With the launching of the New Testament vision a new idea was being launched; the world was being treated to a new and very revolutionary concept of society, namely that men can get along peacefully in the market place even though they do not worship at the same shrine. The New Testament conceives of humanity … Continue reading In the world, but not of the world
Jesus Christ
The community of believers
The New Testament depicts the church as a building which has Christ as its foundation, and as a body of which Christ is the head. In both of these illustrations it is evident that the church is much more than the sum of its members. The reputation of the church should be based upon the … Continue reading The community of believers
Cultural amnesia
One hundred years ago, when the Social Gospel was well on the way to infiltrating and taking control of many of the major Christian denominations of North America, my father was already 24 years old. It has lately dawned on me that because I was born when he was 50 I have a window on … Continue reading Cultural amnesia
Activating the gospel leaven
[I am posting this again for the benefit of the email subscribers who received only half of the original post because I accidentally hit a button before I was finished.] Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures … Continue reading Activating the gospel leaven
What is wrong with the world?
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him"(1 John 2:15). The Bible has a lot to say about the world and the danger there is if Christians become worldly. Why? What is there about the world … Continue reading What is wrong with the world?
Slaying the beast within
A year and a half ago, a young man who had served a sentence for armed robbery appeared in court to explain that he had learned his lesson. He said that he had learned that he needed to stop and think before doing something and consider the consequences. "I have learned to tell the difference … Continue reading Slaying the beast within
Inhumanity in the name of God
Anyone who pays attention to the news these days cannot help but be appalled by the brazen, boastful brutality of ISIS, skilfully orchestrated for the maximum in publicity value. If a belief in progress and the advance of civilization had led us to think that such things could never happen again, this should be a … Continue reading Inhumanity in the name of God
Perfection and humilty and servanthood and leadership
Is it possible to be perfect, humble, a servant and a leader all at the same time? According to the New Testament, God expects us to be all of the above. If that seems impossible, perhaps we have gotten hung up on a misunderstanding of the meaning of one or more of those words. Many … Continue reading Perfection and humilty and servanthood and leadership
The weakness of the law – any kind of law
The confederate flag is disappearing all over the US South. That should make black folks feel more like they belong, shouldn't it? At least it's a symbolic act, one that shows that racism should not have any part in a society that calls itself civilized. Yet I fear that Mr. Roof is symbolic of a … Continue reading The weakness of the law – any kind of law
John Wycliffe, as seen by Geoffrey Chaucer
In 1367, when John Wycliffe taught at Canterbury Hall, Oxford, one of his students was Geoffrey Chaucer. These two men had a great influence on the development of the English language. In later years, John Wycliffe produced the first translation of the Bible into the English language, and Chaucer produced the first literary work … Continue reading John Wycliffe, as seen by Geoffrey Chaucer
Flatlander Faith 