Those who are involved in the work of rebuilding Christian education in our culture are usually familiar with Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:4. He says in that place that fathers are to take care to bring up their children in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” This is taken vaguely by some as an …
Inverted Pride
Paul tells us in Ephesians that no man ever hated himself. But at first glance, this might seem counterintuitive to some, especially in this age of self-absorption. Can we really say this about someone who is consistently depressed, filled with self-loathing? Or assert that a suicide really loves himself? Why could we not say that …
East and West
The late Richard Weaver hated the title of his book, Ideas Have Consequences. That is unfortunate because the title is outstanding, and carries a wealth of theology in three simple words. Ideas have very pointed consequences, and very particular destinations. One of the best illustrations of this is the profound differences that have developed between …
Let Us Feed Cheesecake to our Horses
The famous story tells of the minister who wrote in the margin of his notes, “Argument weak. Shout here.” Whenever anyone is unalterably attached to a position, and that position is wrong, there is always a strong temptation to shout. Moreover, the sillier a position gets, the more shouting is required to keep people from …
Better Than We Deserve
I am posting old articles here that ran in Table Talk, and this one was part of the run up to Y2K. Hence the situation is somewhat dated, but the principles involved certainly are not. The message at that time was that repentance is good preparation if disaster happens, and good preparation if it doesn’t. …
One Little Word Shall Fell Him
Christians are people of the Word, and as a result they are people of words. We love the Truth, and this is why we must necessarily love truths. The flip side of this is that when a love for the Lord Jesus declines, one of the first places it manifests itself is in an obvious …
Optimistic Cultural Realism
When Rome, the Eternal City, was sacked in 410 AD, St. Augustine was brought to write his monumental work, the City of God. Part of the reason he felt the book had to be written was because many Christians had had their faith rattled by the event. Over the course of the previous centuries, Christianity …
Now That’s Cool
What’s needed around here is a good definition of the word cool. We all know what is intended whenever we encounter it in a sentence, but a clear understanding nevertheless remains elusive. One individual is successfully cool. Another makes the attempt, with tragic results, and even a lowly junior high student knows to roll his …
The Hebraic Mind
Careful students of church history see far more in it than names and dates, battles and councils, popes and reformers. The history of the church is very much a history of ideas. But in order to talk about the course and influence of these ideas, we have to talk about the various schools of philosophy …
Right Pretty
It may not seem relevant right now, but Abigail was a beautiful and intelligent woman. Christians are good at fighting relativism when it comes to matters of truth. Those who reject a fixed standard of truth are soon engaged in debate by capable Christian apologists. Believers also do well when the subject at hand is …