Contents
Self Defense?
What biblical reasoning do we have for self-defense? Why is it justifiable for us to defend ourselves and others? Do you have any resources I can read on this topic?Eric
Eric, broadly speaking I would look at the biblical critiques of pacifism generally, which are many and widely available. But for the specific question of self defense, I would point to the biblical passage that if an intruder comes into your house in the middle of the night, and he is killed, there is no blood guilt. “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him” (Exodus 22:2).
Encouragement for the Impending, You Know
Thank you for the Biblical reminders and exhortations in your 10/21/24 post (and for countless others over the past couple decades). One follow-up question on that post: At the end, you quoted William Gurnall—“Sincerity enables the Christian to do two things in affliction which the hypocrite cannot—to speak good of God, and to expect good from God.” How would you encourage a genuine Christian who can indeed speak good of God and does indeed expect good (ultimate, perfect, ever-increasing Psalm 16:11 good) from God in eternity—but who struggles to expect good from God over the remainder of his earthly life?
I’m grateful for your ministry and looking forward to November.Alec
Alec, I would say that (in one sense) this is correct. It is through many tribulations that we enter the kingdom—“we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). But if the person lives in perpetual fear that God is always going to take away his birthday cake, then this might reveal that they don’t have all that much confidence in Him concerning the hereafter either.
“A Bit of Help for those Worried about the Election”
I appreciated the confidence in the sovereignty of God, and that he is Lord no matter what the situation. This is why I’m both Calvinist and postmillennial, because it is the only comforting thing in this hurricane of deception and wickedness called American Politics. I have a couple questions for you though.
1: While I agree that anxiety can be a sin, is it always a sin? Jesus sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion, which we now know is an actual medical condition induced by extraordinary anxiety. He was on his knees praying to his Father, begging to have the cup taken from him, but he was still anxious nonetheless. There’s also the countless times in the Psalms David voiced extreme emotional distress and anxiety, to the Lord. Is anxiety always a sin?
2: You said that voting for Harris is a sin, because it’s in direct defiance of God’s preceptive will. My question for you is this, is it not also possible that voting for Trump could be a violation of the same will? I know that your argument is that Trump can at least be reasoned with, but he is a man who lives in abject, obvious, debauchery. While I’m not asking for the Archangel Michael to be president, I expect better character out of our presidents. Trump lost a debate to Harris, who as you have said, “Is as coherent in her prime as Biden is in his dotage.” He lost entirely due to the fact that his poor, wittle ego got wounded by the bad lady. He is a man who only seems to fight for the unborn when it suits him (I would call myself a smash mouth incrementalist as you are, for the record), and has bragged about his promiscuity. So when is voting for obvious wickedness not in violation of the preceptive will of God, and when is it?
Those are my only two points of contention with the letter. Thank you for seeking to reassure those of us who can be prone to despair when it comes to catch 22 events like this upcoming election. Thank you for your good work in Moscow, and may the Lord bless you with his righteousness and increased faith.Kenneth
Kenneth, it is always a sin to be anxious or worried in the senses prohibited by Scripture. It is not a sin to be under pressure, or duress. So it would be a false conclusion to say that is mandatory to walk around with your hands in your pockets, whistling. As far as your second question goes, sure. It certainly could be a sin to vote for Trump. If you are voting for him, as a man, because you want an alpha male president who has slept with supermodels, then you are clearly in sin.
Relationships and Such
Do you have any recommended books or other resources for guiding young adults in relationships with the opposite sex during the teenage/young adult years? I’m looking for something with practical takeaways and examples of what it might look like when done right vs just principles. We are Canon+ subscribers so all the better if it’s there. Thank you.John
I have a buddy going through a breakup, and I want advice on how to minister to him. They fell into the young evangelical quasi-marriage trap (super-affectionate, oversharing, etc), and he’s taking it like a divorce.
He’s currently burying himself in work (lifting, school, work, and the like) and introspecting. How would you counsel him?Josh
Josh, I would let him cope with it the way he is doing, and simply be supportive and around. After a month or two, I would ask him if he would like some of your perspective in viewing the game film.
