Letters for an October Morn

May I ask for some recommendations on books about Christian Education if I were to want to inform someone who might be interested in financing a project that would eventually be a site on which to build an institution of Christian Higher Education?

Rocky

Re: the Theological Equivalent of the Butterfly’s Boots

Okay . . . there are lots of words and terms you use that stretch me and I do a search to increase my knowledge; but this one??? All I’m getting is ladies’ boots . . . including combat boots with butterflies on them . . . What am I missing here?

Thanks for all you do. Your ministry is such a blessing.

Laurel

In the recent interview from NBC and reaction video to it, you spoke of the man in question being “busted in large part because of me”. This brought me to a question which has bothered me ever since I began reading Father Brown years ago- what’s up with the protection of the confessional? Where is the justice in allowing a person protections in confession? Is that a Catholic thing or do you also hold to that? From that clip, I wonder if you do not. I struggle with the idea, knowing that God has put in place here on earth certain spheres of jurisdiction, if you will. Can you explain to me why or why you do not hold to this position? I am reformed, but CONFUSED!

Rebecca

Your recent article on Christian Nationalism and the Nation State, Part 1 fascinated me.

I was raised on the east side of Flint (MI) growing up in the same house my father grew up in.

He was a second generation shop worker for General Motors.

His disdain for Blacks was probably inherited from his father but certainly when his Chevy van was vandalized during his shift or when a gunman shot into our family vehicle as he drove through the wrong side of town, the matter was pretty settled in his mind. Blacks were blacks and whites were whites. Whites lived on the east side and blacks didn’t. And that was that.

But what he didn’t realize was that our Eastside community was made up of not only whites but Hispanics and a fair amount of southern state immigrants who came north to work in the factory. We Eastsiders were a melting pot for sure but without the pepper.

When General Motors shut down its main operation, the neighborhood changed. It no longer really mattered whether you were white, Hispanic, black or from the south, what mattered was survival and getting out of the trenches.

To this day when I hear somebody say they’re from Flint I get excited because it’s an opportunity to talk about old times and old places even when those places and times were difficult.

Tom

Re:”Christian Nationalism and the Nation State, Part 1,”

I loved the baking illustration right near the end, and/but I think the metaphor might be extended a bit. The “reasonable” secularists are ignorant of the gluten. The high-octane postmodernist ones are not only aware of the gluten’s presence, but insist that society is collectively suffering from celiac disease, and that the cookie needed to crumble, and a new one be made from tapioca starch, soybean oil, and xanthan gum. (I suspect this frightful diagnosis + prescription is what is driving some folks into the other ditch of kinism?) Interestingly, not only do you need gluten for a dough to have its typical cohesion, but also for the leaven to be able to do its job over time (a function of the cohesion and elasticity). Having experimented a bit with this, I can say firsthand: nothing else, no other textural agent, really performs like gluten. I don’t know how far the analogy could be stretched (heh). Maybe best to explore it only on a full stomach.

Wesley

I was wondering what you thought of this article from Russell Moore?

I read it and my thoughts was that he was essentially lumping in Americans with unsavory Russians and what the fake news CNN says about the new Italian Prime Minister. It seemed to me Moore’s article was a dog’s breakfast, and the kindest thing I could say to this southern Baptist was bless his heart.

Thanks

Shawn

I recently watched your debate on gay marriage with Andrew Sullivan in the Canon App. One frequent theme in it was a call to give a critique of gay marriage outside of the Bible (obviously kind of an issue when we think worldviews). You brought up that it is a slippery slope and would lead to things such as polygamy. In looking at this debate through the lens of the current culture would you say that we could point to things like gender confusion/transgenderism, hormone therapy and surgeries on children, children’s drag shows, etc. as a byproduct of the push to normalize non-traditional marriage value? What else do you think has been a byproduct?

Thanks,

Nathan

I am a member of a church that does not practice head coverings in the way that I interpret 1 Corinthians 11 as commanding. I know this is a lesser matter of the church, which I believe you mention in your book “Mother Kirk,” and I know you interpret 1 Corinthians 11 as speaking of hair lengths exclusively. My church’s leadership interprets that passage as culturally bound and not applicable today other than in terms of wives submitting to their husbands.

Hypothetically, let’s say that in my church most, if not all, women had shorter hair than that of most, if not all, men. What would my responsibility as a member be in such a church? Do I live by example and pray only, do that and attempt to sway the opinions of the elders in one-on-one conversations, leave the church for one that practices this biblically, or something else entirely?

