We conceive formal idolatry, as that of the Hindu, a very foolish and flagrant thing; we palliate… spiritual idolatry of passions. God classes them together, in order to show us the enormity of the latter. Robert L. Dabney, Systematic Theology (Carlisle, PA: Banner of...
Piety
My Loose Paraphrase of Hebrews 12:1-3
Remember all of the people in the “Hall of Faith” chapter, Hebrews 11? They’re watching us run our race. So let’s shed the things that aren’t helping us run well—namely the sin that so quickly weighs us down. And let’s run with endurance the race God gave us. If we...
Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:10
These two passages from Paul are precious to me: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will...
Technology Giveth; Technology Taketh Away
The line at the end of this paragraph is brilliant, brilliant! Thank you Lev Grossman of Time! This is a truth I’m convinced our generation of Bible students and pastors must get, or we’ll miss out on true riches. [Google] Wave isn't actually an e-mail killer....
Jesus and Adam Smith
From American Vision: What would Jesus have done if confronted with the new technology [of horseless carriages]? Would He have endorsed the mass production of the automobile when it was first introduced to the American public knowing that it was a polluter? Actually,...
BJU Seminary Retreat
The Father of lights gave a good gift to me this past weekend, a retreat to the Wilds with most of my fellow BJU Seminary students. I enjoyed the preaching, the God-honoring music, the many discussions with individual professors, the conversations with other students,...
Gospel-Centeredness
I went to the Bob Jones University Faculty/Staff opening meeting this year with real excitement, more than ever in the nine times I've gone. Yes, heavy hors d'oeuvres were on their way, including my annual shrimp dosage. But somehow I felt that something even better...
Biblical Love
First Corinthians 13:4–7 is a list of fifteen specific actions that love performs on behalf of other believers. That should immediately dispel the notion that love is primarily a feeling or an emotion. Although true love will carry emotion with it sometimes, feeling...
Words of Wisdom on the Blogosphere from One of its Doyens
iMonk shares some trenchant blogosphere insight, well worth a read for bloggers and those who love them. A "Blogging Philosofesto" is percolating, fermenting, and languishing in my own queue at this moment.
Words of Controversial Wisdom from Someone Else Don’t Blame Me I Just Repeated It But I Do Think They Are Wise So Take Them Under Advisement and May the Lord Grant You Wisdom
Here are two arguments I took down from a conversation I had with a musically oriented older man who has significant seminary training. I offer them for your consideration; I thought they were wise: When people are dancing and acting without inhibition at a rock...
Ken Myers Says Something Wise—Not a News Flash
An insightful comment from Ken Myers of the Mars Hill Audio Journal, answering a question from the helpful Presbyterians at By Faith: By Faith: Christians often defend certain cultural resources and practices based on the logic that if God is using them, they must be...
The Ethnic Section at Bi-Lo Constitutes the Same Percentage of the Store as the Ethnic Section at Publix—and Kroger, and Safeway, and Giant…
Andy Crouch’s Culture-Making reminds us that we are all culturally located, whether we realize it or not: In many American supermarkets you can still find an “ethnic food” aisle—as if only some kinds of food participate in a particular cultural tradition. Nonsense—all...