I just wanted to thank you for publishing Ride, Sally, Ride. I had a friend of several years change her colors one night recently and start soliciting me very aggressively. Very disappointingly, her husband was in on it and gave consent for whatever she proposed. I was dumbfounded but one of the coherent thoughts in my head was of Ace telling Jon about the weight of those ten minutes in Steven Sasani’s room. I felt what Ace describes there exactly and so I was able to identify what was happening. I said no. If there was ever a voice in your head saying a book about 1st degree murder of a sex doll was a silly idea, I’m glad you wrote it anyway.
God bless you.
And a merry NQN’s eve.GM
GM, thank the Lord.
Classical Education That Is Rural
I am a student at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, MN. I am interested in starting a classical school in rural Illinois . . . I know Logos is a thriving liberal arts school started in a rural area, so I zoned in on you and perhaps your wife as people who could provide beneficial information.
Best regards,Hannah
Hannah, we tried to get what we have learned into print, and so I would start with the basics there—Why Christian Kids Need a Christian Education, Excused Absence, and The Case for Classical Christian Education.
The Abusive Wife
How would you go about helping a Christian man married to an abusive non-Christian wife? She won’t let him find work or leave the house. He normally attends church but that is a source of great aggravation to the wife.
Someone somewhere mentioned you had done a podcast on abusive wives. If so, perhaps directing me there would be the best thing.
Thanks for your time and help.Josh
Josh, on the podcast, I was simply reviewing this book, The Abusive Wife, which I would recommend here. But the first thing I would say is that this gent needs to leave the house, and he needs to find work. He must disobey.
Side B Nazis
I want you to know you have been (and continue to be) instrumental in my understanding of Reformed doctrine, as well as my understanding of marriage, family, children, and a whole host of other topics. When I have theological questions, my first impulse is “I wonder if Pastor Doug has talked about this.” Suffice it to say, I admire and respect you and your work. Thank you for your decades of faithful Christian ministry!
With that qualifier, I’d like to know who you’re referring to in this statement from your recent blog post: “We also have some tender-hearted pastors who for some reason are trying to sideline themselves by adopting a Revoice-style strategy for Nazis—you know, for Side B Nazis, not actual Nazis.”
I think it’s important for matters of discernment to know who these men are.Jacob
Jacob, I was talking about the kid gloves treatment that Samuel Holden got in some quarters in response to his egregious White Boy Summer video that was interlarded with various clips of Nazis.
Postmill With a Kink
This is in reference to a letter under the heading ODDBALL THEOLOGY concerning “Tataria”.
I have been living with my family in Chile for several years. Reformed postmillennial theology has been making strong inroads here in South America and is been posing quite a threat to the socialist thought that is so pervasive here. This Tataria thing is all over Facebook and came on sudden like. I find it to be interesting that the timing is so strategic when so much is under public suspicion. I also find it to be interesting that much that may be true in history that has been “thrown under the rug” (giants, hidden archeological findings, etc.) are being thrown in with fantastical aliens, advanced civilizations and so forth.
This makes me wonder if this might be more of a sinister move to discredit a resurgence of Biblical sanity than just a nutcase fringe group. By the way Antarctica is the focal of this theology point down here.Wade
Wade, yes, it seems that way to me also.
I Was Told There Would Be No Math
You have said somewhere, “Resolve to have no problem passages.” I could use some help please.
I’m stumped on the following verses.
2Sa 24:9 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000.
1Ch 21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword.
And also…
2 Sam 24:24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
1Ch 21:24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
1Ch 21:25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site.
How do you account for the discrepancies with the census numbers and the payment of Ornan’s property?Joshua
Joshua, I haven’t chased these examples down, but there are others also. In the past, I have resolved them as discrepancies that came in through the Masoretic text, which comes to us centuries after the time of Christ. The Septuagint (which is a translation from an earlier Hebrew version) often preserves the more reliable alternatives, at least when it comes to numbers. For an example of this, as it happens, take a look at the video in the next letter.
