White Fellas in the Black
As the West turns away from the Living God it will slide irrevocably into the darkness. We have published many pieces on the "soft" despotism that now grips Europe and the Anglo-Saxon world. Eventually and inevitably the soft despotism will become hard. There will be plenty of sign posts along the way.
By the time the proverbial "man-in-the-street" wakes up and decides that he does not particularly like living under a despot and that in rejecting Christ as his King he never meant nor intended to end up under the heel of a totalitarian regime, it will be too late. Prufrock's "That's not what I meant at all" will be heard on the lips of the sheep. Even as we write these words we anticipate the reaction, "Totalitarian? You've got to be kidding. In the West? In New Zealand? Never. Ever. It's impossible."
But as Santayana observed, those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
Friday, 30 September 2011
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Douglas Wilson's Letter From America
Four Kinds of Idolatry
Theology - Roman or Catholic?
Written by Douglas Wilson
Monday, September 26, 2011
Richard Baxter once said, "It is almost incredible how much ground the devil takes when he has once made sin a matter of controversy: some are of one mind, and some of another; you are of one opinion and I am of another." Nowhere is this more apparent than when we discuss the use of images in prayer. We are given straightforward commands regarding this, but the commands go contrary to something that runs deep in the human heart, and so it has become controversial.
The apostle John warns his children to stay away from idols, and he does this because (presumably) it was possible that true Christians might not want to do so (1 John 5:21). This being the case, we should distinguish various kinds of idolatry. For my purposes here, I am understanding idolatry as placing a created thing where only the uncreated God should be. This clearly happens whenever images are used in prayer, but images need not be involved. Idolatry is more subtle than that.
Theology - Roman or Catholic?
Written by Douglas Wilson
Monday, September 26, 2011
Richard Baxter once said, "It is almost incredible how much ground the devil takes when he has once made sin a matter of controversy: some are of one mind, and some of another; you are of one opinion and I am of another." Nowhere is this more apparent than when we discuss the use of images in prayer. We are given straightforward commands regarding this, but the commands go contrary to something that runs deep in the human heart, and so it has become controversial.
The apostle John warns his children to stay away from idols, and he does this because (presumably) it was possible that true Christians might not want to do so (1 John 5:21). This being the case, we should distinguish various kinds of idolatry. For my purposes here, I am understanding idolatry as placing a created thing where only the uncreated God should be. This clearly happens whenever images are used in prayer, but images need not be involved. Idolatry is more subtle than that.
The Debating Chamber
The Odium of Modern Politicians
The public hates partisan politicking. Over and over, in virtually all Western democratic constituencies, the proverbial "man-in-the-street" professes disgust at politicians always trying to score (usually lame) points off one another. (The one arguable exception is Australia where the public seems genuinely to admire politicians who rip their opponents up one side and down the other.)
Consequently, the public tends to complain against politicians and in the job-admiration surveys politicians generally hover around the used-care-salesman rankings--which is probably being unfair to the latter.
The public hates partisan politicking. Over and over, in virtually all Western democratic constituencies, the proverbial "man-in-the-street" professes disgust at politicians always trying to score (usually lame) points off one another. (The one arguable exception is Australia where the public seems genuinely to admire politicians who rip their opponents up one side and down the other.)
Consequently, the public tends to complain against politicians and in the job-admiration surveys politicians generally hover around the used-care-salesman rankings--which is probably being unfair to the latter.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Luther's Advice For Proud Preachers
Donkey Ears
Martin Luther:
Martin Luther:
If, however, you feel and are inclined to think you have made it, flattering yourself with your own little books, teaching, or writing, because you have done it beautifully and preached excellently; if you are highly pleased when someone praises you in the presence of others; if you perhaps look for praise, and would sulk or quit what you are doing if you did not get it—if you are of that stripe, dear friend, then take yourself by the ears, and if you do this in the right way you will find a beautiful pair of big, long, shaggy donkey ears.
Then do not spare any expense! Decorate them with golden bells, so that people will be able to hear you wherever you go, point their fingers at you, and say, “See, see! There goes that clever beast, who can write such exquisite books and preach so remarkably well.” That very moment you will be blessed and blessed beyond measure in the kingdom of heaven. Yes, in that heaven where hellfire is ready for the devil and his angels.
