10 Things We Learn from the Ten Commandments
Scripture assures us with the gospel that God has sent his one and only Son to keep the Ten Commandments for us.
Even though we can’t keep all of these rules, Jesus has kept the law—all of it—for us by living a perfect, holy, righteous, obedient life. He never broke a commandment—not for a second—not even once. The root of true spirituality lies not in our keeping of these commandments but rather in putting our trust, our faith,... Continue Reading
The Happiest Saints in History
Augustine, Calvin, Edwards, and You
The story of the saints down through history is a story of joy lost and found, of glory smothered and shining. From the church fathers to the Reformation to our own century, we learn that true and deep joy grows dim whenever God’s glory is eclipsed. But when God’s glory shines, then the saints sing... Continue Reading
Listening to His Law
When pastors, elders, family-fathers, teachers, and city-fathers abdicate their paternal responsibility, a culture declines to emotionalism, chaos, and banality.
The aim of this three-part series has been to outline biblical education as enculturation, with a focus on the role of fathers. To succeed in shaping a culture and impressing it on future generations, education as paideia requires the attentive, firm, imaginative presence of fathers. As subcreators, tasked with extending dominion in the form... Continue Reading
Millennials, Gen Xers to baby boomers: Can you retire so I can get a job promotion?
There’s a multigenerational traffic jam on the upper rungs of America’s career ladder.
Forty-one percent of millennials—and 30% of all adults—said they’ve found it difficult to move up in their fields because boomers are waiting longer to retire, according to a USA TODAY/LinkedIn survey of 1,019 working professionals in September. As more baby boomers put off retirement, millennials and Gen Xers are finding it harder to move up... Continue Reading
Saint Augustine on Kanye West
Augustine explains why we rejoice differently at the conversion of a celebrity.
We rejoice at the conversion of a Kanye or any celebrity because it is a particular manifestation of God’s mercy. Hollywood seems impregnable to the gospel. These conversions remind us that it isn’t. Kanye West says he’s a born again Christian. He says he’s going to be spreading the gospel. His Sunday Service concerts feature... Continue Reading
How to Read John Theologically
One must read Christianly, canonically, confessionally, and creatively.
Not to treat John as Scripture is itself a form of eisegesis, and it is a disobedient hearing of the text’s own claim and of the God by whom it was authored. In short, the divine identity of Scripture must be both the ground and the guide of a properly theological reading of John. ... Continue Reading
In Spirit and (?) Truth
True worshipers and true worship.
What might it mean to worship in spirit and truth? Is Jesus talking about sincere worship, worship from the heart and not just from the lips? Is He referring to worship that is not restricted to a particular place? Is He saying that we can’t worship in our own power or in our own way... Continue Reading
To Write, or Not to Write, That is the Question
Everyone who picks up a pen (or sits behind a keyboard) would do well to weigh carefully the seriousness of writing the holy things of God.
Admittedly, in writing I’ve had made missteps. I’ve written things in foolish haste, spouted off undigested thoughts, uncharitably characterized others, and written things that are wrong—and I haven’t always had the humility to acknowledge it. As such I often return to that question: to write or not to write? The Scottish Presbyterian James Durham... Continue Reading
Nikolaus Von Amsdorf
More than a Beer-Drinking Friend
He became a pastor in 1524, when the city of Magdeburg asked him to introduce the Reformation to their citizens. Initially hesitant to take on such a high calling, he finally agreed…and remained in that position for over seventeen years, in spite of constant threats from the local Roman Catholic clerics and other frequent challenges.... Continue Reading
Should We Interpret the Old Testament like the Apostles?
Can we imitate the way in which the New Testament apostles exegeted the Old Testament? No, “wet must listen to the biblical writers through illumination?
The difference cannot be glibly dismissed. A fundamental difference exists in status, activity, and product. The New Testament writers, possessing the gift of apostleship or prophecy, experienced the Spirit’s unique ministry of inspiration, whereas readers of their writings experience the Spirit’s common ministry of illumination. The former were granted knowledge directly from God, apart from... Continue Reading