I also feel called to be an elder after my children are older and evidence their growing faith more. God willing they do, should I then seek eldership in the hypothetical church above of which I am a member? If so would my responsibilities regarding the head coverings/hair lengths issue change?

Thank you for your wisdom and hopefully I am not exasperating you yet.

Stephen

Thank you for all you do. My wife Jill and I have been reading your work since the mid 90s and it has been a great blessing. As you are wont to say, we should be living in such a way that our theology comes out our fingertips. Jill has been living that way as a faithful wife for a couple of decades and the fruit of her hands has been a great blessing to our family. She has recently been inspired to share that beauty with hopes of encouraging others to appreciate and cultivate the simple things of life. To that end she has started a YouTube channel called “Shirehill” using pictures, video and poetry to inspire love for the beauty of creation and the God who created it. You will find it here: Please share with your readers if you are so inclined.

Mike

Do you read the account of Abraham’s visit from God before the destruction of S&G as anthropomorphic or literal? I’ve heard several pastors preach that it’s anthropomorphic as if they are trying to solve the problem of why it seems Abraham is physically speaking to someone when he’s bargaining with God. I believe it says that three came to visit and two went on to S&G. I believe one stayed behind with Abraham. That one was God and Abraham was speaking with him. So I think he was literally speaking to God, therefore no problem to solve. Am I completely off base? I was trying to explain it to a friend and he didn’t get it. So I thought I’d ask you before I keep questioning. Thank you!

Bethany

I have noticed a trend in society to use the newspeak “humankind”, or to increase the use of the they/them pronouns for an unknown gender.

If you would permit me, let me encourage the readers to lean the opposite direction, to lean into the federal headship of man (a la 1 Cor 11), and like my female 9th grade English teacher taught me, to default to the masculine if unsure of the gender.

For all mankind,

Tyler

I am someone who has wanted to be married for some time. I am also someone who has struggled with an on-off pornography problem for about the past ten years. You have said that such an affliction should be a disqualifying factor for anyone seeking to date, and I cannot disagree with the sentiment. Had I a daughter, I’d not want her dating someone who has failed to keep the biblical standards of sexual morality in that day.

I’ve managed to stay on the straight and narrow now for a 3 week stretch. My question is, how long should it be before I am able to attempt dating once more? I don’t mean to make this a system of works based righteousness regarding “being good enough”, but its important to me that should I start dating someone, I can speak with my struggles in the past tense, and not as a recurring issue, lest I be rejected by a godly woman for my failings. Please let me know, thanks.

Kyle

[This letter has been altered/shortened in order to keep things anonymous.]

I’ve seen you teach on singleness as an affliction, and you are one of the few pastors I’ve seen adequately address this issue. I am a 34 year old, committed Christian man. I have the gift of teaching (as affirmed by various church teachers and elders at small/medium sized churches. I have a heart for the Lord, for truth, for sound doctrine and for discipleship. The problem is I’m a 34 year old Christian SINGLE man. Until age 30 I was always in a state that was qualified for service in the church per the Scripture (1 Timothy on elders and deacons). I waited until 30 for sex, and I did not look at porn pretty much from high school until then. Sure I had my areas of sin and struggle, but overall I had a clear conscience in all arenas of life. I served in middle school ministry, was active in church and Bible studies, took theology courses, etc. I had a strong prayer life and….I was not doing any of these things for people, I was doing them because I love God with a pure heart and love his Word as much as I love Him, because his Word is Him.

However, singleness at this age in life has left me in a position where I don’t think I am scripturally qualified morally to serve in leadership at this moment. My main issues are sexual temptation (in real life, not so much pornography although a little bit) and drinking. I just hate being single, am burning with passion, and the Lord has not provided me my escape. So I’ve developed sinful defense mechanisms that numb the pain and frustration. It does not justify my sin, I suppose it just shows me who I truly am when deprived and if I will still trust in God (kind of a Job thing) but . . . it’s not a fun trial and I don’t seem to have the ability to handle it as I should. Don’t get me wrong I’m not like running amuck even, when I tell my secular friends the actual sins I commit they still think I am a saint compared to the culture, but I know that I can’t serve with a clear conscience until this is resolved. Which is frustration upon frustration, as my hearts desire in life is wife . . . family . . . ministry. I literally want to serve God, but my singleness is preventing me from being an asset to a church and a benefit to believers and non-believers alike.