Last week a fellow named Josh was asking about the identity of Melchizedek and talking about Shem, that he would’ve been around until just before Abram was born. I offer here, for your and his consideration, a video that certainly appears to make a lot of sense concerning the timeline that we might very well be understanding incorrectly. For what it’s worth, here’s a link. I’d truly appreciate your comments on it, if you take the time to watch it through (about 32 minutes and reasonably entertaining as well).
Thanks for your consideration,SK
SK, I did watch it, and found it well worth considering. Thank you.
Autobiographical Summers
That was a delightful read. Thanks for sharing little glimpses of your childhood. I imagine that you, Evan, and Gordon probably were up to a lot of hijinks as kids, young adults, and maybe even older adults. Your parents were undoubtedly blessed with many occasions to adjust your senses of humor . . .
Perhaps there will be a lengthier read along the lines of “Memoirs of a Wilson” that includes many such anecdotal snippets of life in the Jim Wilson household?Andy
Andy, thanks, and yes. There are many stories.
I am curious about the year(s) you may have been at Pioneer Camps in Ontario. My Australian father served as a camp counselor (his camp name was Aussie) in the summers between 1961 and 1963. He has been with the Lord more than 30 years, and was a very great gift to me, a father, a Bible and Theology teacher, and a pastor in rural Alberta. Graeme Crouch was his name. I just wondered if you might have crossed paths with him. He may well have predated your time at Pioneer Camps, but he always spoke well of Pioneer Camps and I know he pointed people to Jesus there. I enjoyed reading your summer memories, and finding a memory of my dad lurking in the midst of them.Michelle
Michelle, he predated me by about five or six years. But we probably used the same canoe on occasion . . .
What a fun—and funny—trip down memory lane. It made me think of some of my own camping experiences. Thank you for sharing these delights.Melody
Melody, thanks.
Heresy Shelf?
“The Enneascam”
In anticipation of another No-Quarter November and research on a particular topic, I perused one of your old salvos from 2020 to glean some of your insights and considerations on a recent trend in Big Eva.
In light of your rousing exhortation at the end of the piece (namely, to imitate the Ephesians in shedding pagan connections), I was curious whether you regard any value in average pastors (or lay leaders) maintaining any sort of “heresy shelf” for reference on various matters. Any apologist worth his salt will have to engage with original sources like the Koran, the Book of Mormon, or the writings of Richard Rohr to more precisely define and describe the errors and dangers of various cults and false teachers in their departures from orthodoxy.
Presumably, church leaders should not stock Joel Olsteen in the church library for wide circulation. But should they keep handy original sources of any of the perceived threats to give them better understanding and ammunition as they seek to guard the flock?A Curious Churchman
A Curious Churchman, yes. I believe that it is important for pastors, apologists, and evangelists to have such things around as a resource.
Trump Some More
Before I begin, I want to thank you for all the books you’ve written as well as writing this blog. God is using your work for the good of His Kingdom. I wanted to ask you about your view on Christian Political Involvement. I acknowledge that Christians should participate in political pagan society (an excellent Biblical example would be Esther) and that Christians who say politics don’t shouldn’t expect a righteous ruler to come out of the blue. At the same time, however, I believe we as Christians shouldn’t support a man who supports what God hates: abortion, which is “the lesser evil.” Let me be apparent. I would have voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. It’s not about Trump’s salvation, personality, likability, or motives. It’s about what he does. In your blog post in 2020, (7 Reasons Why Christians can Vote for Trump in 2020 Without Getting a Defiled Conscience and Losing Their Soul), you said this: “So for Christians, voting for Biden is out of the question for a host of reasons, but his abortion stance makes it a settled issue. It is not possible to vote for him without voting for a man who actively supports the continued slaughter of the unborn. It is not possible to support Biden and be right with God.” Spot on. Supporting and voting for a man who supports what God hates is not possible for a Christian. Right? Participating in politics as a Christian does not necessitate voting for such a candidate. So what flipped? Shouldn’t the Evangelical Church stand up as a whole and pledge to withhold support from Trump unless he reverts his position on Abortion? Millions of Christians? If we are talking negotiation and political involvement, that would quickly send Trump the message. God will never bless a nation whose people are godless and whose church refuses to stand for what He loves and stand against what He hates. If we, as Christians, vote Republican every time, no matter what, every election, aren’t we no better than the Christian who never votes? Any political group makes sway by choosing when to vote and choosing when not to vote. Question 1: You said this about Biden in 2020, why does this not apply to Trump. What flipped? Question 2: Do you think the church should have stood up and refused support for Trump for reverting his pro-life stance, standing firm in the Word, and against what God hates?Jeremiah
Jeremiah, as the saying goes, the only difference between salad and garbage is timing. I do believe that Trump should run into a brick wall of resistance from Christians on the life issue—after he is elected, when it matters. So, nothing flipped. If all Christians refuse to support him now, then what we are going to get will be radically worse. If Christians work to elect him, and then refuse to support his move to the left on abortion, that will be effective.
