I was talking with a pastor who, before his sermon, showed an icon that was a depiction of the Trinity in three human forms conversing. And when I pointed out that to do so was sin, he was confused. I further directed him to the second commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a carvedContinue reading “The Pastors Study”
Tag Archives: Martin Luther
Your World as I See it: Recover the Joy of Being Reformed
Editors Note: This is this is a continuation of a series within the impromptus section. I call it, Your World as I See it by Astor Clement. Similar to Doug Wilsons No Quarter November, I will, under the pseudonym, be offering my unvarnished opinions at will. As to that nome de plume, if you areContinue reading “Your World as I See it: Recover the Joy of Being Reformed”
Obedience is the Very Best Way…
Introduction It does not take long, letting your fingers do the walking for you, to find many think pieces on how the church needs a vision for men. I also find it ironic, but telling, that the ones who do offer just such a vision are greeted with shrieks of dismay. The problem brought intoContinue reading “Obedience is the Very Best Way…”
Of Pharisees and Dissected Frogs
Over the past few years, really since the election of one Orange Man, it has been a pretty common refrain that late night comedy is simply not funny. Technically, jokes are made, an audience laughs on cue, but it’s joyless. The jokes hit the right pattern of a joke, the delivery is perfectly timed andContinue reading “Of Pharisees and Dissected Frogs”
The Stories He Told
This is the final installment of this series. The previous posts can be found here, here, here, here, and here. Introduction I am still digesting the final episode of Mike Cosper’s Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. But am pretty sure my conclusion will not change too much after further pondering. The finale was, inContinue reading “The Stories He Told”
Dat was Da Wabbit
Introduction Allow me to illustrate our current Evangelical moment though the metaphor of Elmer Fudd. Either side of the conservative or progressive debate is much like the titular character in his Viking garb from What’s Opera Dock. Furiously hunting the rabbit yet completely failing to recognize him every time he is directly in front ofContinue reading “Dat was Da Wabbit”
Not a New Problem
Introduction Doug Wilson has aptly pointed out that one of the failures of Reformed Protestantism is not reading our histories and biographies. Outside of a few of us nerds old books are not read. More disturbingly it appears that many of our pastors can not be bothered to even read any books, instead relying onContinue reading “Not a New Problem”
Shoot the Foxes
Introduction Solomon warns us in his song, to beware the little foxes that gnaw at the roots in the vineyard of love. Little foxes are an excellent metaphor for small slights, that chip away at the foundation of relationships. There is nothing new under the sun and as just as in the days of ChristContinue reading “Shoot the Foxes”
The Wolves of Progress
I expect to be challenged by George Yancey’s forthcoming book One Faith No Longer: The Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America but perhaps not by the conclusions drawn by the work. Rather I expect my struggle will be over how to respond to the people I know that fall into the camp oppositeContinue reading “The Wolves of Progress”
Repentance
After the 2016 election I was struck by how churches responded to their various congregants reactions to the election. I say struck, I mean disappointed, angry even. It seemed to me based on the reactions of both parties the election was like a ancient near east clash of the gods. Each army had lined up,Continue reading “Repentance”
Southern Reformed Smoker 