Once there was a group of small boys who were very close friends. There were five of them, and they were inseparable. They went to school together, they played after school together, they spent countless hours in the summers together, and they often spent the night in tents in one another’s back yards. Although they …
Super Submission
The apostle Paul said that we were to receive one another, but not into debates over disputable things. In his day the debatable things had to do with the ceremonial foods of Judaism, and so we think we have learned his wisdom simply because the church now debates different issues. As though it were appropriate …
The Unaware Billionaire
One day, a certain man became a Christian. He had been thinking about it for months, and a next door neighbor had explained the faith in a compelling way. This man and his wife both accepted the Lord, and were baptized the following Sunday. The next day, Monday morning, before he went to work, the …
Optional Realities
Once there was a nation that turned away from the living God, and so the living God turned them over to their vain imaginations, so that their foolish hearts were darkened. One of the states in that nation — let us call it Massachusetts –decided through its judicial system that our system of public life …
Covenant Mirrors
A certain father did not really understand the principle of covenantal permission. He was very concerned with issues of reputation, so he was very careful not to set a poor example for his children, particularly his sons. And this is why his sons grew up in a home that was morally tidy. But I am …
She Blinded Me With Science
The very first man once occupied himself, as he was told to do, with naming the animals. A short way behind him walked a scientific investigator, holding a clipboard, in order to check whether or not the first man had named them accurately. Many years later, an elderly man in his nineties was given a …
The Hermit Consultant
Once there was a church which decided that the church was not called to political involvement. Rather, they were called to preach the Word, and administer the sacraments. This pleased the whole congregation greatly and they gave themselves over to worship, and to the reformation of worship according to Scripture. But then a curious thing …
Wives: The Neo-Legalism
Once there was a young man who liked to suit himself in all his leisure activities. He had very strong views on Christian liberty, believing that liberty to be threatened on every hand. Of course, in his mind Christian liberty was defined as the right to do whatever he felt like doing-watching grimy art films …
Just a Metaphor, Right?
Once a man thought to go to church and have a look around. He was not a true worshiper, but simply thought that joining the church would advance his business prospects in that community. There were many people who assembled there, and membership would surely be good for business. He was met at the door …
Barbecued Tofu
A certain man lived in a small town, a long way from any large city. One day, the Lord told this man that He wanted him to prepare a glorious barbecue that would feed everyone in that town. “Shall I send out invitations?” the man asked. “The smell of the meat cooking will be the …