The BHT is closed until 6 p.m. Sunday, December 26th. May the presence of Jesus Christ fill your Christmas, your home, and all the world.

Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Flocks feed by darkness with a noise of whispers,
In the dry grass of pastures,
And lull the solemn night with their weak bells.

The little towns upon the rocky hills
Look down as meek as children:
Because they have seen come this holy time.

God’s glory, now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight
Under the refters of a barn:
Eternal Peace is sleeping in the hay,
And Wisdom’s born in secret in a straw-roofed stable.

And O! Make holy music in the stars, you happy angels.
You shepherds, gather on the hill.
Look up, you timid flocks, where the three kings
Are coming through the wintry trees;

While we unnumbered children of the wicked centuries
Come after with our penances and prayers,
And lay them down in the sweet-smelling hay
Beside the wise men’s golden jars.

Thomas Merton (1946) (Thanks to Amy W)

Tim Challies seduced me into this link. If you are offended, blame him. He’s the devil…or one of his evil minions. Ladies….don’t go here. Trust me. Guys….it’s been a winter fantasy, but we all don’t have snow. Well….now you are in business.

Why do people on the radio need to tell us to “bundle up when you go outside?” Is someone suing the weather guys because they didn’t give clothing advice?

A chapter excerpt from Hannegraff and Brower’s new book: The Last Disciple. (Can someone say “Amillenial?”)

Luke 2:7 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

BTW- if there is someone out there who is offended that BHT members are consigning people to hell based on sports and music preferences…..it’s a joke. Sad, sick, perverse….but a joke. We actually have no authority to send anyone to eternal torment.

The fighter is no longer a young man. Mike Tyson doesn’t age gracefully. Think Ty Cobb.

Who is really skipping the Christmas season? (An excellent post at GetReligion)

How Red State religion looks from Blue San Francisco: A gay marriage sympathizer surveys Christian use of the book of Leviticus.

Heaven:
Johnny Cash
John Coltrane
Billy Graham
Flannery O’Connor
Fred Rogers
Thomas Merton
William F. Buckley

Hell:
O.J. Simpson
Creflo Dollar
Ty Cobb
Yasser Arafat
Michael Jackson

It’s a Larknews Christmas.

I just got this thermos/mug set, plus tea, coffee and a nce basket from Basketville in Williamsburg, Va.

Lutheran critique of the Reformed view of the LS. Very short and well stated.

UPDATE: Josh (and a bottle of scotch) take on the same questions. With mo’ flava.

Heaven: James Naismith, Alexander Cartwright, Abner Doubleday, football players who played with leather helmets, hockey goalies that played without face protection, Al Gore, Bill Simmons, Gregg Easterbrook

Hell: Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Bud Selig, Paul Crouch, Robert Tilton, Kobe Bryant, Soccer players, Soccer fans, Little League Dads, Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith

Heaven: My brother, my Mother-in-Law (whom I never met but she must a saint to have created such a daughter as my wife)

Hell: I don’t wish it even on the worst of the worst (which, had I actually included someone… would have included Patrick Roy and the two kids I can see fishing in the creek outside my office window).

Purgatory: I’m gonna have to be in there an AWFULLY LONG TIME…. if Mike is granting indulgences.

I buy and read several noteworthy or interesting books per year. Usually, these will sit collecting dust on my shelves afterward. (I rarely read political or theological books more than once). I could donate them to a library somewhere, but they are usually obscure enough that they would probably just collect dust there, too.

It would give me greater pleasure to know that someone else could get edification or enjoyment out of them. There may be one or two BHT fellows with close enough interests to find some of them worthwhile.

Therefore, I will ship this book free of charge to the first BHT fellow who requests it.

