June 2021 – Southern Reformed Smoker

Critical Reformed Theory

One of the recent crazes in evangelicalism has been Critical Race Theory (commonly known as CRT). Nowhere has this raged like wildfire as much as non denominational churches. Sure that thing burned through the PCA like California in July but they have been stacking the heresy kindling for years now and it was only aContinue reading “Critical Reformed Theory”

Lloyd-Jones and Four Chords

Introduction I think, by now, it is pretty apparent that I find modern evangelical worship highly suspect at best. I may be closer to the mark to say I utterly despise it. There are exceptions that sneak into the repertoire of of the four cord playing mono syllabic “worship leader”. But those are usually ofContinue reading “Lloyd-Jones and Four Chords”

Positive Pleasures

It might be said that there is an over use of the Screwtape Letters on this blog. However, I find Lewis’ demonic alter ego to be not only pity, and insightful, but a real delight to read. As such I will use him to accentuate the ongoing thinking on pleasures as a gift from God,Continue reading “Positive Pleasures”

Your Guest is a Sinner

Introduction There is a law of hospitality ministry that inevitably runs up against an indisputable frustration. The law is that of consistency. The frustration is flakiness. If a person intends to do real ministry of being hospitable they must do so regularly. The occasional dinner or party is a start but not a long haul.Continue reading “Your Guest is a Sinner”

The Marx Brothers Leading Worship

“Pause now for a strange interlude…” – Groucho Marx This is what runs through my head every time a song leader in a contemporary church lets off with a wail, an “OOOOOoooooo”, a “YEAAAAAAhhhhh”, or whatever else melodic filler shows up in a song. Likewise whenever there is a section of rapid improvised declarations overContinue reading “The Marx Brothers Leading Worship”

A Weapon of War

Introduction I was speaking recently with a friend over the course of a long day of driving and he made the observation that Christians are more interested in issues that loom large in the cultural eye but Biblically are small. The Bible does speak definitively about homosexuality, woman as ministers, social justice, etc. but it’sContinue reading “A Weapon of War”

Idols of Hatred

When considering the inexorable law of becoming like what you worship, an interesting scenic route would be to ponder the worship of a thing that is hated by person who worships it. At first there seems to be a contradiction, but that is no difficulty to overcome by modern man. “Your man has been accustomed,Continue reading “Idols of Hatred”

Theology is too Hard

Introduction “Is it possible to be astonished and, at the same time, not surprised?” – Josiah Bartlett, Here Today (The West Wing) I find that to be an apt way to react to most evangelicals profession of faith and simultaneously complete and total lack of interest in theology. Sure some have a few pop theologyContinue reading “Theology is too Hard”