The contemporary use of the word “community” has troubled me for some time. I couldn’t put my finger on it until today. It came to me during a drive across the the vast wasteland that is Nevada.
truth
The Annihilation of Hell
Martin has posted (in two parts) the interview with Robert Peterson from the volume Risking the Truth (click on the icon to the left). Part 1. Part 2. Other contributors include: Carl R. Trueman, Tom Schreiner, Michael Horton, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, . . . Continue reading →
"Balanced But Biting" Really?
One of the things that worries me most lately is what might be called the Simon Cowell syndrome. I don’t watch American Idol much but even I could tell that Simon Cowell’s role on the show has been to be the one . . . Continue reading →
Is it Wrong to Be Right? (Updated)
When we moved to the UK in the early 90s one of the several aspects of culture shock that we experienced was the plainness and forthrightness with which people spoke. I don’t know from experience that what we experienced was universal throughout . . . Continue reading →
When Community Isn’t
The contemporary use of the word “community” has troubled me for some time. I couldn’t put my finger on it until today. It came to me during a drive across the vast wasteland that is Nevada. Folk routinely speak about the “online” . . . Continue reading →
On Humanizing and Dehumanizing
In The Abolition of Man C. S. Lewis worried about the effects of replacing sin and forgiveness with disease and therapy. His chief concern is that we would lose our humanity. This remains a great concern. Recently, one of the Supremes, not . . . Continue reading →
The Death of Santa
As a young boy I certainly believed in Santa. We made the annual cookie oblation and went to bed under the conditional covenant that he would not come if we did not sleep (or at least stay in bed). Nevertheless, I think I . . . Continue reading →
Uzzah, Delusion, and Good Intentions
The human capacity for self-delusion is endless. It began mysteriously with Adam’s un-coerced choice to make covenant with Satan rather than to keep the covenant of works that God had made with him. Since that time things have not improved. In the . . . Continue reading →
Talking To Students Who No Longer Believe In Truth
The Harvard students put out a whole list of questions on a brochure underneath the main title. One of those questions was “Why should anyone believe anything at all?” I looked at that and said, that is exactly the way I am . . . Continue reading →
Collision Avoidance Systems
Modern aircraft have collision avoidance systems that alert pilots when another aircraft gets too close. Some modern cars have similar technology. In my experience, it’s not just cars and aircraft that avoid collisions. Churches and Christian leaders also have a tendency to . . . Continue reading →
Being Nice Is Not What The Christian Walk Is About
Being “nice,” of course, is not ultimately what the Christian walk is all about. But neither is it just a low-level option for those who are commanded by Scripture to “speak the truth in love.” Even the order of that commandment—truth first, . . . Continue reading →
The Social Consequences Of Subjectivism
Well, in my heart and my mind, you know, life begins when the mother thinks it begins, not when anybody else thinks it begins…. For some women, it’s before they conceive; for some women, it’s never. Even after they deliver, it’s still . . . Continue reading →
On Being Criticized (In The New Media Age)
As a follow on to the post of the 24th, On Being Critical, it seems useful to think a little about how to navigate the choppy waters of criticism and especially how to deal with it in our new media age. There’s . . . Continue reading →
Niceness Or Love?
Among members of the PCA, there is a huge dissatisfaction with how blogs are run today. Lack of love, harshness, unfounded accusations, and many like things are par for the course, they say. There is certainly an element of truth to this. . . . Continue reading →
Why Analogies And Illustrations Of The Trinity Fail
Michael writes to say that he recently read an article I wrote in 1999 on the Trinity and to ask if I’m willing to consider an analogy for the Trinity. I reply: Honestly, no. All illustrations of the Trinity end up in . . . Continue reading →
Machen On Revival And Controversy
I do not know all the things that will happen when the great revival sweeps over the Church, the great revival for which we long. Certainly I do not know when that revival will come; its coming stands in the Spirit’s power. . . . Continue reading →
Disagreeing With You Isn’t Unloving
Have you ever noticed that when differences of opinion come up between the confessionalists and the “can’t we all get along” (hereafter abbreviated “cwaga”) folks, that incredibly shrill and unloving voices come from the latter group directed towards the former group, all . . . Continue reading →
The Death Of Santa
As a young boy I certainly believed in Santa. We made the annual cookie oblation and went to bed under the conditional covenant that he would not come if we did not sleep (or at least stay in bed). Nevertheless, I think I . . . Continue reading →
Ben Is A Straight Shooter
We live in a time when telling the truth is not fashionable, when it’s considered a little gauche (unsophisticated, awkward) to speak the truth plainly. More than that it’s considered a little old-fashioned to talk about truth at all. As far as . . . Continue reading →
Telling The Truth To A Skeptical Millennial Village
Most of the students I teach are so-called Millennials. A few generations ago Americans were raised by parents. Then they were raised by the television. This generation was raised by the computer and related (mostly mobile) media. As Thomas de Zengotita has . . . Continue reading →