The tree and the piano
noel
noel baking cookies. yum.
clay
denise harassing people who thought we moved away

Heaven: Jim Rice, Bobby Orr, Socrates. Al Lindner, Roland Martin, Patrick Stewart, Teg Nugent, Chuck Mangione, P.G. Wodehouse, Patrick McManus, the guy who invented Poutine, Alton Brown, Bugs Bunny, Chef Boyardee

Hell: Most televangelists, Finney, the guy who first cultivated brussel sprouts, Madeline Murray O”Hare, the RoadRunner, Patrick Leahy, Ted Kennedy

Kurt: How long a story can it be? I was once presented with a golden toilet seat by the president of my company, who said, and I paraphrase: “Let this be a reminder to all that Phillip’s fecal matter has no odor.”

A fellow employee was mortally offended, saying that he would quit the company if he was ever presented with an award like that. Stifling the urge to suggest that he wasn’t likely to ever receive an award of any kind, I hung the toilet seat up on the wall of my office so that it was visible from his cubicle if he turned in my direction. I also strongly encouraged the president of my company to present that offended employee with a golden toilet seat of his own, just to see if he would make good on his promise, but he either feared that the employee would make good on his word and quit, or that the employee would think it was a reward for a job well done, and declined.

I could make the story longer, I suppose, but that’s the gist of it.

Michael: The lucifer reference is revenge for me listing the non-Trinitarian T.D. Jakes as heaven-bound, right? :-P

And yeah, I’m teasing, don’t be alarmed. +{:)}+

We do the Lessons and Carols at church every Christmas Eve. I don’t read any of the lessons (even though the last lesson, from John 1, is traditionally read by the pastor or the highest ecclesiastical official present) but I always read The Bidding Prayer and, religiously at least, it makes my Christmas every year. What wonderful words!

“Be it our care and delight” to hear the story again. Not our casual once-yearly duty but our Solemn Joy! (Piper would love this, I think :)

“And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children;” This takes us out of our cosy candlelit chapel into the cold world outside. May this glad news touch the needy… and please use us, Lord, as your agents of redemption!

“let us remember… all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not,” - Lord use us to reach them too. May they see your worth and love You as you should be loved. And may I love you more too!

“Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one forevermore.” – This always brings a flood of memories of the ever increasing company of relatives and friends who are now gone. I think of my grandfather, my mother in law, and the many friends who have fallen asleep in Jesus. It gives me hope.

However you celebrate may you all enjoy a blessed Christmas!

Tech Central has “A Christmas Carol: Remixed.” Way cool and a must read.

Apparently, it’s a long story, but I think that Phillip should have to tell it.

Heaven:
Tom Waits
Linus Torvalds

Hell:
Darl McBride
The title company and the sellers of the home we just bought
Benny Hinn
Ted Rall
Most everybody in Hollywood
Most everybody in Pop Music
Motorcycle Cops

Heaven: Tony Rice, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Mark Twain, Shakespeare, Shirley at Shirley’s Pizza, Bob Dandridge, Oscar Robertson, Wade Boggs, Harry Carey, the entire Big Red machine except for Pete Rose, the guy who invented orange sherbert, Mrs. Milkey (my 4th grade teacher), Tom Rogers and Ed Beavin (my college Bible profs), several girls from my high school days who shall go un-named, but are really appreciated. All ball park organists. Emril. All my fans.

Hell: George Steinbrenner, the inventers of the DH, astro-turf and stunts between innings at minor league games. My high school geometry teacher. This guy at Southern Seminary who said I cheated on my entrance exams, called me a liar and made me take them all over. (BURN, baby BURN!!) The person who ran over my dog, Tiger. Anyone who was ever mean to my mother. The inventor of my public school lunch menu. Several girls from my high school days who sahll go un-named, but ruined my life. The inventor rap music. Anyone associated with MTV. Several BHT commenters.

Purgatory just enough to scare him: Joell (jn)

Michael: Last year my church did the full “9 Lessons and Carols,” but this year they combined it with the Christmas pageant, substituting pieces of the Christmas story for the traditional lessons. We still used the traditional bidding prayer, though. It was truly beautiful, and that service was the moment I “felt the Christmas spirit” this year.

The surprise snow yesterday helped, too. :-)

Judson: I’ll play!

Heaven:
Michael Spencer
T. D. Jakes

Hell:
Jim Nicholson
Me

Santa’s CIO was interviewed and gives you a glimpse into how things are run.