Small Town Strategies
I work in a small USA city which is very liberal.
There is one question that I’m thinking about, given particular contexts that I am in. On the one hand, in this small city, I see many Christians whom I consider as aware of the signs of the times and they are actively discipling people scripturally. These believers are both active in church and in their communities and work, strongly plugged in to local community causes. They do this with the active knowledge that godless people need the Word of God and they seek not just the immediate cause but to also do the work of the evangelist.
On the other hand, there would be other Christians who are as fervent, but they would think—the only way to go about things is to withdraw from so-called “secular” workplaces and schools. They want little to do with local causes.
My conscience leans towards being plugged in to local communities and workplaces with the aim of redeeming and saving some (1 Cor 9:22b) and not beating the air, while being very aware of the evils that we can be associated with (e.g. Daniel was called the chief magician though he rose there most likely without practicing any sorcery). Yet, there is this impression from the other group that to be truly “holy”, there is a need to withdraw out from society (2 Cor 6:14-17—come out of their midst).
How should I think about glorifying God amidst this tension—getting plugged in to the culture, vs withdrawing? (It seems to me that you do both?? You interact with the culture, engage in culture-making, call those who are doing evil to repentance, yet you are not like the world??)GH
GH, yes, I believe that it is our duty to model both approaches. We want to be radically distinct from the world, while at the same time engaging with it. And I don’t think this is possible without a robust, worshiping community.
Textual Issues
I read the Simposio debate exchange you did with Dr. James White dealing with textual criticism and with regard to which biblical manuscript family/approach is best. I really enjoyed it. Thanks to you and Dr. White for doing that.
You said in that debate that this issue really comes down to faith and that it is an issue that cannot be answered by science (textual criticism). I think I agree with you.
I know Dr. White is also a presuppositionalist, and is as Calvinistic as they come with regard to the providence of God, so I was confused why he has such a strong opinion against your “providential slapdashery.”
If you had to sum up the heart of your disagreement with James very briefly how would you frame it?
After reading your debate, it made sense to me why you would be putting time and effort into the MGB. I was curious if that project was being overseen by your presbytery and if the profits from that project will be going into the mercy ministries of the church(es) involved.
I’m very grateful for your ministry and all the work you guys do up there in Moscow. Looking forward to seeing y’all soon in Fort Worth!
PS. I’m eager to get a copy of the MGB! But, if Dr. White ever says that the NA/UBS text platform “face-up puzzle pieces” have been “settled,” I’ll likely get a copy of that too! Any estimates on when the full MGB will be done?
Josh
Josh, the work is done on the Bible, and now it is just a matter of time and money. Yes, we do want to do Bible publishing differently, but all the details are not yet settled. I suspect that the main difference between James and me is that I regard this as a confessional issue, and I don’t believe he does.
A Demon Spirit
I watched the recent “Million Women” gathering on the national mall. Mostly it was just a genuine session of prayer, worship (albeit in an overproduced rock and roll style), and rededication to the biblical principles that underlie our nation (along with a repudiation/repentance of the particular sins of our era).
One thing that stood out was a section where someone explained the similarities between everything LGBTQ + feminism vs the old cult of Astarte/Ashtoreth, and there’s simply too many similarities to be coincidental. It seems like the spirit of the air that’s currently steering America in these directions can be named. What’s your take on prayer for our nation that includes repudiation by name of specific demonic spirits?Ian
Ian, I believe nothing is more apparent than that we are being afflicted by truly demonic spirits. I don’t believe we know enough to be using specific names for them, but the general characteristics are pretty obvious.