—Martin Luther, LW 34:287-288.HT: Justin Taylor
No Doubt About This
Kings Shall Come to Your Rising
When the (Chinese) Communists took power in 1949 there were perhaps 2 million Christians in China. At the time, not only Marxists but even American liberal church leaders dismissed these as mainly "rice" Christians--people who put up with missionary efforts only in exchange for handouts. Fifty years later we have discovered that these Chinese rice Christians were so "insincere" that they endured decades of draconian repression, during which their numbers doubled again and again--there might be as many as 100 million Christians in China today! Moreover, conversion to Christianity is concentrated not among the peasants and the poor but among the best-education, most modern Chinese.
There are many reasons people embrace Christianity, including its capacity to sustain a deeply emotional and existentially satisfying faith. But another significant factor is its appeal to reason and the fact that it is so inseparably linked to the rise of Western civilization. For many non-Europeans, becoming a Christian is intrinsic to becoming modern Thus it is quite plausible that Christianity remains an essential element in the globalization of modernity. Consider this recent statement by one of China's leading scholars:
Neither do I.
Rodney Stark, The Victory of Reason, p.234f.
When the (Chinese) Communists took power in 1949 there were perhaps 2 million Christians in China. At the time, not only Marxists but even American liberal church leaders dismissed these as mainly "rice" Christians--people who put up with missionary efforts only in exchange for handouts. Fifty years later we have discovered that these Chinese rice Christians were so "insincere" that they endured decades of draconian repression, during which their numbers doubled again and again--there might be as many as 100 million Christians in China today! Moreover, conversion to Christianity is concentrated not among the peasants and the poor but among the best-education, most modern Chinese.
There are many reasons people embrace Christianity, including its capacity to sustain a deeply emotional and existentially satisfying faith. But another significant factor is its appeal to reason and the fact that it is so inseparably linked to the rise of Western civilization. For many non-Europeans, becoming a Christian is intrinsic to becoming modern Thus it is quite plausible that Christianity remains an essential element in the globalization of modernity. Consider this recent statement by one of China's leading scholars:
"One of the things we were asked to look into was what accounted for the success, in fact, the pre-eminence of the West all over the world. We studied everything we could from the historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past twenty years, we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West is so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don't have any doubt about this"
Neither do I.
Rodney Stark, The Victory of Reason, p.234f.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Studies in I Samuel
A Grotesque Parody of Holy War
Expository - Book of Samuel
Written by Douglas Wilson
Saturday, September 24, 2011
INTRODUCTION:
In the Gospel of Mark, we read the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand (Mark 6), but this occurs immediately after John the Baptist’s head was brought before Herod, at a banquet, and it was brought out on a platter. There are two kinds of kings, two kinds of rulers—those who feed the people and those who eat the people. There is no middle way.
THE TEXT:
“David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down hither to him . . .” (1 Sam. 22:1-23).
Expository - Book of Samuel
Written by Douglas Wilson
Saturday, September 24, 2011
INTRODUCTION:
In the Gospel of Mark, we read the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand (Mark 6), but this occurs immediately after John the Baptist’s head was brought before Herod, at a banquet, and it was brought out on a platter. There are two kinds of kings, two kinds of rulers—those who feed the people and those who eat the people. There is no middle way.
THE TEXT:
“David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down hither to him . . .” (1 Sam. 22:1-23).
A Speck of Dust
Will 2012 Represent a Sea Change?
Further to our piece entitled "Foolish Predictions" in which we had the temerity to suggest that President Obama and the Democrats will be toast in 2012 we came across this article which purports that the Democratic Party has now lost the centre.
What many folks outside the US don't realise is that unlike most other Western democracies there are three dominant "parties" in the US electorate: Republicans, Democrats and Independents. So, Republicans we know, Democrats we know, but who are the Independents?
Further to our piece entitled "Foolish Predictions" in which we had the temerity to suggest that President Obama and the Democrats will be toast in 2012 we came across this article which purports that the Democratic Party has now lost the centre.
What many folks outside the US don't realise is that unlike most other Western democracies there are three dominant "parties" in the US electorate: Republicans, Democrats and Independents. So, Republicans we know, Democrats we know, but who are the Independents?
