Category: Practical Theology
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If I could erase any man’s legacy from American Christianity, it would be Charles G. Finney
The one where I call upon Christians and churches to renounce Charles Finney’s “new measures” and gratefully return to the “old measures” God gave us in the Bible.
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In defense of shame
Shame has taken quite a beating in modern popular psychology. But what if there’s something healthy about a proper sense of shame, which we abandon to our own moral and civic peril? In conversation with Aristotle, Brené Brown, St. Paul, and Joan Didion (among others), I humbly suggest that we understand shame in relation to…
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Kitchen Nightmares: Church Edition (a sermon on James 2:18-19)
A sermon on James 2:18-19, given February 26, 2023. This message is meant to (a) provoke Christians to good works that proceed from faith; and (b) to drive us to Christ for comfort and assurance when we find our works are lacking.
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“My tongue is the pen of a rapid writer”: Psalm 45, the Church’s love song to Christ, part 2
This post continues a series of devotional meditations on Psalm 45, as the Church’s love song to Christ. In vv3-5, the Church praises Christ as a conquering Warrior who will rid the earth of wickedness to prepare a new heavens and earth, where He and His Church will dwell forever.
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“My tongue is the pen of a rapid writer”: Psalm 45, the church’s love song to Christ, part 1
The first of a series of devotional meditations on Psalm 45, the love song of the Church to Christ. This post introduces the method of reading the Psalm, and considers its first two verses.
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In wisdom let us be attentive
A phrase has come down to us from ancient Christian worship: “The doors! The doors! In wisdom let us be attentive!” Originally a call designed to guard the Lord’s table, this phrase reminds us of the distinction which must be observed between Church and World. Have we been attentive to the doors of our churches?…
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The “Cosmic Child Abuse” Caricature of Penal Substitution Denies the Trinity
The charge that penal substitutionary atonement is cosmic child abuse does grievous violence to the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.
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The Christian and the judgment according to works in 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
Does 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 teach that a believer’s works determine their salvation, in whole or in part?
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The other kinds of church abuse
Spiritual abuse is about more than predatory pastors, conmen, and cover-ups. There are common forms of spiritual abuse happening in many churches that, if not confronted, will foster a perfect breeding ground for predators and frauds to flourish.
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Does God take His Holy Spirit away from Christians? Some thoughts on Psalm 51:11
The one where I think through the implications of a troubling line from a popular hymn adapted from Psalm 51.
the sermonator 