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Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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City

Sex and the City (Part 2)

The first quotation at the heading of PART 1 is from J. D. Unwin's Sex and Culture, a 676 page volume published in 1934. The second quotation is from a lecture given by Freud at the University of Vienna, and it parallels the theme of his book, Civilization and Its…

by Richard BledsoeJanuary 24, 2019
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Biblical Theology

Sex and the City (Part 1)

Sometimes a man has been heard to declare that he wishes both to enjoy the advantage of high culture and to abolish compulsory continence. The inherent desire of the human organism, however, seems to be such that these desires are incompatible, or even contradictory. Any human society is free to…

by Richard BledsoeJanuary 17, 2019
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Baptism

Waters of Earth and Heaven

Genesis 2:5 says that no shrub yet existed in the earth and no field plant had sprouted for two reasons. The first is that "Yahweh God had not caused rain upon the earth," and the second is that "there was no man to serve the soil." Then v. 6 explains…

by James B. JordanJanuary 10, 2019
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Church Calendar

An Epiphany Hymn: Nations to Him Shall Come

This hymn was written by Brian Daigle and is based on the Epiphany lectionary readings. It follows the tune of "We Three Kings." Brian is Headmaster and teacher at Sequitur Classical Academy and Director of Chesterton College . Brian lives in Baton Rouge with his wife, Lauren, and their three…

by Brian G DaigleJanuary 8, 2019
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Church Calendar

The Church Calendar in Outline

As a rite of command performance worship, danced before the throne of God for His pleasure, the Church Year is a form of covenant recital or covenant rehearsal. The recital of the covenant in Scripture takes two forms. The first is the recounting of the great acts of redemption that…

by James B. JordanJanuary 4, 2019
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Evangelism

A New Evangelism? Reconsidering Evangelism in Light of Social Justice and Sexual Assault

The recent developments of the #metoo and #churchtoo movements has shed new light on sexual assault in the United States. Its impact has been felt at the highest court in the country. Amid this, a new statement distinguishing the gospel from social justice was published by some within conservative evangelicalism.…

by Mario A. RussoJanuary 1, 2019

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Eucharistic meditation

Colossians 1:22-23: He has reconciled you in His fleshly body . . . if you continue in faith firmly established and steadfast. Calvin once said the way you begin the Christian life isn’t very important. The big issue is not how you got started. The big issue is whether you…

February 3, 2013

Exhortation

“It is finished,” Jesus announced. That doesn’t mean His death ends suffering. His pain gives meaning to ours. He suffered so we can suffer with Him and in Him. Jesus didn’t suffer so we can endure afflictions. He suffered so we can rejoice in afflictions, because for those of us…

February 3, 2013

Aim of interpretation

Geertz ( The Interpretation Of Cultures (Basic Books Classics) ) has some insightful things to say about interpretation. “A good interpretation of anything,” he says, “takes us to the heart of that of which it is the interpretation. When it does not do that, but leads us instead somewhere else…

February 2, 2013
History

Counting Cats in Zanzibar

In his famous essay on “thick description” ( The Interpretation Of Cultures (Basic Books Classics) ), Clifford Geertz argues that anthropology is not about becoming native but learning “to converse with them, a matter a great deal more difficult, and not only with strangers, than is commonly recognized” (13). Its…

February 2, 2013
History

Origins of Gnosticism

In the past, writes Rosemary Reuther in Faith and Fratricide (48-49), it’s been common to distinguish sharply between messianic Judaism and the “acute Hellenism” of Jewish apocalypticism and gnosticism. Reuther doesn’t think that works: “apocalyptic and Gnostic modes of thinking” become evident between the first and third centuries AD not…

February 2, 2013

Authority of witnesses

The description of the work of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:5-6) is carefully arranged. The verses are framed by the verb thelo , “desire.” Their enemies desire harm (v. 5); they respond with plagues and judgments whenever they desire (v. 6). Verse 5 describes the fiery justice against those who…

February 2, 2013

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