two separate instances. Considering the sanctification process I believe in this view as there will always be a sin we need to repent of until we reach eternity. While we are certainly called to repent, we can’t take the almost catholic view that we must repent of every single sin before we die or thus, we don’t make it to heaven. This of course creates a work-based salvation. Also, on a side note, Jesus and Stephen both praying for forgiveness of those that did not know what they do seems to debunk the forgiveness and reconciliation being one in the same.
My hang up is that by taking this second view, I have read it states that you are to forgive but not reconcile until repentance has occurred. If this is in fact true, then how does one handle marriage? If my wife has sinned and I forgive her in her, then surely we don’t stay unreconciled until she decides to repent? What if she is an unbeliever, do we never reconcile until she is saved and then repents of the specific sin?
Trusting in God’s word and recognizing my tainted heart, I am confident I am missing something here.
Thank you for your time,Mark
Mark, I would not choose between these views, but rather seek to combine them. It is true that forgiveness is a transaction, and the transaction cannot be fully completed without repentance on the part of the one being forgiven. At the same time, as far as it concerns me, I have have the transaction wrapped up and ready to go the moment the person does repent and seek forgiveness. What do I do in the meantime? The Bible teaches that love does not keep a record of wrongs, and that it covers a multitude of sins. In daily life with fellow sinners, we are not supposed to chase down every sin—but we are to cover them. If a sin rises to a level of magnitude where it would be sinful to “cover it,” e.g. adultery, then you confront it, and act in accordance with the response. The other thing to budget for is the difference between restoration of fellowship and restoration in office. There is a difference between forgiving someone and trusting someone. If an employee stole from you, and you fired them, and they then sought forgiveness, the fact that you extend forgiveness, and are happy to come to the Lord’s Table together, does not mean that you have to give them their old job back. You may, but you don’t have to. A refusal to do so is not lack of forgiveness.
I’d be interested in your perspective on a situation I find myself in for the second time: a mother I know wrote to me to inform me that my kids had acted in an (apparently) unfriendly way towards her daughter, with the implicit expectation that I make my kids behave differently next time. I tried to find out what happened from my kids, and came to the conclusion that this was a normal case of kids not yet having a firm grasp of the nuances of social interaction, a large side order of misunderstanding, with a dash of thoughtlessness and perhaps a little jealousy thrown in. Nothing unusual. The first time this happened, I decided this would be a great opportunity for all the kids involved to practice dealing with problems in a biblical way, so I suggested to the other mother that her son (who was 10 at the time) could talk to my daughters (who were 8, 10, and 12) and let them know that he felt hurt by something they did, which would give him a chance to hear their side of the story, and give my kids a chance to apologize directly to him for anything they may have done wrong. The mother and son chose not to do this, and simply broke off contact with us. I don’t want this to happen again, but I still feel strongly that kids this age should practice solving problems like this themselves. The “victim” in this second situation is a girl who has had some severe health issues; she is very weak, and if she exerts herself too much she experiences nausea and pain. Her mother has told me that her daughter is unwilling to speak to my girls about a situation in which she felt left out and hurt, which I completely understand. I definitely want to be considerate of her condition, but it seems to me that if a child is unwilling to let another child know they did something hurtful, they should not continue to complain about the behavior of that other child. I don’t want to reinforce the idea that a child on the receiving end of bad behavior—perceived or real—gets to then dictate how all future interactions with other children should go. I want my girls to be kind, to be able to see things from other people’s perspectives, and to apologize for unkind behavior, but it still seems wrong for this girl to more or less accuse my daughters, from afar, of thoughtless behavior, without giving them a chance to defend themselves. Am I on the right track? Is it appropriate for me to remind my girls of biblical principles, and help them see the situation from the perspective of the other child, but then step back and allow them to navigate the next interesting social interaction on their own? It seems to me that the more we mothers intervene, the more we turn all of this into a big deal, which it shouldn’t be. How would you approach a situation like this?Michelle
Michelle, I think you are behaving wisely in all this. The one additional thing that I would suggest is that you seek to arrange a meeting of the kids with both moms there to referee. Go over the meeting beforehand with your kids. If what the other girl says strikes home, have them prepared to apologize. If they don’t agree with what she says, have them prepared to say to her that they are certainly willing to think over what she has said, and to pray about it. They want to take her concerns seriously. This will enable you to tell the other mom that no matter what, her daughter won’t find herself. in a debate or confrontation. If an approach like this is rejected, then I think you needn’t worry about it. You don’t want victimization to take over your children’s world, while at the same time teaching them to be genuinely kind to others.