Suneudokeo
Having difficulty with the application of 1 Corinthians 7:12-15.
I understand the literal Greek here takes “lives with” as “under the same roof”; this also fits well with the entire context re: salvation of a wife and holy children. But I’m unsatisfied with the wooden nature of that interpretation.
A husband (or wife) living a lifestyle not indicative of a Christian, who refuses to reconcile, forgive, &c., remains in the household while continuing to blatantly disobey God’s commands. By what criteria (if any) would there be justification for the Christian party to depart? Safety concerns? Continued impenitence?
Assuming a worst possible position, a husband is laying on the living room floor in the throes of a heroin addition most days, and carousing with sodomite prostitutes during the night. Backing it up several hundred notches, a wife is cold and apathetic to the marriage, spends time pumping liberal ideas into her mind from social media, and keeps a cohort of friends who make it assured that there will not be forgiveness forthcoming.
What’s the acceptable range of qualifying “abandonment” if a husband or wife are living in a manner that is a roadblock to the family, and causing perpetual misery? Understanding the flood of escape clauses that this does and has justified, and not looking for that type of loose interpretation.
I read in one of your books years ago, the statement that there are other criteria for divorce than what is explicitly stated in Scripture—I believe it was for violation of certain federal laws i.e. murder and such. I concur with that opinion; is this not approximately the same question?Jimbo
Jimbo, yes, it is approximately the same. A person can certainly abandon their spouse while living under the same roof, and I have seen it done. The word for “willing” there in 1 Cor. 7 is suneudokeo, which should be rendered as “pleased to be together with.” The simple fact of a spouse being an unbeliever is not grounds for divorce, if that unbelieving spouse is “pleased to be together with” the believer in an arrangement that is recognizably a biblical marriage. That would not be the case with orgies, and other forms of rampant rebellion.
Jumping Off the Barn
Regarding “Jumping Off the Barn”: More of this please!
I am a homeschooling mother of two and Jumping Off the Barn was a perfect example of the kind of Socratic dialogues I would like to have with my children.
My graduate school professors were masters of the Socratic method and I learned so much from them. I have had some success using the Socratic method with my children, but much improvement is needed.
Would you share with me any resources of which you are aware that may help me hone my skills?
Thanks so much!Sarah
Sarah, thanks. And I am sorry that I don’t have any recommendations for Socratic pump priming. Anybody else out there have something?
A Sane Christian Nationalist
From a Roger Olson blog post about Christian nationalism—
“The documentary was clearly made to alarm viewers as to the pernicious motives and influences of white American Christian Nationalism. I do think it would have improved the documentary had it included at least one sane advocate of Christian Nationalism. IMHO it didn’t do that. You might ask who I mean. Well, perhaps Doug Wilson?”
An anabaptist just called you a “sane advocate of CN” emphasis on the sane . . .
who woulda thunk?Jimmy
Jimmy, yes. High praise indeed!
@Jeremiah Trump on Abortion: Something critical to keep in mind is the notion of Federalism; that is, our Federal government is limited as to what they are supposed to be doing. The Supreme Court acknowledged that in Dobbs, when they overturned Roe as an unConstitutional overreach, returning the matter back to the States, where it belongs. Having the abortion issue in the State legislatures is correct, and Trump had much to do with that glorious ruling, because he put three very conservative justices on that bench. Now, when Trump says that he’s personally for a woman’s right to choose, we… Read more »
Andrew, are you with the Babylon Bee?
