Theology That Bites Back
We do not live in a time of public silence on lust. There has been no moratorium on the noise about it, the perpetual chatter that surrounds us on every side. Enticements to lust, discussions of lust, enducements to lust, are constant. Standing against this is the clear word of Scripture: “Mortify therefore your members …
As we have known for centuries, anger is a brief madness. And when a man comes to his senses again, after a fit of anger, he has plenty of leisure to repent of the damage he has done. But repairing the damage is often far more difficult than having a mere desire to repair it. …
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 90 “In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince” (Prov. 14:28). One of the great bugbears of this last generation has been that of “overpopulation.” If some …
We come now to the second of the seven deadly sins—covetousness. This requires great attention because we have come to an area where we tend to sprinkle lavender water on our vices and call them virtues. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by …
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 89 “The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.” (Prov. 14:24). One lesson that the Bible teaches, and that conservative believers have generally learned, is that wealth presents many spiritual dangers. It is …
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 87 “In all labour there is is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury” (Prov. 14:23). Talking about work is all right as preparation for work, but it is no substitute for work. Work is as …
The seven deadly sins? Where does that categorization come from? The question can be addressed in two ways—historical and systematic. The historical question is the simpler of the two. Gregory the Great (late 6th century) is responsible for the list as we have it today. The list is an exercise in moral systematics—looking for a …
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 86 “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Prov. 14:15). One of the great lessons to be learned from spam is a reinforcement of what this verse tells us. The most remarkable thing …
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 85 “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox” (Prov. 14:4). Another way of saying this is that profit is messy. Profit is intrusive. Really profitable times can really mess …
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 84 “Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment” (Prov. 13:23). The point of this proverb is that the poor frequently have far more wealth available to them than …