Life Choices
Hello sir, I am a male from South Korea who grew up there and I was born in 1998 so I am in my late 20’s.
First of all, I have been following your videos on Youtube and your writings on this website, which I think are very interesting and making me think quite seriously about changing my view on Eschatology if I had any beforehand. As I am not an expert in theology and have not enough information to judge with a 100 percent clear conscience on what is right for now, I am delaying my decision on the eschatological view and other materials that you are providing but I am quite inclined to be on the same side as yours as soon as possible. Furthermore, I am actually making decisions as though I am quite sure about Postmillennialism when it comes to my daily life. With all that said, I want to share a little bit of my background story with you and move onto my questions. I started to believe in God I would say about 10 years ago after I decided to go to church to change myself like my father did and I do not regret it, this whole thing, the belief, the Gospel, Jesus, God, is everything to me right now and I am a proud confessing Christian in Jesus. I started my faith journey in an evangelical megachurch where I think a lot of different theologies are mixed and not really defined well to the saints. I had a different opinion about woman’s role in leadership and so forth, so, a long story short, I moved onto a Reformed church that belongs to Kosin, a denomination in South Korea that inherits the Dutch Reformed theology as far as I know. And now I am in the army doing my obligatory service finishing this year November, funnily enough, I am getting heavily influenced by you sir who was in military before as well. Maybe there is some correlation.
My question is actually regarding my calling and vocation which might, if possible, have NSA on the way. I have several paths on my mind. I have a bachelor degree in Applied Mathematics from University of Twente from the Netherlands so I am thinking of continuing my academic career in Europe probably in one of the three countries: Germany, Switzerland or the Netherlands. I will be studying Formal verification and want to become an expert in that field. At least, that is my plan for now. Not saying that I can without God’s help. One of the goals behind this direction is to make money so that I can later become a pastor or a theologian or I can also continue doing my job depending on the situation at the time. For this plan, I am considering doing a study in NSA if possible after I earn enough through my job and have enough resource to feed my family. The next plan is to first study in NSA for masters and then doing a master for my academic career afterwards or if possible I can do both at the same time and then decide if I want to become a pastor or a theologian, or want to proceed with my calling as an expert in a particular field. I guess the latter one can provide me a backbone to make the right decisions when I go out there in the world. Another possibility is to study in NSA as an undergraduate student and prepare to become a medical doctor or, just like the other ones, a pastor or a theologian. I am considering this long path as well because I have been thinking about becoming a doctor in my country even though I am considerably older than the ones who aim for medical doctor. The reason is because that when I was in the Netherlands studying Applied Mathematics I have had an issue with my linguistic skill in English personally and quite seriously and it made me see something. Reading textbooks takes way longer, listening and understanding lectures were so difficult but thankfully I could also feel that it was getting better towards the final year in University of Twente. So definitely I struggled quite harshly. However, besides my grades and academic achievements, I could see that the ones who have a family member who works in Mathematical field or is related to Math somehow seem to be more passionate and work easier. It seemed like they will not lose their passion. There could be a lot to say about this but that was my conclusive observation. As a conclusion, considering the fact that my parents work in medical field, my thoughts were quite naturally leading me to consider the one thing that I got affected by my parents a lot growing up in terms of values and work ethic and that I could have approached without an effort which is a medical doctor. Well, I am praying for my future career and really do want to make the right decision. At the same time, I really love your teachings so I do want to study at New Saint Andrew. Therefore, my question is as simply as I can put: “How can someone like me who is considerably old to start everything again decide if he should go to New Saint Andrew or not? and if yes, how should he do it?”. For your context, I am not dating anyone right now and do not have a job guaranteed after I finish my service so I got a lot to do and I feel like my age is not that young anymore. I guess my question is mostly New Saint Andrew related but it also is about the vocation and calling and making the right decisions for those. I hope this letter finds you well and hope to hear back from you.