Andrew, Do we really think God cares about federalism when it comes to abortion or have we become too sophisticated to even care about that? Abortion should be a federal issue, in the way of a federal ban. I think we have put our ideals and the constitution ahead of absolute truth. In fact, speaking truth is a turnoff anymore for many. Abortion at the state level it will cause all sorts of chaos and division in the country and in reality bring on more abortions than ever before due to the nature of sin. Unfortunately at this point in our… Read more »
Suffragette
My small contribution to the pacifism discussion: https://stirfrylaura.wordpress.com/2018/11/13/are-faith-and-firearms-compatible/
Some very good points. Sometimes I think tying the issue of self-defense to gun ownership clouds our thinking. If I don’t have a gun in the house but am quite willing to bash an intruder over the head or push him off a tenth story balcony, I am accepting the legitimacy of self-defense. The truly pacifist position would be “I won’t hurt you no matter what you do. Help yourself to whatever you want (including my young daughter if she takes your fancy) and go in peace.” If I really take that seriously, that would also preclude calling the cops… Read more »
You suggest there’s no middle ground between killing someone and telling them to take whatever they want? That if you don’t want to kill someone, then you can’t work towards any other corrective action whatsoever?
Many millions of people have employed the middle ground, as did Jesus.
> “This is why I’m both Calvinist and postmillennial, because it is the only comforting thing in this hurricane of deception and wickedness called American Politics.”
This is an interesting concession. What should we make about the fact that it never seems to have got near Paul’s radar to consider telling Christians in the Roman empire, when teaching them about government and authorities, to be comforted because eventually Christians would win politically before the second coming?
Isn’t it somewhat uncomfortable to be relying upon comforts that the apostles never actually gave to the church?
It’s strange to me that postmillenial eschatology is the fuel that makes Doug, his ministry, and his fans go (and apparently, be comforted). He puts being postmill as #2 in order of importance behind being an actual Christian. It’s just odd. I’ve never met any Christian in all my years who would so highly rank eschatology in importance. In fact, I had no idea that RC Sproul was postmill because he almost never brought it up. Doug blogs about it ad nauseum. I knew something was off with Dougs fanbase when someone wrote in about Pilgrim’s progress being too pessimistic… Read more »
If you look at pastor Wilson’s reading log, he’s read Pilgrim’s Progress four times in the last twenty years and rated it anything from “great” to “brilliant.” I do recall the letter you’re referring to, though, and don’t agree with it. And Wilson himself explicitly defends Pilgrim’s Progress in his response.
MMO, you’ve identified something that I slowly (it was only really when I saw Wilson’s explanation of what (he believes) the Reformed Faith consists in on Canon+ that I twigged) came to see as deeply troubling. Plainly the engine of devotion and fuel for continued ministry, for dealing with tribulations, for responding to authorities, etc. etc., for the apostle Paul (or any other NT writer) was not postmillennial belief. I defy anyone to show to the contrary. If you think this is the same thing as “pick out a few isolated texts that you can interpret along postmillennial lines” then… Read more »
Me personally, I can’t see how making Disciples of all nations won’t have a lasting effect on the world. If we believe that, “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea” and if we’re making disciples, then the world will change for the better. Obviously sin will never be completely eradicated until the second coming, but its effects will be lessened, especially since the New Creation began breaking out at Jesus’ resurrection. If Jesus is the New Adam, then he will fulfill the Old Creation mandate of being fruitful, multiplying,… Read more »
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…ye shall rule the nations with a rod of iron just as Christ does (Rom 16, Rev 2 or 3)? Written from apostles to saints? Mt 28, teach all the ethnic groups to obey all My orders because I have all authority in Heaven and Earth? NT in general teaches unlimited trust in Jesus Christ, eternal almighty God and imminent in our lives and the details thereof, especially whatever particular details got inscripturated. What “Jesus Christ is Lord” does when Caesar calls himself Lord is not spelled out, but certainly… Read more »
You need to distinguish between reading a text in the light of postmillennial distinctives and actually reading postmillennial distinctives out of a text as their good and necessary implication. If by “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” Paul meant that the Roman Christians would soon enjoy political dominance (or that Christians in general would) before Christ’s return, then that’s not something that’s in the text unless you first put it there. To know what Paul meant by it, read the rest of Paul’s writings. We interpret less plain texts in the light of more plain… Read more »
I can’t tell whether by political dominance you mean the politics of a converted majority or a forceful reign over the unconverted. Paul didn’t preach the latter; no past or present postmillennialists of any kind that I know of do either. Adjust your definition, if need be, and maybe Paul will be found consistent with the leaven of the Kingdom that leavens all the world, by the Holy Spirit.
