Scripture has something to say about the unnecessary perpetuation of strife. “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth” (Prov. 26:20). So there are two ways to deal with falsehoods that are burning off hundreds of acres. The text says you have to deal with …
This Ramshackle Heart
In the recent spate of controversies, one of the things I have mentioned trying to do, and which has caused some consternation and disbelief in some quarters, is that which Jesus says to do when we are slandered. He says to rejoice and be exceeding glad (Matt. 5:12). His followers, the Lord says, should receive …
A Sewer Ditch in Calcutta
I want to begin with a brief logic lesson, and then move to develop an important point about the biblical view of scandals. One popular logical fallacy is called affirming the consequent. It runs thusly: If P, then Q. Q is the case, and so therefore P. Ta da! If it is a cow, then …
From Where You Are
One of the things I learned about the profound nature of the redemptive work of the gospel was something I learned from my father. And he taught me this when he once said, “God takes you from where you are, not from where you should have been.” I was grateful for the opportunity to respond …
Further Response to Karen Swallow Prior
What I would like to do, Lord willing and the crik don’t rise, is respond to Karen Swallow Prior’s objection to my pretty women post in a bit more detail, and then take a moment to respond to Rachel Held Evans’ objection to the fact that Prior even engaged with me. First, I want to …
Yay, Constructive Engagement
Allow me send you over to Karen Swallow Prior’s critique of my observations on beautiful women, which can be found here and here. She provides an example of thoughtful engagement, as opposed to what frequently happens to me on such topics. I appreciate it very much. I will probably respond more fully when I have …
This Morning
I do not quite know what motivated Rod Dreher to do what he did in The American Conservative yesterday. But he did it, and so some sort of response is needed. He gave his readers quite a gunk bath, helpfully providing links to some of the bigger chunks. Some of what he linked to has …
Click to Convict
A few weeks ago, Rod Dreher posted a clip of Thomas More being willing to give the devil “the benefit of law.” This was offered in the context of the Kim Davis uproar, about which a great deal of unhelpful nonsense continues to be thought and written. Pope Francis recently weighed in with his view …
Here Endeth a Beautiful Woman
Among those who comment regularly on my blog, I have a bullpen of sorts, made up of astute volunteers, who are good and faithful readers of what I write. In the enormous comment thread that broke out under my Cinder Block post, I wanted to highlight one of them. This is from Gianni, who gets …
Why Ministers Must Be Men
Since feminism is all of a sudden a hot topic here, I thought I should post a sample from my little book entitled Why Ministers Must Be Men. Since I am waiting for someone at the airport, I will have to include the cover photo and link later on. Begin with the Background Any discussion …