Thanks for your work sir sincerely.HJK
HJK, there is a lot there, and I am afraid I don’t know enough about your abilities or circumstances to give you any particular advice when it comes to the various options before you. The one thing I would say is that, depending on how serious you are about an NSA component, you should make a point to visit Moscow in person as a prospective student before making any decisions.
A letter described porn as a “male sin.” I want to strongly caution against this language. While the percentages of men are certainly higher, there are certainly women who also struggle with porn. To classify porn as a “male sin” increases the shame and isolation Satan already attaches to this sin.
One of our mechanisms for trying to relativise our sin is to try to reduce it to abstractions. I’m wondering whether we should even say things like “he (or she) looked at porn” at all. The letter says “he looked at porn”. I suggest that we should make an effort to change this vocabulary and encourage instead use of phrases like “he went looking for other women who’d display for him (whether because they wanted to, or because they were victims of exploitation themselves – he didn’t care about that) what they looked like when naked, and having sex”. That,… Read more »
Thanks! I agree. We all like to downplay our sins and make them “acceptable.” Clear language is important when describing sin.
On a related note, this is part of the power of “confessing your sin to one another and praying for each other.” It’s pretty easy to say, “Father, I fell into sin again. Please forgive me.” When you hear someone else describe your sin in prayer, it’s often a lot more raw/accurate about how horrific sin is as an offense against our holy God. Which leads to the incredible understanding of how amazing God’s forgiveness is!
Yes, one wonders how long it will be before a new version of the 10 commandments comes out with the sentence ‘thou shall not have an inappropriate relationship’.
I’m confused – are you implying that viewing porn is not a sin? If so, how do you interpret Matthew 5:27-30?
That doesn’t mention porn. The whole point of that verse is that the most obvious sin is no worse than the least obvious one. Men may be deceived, God is not. Seeing a fully clothed woman (or man) and desiring her (or him) — even momentarily — is the same as adultery. Which person on this board has not been physically attracted to someone they were not married too, even if only in passing? The point is that we are all convicted by this standard. The point is clear: Pharisees judge others, followers of Christ focus on themselves. Continuing from… Read more »
Buster, you said: “The point is clear: Pharisees judge others, followers of Christ focus on themselves.”
Do you practice that principle on this comment thread week in and week out? Or are you like the Pharisee who regularly judges Doug, his church, and his supporters?
Hi Dionysios, I am not a religious leader, nor do I claim divine authority for my pronouncements. I do not claim to know the mind of God, nor do I seek to impose my own idiosyncratic behavioral rules onto others. Jesus criticized the religious authorities for abusing the law for predatory purposes, focusing on the rules rather than the spirit. Doug is a religious authority who abuses the law for predatory purposes, endless litigating the edge conditions of the rules. I am not a religious authority and I do not endlessly litigate the edge conditions of the rules. I do… Read more »
Hi Caleb. You have misunderstood what I was trying to get at. It is impossible to miss that in the reporting of the many scandals to plague the church recently the word ‘adultery’ (or even adulterous) is studiously avoided. Instead the expression ‘inappropriate relationship’ is used, which to my mind significantly downgrades the seriousness of the sin. I get it that sometimes some tact may be required in initially reporting such incidents but Christians of all people ought not to shy away from plainly speaking the truth and using correct terminology. I remember Steve Lawson fans hoping he would repent… Read more »
Thanks for the clarification! Now I appreciate the point you were making earlier.