Monday, 26 September 2011
Two-Faced Facebook
Facebook Hates the Christian Gospel
Social networking behemoth, Facebook has decided to promote homosexuality by classifying opinions and speech critical of homosexuality on Facebook as hate-speech. As you all know, hate-speech is a big, big no no. It is the latest attempt at censorship and the denial of free speech. It always devolves into an attack upon Christians and Christianity. The reason is that the Gospel is offensive to the natural man.
The Bible declares that the Unbeliever abides under the wrath of God (John 3:36). Now to the natural man in his pride and arrogance, that is offensive. He regards it as "hateful" speech. So, over time, banning "hate-speech" morphs into restrictions upon and persecution of Christians and the Church.
Social networking behemoth, Facebook has decided to promote homosexuality by classifying opinions and speech critical of homosexuality on Facebook as hate-speech. As you all know, hate-speech is a big, big no no. It is the latest attempt at censorship and the denial of free speech. It always devolves into an attack upon Christians and Christianity. The reason is that the Gospel is offensive to the natural man.
The Bible declares that the Unbeliever abides under the wrath of God (John 3:36). Now to the natural man in his pride and arrogance, that is offensive. He regards it as "hateful" speech. So, over time, banning "hate-speech" morphs into restrictions upon and persecution of Christians and the Church.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Hymn Writers and Music Leaders
Reforming Worship
This is a really neat piece from The Rabbit Room.
by Fernando Ortega on September 20, 2011
This is a really neat piece from The Rabbit Room.
Avoiding Convenience: A Word to Hymn Writers
by Fernando Ortega on September 20, 2011 Every music minister knows the weekly anxiety of searching for the right songs for the upcoming Sunday service. The criteria may differ from church to church, but hopefully, the goal is to find songs that tie in thematically with the sermon or the weekly scripture reading. However, I know of a pastor on the west coast who directed his music minister to follow a grid when planning the music service—a large W—meaning that the service starts with upbeat songs that slowly give way to medium ballads, then go up again, then back down, before sending the congregation off with a happy bang. Never mind the content. The music becomes a space filler and provides the congregation with a reason to stand up and clap, or to settle down and get ready to dish out an offering, or listen to a sermon.
Foolish Predictions
How's That "Hopey-Changey" Thing Workin' Out
Ok, so a week in politics is a long time. Therefore, anyone who presumes to pontificate upon the US presidential election that is still about twelve months off must be a sandwich short of a picnic.
Yet, if present grass roots political realities in the US continue then it looks as if President Obama is not just going to lose the White House, but he is going to lose in such a way that the defeat will be labelled catastropic and historic. We will see. Ever since Obama took office we have ruminated on the likelihood that Obama would prove to be another Jimmy Carter--a president driven by naive ideological mishmash emotionalism, perceived as weak by the world, incompetent and ineffective at home. His subsequent trouncing was a thing to behold (entirely unexpected by the media pundits at the time, by the way).
It looks like we may have underestimated the negative fortunes of President Obama.
Ok, so a week in politics is a long time. Therefore, anyone who presumes to pontificate upon the US presidential election that is still about twelve months off must be a sandwich short of a picnic.
Yet, if present grass roots political realities in the US continue then it looks as if President Obama is not just going to lose the White House, but he is going to lose in such a way that the defeat will be labelled catastropic and historic. We will see. Ever since Obama took office we have ruminated on the likelihood that Obama would prove to be another Jimmy Carter--a president driven by naive ideological mishmash emotionalism, perceived as weak by the world, incompetent and ineffective at home. His subsequent trouncing was a thing to behold (entirely unexpected by the media pundits at the time, by the way).
It looks like we may have underestimated the negative fortunes of President Obama.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Douglas Wilson's Letter From America
Bad Stories and Good Cameras
Culture and Politics - Creative Control of the Reformation
Written by Douglas Wilson
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A few weeks ago I wrote about A Jungle Full of Monkeys. In that post, I talked about the incipient reformation of aesthetics that may be taking shape among the young, restless, and Reformed. The interest in that post, and response to it, tells me that I am not just firing random neurons on this subject.
Here are just a couple of follow-up thoughts -- cautions directed at two different generations.
