Archive for August, 2005
Over-Valuing “Confession”
I’ve come to a strange realization - confessing sins is overrated. Don’t get me wrong - I’m convinced of the necessity of it, I’m just not convinced that we’ve a healthy understanding of it.
Here’s why. A little research (albeit basic and not very intense research) shows that the word “confess” appears 10 […]
Courts Overturn Church Government
According to the Book of Church Order of the Reformed Church in America, a Classis (our regional body) has the authority to “form, dissolve, and disband” congregations (II.2.3). Further investigation into our polity proves that the Classis can (with 2/3 vote) supercede (and dissolve) a local Consistory and do whatever it desires with with that […]
Read More..>>Coffee
For a little over a year now, I’ve been doing something that most people seem to think impossible: I’ve been roasting almost all of my own coffee.
If you’re thinking homeroasting would be expensive, difficult, frustrating, confusing, or at least not worth the time. You’re wrong. It’s less expensive than buying decent coffee in the store, […]
Theology “for” rather than “against”
So much theology, over the years, has been against, yet I find myself wondering if, at its core, theology is supposed to be a for discipline, rather than an against one.
The concept arose out of a discussion I had this afternoon with a college student in my church.
Consider women in ministry or discipline (which have […]
Rice Revolution
Several months ago I came up with an idea called “The Rice Revolution.” The concept is simple: For 7 days participants limit themselves to eating only rice. Of course, there are those in the world for whom regular meals of only rice would be a practical feast. They also would collect pledges for each day […]
Read More..>>Toward a Reformed View of Divine Sovereignty
Well, here it is.
I have thought, for some time now, that the homosexuality controversy in the RCA has been exacerbated by a profoundly unreformed view of divine sovereignty. (Note: I am not suggesting that particular views regarding homosexuality are related to this but that our varied responses to it are.)
Irregardless of our religious, theological, biblical, […]
Accidental Rudeness
“…sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often” said Professor Dumbledore on page 46 of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Could there be any more accurate statement of our society’s behavior than that?! I’ll grant that the plethera of middle fingers and the amazing variety of foul, yet creative, phrases may not always […]