It’s a huge cope…the rapture for the 21st century. It’s also pie in the sky for the rubes. Doug Wilson wouldn’t be stacking cash and ingratiating himself to powerful people if he thought Jesus was about to magically fix everything.
If so, how is Doug different from any of the other Christian nationalists including the ones you admire such as Nick Fuentes? I have read a lot of his writings and, if he has a specifc plan for installing a Christian prince and a Christian Taliban, he has certainly not been forthcoming about ways and means. Or whether “when we take over” means in 2030 or in 2530.
As for “ingratiating himself to powerful people,” was it pie in the sky for the rubes when Fuentes dined alone with Trump and Kanye West at Mar-a-Lago?
If you think Fuentes is trying to ingratiate himself to Trump then you aren’t following Fuentes. The day Doug Wilson starts working to bend Zionists to the will of Evangelicals instead of the reverse I’ll be happy.
It didn’t take long to bring the Jews into the conversation.
Is restoring Jews to faith in Jesus Christ God’s work or Wilson’s?
I dont know. Why don’t all of you go work that out in some other country?
I’ll tell you. It is God’s work. Not yours. Not mine. Not Wilson. Go preach the gospel wherever you happen to live. Pray that God will not only restore the Jews but also all the pagans in America.
But, at the time Fuentes and West dined with Trump, Fuentes was still a fan-boy. In his podcast aired on Friday, November 26, 2022, Fuentes said: “I have to say about the events of the last week, I’m a little embarrassed in a certain sense because, you know, this has become a little bit of a scandal for President Trump…[I told him} ‘Mr. President, you are one of the greatest Americans that has ever lived…I love you. I supported you all these years. You are really a hero of mine.” If that’s not ingratiating behavior, then I am Marie of… Read more »
Yeah, Fuentes was with Trump when Trump seemed to be on our side. I really don’t see your point.
I’m interested to hear what you think about 1 Corinthians 15, which I see as the heart of the postmillenial view: “20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he… Read more »
Sarah — I imagine you could find some Socratic pump priming in certain apologetic works, particularly in those with more of a presuppositional approach. “Tactics” by Greg Koukl particularly comes to mind, though I also recall “Loving God with Your Mind” by JP Moreland as being really solid as well. Perhaps some of the approach may just be fostering rather than squelching the natural curiosity in many a child and giving them incisive questions for assessment and engagement.
Thank you for the suggestions!
Ummm, I think Hannah wanted advice about HOW to get a Classical Christian school started, not (just) why it’s a good idea. Well, y’all started one–how about a book on how it went, what problems you ran into, what you did about them, how it worked out? Perhaps with appendices or other chapters by others who may’ve encountered somewhat different things?
Perhaps such a book exists? CCE for Dummies or something like that?
The 32-minute video SK mentioned argues that the Septuagint numbers for men’s ages in Genesis 11 are more accurate than the Masoretic Text numbers. They had sons at age 130 or so, not 30. Result is to add about 650 years to the time between the Flood and Abraham. Makes a pretty good case; glad I watched/listened to it. One weakness, takes ‘expert’ dates for Egypt too much for granted? (Courville’s Exodus Problem and Velikovsky’s Ages in Chaos series want to shorten standard Egyptian chronology by several hundred years at least.)
But check out this critique:
https://creation.com/pyramids-before-flood
Hannah, Canon has another book written by Tom Garfield on the history of Logos and a teachers manual written by Larry Stephenson.
Hanna, before home schooling was a going concern, we homeschooled our kids. At the time, I worked for Uncle Sam and we lived overseas. the DoD schools stunk. When we returned to the States, we found that US schools stunk even worse, so we joined Home School Legal Defense and continued homeschooling. A good many of our Christian friends at church thought we were foolish for not sending our kids to the government schools. Christian schools did not exist near us. Over a short period of time, we met other homeschoolers in our town and formed a loose homeschool association.… Read more »
Where is the Simposio debate exchange Wilson did with Dr. James White dealing with textual criticism and with regard to which biblical manuscript family/approach is best?