Culture and Politics - Creative Control of the Reformation
Written by Douglas Wilson
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A few weeks ago I wrote about A Jungle Full of Monkeys. In that post, I talked about the incipient reformation of aesthetics that may be taking shape among the young, restless, and Reformed. The interest in that post, and response to it, tells me that I am not just firing random neurons on this subject.
Here are just a couple of follow-up thoughts -- cautions directed at two different generations.
Utterly Evil
The Perverse Always Double Down
Further to our piece on sex-education in New Zealand government schools, Herald columnist, Garth George contributed an excellent piece on the subject.
He commences by describing our world as mad and becoming progressively more insane. "Mad" is George's description for a culture apostatizing from the Living God. Religion has consequences. False, idolatrous religion has false and evil consequences. George is not enough of a Bible scholar to understand the profound consequences of a world where people are blinded in their own conceits and self-asserted autonomy. He just calls it as he sees it: they are insane. But he is not far wrong.
Further to our piece on sex-education in New Zealand government schools, Herald columnist, Garth George contributed an excellent piece on the subject.
He commences by describing our world as mad and becoming progressively more insane. "Mad" is George's description for a culture apostatizing from the Living God. Religion has consequences. False, idolatrous religion has false and evil consequences. George is not enough of a Bible scholar to understand the profound consequences of a world where people are blinded in their own conceits and self-asserted autonomy. He just calls it as he sees it: they are insane. But he is not far wrong.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Douglas Wilson's Letter From America
A Jungle Full of Monkeys
Goo-Mongers - Postmodernism
Written by Douglas Wilson
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
There are two basic ways for evangelical Christians to care about the arts. One is the Kuyperian Reformed route, and the other is the way of bohemian pose-striking. One of the most heartening aspects of the "young, restless, and Reformed" development is the possibility of a real aesthetic reformation. Perhaps I should explain myself.
Scripture teaches us, over and over again, that deliverance comes from odd and unexpected places. And Scripture also tells us repeatedly that the faithful who are waiting for such deliverance have a tendency to wait by the wrong door.
Goo-Mongers - Postmodernism
Written by Douglas Wilson
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
There are two basic ways for evangelical Christians to care about the arts. One is the Kuyperian Reformed route, and the other is the way of bohemian pose-striking. One of the most heartening aspects of the "young, restless, and Reformed" development is the possibility of a real aesthetic reformation. Perhaps I should explain myself.
Scripture teaches us, over and over again, that deliverance comes from odd and unexpected places. And Scripture also tells us repeatedly that the faithful who are waiting for such deliverance have a tendency to wait by the wrong door.
Turning From the Sins of our Fathers
Reformation in our Day
The seeds of our current prevailing secular idolatry were sown three hundred years ago by church leaders. They wanted to assure their world that the Christian faith was grounded, not in God and the work of His Spirit in the hearts of men, but in human reason. This necessitated making room for reason--giving it a locus of authority independent of God.
The seeds of our current prevailing secular idolatry were sown three hundred years ago by church leaders. They wanted to assure their world that the Christian faith was grounded, not in God and the work of His Spirit in the hearts of men, but in human reason. This necessitated making room for reason--giving it a locus of authority independent of God.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Studies in I Samuel
Mercy Stands Taller
Book of Samuel
Written by Douglas Wilson
Sunday, September 18, 2011
INTRODUCTION:
David seeks to get away from Saul, but he cannot get away from his anointing. He can evade Saul, but he cannot evade the fact that a new Israel is going to start to form around him. David goes into the wilderness and finds a throne. Saul goes to his throne and finds a wilderness.
THE TEXT:
“Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? . . .” (1 Sam. 21:1-15).
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:
David continues on the run, and he comes to Nob, a priestly city (v. 1). The tabernacle had apparently been moved there after the destruction of Shiloh. They didn't have the ark there, but they still put out the showbread. The showbread was also called the bread of the Presence—but the Presence wasn’t there anymore. A lot of things were dislocated. Ahimelech was concerned because David did not have the kind of entourage he should have had, and so David told him he was on a secret mission (v. 2).
Book of Samuel
Written by Douglas Wilson
Sunday, September 18, 2011
INTRODUCTION:
David seeks to get away from Saul, but he cannot get away from his anointing. He can evade Saul, but he cannot evade the fact that a new Israel is going to start to form around him. David goes into the wilderness and finds a throne. Saul goes to his throne and finds a wilderness.
