Jesus is always the one who surprises. We think we know what piety and devotion are . . . until Jesus tells us to do the opposite. “Then said he unto the disciples, ‘It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that …
The Need for a Sense of Smell
I recall one place where N.T. Wright said that the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher were “evil.” As a good portion of the Western world is now in the process of running out of money, this set up an interesting train of thought. Is it “evil” to be broke, to run out of money? Presumably …
You Can Look Them Up On Your Phone
When it comes to modern conveniences, many Christians are confused about the relationship of their hot and cold running water, say, to the worldview that we inherited from the Enlightenment, the outlook of modernity. If we reject the Enlightenment (and who shouldn’t?), does that mean we must be relegated to the grass huts? Put another …
Who Owns the Job?
Just a quick note about “collective bargaining.” The real question for those who would understand the nature of unions is the question of ownership. Say there is a particular job at the office building, or at the factory, or in the shop on Main Street. Who owns that job? The assumption behind collective bargaining is …
No Indivisible Clump
When we consider the technological developments that surround us on every hand — such as the fact that I am typing this on my phone in the car while my wife is running a quick errand at the mall — our reaction tends to treat the entire human race as though it were an indivisible …
The Ananias Syndrome
As I was preparing the sermon I will be preaching tomorrow, I noticed something important in the text (while comparing the “everything in common” of Acts 2 and the death of Ananias in Acts 5). This was something I had never seen before, and the more I think about it, the more important I think …
Calvinism, Eschatology, and the New Media
Jesus is the Lord of history, and this is why we don’t need to be afraid of Twitter. Or Facebook. Or teenagers typing with their thumbs. Jesus is the Lord of history, which is why we don’t need to worry about Google making us stupid. Don’t mistake me. Google does make many of us stupid, …
A Zombie Apocalypse Would be Worse
Some sins, Paul tells us, run out in front of a man, while others bring up the rear. Some are screamingly obvious, while others are more subtle (1 Tim. 5:24). This means that in Bible-believing churches, cavorting with prostitutes, shooting out street lights, and knocking off convenience stories is generally frowned upon. But other …
In Praise of Christmas Cash Registers
Or, another title could be, “The Death Knell of Gnosticism.” Scriptures commend those who have the eyes to see that which is unseen. But there is more than one kind of “unseen,” and we have to make sure we are not limiting the eye of faith to just the heavenly realities. It is good for …
Football Players or Pirates?
I don’t believe in complicating economic discussion more than is necessary. The Bible requires some form of capitalist society in the basic commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” This command presupposes the institution of private ownership — private property as a divine institution — and sets up a fundamental protection against assaults on the right to …