I am sorry for my delay in making a statement about the plagiarism issue that blew up on Thursday. Because of the nature of the case, there were various entities, boards and committees involved, and I did not want to make any statement that would then have to be further qualified or explained. In the …
A Crown in Mind
“Our faith is tried because God is a goldsmith. When the goldsmith plunges gold into the fire, it is not because he hates the gold, but because he loves the gold enough to want to purify it of its dross. When the goldsmith beats the gold, it is not because he has contempt for the …
In Fact, It Surfaced Several Times
Albeit a Very Stately Finger
“As I’ve mentioned, by the time of the Reformation the ship of the church was absolutely covered with barnacles — saints days, and whatnot. The Reformers scraped virtually all of them off, keeping only what they called the ‘five evangelical feast days’ — Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. All five are related to …
How Then Shall We Deport?
Donald Trump has now proposed drastic measures to deal with the threat of domestic terrorism, of the kind we recently saw in San Bernardino. His idea is to put a ban on all Muslims entering the country, period, until such time as we get all this “sorted out.” His idea is, of course, simplistic, unworkable, …
Imprinted on Fudge
“Celebrate the stuff. Use fudge and eggnog and wine and roast beef. Use presents and wrapping paper . . . You do not prepare for a real celebration of the Incarnation through thirty days of Advent Gnosticism. At the same time, remembering your Puritan fathers, you must hate the sin while loving the stuff. Sin …
Temptation, Effeminacy, and Christian Leadership
The subject of temptation, same-sex attraction and sin is one that seems to call for ever more follow-ups. First, let us consider some questions with regard to temptation. If the stirrings of sin are themselves sinful, as I have been arguing, then how did Adam first sin? He was created perfect. As I was telling …
More Than a Technically Correct Christmas
“I mean much more than that our words should be true and our behavior good. I mean that our words should sound like good news and our lives should smell like good news” (God Rest Ye Merry, p. 88).
A Fine Collection of Butterhearts
When a society rejects common sense, natural law, right reason, and Scripture — taking those worthy authorities in alphabetical order — that society has no way of resolving the internal contradictions that will inevitably arise, and no way of fighting off external assaults, however absurd. The good news is found in Herbert Stein’s law, which …
Feel the Touchies
Here is a different kind of update on the debate precipitated by the unfortunate Gospel Coalition post from Ed Shaw. In one of my responses to it, I said this: “Same sex attraction is an attraction to sin. If we lose that understanding, we have lost everything. This is not a trifle.” I have been …