THE TEXT:
“Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? . . .” (1 Sam. 21:1-15).
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:
David continues on the run, and he comes to Nob, a priestly city (v. 1). The tabernacle had apparently been moved there after the destruction of Shiloh. They didn't have the ark there, but they still put out the showbread. The showbread was also called the bread of the Presence—but the Presence wasn’t there anymore. A lot of things were dislocated. Ahimelech was concerned because David did not have the kind of entourage he should have had, and so David told him he was on a secret mission (v. 2).
Sex Education in Pagan Schools
Imagining the World as Predominantly Homosexual
The NZ Herald has been running a "thread" on sex ed in schools. Some parents have discovered what their children are actually being taught in the government schools and they are angry.
The NZ Herald has been running a "thread" on sex ed in schools. Some parents have discovered what their children are actually being taught in the government schools and they are angry.
Schools are being accused of going too far in what they teach children about sex. Children as young as 12 are being taught about oral sex and told it's acceptable to play with a girl's private parts as long as "she's okay with it".Now the other "side" has weighed in. The professionals.
In other cases, 14-year-old girls are being taught how to put condoms on plastic penises, and one female teacher imitated the noises she made during orgasm to her class of 15-year-olds. The often-graphic nature of today's sex education lessons is considered perfectly acceptable, and necessary, by some parents, but many others are shocked and say it has gone too far.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Bring Back the Cane, Sir
Even Pupils Agree
Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. Maybe it's not surprising, then, that in the UK half the parents want corporal punishment to be brought back into schools. Many schools resemble war zones and a growing proportion parents have apparently had enough. They no longer believe the naive idealism of their governments; they are ready for some hard headed realism. And that means support for reintroducing the cane to government schools.
Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. Maybe it's not surprising, then, that in the UK half the parents want corporal punishment to be brought back into schools. Many schools resemble war zones and a growing proportion parents have apparently had enough. They no longer believe the naive idealism of their governments; they are ready for some hard headed realism. And that means support for reintroducing the cane to government schools.
Monday, 19 September 2011
Canada Spreads the Love
Molech Ovens Making a Comeback
Here is Mark Steyn on the Canadian version of the death penalty: suspended sentence for the murderer who committed infanticide on her child for the crime of being alive.
Here is Mark Steyn on the Canadian version of the death penalty: suspended sentence for the murderer who committed infanticide on her child for the crime of being alive.
Another Giant Leap Foward
Shakespeare Going the Way of the Dodo
According to NZ Herald columnist, Garth George, Shakespeare is on his way out. No longer will Shakespeare be a compulsory part of the English curriculum for Level 13 students. Here is George's cynical comment on this great educational leap forward at our government schools.
Firstly--a general observation.
According to NZ Herald columnist, Garth George, Shakespeare is on his way out. No longer will Shakespeare be a compulsory part of the English curriculum for Level 13 students. Here is George's cynical comment on this great educational leap forward at our government schools.
As of next year changes to the Level 3 English component of the ridiculous National Certificate of Educational Achievement, which asks students to respond critically to a Shakespearean drama, will expire and not be replaced.Whilst we understand George's frustration, and indeed agree that removing the study of Shakespeare from the government school curriculum is deplorable, we have to confess we are not surprised.
It is the last Shakespeare-specific unit in the curriculum and its demise will mean that studying the Bard will be entirely up to individual teachers. Not much hope for him, then, since I suspect that one reason for this is that far too many English teachers today are simply incapable of interpreting him to their students.
Firstly--a general observation.
Saturday, 17 September 2011
The Ugliness of the Prosperity "Gospel"
The Gospel-Emptying Cruelty of Pat Robertson
Justin Taylor
Sometimes I think the category of “righteous anger” was created to respond to people like Pat Robertson.
His latest cringe-inducing statement is that a man should divorce his wife suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and “start all over again” if he is lonely and in need of companionship. When asked about the vow “to death due us part,” Robertson responded that “if you respect that vow,” then Alzheimer’s can be viewed as “a kind of a death.”
The best counsel is usually to ignore Robertson.
Sometimes I think the category of “righteous anger” was created to respond to people like Pat Robertson.
