Notes From The Didache On The Early Christian View Of Abortion
The Didache was not indifferent about abortion nor does it hesitate to list abortion (and infanticide) with other gross violations of the natural and moral law
The moral rigor of the Didache is also in contrast to the way some late-modern Christians speak about sexual ethics generally. The Didache unequivocally condemns sexual immorality. Again, it is hard to imagine the Didache countenancing the nomenclature, “gay Christian.” This much seems clear from the blanket condemnation of sexual immorality in 3:3. One... Continue Reading
In Praise of Heavy Providences
The Bible is full of reminders about how, in the call of God, things will be difficult rather than easy, complex rather than simple, strenuous rather than leisurely.
I share this story because I believe the American church desperately needs this perspective on life—the perspective captured in the profoundly simple hymn that sings, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” But by and large, the evangelical church in America sings, “This world is my home and here I’m putting... Continue Reading
Autopsy Of A Deceased Pastor
Many pastors are dead in their ministries; perhaps an autopsy of these “deaths” will help the church come to grips with the causes.
They had no defenders in the church. Imagine a dying person with no medical intervention. That person will die. Imagine pastors without members who will stand by these leaders. Imagine pastors where members are too cowardly to stand up to cartels. If you can imagine that, then you can imagine a dying pastor. By the way,... Continue Reading
Aquinas Is Not A Safe Guide For Protestants
Reading Aquinas with care and caution.
In his Summa Theologica, Aquinas clearly stated his view that the sacraments perform their work through a virtue in themselves. He also stated unequivocally that the sacraments confer the new birth, justification, the grace of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, inward enlightenment, the washing away of guilt, and forgiveness of sins on every person who partakes... Continue Reading
I Just Wanna End Small Group Prayer
Samuel Miller’s thoughts on praying publicly.
This is based on Samuel Miller’s thoughts on prayer which goes on for another 13 items. Not quite Rick Warren like, so not enough for forty days of driving your way to a life of purpose. But if Christians ever had to consider that praying in public does not come naturally to some believers, this... Continue Reading
Driving From Duty To Delight
There have been so many times that I have wrestled my self down to my knees to pray
“We have a choice. It’s a fairly simple choice, but it’s not an easy one. The choice is whether or not we are going to do what we should do. Are we going to, in spite of our will, open up our Bible and thoughtfully engage with God’s Word? Are we going to be still... Continue Reading
10 Things You Should Know About Tithing Under The Mosaic Covenant
Just as the NT knows nothing of an unbaptized Christian or a church-less Christian, so also the NT knows nothing of a Christian who does not give faithfully and generously to the work of God
“The question is not whether Christians are free to tithe of their income. Certainly, they are. The question is whether Christians are obligated to tithe of their income. Does the Bible legislate to believers under the New Covenant a specific percentage of their income that they are to give? The answer, I believe, is no.”... Continue Reading
Lordship of Christ Over Every Spiritual Inch
For comprehensive Christians, making the distinction between redemption and providence is a high wire act forbidden to anyone who wants a safe earthly existence.
“For that reason, the comprehensive Christian, if the Covenanters are right, could never serve as an attorney in the United States. How, for instance, could a Christian take the oath required of attorneys in Michigan?” Joseph Moore has a new book out on the Covenanters that argues in part that these radical Scottish Presbyterians... Continue Reading
R.C. Sproul’s Warning Concerning Prayer
God is not a celestial bellhop who is on call every time we press the button
“It’s nice to receive what we pray for, but the added benefit is the assurance we gain that God hears our prayers and answers them. However, some carry this to an extreme and jump to the conclusion that prayer is something of a magic wand, that if we do prayer with the right sound, in... Continue Reading
Faith is a Gift (But Not That Kind of Gift!)
Faith is the kind of gift that transforms its recipient into one who deeply values it
In our day, we tend to think of gifts as something we may or may not want, and may or may not actually keep. The assumption that gifts can be refused is so engrained in our modern way of life that we include “gift receipts” with gifts given in order, rather bizarrely, to facilitate their... Continue Reading