I have noticed the “inappropriate relationship” lingo which is supposed to make us think they exchanged texts along the lines of “Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about you,” not “My wife will be out of town all next week. Meet you at the usual place on Monday at noon–and wear the garter belt and stockings you wore the first time. Can’t wait.” To me, this is like describing bankrobbery as taking some of the bank’s cash without first getting their permission, Or describing a vicious assault as someone’s letting his temper get the better of him.
In the last few years nothing has come out to make me regret refusing the jab, and in the same way, nothing has come out to make me regret what I thought about the fishiness of the 2020 election. Imagine claiming to be a minister of truth and having no regrets whatsoever about spreading malicious slanders for years. “Nothing coming out” means that these were lies, Doug. That’s because the “official” account is that the jab saves lives and Trump lost. “No news” means that the official story is true, or at least truer than the unmitigated lies coming out… Read more »
Blah, blah, blah…
I second that. It’s the same old thing, week in and week out.
I feel the same way about Doug glazing Israel after nuns are assaulted walking in Jerusalem and priests are killed in Lebanon at the hands of the IDF. My money is still on all of this boot licking goes away once flagrant war criminal Hegseth is fired.
I agree, the Trump Show has long since jumped the shark. Unfortunately until he goes away we’re all going to continue to be annoyed, because that is what he does: create divisions so that attention is always on him. Every day there’s an unnecessary press conference in which he attacks people, every day there are ludicrous tweets. So let’s make a deal: impeach Trump, remove both he and Vance from office, put in a unity ticket led by true-blue conservatives, to Restore America On Her 250th Birthday: President Mitt “Gerald Ford” Romney and VP Nikki Haley will shepherd the country… Read more »
You’re talking about Doug’s blather, right?
No, yours and Buster’s. It’s Doug’s site, so he can say what he wants each week. If you had your own blog, you can do the same. If you don’t like what Doug says, then why not just move on? I’m sure there are other blogs out there that you and Buster can troll each week to pontificate on. It goes without saying that you and Buster are not doing anything fruitful or productive on this site. I’m sure you guys “feel” better getting things off your chest each week. But it’s not fruitful. You guys are like the resounding… Read more »
And somehow you’re responsible for what I say? My motivation to love god and love others is WHY I post…Doug is a bad faith actor who does not display the love of Jesus. Calling someone out is not the same thing as hate. I’d rather be a clanging gong than a jerk:)
Can you choose to be a clanging gong without being a jerk?
They’re in orchestras, so yes, one can be a clanging gong without being a jerk. It’s all about perspective and perception:) gongs get peoples attention…jerks are just jerks.
It’s Doug’s site, so he can say what he wants each week. If you had your own blog, you can do the same. If you don’t like what Doug says, then why not just move on? Correct, it is Doug’s site, and he put a comments section on it. He thrives from controversy. It is his primary market device. That is why he allows these comments. If you don’t like what goes on at Doug’s house then maybe you shouldn’t hang out there? Jesus did not appoint you to be His personal avenger toward Doug and the church he pastors.… Read more »
Buster, on this comment thread, week in and week out, no one presumes others’ motives more than you do, and no one lectures others more than you do. Secondly, are you here to build bridges with anyone? Are you here to ask other people questions about why they believe what they believe? You lecture, and insult, and lecture some more. And it’s not out of a spirit of kindness or graciousness. You come across as an avenger, even though the Lord doesn’t need you to avenge for Him. I am not an avenger for Doug. I don’t know Doug. And… Read more »
I do not presume motives, I take Doug at his word for what they are: building a war-making nation of theocratic white supremacy. AKA the Confederate States of America, but globalized this time. To get to that “promised land” Doug has chosen Saul (Trump) over God. This time it was preceded not by a golden calf but a gold leaf toilet. You come across as an avenger Good. I am not an avenger for Doug. Then why do you attack me in this way? You don’t engage with the substance of what I say, you object to the very existence… Read more »
“He thrives from controversy,” so if you leave he’ll thrive less, eh? Thank you for helping him so much.