His latest cringe-inducing statement is that a man should divorce his wife suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and “start all over again” if he is lonely and in need of companionship. When asked about the vow “to death due us part,” Robertson responded that “if you respect that vow,” then Alzheimer’s can be viewed as “a kind of a death.”
The best counsel is usually to ignore Robertson.
My Way, or the Highway
The End Game of Secular Humanism in Our Schools
When government schools, and the education system breaks down, guess what happens? Parents--who can be expected to be far more concerned about their respective child's education than the local or national educrat--find alternatives. More often than not the non-educrat controlled alternatives work far better.
One of these alternatives is the rise of independent schools. Another is home-schooling. In the US, recent estimates have 2 million children being home-schooled. And the number is rising. A Canadian study purports to show that the educational outcomes are superior to government run schools. No surprises there.
When government schools, and the education system breaks down, guess what happens? Parents--who can be expected to be far more concerned about their respective child's education than the local or national educrat--find alternatives. More often than not the non-educrat controlled alternatives work far better.
One of these alternatives is the rise of independent schools. Another is home-schooling. In the US, recent estimates have 2 million children being home-schooled. And the number is rising. A Canadian study purports to show that the educational outcomes are superior to government run schools. No surprises there.
Friday, 16 September 2011
Embarrassing
Nobel Physicist About to be Gored
A Nobel Prize winning physicist has resigned from the American Physical Society because it claims that evidence for global warming is incontrovertible.
This from Fox News:
A Nobel Prize winning physicist has resigned from the American Physical Society because it claims that evidence for global warming is incontrovertible.
This from Fox News:
Let's All Have a Cup of Tea
Why The Nation Will Fail National Standards
As New Zealand approaches a national election we have the luxury this time around to be able to blissfully ignore the negative "hater and wrecker" proposals burping forth from parties on the Left (Labour, Greens, Mana) more obnoxiously and regularly than a Rotorua mudpool.
We can ignore the Left this time around not because their policies will not eventually become government policy and the law of the land. They will.
As New Zealand approaches a national election we have the luxury this time around to be able to blissfully ignore the negative "hater and wrecker" proposals burping forth from parties on the Left (Labour, Greens, Mana) more obnoxiously and regularly than a Rotorua mudpool.
We can ignore the Left this time around not because their policies will not eventually become government policy and the law of the land. They will.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Studies in I Samuel
The Son of My Enemy
Expository - Book of Samuel
Written by Douglas Wilson
Saturday, September 10, 2011
INTRODUCTION:
In the midst of court politics, and treachery, and intrigue, we find a shining and glorious example of covenant loyalty. Jonathan disappears from our narrative at this point, at least as a major character, but he departs in glory. One of the noblest sons of Scripture was the son, not of Eli, or Samuel, or David . . . but of Saul.
THE TEXT:
“And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? . . .” (1 Sam. 20:1-42).
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:
David is on the run, and he comes to Jonathan to ask what his offense is (v. 1). Jonathan does not believe it (v. 2), not because he believes his father incapable of murderous thoughts, but because he apparently believes in the binding force of the vow.
Expository - Book of Samuel
Written by Douglas Wilson
Saturday, September 10, 2011
INTRODUCTION:
In the midst of court politics, and treachery, and intrigue, we find a shining and glorious example of covenant loyalty. Jonathan disappears from our narrative at this point, at least as a major character, but he departs in glory. One of the noblest sons of Scripture was the son, not of Eli, or Samuel, or David . . . but of Saul.
THE TEXT:
“And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? . . .” (1 Sam. 20:1-42).
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT:
David is on the run, and he comes to Jonathan to ask what his offense is (v. 1). Jonathan does not believe it (v. 2), not because he believes his father incapable of murderous thoughts, but because he apparently believes in the binding force of the vow.
Faith-Lines Versus Blood-Lines
Turbo-Charged Bloodlines
Bloodlines are very important. Any Christian who doubts this should turn to the opening chapters of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and read there the bloodlines of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the world. Who your ancestors were, your blood lines of descent are clearly material--both genetically and spiritually. The Kingdom of God is constructed around bloodlines.
The Unbelieving world is deeply ambivalent about bloodlines.
Bloodlines are very important. Any Christian who doubts this should turn to the opening chapters of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and read there the bloodlines of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the world. Who your ancestors were, your blood lines of descent are clearly material--both genetically and spiritually. The Kingdom of God is constructed around bloodlines.