However, there are some boys and girls who would rather NOT see Santa this Christmas.

Question of the femtosecond (look it up)

In the charitable spirit of Christmas, I propose the following question:

Name some people that are probably going to (or have gone to) heaven.
Name some people that are probably going to (or have gone to) hell.

(disclaimer: The bible says not to talk about who’s going to heaven or hell. So don’t do this if you don’t want to go to hell. Also, God wants everybody to go to heaven. And you don’t get to decide. Thank God. But, if you don’t mind doing something unbiblical, and you’re feeling “judgemental” so to speak, have at it.)

HEAVEN
Bill Monroe
John Rutter
Wolfgang Mozart
Johann Bach
most pacifists
some conservatives

HELL
Those guys who shot Margaret Hassan in the head
Spammers
Fred Phelps
some conservatives

John at Confessing Evangelical has The 9 Lessons up at his site, as well as a beautiful post on the “Bidding prayer.” Thanks John. This is the one week I would love to live in England! Or at least near a Cathedral.

Here is the schedule for the BBC broadcast from Cambridge.

I like this guy. Besides a kickin’ name, he’s got a viewpoint we need to hear. Read his stuff on Christmas.

I’m no fan of Frank Rich, but read his thoughts on Christmas in a diverse America, and how fundamentalists are whining because they aren’t getting everything their way. I am getting the feeling that the people banning “Merry Christmas” and the people screaming “persecution!” may have a lot in common: they are scared.

A John Updike Christmas memory.

The in-laws just called and said they are snowed in with 16 inches of snow in the driveway. They want us to postpone the Christmas visit. Oh well….I can deal with it. We have to be back at work January 1. I can be flexible.

Scott: Welcome back. And I have sent at least 25 e-mails attempting to get back www.noelspencer.com, and he won’t even answer. Jerk.

Peggy Noonan has a Christmas memory.

The New York Daily News Gossip Page is to be saluted: they have sworn off Paris Hilton. The racist stuff is enough. Please world, catch the wave. Dump this person and everyone like her.

CT on the Real Twelve Days.

Want a miracle? My daughter’s college bill arrived today. Paid and finished. $11,600+ for the upcoming semester. Yes, it’s outrageous, but we paid $300. God is good and I thank him for so many generous people that make it possible for my daughter to get a great education. When she tells me what she is doing in classes, and then I listen to kids from other schools talk….it’s an awesome difference. Here’s to liberals who still understand the meaning of liberal education.

It’s that ring-jing-jingly jing-jing-jingling sooooound of the…

Chick Tract Translation
Yes, boys and girls… it’s been a while. Sadly, as the 5minutewebs website goes down and as my domain still hasn’t been transferred to me (dang that Bloghosts), it’s time for Translation Industries, Inc. to go off and find a new home. Until that lovely day, I give you… Sin City.

As so many of the best Chick tracts do, this one opens in the middle of a gay rights parade. Yes, sir… homosexuals a-flyin’ everywhere. And yet – in their midst, stands a man… a lone man… who is willing to stand up and risk catching The Gay, all so that he can hold up a sign that says “Homosexuality is an Abomination”. Of course, that’s exactly the kind of sign you want to hold up at a gay rights rally. I guarantee you’ll live at least 12 seconds.

In the midst of people threatening to run over him and calling him a gay basher… wow. Our hero’s in danger and stuff. No need to fear… the cops are on the way… except.. uh… why is that cop calling him a “stinkin’ straight”? I mean – OK, most cops I know are family guys who go home to their wives… so, where did this yahoo come from? I mean, a gay cop? I mean, all we need is an Indian, a construction worker, a leather freak, and a guy in overalls, and we’v.. go…

Oh dear Lord, it’s the Village People.

Not only have they invaded the music airwaves and perfectly good movies like “Down Periscope” and TV shows like “The Simpsons”, but now they’ve made it into Chick Tracts. Either they’re on the next step towards world domination, or they need a new agent. Meh. So the Village people gang up on Our Hero and do the only sensible thing. In the midst of his butt-whoopin’, a news crew decides that they’d rather film daisies than crimes being committed. I mean, come on man, where’s Michael Moore when you actually need him?

