INTRODUCTION: We have come to the second of three pointed words from the prophet, addressed to a disobedient Israel. The first begins with “hear this word” (3:1). The second does the same (4:1). The third begins with “hear ye this word” (5:1). God’s judgments are not designed by Him as surprise attacks. Surprise does result, …
Sexual Orthodoxy
Things are pretty grim in Canada. Those who are up for a little appalling reading, and who still need to be convinced of my thesis statement, are encouraged to check it out here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. HT: The Pearcey Report One case involves a Pastor Boissoin, who wrote a letter to …
Eating Out of the Zeitgeist Can With a Spoon
Rodney Clapp says a number of structurally admirable things in his conclusion, but he can’t get them to add up. He states, rightly, that baptism is a political act (p. 121). He says, also rightly, “for the baptized, nothing can be more basic or more significant than their baptism” (p. 122). Batting a thousand, he …
Kent and Alyssa
A few minutes spent watching the evening news should be sufficient to establish—to the satisfaction of all faithful Christians—that we live in sexually confused and troubled times. From issues like the demand for homosexual marriages to women in combat, from women in combat to the demand that women be ordained to the Christian ministry, and …
The Sins of Seven Nations/Amos 2
INTRODUCTION: As we work out way through the book of Amos, we have to remember the two great themes—the violence of oppressive cruelty and the abandonment of right worship. The prophet Amos requires us to reject all those who embrace either sin. These are the two great themes of this prophet of God. THE TEXT: …
Always Learning, Never Getting It
The word hamartano is used once in 1 Timothy, when Paul warns that Timothy is not to permit an accusation except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who are found to have sinned need to be rebuked publicly so that the others might fear (1 Tim. 5:20). Hamartia comes up three times …
Colonies of Heavean
INTRODUCTION: On Ascension Sunday, we mark the glorious coronation of the Lord Jesus. After His resurrection, He established to His disciples that He was in fact alive forever, and then He ascended into the heavens. When He did this, He was received by the Ancient of Days, and was given universal authority over all the …
Compassion Radar in the Private Sector
One other comment is necessary on my interaction with Jim Wallis a few posts ago. He said that the abortion debate had grown “stale,” and that we ought to concentrate on reducing abortions instead of outlawing abortion. As I was thinking about it, this question occurred to me — “where has he been?” He speaks …
Go Get Your Own Parable, Hayek
This is kind of an odd talk-around way way to do it, but here is a bit more on our discussion of Third World debts and N.T. Wright’s book Surprised by Hope. To sum up my take, Wright wrote a glorious book that had a small atrocious section on global economics. I interacted with that …
The Roar of God: Amos I
INTRODUCTION: As God gives us the grace, we will now begin to work our way through the prophecy of Amos. Apart from what is revealed in his writing here, we know nothing about the man. Among the minor prophets, he occupies the vanguard in this period of Israel’s history, even though he is placed third …