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Writing

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

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John

Sin Leading to Death?

First John 5.16-17: If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life–to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for…

by Mark HorneFebruary 1, 2008
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Authority

Mediated Authority

A few years back I read Lesslie Newbigin’s little book Truth and Authority in Modernity . 1 I was particularly impressed with his argument in chapter 2 “The Mediation of Divine Authority.” Now, maybe this is old hat to many of you, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard it…

by Jeff MeyersJanuary 30, 2008
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Baptism

The Circumcision of Christ

Baptism is not Christian circumcision. There’s a lot of loose talk to that effect in Presbyterian circles; but it’s not accurate. The old world rite of circumcision was fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism unites us to Christ and therefore makes us participate in the circumcision of…

by Jeff MeyersJanuary 29, 2008
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Biblical Horizons

Handraising in Worship: Questions

In recent years I’ve observed a number of Reformed-type churches trying to institute corporate handraising in certain sung parts of worship. This often does not seem to work very well. Some people don’t do it. Some do it half-way. Some do it with one hand. Some dramatically stretch to the…

by James B. JordanJanuary 28, 2008
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Christology

Yes, I’m a Theopaschite

Most modern scholars recognize that behind Arius’s campaign to differentiate Jesus from God was the Hellenistic theological conviction that the high God cannot suffer. Rowan Williams argues that Arius had the right idea about divine suffering, but the wrong idea of God, which “puts the unavoidable question of what the…

by Jeff MeyersJanuary 26, 2008
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Biblical Horizons

In Defense of Praising God When You Can’t Find A Parking Place

Charismatics have been much maligned for constantly “praising the Lord.” They would say if you hit your finger with a hammer, you should instantly say, “Thank you Jesus that You let me hit my finger…” This of course, as we all know, is stupid. There was once a lady who…

by Richard BledsoeJanuary 25, 2008

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What Theory Misses

"All theory is eye-obsessed," writes Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy in the recently published first volume of his Sociology (3). Theoria is a vision-rooted concept, and a theory attempts to grasp the "idea" of the matter by looking at things from all sides. Eyes, though, "whether empirical or inner - have one limitation,…

November 3, 2017

Elitist for the Revolution

Andrew Ferguson reviews Sally Quinn's memoir, Finding Magic , explaining how Quinn transformed society reporting to become "one of the channels through which the revolution of the 1960s entered Washington and remade the city and American politics." When Quinn got started, "society reporters were deferential matrons who acted less as…

November 3, 2017

Africa's Dutch Disease

In a wide-ranging, informative overview of US interests in Africa , Matthew Taylor King summarizes the optimistic narrative of African productivity that emerged in the early 2000s: "In any given year, in a list of the world’s top ten economic performers, one would spot five or more African economies, such…

November 2, 2017

King Among Priests

In that seventh year, Jehoiada the priest organizes a covenant renewal that will restore the Davidic kingdom. He places the boy king Joash on the throne (2 Chronicles 23). The covenant renewal is a double or even a triple covenant renewal. The first covenant involves Jehoiada the priest and five…

November 2, 2017

Schizo-Fania

For a week in early October, it looked as if my college football fantasy – or nightmare – might be realized. The three teams I root for all looked as if they might be heading for the NCAA playoff. Yes, I root for three college football teams. I suffer from…

November 1, 2017

Fractured Present, Catholic Future

On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, a list of propositions aimed at problems in the Roman Catholic Church, to the door of the university church in Wittenberg, Germany. He wanted to start a theological debate. Instead, he started the Reformation. As Luther’s teaching reverberated through Europe,…

October 31, 2017

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