Introduction: So here are a few random thoughts on the latest iteration of our great republican hokey pokey. Have you ever read color commentary on res publicae hoci poci, to use Cato’s oft abused phrase? Well, that’s all anybody reads anymore, right? But here goes anyhow. Shock and Aw, Shucks: The first thing to say, …
So Which Way Do You Want It?
Cornelius Van Til argued that unbelieving societies alternate between rationalism and irrationalism, that unbelieving thought displays a rationalist/irrationalist dialectic, which is quite true. But in advanced stages of cultural decay it should be observed that this dialectic turns into an oscillating fan set on high. Examples are plentiful — in fact, it is hard to …
The Foundation of Free Government
The foundation of every form of free government—whether in the family, or in civil affairs, or in the government of the church—is self-government. If the people do not have self-control, then you may depend upon it that they will be controlled by outside forces. It is easy to lament despotism when it pinches, when the …
On the Attempted Defenestration of Mablog Through the Overton Window
So then first, what is this Overton Window? That window, named after Joseph “Wiki” Overton — who coined the phrase — refers to the range of ideas that are palatable, thinkable, acceptable, or otherwise within the pale, when it comes to public discourse. Outside the window, you’re just a hate-filled weirdo. In the area of …
Sixteen Sausages in a Row
A few days ago, I republished a post from a few years back on food allergies. This was mostly because I am still sorting things out in my new WordPress surroundings, and wanted to see how to repost something. Tinker with this, click on that, you know. A new commenter had just referenced that old …
Flatter My Heart, Three-Person’d God . . .
For many years I have taught that authority in a Christian home is to be found in Christ — not in the husband, not in the wife, and not in the two them together. The masculine perspective is not normative, and the feminine perspective is not normative. Both the husband and the wife are to …
The Reason We Are in the Back Seat is So That We Can Be Salt and Light
If incoherence were beans, or cheese, or sour cream, or anything like that, Obama’s executive DECREE on bathrooms in government schools would be at least a nine-layer dip. Incoherence, how do I not follow thee? Let me be unable to count the ways. There are too many. They come too fast. They are throwing them …
Seven Effective Strategies for Dealing With Lust
This post was originally published April 15, 2011. 1. Run away. Paul tells Timothy to “flee youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). Joseph employed this admirable technique when dealing with Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:12), and he did not know that in running from her arms, he was actually running toward a throne. This was not made …
Guns and Covenants
Another good reason to own a gun — although you already have plenty of good reasons — is that it provides you with an opportunity to take crash course in practical theology. And of course I have in mind the critical differences between the old and new covenants. There are certain falsehoods about the relationship …
Submission as the S Word
I recently saw a post about wifely submission online, which you can read here, along with some reactions to it on Facebook, which can best be described as yet another round of the vapors. Now I grant that there were certain rhetorical aspects of the original post that were infelicitous, but the central one appeared …