I know, I know… he’s at Taco Bell.

Well, Our Hero ends up in the hospital looking like The Mummy. To cheer him up, the local gay rights contingent sends him a basket of flowers, a box of liquid candy (for until his teeth grow back), and a lawyer. Apparently, they have conditions… they won’t press charges for Mr. Wesley (oh, so THAT’S his name…) committing a hate crime by kicking the snot out of a stra…. I mean, holding up a sign, if he’ll have a sit-down with Reverend Ray.

Reverend Ray, in case you were wondering, is queerer than a football bat, and looks like Dom DeLuise with really big hands. I mean… good Lord, which ape family did this guy evolve from? It’s like he’s the gay brother of the big-handed woman from Seinfeld. More importantly, and purely in the interest of the laws of physics, how exactly can Gay ol’ Ray hold up those monsters with wrists limper than wet linguini?

The mysteries of the Chickiverse continue…

Well, fortunately for Gay ol’ Ray, I guess to hold up those monster grabbers, he’s brought along a friend… Zanah. Zanah is, well, let’s call him a “Horned American”. And no, it’s not Barbara Streissand. Zanah’s is Gay ol’ Ray’s personal demon. But fortuantely for Our Hero, his wife is direct on the phone to none other than the Chickiverse’s very own computer expert, astrophysics professor, and theology kingpin, Bob. And let me tell ya, before Gay ol’ Ray can say “faaaabulous”, ol’ Bob’s done run on over to the hospital with a demon-casting-out prayer on his lips and a copy of “How to tell gay people they’re going to hell” in his hands.

Bob swoops on in and start’s asking tough questions like “What do you think God destroyed Sodom for”? His brilliant theology exegesis suddenly convinces Gay ol’ Ray that being Gay ain’t as much fun as it sounds. And before you can say “redecorate”, Big Gay Ray’s on his knees becoming Big Not-Gay Independent Baptist Ray.

And that’s just faaaaabulous.

I have a wonderful new book: Christmas at the New Yorker: Stories, Poems, Humor, and Art. The word Christmas occurs throughout, so it must be a very dangerous book.

Someone at IM mentioned a similarity between some Christians’ emphasis on law and the kind of Wahabi Islam that is so appealing these days. Karen Armstrong writes books about how the various fundamentalisms have more in common than we want to admit. I’ll admit it. When some ordinary Christian gets bonked by a fundamentalist, I always wonder if the similarity to the Pharisees- and the Saudi religion police- ever occurs to anyone? Are some Christians really envious of the kind of religion you see in Islam? The certainties? The enforcers? The public humiliation? I can’t help but think one of these days, we are going to look back and say the unbending doctrine of inerrancy was a big, big mistake. Because instead of taking us to Christ, it takes us to the book of Leviticus and says that is as much God as John 3:16. Go ahead. Write me, but that’s whack.

My son is very upset that he’s been cheated out of a white Christmas.

Jack will not be moving to South Carolina because these bozos still worship at the altar of The State.

That government is best which governs least.

The State is not the solution to any problem except:

1. Enforcement of legal contracts
2. Defense of the borders

I can argue that gay marriage is a bad idea all day long. But The Statedoes not belong in the marriage business. If Bruce and Steve want to enter into a marriage contract, then The State has the (God-given) authority to enforce the contract if either party reneges.

Thanks for thinking of me, though.

Lots of good Christmas reading at NRO today.

The BHT Krampus celebration is still planned for today. Don’t miss it.

Amanda: There are bazillions of stray animals to be adopted. There are missionaries to be supported, children to be educated, and hungry, cold people to be helped. As a Christian, the idea of standing before God saying I spent $50k on the fanstasy of replacing a pet is more than creepy. It’s sick.

Hey guys and gals, I just wanted to take a moment before the bartender gives the last call to wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas. You will never know how much you guys mean to me. In the last few months it has been a real help to find there are actually others who are as screwed up as me. :-) I had felt like I was on an island by myself.

