Good Intentions Count for Something
Justification by Multiple Choice Test Taking
“But the reason [a man’s mistake regarding justification] does not cause me to question his salvation is because the doctrine of sola fide is true. If it were not true, then we would all have to be good little boys and girls, study our catechisms hard, because justification depends on studying hard and getting it right. But for the life of me I cannot fathom how this kind of ‘working hard’ and ‘free grace’ go together. We are justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ despite our failings. Those failings include, but are not limited to, doctrinal failings . . . Not only is this position unfathomable to me, but we need to keep in mind the fact that that person here who insists that justification is a matter of free grace in Christ plus nothing else, nada, zilch (me) is the one under suspicion of smuggling works into the whole business, and the one who openly declares what work must be performed by adults (that of understanding to an unspecified level of saving smarts( is the guardian of sola fide.”
The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 722
Riddle Me This
“But riddle me this. Is Deuteronomy 30:11-12 law or gospel? And when Jesus said, ‘Follow me,’ was that law or gospel? And to make the latter question harder, if not impossible, I will not tell you if the quotation comes from Luke 9:23 or Mark 10:21.”
The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 720
The Goat Rodeo School of Law
Introduction: Your Honor, the defendant has not shown himself worthy of respect . . . I don't know the exact location of The Goat Rodeo School of Law, but I have inferred its existence from the ...
Two Approaches to Church Purity
“Pretend for a minute that the Church is a bar, and see how this works. Call it the security guard mentality and the bouncer mentality. Say we have both baptists and non-baptists who both want to run a peaceful establishment. The baptists check everyone’s ID at the door. The non-baptists kick you out if you make trouble.”
The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 720
May Letters May Come
Letter to the Editor: Book of the Month/May 2024 I received a copy of "Knowledge of the Holy" from your father back in the 1970's. He would bring a box of them to meetings. I think ...
Despite Numerous Protests
“Over the last number of years I have made clear that the covenant of grace is not undifferentiated between the elect and the non-elect and have done so more times than Carter’s got pills. I don’t know what to do anymore, so I will just stand here forlorn, arms hanging by my sides.”
The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 717
An Apologetic for the Whiteness of White Babies
As I see that whiteness is in the news again, or perhaps still, it seems time once again to marshal some observations that might be helpful to some of my fellow pale faces. As I have also gathered that I am from time to time read by critics who have the discerning eye of a …
A Simple Distinction
“Is it legitimate in any way to say that non-elect members of the visible church are not part of the Church? Sure. Scripture is full of this kind of thing—a true Jew is one who is one inwardly, synagogues of Satan, you are of your father the devil, and countless more. Our whole point is that baptized covenant members are Christians, members of the Church, connected to Christ, etc. in some important sense, not that they are participants in these things in every sense. So, is there a legitimate way to say that non-elect members of the covenant are not part of the Church? Absolutely.”
The Auburn Avenue Chronicles Vol. 2, p. 714
Something to That . . .