Anyways…It’s getting a bit insane. I [have a good job], just being promoted to manager, I make 120k+ a year, I’m athletic and fit, I have sound doctrine and am not progressive or liberal in any shape or form, I’m humble, faithful, honest, and esp older Christian wives who know me say in Bible studies just can’t believe I am single. To provide some context on myself.

I’m not really sure what my question is. I guess nobody has really been able to help. Maybe all I can really ask for is prayer. This prayer has gone unanswered for about 16+ years and I just need the Lord to help. I watch a bunch of different Christian podcasts and videos but being theologically/philosophically minded I do appreciate yours so figured why not send a note.

X

I lol’d at the description of your sermons containing “ex temp forays off into the bushes.”

Having listened to many of your sermons over the years, I can affirm that those forays, which are intended to make your sermons clearer, usually do just that.

However sometimes they reveal astonishing truths—truths that pull it all together, and have helped me immensely in my spiritual growth.

For example, in case anyone missed Psalm 42, at the end of your prepared remarks, you said (slightly edited):

One other thing. There are times when troubles mount and threaten to overwhelm you. David describes it as waves of trouble coming over his head.

Our troubles and trials may vary—financial, medical, an untimely death in the family, work trouble, marriage trouble, kid trouble—and when you are in the midst of that trial, it is very difficult to think about anything else. And that’s OK.

Just remember who sent the trial. God in his wisdom, God in his kindness, God in his mercy, determined that this trial is exactly what you need for this day.

So don’t panic. God sent it, so he’s the one to talk to about it. Plead with him. Argue with him. In Psalm 42, David gives us a model for how we are to do just that.

We can’t say, “God, I know you didn’t have anything to do with this, but could you please intervene and fix it?” That’s not biblical. Neither is, “God, I know you sent this to me, so I’m going to hunker down and take it, until you remove it from me.”

God sends troubles to you for the same reason that teachers in school give you tests; to see how you’re learning, how you’re advancing in class. They want to see if you’re understanding, and internalizing, the material.

If you don’t like tests, and even think they’re unfair, then you don’t understand the nature of school.

And if you think you can go through life without your faith being tested, then you don’t understand the reason for this life at all.

If God just wanted to populate heaven, he could save souls and blip us out of here. But God doesn’t want to just populate heaven, God wants to fit us for heaven!

And as we learn things, and as we work through the test, we often flunk the test. And God is gracious, and says, “All right, let’s take it over.” And we say, “I don’t want to take it over! That was a terrible trial!!”

Even David says that this is the worst trouble of his life; waves of trouble, the breakers of Jehovah, coming over his head.

But, he also says, God has always delivered His people, and God will deliver him from this trial. David shows us deep faith, and profound desperation, woven together.

Remember, God is giving you this trial for a reason, so you can learn to walk in the steps of David.

John

I think I have read almost everything you have written on building back Christendom, over the next 500 years.

How should we think through tax money, to help with natural (God ordained) disasters, like Florida recently.

I just get nervous when I hear people say (and sometimes think myself) we are in trouble, how can the government help?

I think it was Ronald Regan who said, “The most terrifying words in the English language are” I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Thanks for your thoughts,

PJ

I came across some of your family writings a couple of years ago, and that sent me down the Canon Press rabbit hole. So much of what you have written has set in concrete things that have been jangling around in my head in a while, and I and my family have benefited a great deal from your work—and that of the rest of your family as well. So, thank you, and I thank the Lord for his gift of you.

One of the things you’ve helped me to think through is education. I come from a country in which state education is assumed as the only kind, and I now live in a country in which state education is amongst the very few options permitted! So I wanted to write to you and ask if you have any advice for those of us in such situations, where homeschooling/starting Christian schools (truthfully anything other than state schools or existing private schools (amongst the wokest in the country) is flat out illegal (and enforced)?

I have a daughter approaching school age, and another child on the way, so how do those of us who want to take our responsibility to educate our children seriously move forward in a context like this?

Thank you for any thoughts you have, and, in lieu of any thoughts you don’t have, thank you for your time in reading this.

David

First and foremost, thank you for your ministry and the family you have raised around you. The collective ministry of you and your family have benefited my wife and I in many ways.

The question is as follows. I work for a large engineering firm that for the most part has been extremely good to me in terms of career growth and compensation. However, as large companies tend to do, they have just recently shown their cards on the issue of abortion, coming out with a statement that they are “working to understand how recent legal proceedings affect our ability to provide abortion benefits” (I shudder with those last two words being used in conjunction).