This is the way.
Your champion Goliath just had a boulder planted in his forehead by Piers freaking Morgan — mediocrity of mediocrities — and a global movement of Christians is now aligning against you. Why? Because the children of the church are snapping under the cognitive dissonance introduced by the constant lies of “leaders” like Doug. The men who keep shooting at politicians — and/or storming Capitols to disrupt peaceful transitions of power — are not small-breasted biddies with Women’s Studies MA degrees; they are the upright sons of Reformed Elders, the sons of MAGA Mormons, the sons of MAGA nondenoms, the ones… Read more »
Talk about cognitive dissonance. Your David and Goliath analogy is laughable.
It’s the pearl clutching Piers Morgan with the kill shot. Ha ha ha.
Jan 6th was a national tragedy. Not because of any insurrection. It was a trap orchestrated by the deep state.
Who’s pearl-clutching, Tom? Poor wittle Doug was so upset that the meanies “ganged up” on him on the Argument Show by… arguing with him? That’s uncut pearl clutching, old-lady-level softness. Tom, you clearly don’t know what cognitive dissonance means. Doug rarely goes into a setting where he does not control who is speaking to him. This time he did, probably thinking Piers would be somewhat friendly — he’s a right-wing nativist promoted by Murdoch, after all, who starred on Celebrity Apprentice and is personal friends with Trump — and it was immediately revealed why he doesn’t do it more often:… Read more »
Haha, proof? Pretty sure it was an insurrection…
Now do Scientology.
The fact that you think the appropriate comparison for Doug is Scientology is more insulting to him than anything I’ve said. But I’d be happy to play along, thanks for the invite. Both “Reformed” theocracy and Scientology have their origins in the same time and place: California, in the 1950s, raging against the end of white (male) supremacy. They are both esoteric “faiths” that shield their members from the wider community of humans via aggressive gatekeeping, while bombarding them with “literature” that delineates their pseudo-philosophy via fiction and metaphor. They both propose totalizing systems for societal control. They both target… Read more »
My $0.02: Writing anti-Scientology content would be a much better use of your protesting time.
Are Scientologists starting wars around the world at the moment or is it Zionists? Have any wars been fought over Scientology?
I’m not “protesting”.
When I need your $0.02 I’ll ask to borrow them. But since we’re giving each other free advice, my advice to you is to avoid the CREC like the plague that is coming to it. There are plenty of churches out there which aren’t controlled by megalomaniacal boomers with delusions of grandeur. You don’t need this one. It’s not good for you.
I’m Eastern Orthodox. Grew up in one of the ethnic churches.
Well you’ve got your own problems then. I can’t help you there.
You could go try.
Here’s another good one: L Ron Hubbard and Doug Wilson were both in the Navy. They were both obsessed with the occult, and demonic forces. Both started as businessmen peddling pseudo-philosophical ideas first, resorting to operating tax-shielded “home” churches later. They were stylistically similar. Constantly paranoid. Attacked mainstream science, especially psychology. Scientologists went to war with the FDA — there’s a lot of overlap in MAHA and Scientology, “wellness” and “clean living” in general intersects with Scientology, Kabbala, yoga, and other paganisms — and were generally antagonistic towards a government that (quite frankly) coddled them. Both encouraged their followers to… Read more »
There are more Scientology-adjacent people than CREC-adjacent people in the current administration, Bondi’s departure notwithstanding.
A teenageTikTok trend is having a significant (but undoubtedly temporary) impact on Scientology operations here in LA–which has the world’s largest concentration of Scientologists and Scientology-owned real estate, most of it on Sunset Boulevard where I am currently living.The “prank” consists of a few dozen teenagers at a time running through Scientology Centers until they are escorted out by security. A few episodes have turned violent which has made most of the centers keep publicly accessible doors locked all day. The teens undoubtedly have no idea whom they’re messing with and what the legal repercussions they are likely to face.
