The Eternal State: Re: “The New Jerusalem” This is compelling. If Revelation 21-22 explain what the bride of Christ looks like, does the Bible explain what things will look like after the return of Christ? Sure, God desires righteousness and justice, and the new heavens and earth would look like that, but it does seem …
Virgins and Volcanoes
Introduction: There are only two “ways,” two fundamental religions in the world. One of them feeds people, and the other one eats people. We see this contrast in vivid relief in the juxtaposition that Mark gives to the death of John the Baptist. That sad but typical episode is followed immediately by the feeding of …
A Fight in the Leper Colony
Introduction: It is easy to treat the spectacle that is presidential politics in 2016 as though we were dismayed spectators, but we are not spectators at all. We are all participants. We are not watching a movie that contains a food fight in a junior high cafeteria; we are in the cafeteria. And if it …
A Vast Aquifer of Corruption
Introduction: Rachel Held Evans has recently argued that a vote for Hillary Clinton is not inconsistent with a pro-life ethic. There are any number of confusions involved in how she presents the case, but I am going to try to limit myself to addressing just three of them. I want to limit what I say …
John the Baptist’s Yard Sign
Introduction: A few days ago, I replied to Thabiti’s initial post about how he felt constrained to support Hillary as the lesser of two evils. He was kind enough to issue a rejoinder here, and now with the tennis ball over here in front of me again, I suppose it is my turn. Before getting …
How Many Chicagos?
Introduction Allow me to begin by giving you all a round-up of links that offer some very different perspectives on Debacle 2016. Wayne Grudem presents a case arguing that Christians can vote for Donald Trump. Thabiti Anyabwile presents his reasons for voting for Hillary here, which will be the inspiration for my comments today. And …
7 Principles for Navigating Times of Racial Animosity
I have seen Jon Gabriel’s tweet many times, and unfortunately this is because there have been numerous occasions in the last few years where the snark fits like a glove. “My favorite part about the Obama era is all the racial healing.” I am old enough to remember 1967, and I am starting to feel …
Justice and the Ad Hominem
Comment Thread Update: Ryan Sather just removed a comment that my comment below was a reply to. Listen, Ryan. Allow me to just deal with your first comment, about your strong effort to avoid being sucked back into this. At the time I write this, there are 499 comments, and just over 4% of them …
7 Questions for Those Who Want Money for People With Minds That Hate . . .
Let me get this straight. 1. You are the group that wants drivers working for FedEx and UPS to be unknowingly carrying around boxes with baby parts in them, babies who were killed for the sake of those parts, AND you want to be the enlightened, progressive group? 2. You are the party that wants …
A Sermon for Five
Introduction Written decisions of our Supreme Court justices are called opinions. Justices who differ with the majority may write a dissenting opinion. But in contrast to all such opinions, the Scripture requires preachers to declare the very oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11). This is a responsibility that no man should ever take up lightly, …