Once there were two women, next door neighbors, who were on pretty good terms. One was a Christian and the other was not, but still they got on decently enough. This lasted for several years, until one day the Christian woman noticed that her friend was becoming irritable and easily annoyed. This increased over a …
This Too Pleases Him
Many Christians acknowledge the sovereignty of God as a necessary doctrine, but they do not feel that they have to like it, or even talk about it. But when the full biblical vision of this doctrine is given to us, it opens up a world of sweet consolations — and this is good because we …
As Camp as a Row of Tents
During this visit, I was speaking with a pastor here who said, quite accurately, that quite apart from theology (on which we did not differ) women’s ordination in the CoE has been a disaster. We were not differing on the theology of the thing (God says not to do it), but rather agreeing that disobedience …
Choosing Between a Real Enemy or a False Friend
Tomorrow is super-sized Tuesday, or whatever it is they call it. A discussion in a recent comments thread has asked why I would be unwilling to vote for Romney or McCain in the general election if they were running against Obama or Hillary, why I would “throw my vote away” by voting for an obscure …
Sin and Shame
Sin and shame are closely related. It was not for nothing that Adam and Eve hid when they heard the Lord coming in the Garden. The word aischron is rendered as shame in three places. In 1 Cor. 11:6, the apostle Paul says that it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or …
The Hidden Wellspring of Disputes
“When Saul had made great breaches between God and his soul and in his own conscience, then he grew to be of a very froward spirit towards every man. Before his apostasy he was a of very meek and quiet spirit, but this soured his spirit and made it grow harsh, rugged, and cruel. This …
Friendship Evangelism
INTRODUCTION: For various reasons, evangelism is a difficult subject for many Reformed Christians. Some die-hard Calvinists may have glanced at the title of this message—friendship evangelism—and asked, “What’s evangelism?” Or, if they are really die-hard Calvinists, perhaps they asked, “What’s friendship?” But this attitude is not what the Bible teaches, not what the tradition of …
Eddie and Carrie
The book of Genesis, the book of beginnings, repays repeated visits. In this book we see, obviously, the beginning of the heavens and earth. But we also see the beginning of God’s ways with man—in His covenant dealings, in His establishment of work and vocation, and in His creation of marriage. But when God creates …
Holiness Becomes Common
This great vision is presented to us in apocalyptic form. This means it belongs to a certain literary genre, just like parts of Daniel, the Gospels, and the book of Revelation. The word apocalypsis (just like the Latin revelatio) refers to an unveiling, or lifting of the curtain. This enables us to see what is …
They Will Look on the One They Have Pierced
The second oracle, the second “burden,” begins. Now a burden is a negative prophecy. In some sense, this contains hard words for Israel, but in another sense it is full of consolation. “The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of …