Daily Reading in John Owen
Review: Here is Owen as theologian and pastor, and readers will draw strength and insight from what is recorded for us in this set of daily readings.
He was a man of God’s Word, and hence considered that ‘one Scripture, in its plainness and simplicity, will be of more use for the end I aim at than twenty academic arguments, pressed with never so much accurateness and subtlety’ (April 7). Accordingly, he warns against reading theologians and neglecting the Scriptures, and even... Continue Reading
Seven Differences Between Gifts and Graces
The fruit/grace comes from the priestly work of Christ, whereas the gifts come from His kingly office.
With fruit/grace, the primary benefit is for the immediate recipient, and secondarily other people. With gifts, it is the other way around: gifts are given for the benefit of people other than the recipient first of all, and the recipient only secondarily. I just read this chapter from John Owen this morning, and I... Continue Reading
Book Review: Bavinck on Science
Christianity and Science
Ultimately, it is only when scientific investigation is directed and grounded upon Christian presuppositions that it is capable of achieving what it was designed by God to achieve. In contrast to secular science, Christian science always ends in doxology, for the God who gave us the means to study the world is the one to... Continue Reading
A Pastor’s Review of “The Prince of Egypt”
Instead of exalting the sovereignty of God, the film resorts to liberation theology, the idea that all of this is happening to liberate the oppressed.
We often think of the Exodus story like we think of a western. Pharaoh is the bad guy in the black hat. Even many of the Egyptians suffer as a result of his badness (which the film does show). The Israelites are the oppressed good guys. Then Moses comes riding into Egypt wearing a white... Continue Reading
To Author Life in Others: A Book Review of “Authority” by Jonathan Leeman
Filled with real-life illustrations and personal testimony, and written with winsome wisdom, Authority is an outstanding theology on authority.
Leeman presents five principles on how good authority works. I was most motivated to read that authority is neither permissive nor authoritarian, but rather, it administers discipline. In other words, discipline is the power of authority. Applying this principle as a parent, I hope to show kindness through predictable outcomes, as well as provide an... Continue Reading
The Pixelated
Can a TV character save your soul?
Christianity is first a hearing religion. The unimpressive “foolishness” of the preaching medium is suited to the Gospel message as are the modest visual media of the sacraments. We know these media are suitable and profitable because God has ordained them. If the words of scripture prompt visual images in our mind, that is natural.... Continue Reading
The Tyranny of Seeing Only Power
Unquestionably, the economic world that Ahmari chronicles in Tyranny, Inc. is a world characterized by deep alienation at every level of hierarchy.
The book makes little pretense of being even-handed, offering instead a series of exposés of the various tricks of the trade that managers use to exploit workers and oppress consumers. There simply are no “good bosses” that populate this narrative. Nor, strikingly, are there any bad workers. It may well be true, as Ahmari charges,... Continue Reading
Naomi Wolf Wants Us to ‘Face the Beast’
It is time we wake from our slumber.
“We were not in a normal time of normal bad human politics and normal bad destructive material choices. I realized gradually that the degradation taking place on the material plane simply reflected or manifested a much larger battle—indeed a spiritual battle; one between Good and Evil themselves, and that God—whom till now I hesitated to... Continue Reading
Why I Changed My Mind about Deconstruction
Deconstruction isn’t about submitting to biblical authority; it’s about choosing to be your own authority.
I changed my mind about deconstruction. After researching this topic, I’ve come to see that deconstruction isn’t merely asking questions or a synonym for doubt. Rather, it’s a process with no correct destination, no ending, and no biblical authority. As a result, I don’t use words like “healthy deconstruction” or “good deconstruction” anymore. For me,... Continue Reading
John the Witness
As a witness he points to Jesus as the Christ who was to come, the Lamb provided by God for the salvation of the world.
We might wonder why John the Witness would find such a prominent place in the few verses of the prologue to John’s gospel. It’s because of his function as a witness. John stands as a representative of Old Testament prophecy and promise that point to Jesus Christ as the one in whom all is fulfilled. John... Continue Reading
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