Sloganeering and Homosexual Marriage
Sloganeering is not generally a persuasive form of argument: "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" Has any American across the cultural divide from conservative Christianity ever changed his mind after reading that on a billboard or poster? Somehow I doubt it. A slogan is a way of shouting at others, not a genuine effort at moving them toward the right position. And yet it's a pity, because that particular slogan encapsulates what is the most important argument I know of in this...
Whose God Is Their Belly
Ode to Moses
Preaching weekly through Genesis over the last year or so has given me a much deeper appreciation for the literary artistry of Moses. We're in chapter 46, and I see better than ever that the themes of seed, land, and blessing are truly ubiquitous after chapter 12. They are key to understanding the details of the book. I'll give you an example: Joseph says that he was brought to Egypt to save much people alive (Gen 50:20). I always got that, and that is such a precious passage to me. But I...
Google Reader Replacements
I've been using Google Reader since before Al Gore was born, but now that it's nearing its death (Monday), it's time to switch. I've tried a few alternatives over the past few months, and I'd like to make two recommendations: The Old Reader Feedly Each is nicely designed, and each makes it easy (though Feedly is easier) to transfer your Google Reader feeds right over to a new system. Feedly has stronger mobile/app options, but The Old Reader has at least one UI feature that I miss in Feedly...
Flavel and Piper on Antinomianism
According to Flavel, antinomians fail to distinguish, as they ought, between vindictive punishment from God, the pure issues and effects of his justice and wrath against the wicked; and his paternal castigations, the pure issues of the care and love of a displeased father. Great and manifold are the differences between his vindictive wrath upon his enemies, and the rebukes of the rod upon his children. Those are legal; these out of love. Those unsanctified; but these blessed and sanctified to...