They should stream Mike Rinder’s (RIP) and Leah Remini’s show, and then think about how money seems to be no object to David Miscavige when it comes to surveillance of “SPs.”
You seriously think Scientology has more control over the Trump admin than the Zionist/AIPAC lobby (Adelson, Theil, etc.) or a CREC member running the DoD? Are you high?
As I have no personal history in that world I am not well-suited to combat it. I have extensive history in Doug’s world, so I can speak to the problems within it.
But it is certainly revealing and concerning that the “warriors” Doug has allied with are pagan mystics and plastic surgery freaks (both California experts to the world). Men who wear makeup, women who look butch.
Don’t forget the Mormons! They do the tradwife/MAHA thing way better than the Mothers of Moscow.
One hopes that Buster uses AI to write these responses and doesn’t actually waste as much daylight as it looks like he wastes.
One never knows. Maybe Buster Keaton *is* a bot? After all, I didn’t show up until well after the introduction of GPT.
Either way, the amount of time I spend trolling Doug pales in comparison to the amount of time Doug spends trolling humanity. If you are concerned with allocative efficiency then direct your critiques towards Moscow.
“Ben Sasse — President of a public university system — who resigned just before reporting regarding his widespread theft of taxpayer funds came out:” lol, I don’t know if it was intended, but you certainly gave the impression that working for a public institution is worst than every other accusation you made. The problem with your accusation Buster, is that it is all centered on the same fallacious premise. “Doug is wrong, therefore Doug is just manipulating for power.” You cite Doug opposing Trump, and then supporting Trump, as if changing your mind about a politician over the course of a decade… Read more »
you certainly gave the impression that working for a public institution is worst than every other accusation you made Justin, I’m sorry that I’m not typing slowly enough for you. Here’s the gist: don’t preach a theology of covenantal responsibility and then deny that you have responsibility. The claim I was making is that Doug opposes public universities, on principle, right up to the point when he and his friends get to control them. At which point they suddenly become “opportunities,” and we know what happens then: educational quality drops off a cliff — the UF system is a joke… Read more »
Well said!
I found you!
https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/justin-parris-assault-on-a-female/
GOT HIS ASS
When you have your discussion, ask him exactly what types of porn he is interested in. Porn is categorized. The reason to ask this question is to know specifically what his temptation is. It is not a side of him you will want to see, but it sounds like you need to know.
The fact that so many on the conservative right have been so readily taken in by shysters, grifters, miscreants, gypsies, tramps and thieves simply means that they are unregenerate and utterly lost. By this I mean that they don’t know God. If they knew God, they would know the shepherd’s voice. Couldn’t agree more, Doug. The shameful thing is that you do not recognize yourself in your own critique. You were also readily taken in by them. You supported them. You made common cause with them. You elevated them. You amplified their voice, bringing your congregations into their audience. You… Read more »
There is corruption on both sides, obviously, but if you took the blinders off your eyes, you’d see there are more grifters and thieves on the progressive left.
One of the biggest cons is that anyone who opposes them is racist. It is the progressive left that is obsessed with race, and no it is not only white men who support Trump. There was a shift of about 17% black and Hispanic voters for Trump from 2020 to 2024.
Let’s reevaluate those stats after the midterms, since it is a referendum on Trump 2.
Also a portion the progressive left refused to vote for Kamala because of Biden’s commitment to funding the IDF to commit genocide in Gaza.
That was one issue but it was not the only one. The very progressive left are done with most of the Dem politicians who they see as standing in the way of Eating the Rich. They think Dems give the workers just enough to prevent them from bringing on the revolution. Harris was also disliked because, as AG, she allowed counties to go after death sentences despite her opposition. I don’t know
what to make of young people who say Newsom has run the state as a right wing ideologue.
He isn’t a right wing ideologue, he is a neoliberal snake. Same as Biden, Obama, Clinton, etc.
