It used to be possible to say that the issue of homosexuality was one on which few believing Christians were confused. However, there was still a problem, and it led to our current cultural impasse. Over the years, much of the strength of Christian opposition to homosexuality has been instinctive and cultural, rather than a …
The Temple Pulled Inside Out/Pentecost 2009
INTRODUCTION: We are all generally familiar with what happened on the day of Pentecost. But we also need to take note of where it happened . . . and where it did not. THE TEXT: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly …
All to the Good
Today is my mother’s ninetieth birthday. Below is a poem I wrote twenty years ago, for her seventieth. The poem assumes what needs to be stated outright, which is that my mother is one of the most remarkable women I have ever known. What I owe her will never be repaid, and that is all …
Rednecks and Homosexuals
Just a few more comments on Miss California, and then I am done. Done, that is, until the next revolution on this merry-go-round that we call cultural commentary. First, one commenter in the previous thread on this had a “physician, heal thyself” question which I thought would be better to answer here. He said that …
Okay, Okay . . . Miss California
Well, let me say just a couple of serious things before I talk about what makes me wheeze. I saw an interview with Miss Carrie Prejean about her now infamous run-in with the kind of insane interaction that must have occurred on Lot’s front porch. She seemed like a sweet and sincere Christian to me, …
Christ and the Virgin Mary
Book 2/Chapter 13 Christ and the Virgin Mary (section 3) 1. According to Calvin, the genealogy in Matthew was whose? 2. Although the male line is the basis for reckoning in the political order, does this exclude women? 3. What does Calvin argue concerning Mary engendering Christ from her seed? True man and sinless (section …
Musical Consistency
Music is far more central to our lives than we perhaps assume. We come into contact with music all the time—sometimes explicitly as in worship, and sometimes implicitly as with the background music in restaurants that you scarcely notice, and other times explicitly but still thoughtlessly, as with the music that many have loaded on …
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Okay, so today is tax day, and it is time for a little pep talk. Our government is going what governments do best, which is being greedy, grasping, voracious, irresponsible, idiotic, and shrewd. The people on the receiving end of this are doing what they do best, which is complain about it without doing anything …
Beautiful and Stupid
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 164 “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Prov. 28:6) Proverbs is full of trade offs, and this is the way that wisdom has in teaching …
Celibate Follies
Book 2/Chapter 8 Calvin on adultery (section 41) 1. Why should all uncleanness be far from us? 2. What effect does fornication have? Celibate follies (section 42) 1. What makes men doubly subject to women’s society? 2. What two ways is the gift of celibacy given? 3. Why can men not count on God’s help …