The Unbelieving world is deeply ambivalent about bloodlines.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
The Deadly Results of Left-Wing Politics
The Moral High Ground
Jim Lacey
NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE
September 7, 2011
The Left’s “morally superior” policies kill millions and impoverish billions.
But enough is enough. Why should I sit quietly and let myself be branded a racist? In fact, will someone please explain how the Left is always assumed to have the moral high ground in these kinds of debates? I am particularly curious about this, as leftist policies continue to destroy the lives of tens of millions in this country and billions worldwide.
Let’s go through just a small part of the evidence.
Jim Lacey
NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE
September 7, 2011
The Left’s “morally superior” policies kill millions and impoverish billions.
Soon after I published an article questioning the global-warming orthodoxy, the world’s foremost hypocrite, Al Gore, informed anyone who still listens to him that my position is akin to racism. The wise course of action would be to ignore the rants of a man who desperately needs the world to remain fearful of carbon, the element on which all life on earth is based. If that fear were to vanish, how would he continue to rake in the millions needed for the purchase of his next beach house?
Let’s go through just a small part of the evidence.
Being Played
Bad Manners
We have to confess that we have been enjoying a good belly-laugh at the clever Greg Growden, rugby columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald. He has written a piece seething with faux indignation about the alleged bad behaviour of a Minister of the Crown at a corporate hospitality box watching the Australian rugby team struggle manfully against Italy.
Apparently the Minister (unnamed) shouted out ungentlemanly remarks about the Australian team's quality of play, its ethics, manhood, and other publicly unmentionable matters, whilst enjoying the hospitality of the Australian Rugby Union.
We have to confess that we have been enjoying a good belly-laugh at the clever Greg Growden, rugby columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald. He has written a piece seething with faux indignation about the alleged bad behaviour of a Minister of the Crown at a corporate hospitality box watching the Australian rugby team struggle manfully against Italy.
Apparently the Minister (unnamed) shouted out ungentlemanly remarks about the Australian team's quality of play, its ethics, manhood, and other publicly unmentionable matters, whilst enjoying the hospitality of the Australian Rugby Union.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
9/11 Ten Year Memorial
Paul Simon at Ground Zero.
Simon is one of the finest poets of our generation, and one of its most accomplished musicians.
Simon's evocative rendition of Sounds of Silence becomes a lament for a lost civilization.
. . . there was no answer. We are truly lost.
May God have mercy upon us all.
Simon is one of the finest poets of our generation, and one of its most accomplished musicians.
Simon's evocative rendition of Sounds of Silence becomes a lament for a lost civilization.
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made . . .
. . . there was no answer. We are truly lost.
May God have mercy upon us all.
Monday, 12 September 2011
Douglas Wilson's Letter From America
In the Thousands
Liturgy and Worship - Exhortation
Written by Douglas Wilson
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Today marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the horrific attack on our nation that caused the collapse of the World Trade Towers, and significant destruction at the Pentagon. On a horizontal level, on its own terms, this was an act of war which fully justified a military response, and with that we have no quarrel.
But we serve a God who providentially governs all things in line with, through, under, and contrary to the intentions of the human actors involved, as He pleases. This means His providential actions are not to be taken as an instance of Him taking up sides, the way a man would take up sides.
Liturgy and Worship - Exhortation
Written by Douglas Wilson
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Today marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the horrific attack on our nation that caused the collapse of the World Trade Towers, and significant destruction at the Pentagon. On a horizontal level, on its own terms, this was an act of war which fully justified a military response, and with that we have no quarrel.
But we serve a God who providentially governs all things in line with, through, under, and contrary to the intentions of the human actors involved, as He pleases. This means His providential actions are not to be taken as an instance of Him taking up sides, the way a man would take up sides.
Ten Years On
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Ten years on from 9/11--what have we learned? There are pluses and minuses--which is to be expected in a fallen world. To our mind, here are some of them:
Ten years on from 9/11--what have we learned? There are pluses and minuses--which is to be expected in a fallen world. To our mind, here are some of them:
- There is now much more unease amongst Islamic people over the nature of their religion. It is evident to many that Al Qaeda and its affiliates have killed many more Islamic "brethren" than infidels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)