Where do we draw the line going forward when it comes to our occupations? The market is very in demand for my career, so at what point to you believe we must take leave of companies that continue to support abortion?

How do we decide when the corporate hog wash is too much to justify with ‘the pay/work/stability is really good for my family’?

Best

Nate

[Addressing The Light From Behind The Sun ch. 3 – The Curious Presence of Emeth]

For about a decade, the presence of Emeth in Aslan’s Country was the one real stain on The Last Battle for me and represented my biggest theological objection to Lewis in general (bigger even than purgatory, which I understand Lewis to have essentially reworked as a mechanism of sanctification rather than propitiation).

I’ve gone back and forth on how much this objection should colour and affect my view of Lewis generally as a theologian but after reading your chapter on Emeth I found myself pondering the novel idea that he could possibly be correct.

For a Calvinist, the pressing question of inclusivism is whether the Spirit ever regenerates apart from the prior preaching of the word by, say, a missionary in an unevangelised region. Romans 10:13-15 has always tipped me against this idea but looking over it again I’m wondering if it’s definitive enough to decide this question, and I’m not sure what other Biblical data there is to bring to bear on the issue.

What really bowled me over though was your statement that this inextricable bond between the preaching of the word and the regenerating work of the Spirit probably originated with Luther. I’m all ablaze with curiosity over that, could you possibly elaborate further on that idea?

Many thanks,

Tom

To AR in your last letters section:

Send your mother flowers on YOUR birthday.

JR

Good Morning Mr. Wilson! I wanted to interact with your piece Kin, Skin, and Sin, and offer some insight from across the aisle. You say that those who are ethnically conscious when faced with an Orc horde will attack the black orcs primarily. This is incorrect and is not representative of the beliefs held by ethnically conscious Christians.

Note that I don’t mention race, as you adjured us not to, and correctly. We are all men, created by God descended from Adam. To call other ethnicities less than human is foolish. However, to note the differences between adherents to the Christian faith of European descent as a general group and those who adhere to Pagan practice of various descent (European or African in your examples) is neither sinful nor unproductive. Calling out the overwhelming precedent of African descendants towards violence, or the proclivity of Kabalists towards corruption is no more sinful than Paul rightly noting the debauchery of the Cretans.

The end goal of Christian nationalists and Kinists in America is and should be one and the same: A faithful nation, baptized by the church in faithful service to Christ and His laws. You attack one of the two enemies fervently, and yet admonish us for attacking the other with equal vigor. The first enemy of course is Communism and Marxism. The proponents of that ideology and their foot soldiers are overwhelmingly Talmudic Satanists and their Sub-Saharan thrall. While outliers do exist (Scots can be degenerate too), we Scots do not attack Scots for Scottishness nor do we attack Africans for Africanness. We laud those who support Christ and His glory on earth and attack those who oppose it, regardless of their color, despite the fact that the overwhelming vocal majority of the orcs at the gates are African descendants led by Kabalic Marxists.

A brother in the faith such as Voddie Baucham is not anathema to a consistent Christian Nationalist because of his skin tone. An enemy to the faith like Alistair Crowley is not lauded by the same for his whiteness. The ideology of Christian Nationalism holds Christ the King and His glory as our summum bonum. As a lesser concern, we hold the prosperity of our European heritage as the most productive building block of a Christian Nation for European Christians. While we would welcome with open arms reformed Africans, we also affirm that the best place for them is baptizing their own ethnic nations into their own Christian Nationalism, in the environment where they are most ethnically inclined to thrive.

Where no man can thrive is in a lawless society. In America, lawlessness is overwhelmingly perpetrated by those out of place ethnically from the founding of our nation. The ethnic makeup of these perpetrators is at odds with that of our nation, and these differences present themselves time and again. In a setting less diverse, European Christians thrive and African Christians thrive together. In a more diverse setting, the differing ethnic concerns and values that are tertiary to Christian righteousness can lead to the undermining of the same.

I have more to say, but I want to give you something you could actually respond to without spending too much time reading. Thank you for bearing with my introduction to the Christian Nationalist complaints at your characterization of our camp, and I pray God would bless the Church with unity on this issue. If that be the ceding of my point, I await conviction eagerly. If it is the ceding of yours, I await vindication with the same eagerness. If a blend of the two, may Christ be glorified above all else.

Michael