Steel Manning First Things
The author of Hebrews tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but to draw near to each other as we desire together the future coming of Christ. Of course, any union of close friends is a desired...
How One Church is Responding to Coronavirus
I’ve been really delighted with how well my home church in Lincoln has responded to the coronavirus. When a friend of mine asked about it on Twitter last night, I replied to her tweet: Has anyone's church moved to virtual...
Notes on Shepherding the Spiritual Cynic
If you’re like me, as the deluge of stories of betrayed trust in churches rose ever higher and higher, you had a list in your mind of people who, were they found to be abusive, would be particularly devastating to...
Honesty and Extremism
I’m reading a book right now recently published by a prominent conservative publishing house. I’m not going to name the author or the book for the moment because I’m not yet sure how I want to handle the book more...
The Trumpists and the Third Commandment
In his remarks today in the House, Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk said this: Before you take this historic vote today, one week before Christmas, I want you to keep this in mind. When Jesus was falsely accused of treason, Pontius...
Top Ten Books of 2019
It’s that time of year, so here’s my list of my ten favorite (new to me) books from 2019: Unbelief and Revolution by William Groen van Prinsterer This is the book to give your Protestant friend who is deeply suspicious...
15 Proposals for Church Renewal
To begin, if you aren’t following Tara Ann Thieke on Twitter, you should remedy that. She’s great. This post is inspired by a list she posted on Twitter awhile back which we have been discussing intermittently in Mere O Slack...
The Quiet Centrality of Market States
It is not overstating the case to say that Americans are having a protracted debate about the relationship between markets and the nation. The conversation is simmering in both of America’s major political parties and, somewhat curiously, it may end...
Eucharistic Presence and the Life of Faith
I’m co-teaching a class at my church on the sacraments right now. One benefit is that I have a reason to go back over the old reformed confessions. Here is the Belgic Confession (1561) on the Eucharist:
Liberty Doesn’t Mean What They Think It Means
In his new book, The Case Against Socialism, Rand Paul writes that he hopes his readers will choose “liberty” instead of socialism. Likewise, in last week’s G File, Jonah Goldberg said a great deal about liberty in his response to First Things editor...