In Victor Davis Hanson’s excellent book The Dying Citizen, below is a very insightful point he made:
“Without a middle class, society becomes bifurcated. It splinters into one of modern masters and peasants. In that situation, the function of government is not to ensure liberty, but to subsidize the poor to avoid revolution, and to exempt the wealthy, who reciprocate by enriching and empowering the governing classes.”
Depending on what you mean by “very progressive left” that just isn’t true. There have been less contentious primaries this season than most expected, and the losers are endorsing the winners in pretty much every case. No idiosyncratic independent runs, no alternative slate of candidates, no spoiler candidacies. Obv there’s still a long way until the election, but as of now the progressives and liberals are not moving further away from each other, they’re moving closer to each other. Quickly. I’m not sure the political right in America is quite prepared for the level of organized opposition they are about… Read more »
“I’m not sure the political right in America is quite prepared for the level of organized opposition they are about to encounter. Most of them haven’t seen anything like what’s coming in their lifetimes.” That’s a big stretch. Not that long ago, in the 2020 election, Biden won the White House, and the Dems took the House and the Senate. Also not that long ago, in the 2008 election, Obama won the White House, and the Dems took the House and the Senate. In the 2026 midterm elections, the Democrats will likely take the House, but not by a landslide… Read more »
I don’t think many will care if trump and CN go away…and a two-party system is dumb anyways. What about your dank right and the vitriol they espouse? No one arguing against you or Doug says that the “left” is the only way to turn. Didn’t trump say he’d “clean the swamp”, and now when we look at DC it’s actually far worse than before?
Dionysios, you provide a very good example of what I’m talking about when I say that folks have no idea what’s coming. I’m not talking about the midterms (which will be violent, and not as you postulate). I’m talking about a complete repudiation of an entire political system. You speak about “capitalism” like we’re still in the Cold War, but in reality it is Trump that is nationalizing industries, raising tariffs via tweet, expropriating Venezuela, engaging in insider trading, and otherwise violating every single principle of free markets that Adam Smith ever wrote down. (Especially the ones in the Theory… Read more »
Buster, you said: “The USA has never been geopolitically humiliated before. Now we are.” That is not true at all. The USA was humiliated during, and after, the Vietnam War. We left a lot of unfinished business there, and we weren’t able to accomplish our mission. The USA was humiliated after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, which only served to strengthen Castro’s position in Cuba, as well as embolden other socialist regimes in our hemisphere. The USA was humiliated when the Pentagon Papers were published. The USA was humiliated when the Watergate scandal was exposed. The USA… Read more »
Don’t forget Korea, Abu Ghraib, invading Afghanistan, electing a rapist grifter twice to the presidency whos economic warfare through tariffs makes the American consumer foot the bill while billions are going back overseas and to large corporations, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia denying access to our bases while “Project Freedom” was running for about two hours, supporting the genocidal apartheid state of Israel unconditionally for decades, the list goes on and on. But these are mostly great points on why wasting money on our military just leads to death and humiliation. Let’s get some healthcare and housing and education like every… Read more »
Of course there’s corruption on both sides…I don’t remember anyone here denying that. The problem is that the “right” claims to have gods support and backing…and that the “left” is devoid of anything Christian…obviously, you don’t know any Christian democrats, do you? That’s on you and yours for demonizing others. What is said here is toxic and should be called out. What happened to enjoying a “serrated edge”?!?!?
you’d see there are more grifters and thieves on the progressive left. If that’s the case then why is all the money and power controlled by the reactionary right? Let’s get serious, please, for one second. You don’t just get to make things up and then use your inventions as reasons to bludgeon others. That is authoritarian. Trump is currently auctioning pardons. He is accepting private jets as personal gifts. He is expropriating the oil wealth of Venezuela into offshore bank accounts he controls. His administration engages in insider dealing to an unprecedented degree. His administration is staffed with billionaires… Read more »