Encouraging Reflectiveness
Ours is not a particularly reflective age. When a pastor begins speaking of the meaning of the media, devices and technologies that surround us, he… Read More »Encouraging Reflectiveness
Articles
Browse articles on various topics below.
To sing or not to sing, that is the question
An interesting online discussion has emerged in the past few weeks about the issue of not singing a particular song in a service when that… Read More »To sing or not to sing, that is the question
Maturity and Discernment (Part 6)
Discernment is a biblically informed judgment whether certain extra-biblical moral actions are good or evil. Last week, we looked at discernment in Eph 5:7-11 and… Read More »Maturity and Discernment (Part 6)
A World of Meaning
Once a pastor has it settled in his mind that sola Scriptura does not require him to ignore, dismiss or reject extra-biblical sources of knowledge,… Read More »A World of Meaning
On being elitist
Those who advocate conservatism in worship become accustomed to accusations of elitism. This comparison is employed for several reasons. We are elitists, it is alleged,… Read More »On being elitist
Enlightened Discernment (Part 5)
We are beginning to see that discernment was a significant category for Paul. As an apostle, Paul was very much accustomed to giving the Lord… Read More »Enlightened Discernment (Part 5)
The Pastor and Sola Scriptura
If pastors are to shepherd churches in which there is a desire to understand the meaning of the world and apply it to worship, obedience… Read More »The Pastor and Sola Scriptura
Review: Art in Action: Toward a Christian Aesthetic by Nicholas Wolterstorff
Nicholas Wolterstorff, the Noah Porter Emeritus Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale University, confronts the common trends in aesthetics in 1980 with his engaging Art… Read More »Review: Art in Action: Toward a Christian Aesthetic by Nicholas Wolterstorff
Discernment and Good and Evil (Part 4)
To this point, the passages studied in our series on discernment have been pretty straight-forward. Whether Philippians 1:9-11, Romans 12:1-2, or Colossians 1:9-10, each passage… Read More »Discernment and Good and Evil (Part 4)
The Christian and Meaning
Two propositions summarize why a conservative Christian church is concerned with meaning: Christians are humans, and Christians live in the world. What is the world?… Read More »The Christian and Meaning
The Creeds of Christendom by Philip Schaff
Custom, convention, continuity. Prescription over invention. Nothing seems less likely to make a difference for Christ. We need to acquire the fire, or so we are… Read More »The Creeds of Christendom by Philip Schaff
The Hebrew Worship Textbook
The books of Chronicles are very important for anyone desiring to study Hebrew worship. For the average reader of the Old Testament, however, the books… Read More »The Hebrew Worship Textbook
A Christian Imagination
Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us… Read More »A Christian Imagination
Man’s purpose is to worship and obey
In the creation account of Genesis 1-2, most English translations make it seem like Adam was put in the Garden for gardening purposes, since Genesis… Read More »Man’s purpose is to worship and obey
Discernment as spiritual wisdom and understanding (Part 3)
This is a series on Christian discernment. My first post argued that Christian discernment is necessary for living for the glory of God (Phil 1:9-11).… Read More »Discernment as spiritual wisdom and understanding (Part 3)
Interlude: Thirtle’s Theory
I have been among those who committed the error of publicly reading a psalm and omitting to read the title. I reasoned that these titles… Read More »Interlude: Thirtle’s Theory
Discernment and worship (Part 2)
Last week I argued from Philippians 1:9-11 that discernment is of great importance to the believer as an important part of living for the glory… Read More »Discernment and worship (Part 2)
We hold our worship views firmly, but not as firmly as clear statements from Scripture
My post on Sola Scriptura from last week certainly generated a lot of discussion here, on Facebook, and in my e-mail box. Reviews were quite… Read More »We hold our worship views firmly, but not as firmly as clear statements from Scripture
Imagination and Shaping the Affections
Many of the pastors I have met are unwitting moderns. I should know, for I am also a pastor, and a recovering modern. That is,… Read More »Imagination and Shaping the Affections
Sola Scriptura arguments should be put to rest
One of the most abused doctrines in evangelical Christianity is Sola Scriptura. Everybody uses it to prove their side of some argument, and as I’ve… Read More »Sola Scriptura arguments should be put to rest