I have learned a lot about my beliefs. I have held strong to some, discarded others, and re-examined all. I think I have single-handedly propped up the price of Google stock by using it so much. I realize now I may not understand justification and sanctification exactly, but I’m sure glad the Lord sent His son into that manger.

At the risk of leaving someone out, I would like to send along a couple of extra thank you’s:

Michael, thanks for opening the doors to this place. I know you take a lot of heat for your beliefs and transparency. Hang in there ‘cause we sure appreciate it. While I’m still Arminian, I will at least admit to being a 3-point Calvinistic Arminian. Thanks for letting me hang out.

Kent, thanks for the inspiration your photography provides. It has helped me rediscover my passion for this art form. I hope to work on my own photography website in the coming year. I would be honored to hear your input as it progresses.

Jim, since it is rarely directed at me thank you for your sarcasm. I look forward to every one of your posts to see what you say next. Several times this year I have had to quit what I’m doing to catch my breath after laughing too much. The “there’s no I in team” line was another classic I plan to use for years to come.

Fellow Baptists (and especially SBC’ers) , thanks for showing me that not every one of us will follow whatever is forced down our throats. These days dissent and free thought are precious commodities and y’all come up aces. Forgive my cynicism and anger toward the SBC and keep reminding me the only worthy thing is the Gospel.

Tom, hang in there. I’m thinking of you and praying for a great Christmas season for you!

Gotta go, my daughter and the Spongebob movie awaits!!

>I’ve still got a big problem with the idea that any one of us is responsible for confronting any brother or sister that we see engaging in one of a certain list of sins that we have somehow determined to be worth confronting someone.

It sound to me like everyone has a problem with that. Is someone advocating this? A list that ”...we have somehow determined?” I thought at least two of us made it clear that this is about the effects of sin on others or the relationships we’ve entered that take this into account, so that Michael the glutton could- conceivably- mention Joe the adulterer’s problem to him.

“Joe, did you ever think about what you are doing? What it’s doing to your kids? And to the people at church who look up to you?”

“Shut up Michael. Every day we go to Subway, you order the foot long, and all you need is the 6 inch. Who are you to talk?”

If Michael was a pastor, he would be derelict if he didn’t say something. But it might be like this. “Joe, I know you and Sue have had a lot of problems, and we’ve had plenty of hurt in our marriage. It’s not easy. But I’m telling you as your pastor and as your friend: an affair is never the solution. I’m afraid you’re involved in something that could wound your marriage terminally. If I’m right, I want you to know I love you, but I want to help your marriage get better. And I can’t be silent about an affair if one is happening.”

Or maybe Michael and Joe go to the men’s group together. Or did a mission trip together. Or worked at the youth group together. Or played football together in high school, so that Michael could say, “Joe, I love ya man. And I always think of you as a great friend, a good friend. I like to think that there are guys in the world who would ask me how things are going if something seemed to be wrong in my life. So, I don’t know how to say this, but I’m worried about you and Sue, and I know how hard marriage is after a few years. Could I ask you- man to man- if everything is OK?”

If Michael didn’t know Joe very well, but they went to the same church. I can’t see Michael walking up and saying “You don’t know me, but I’m Michael. I wanted to talk with you about your marriage. Since we both go to this church, I think we ought to confront one another when there is a problem, and I’ve noticed your car at my neighbor’s house several times this week, and I wanted to ask what’s going on. It looks bad.”

Nope. Not good. Tacky.

When one ordinary sinner talks to another ordinary sinner about sin, it needs to be about the problem they both have. When this changes is when the relationship allows it or the effects demand it. And even then, we go as broken people to broken people. Not as Pharisees to sinners, “I thank God that I am not like you. You are a mess.” Or maybe saying, “Listen. I don’t care what the story is….I know that you are doing something wrong. Stop it…or….or….stop it or I’ll keep saying stop it!”

Today, December 23rd, is Festivus.

Now is the time for the airing of grievances. I’ve got a lot of problems with you people! Especially you, Cougar! (Feel free you air your grievances with fellow BHTer’s in the comments :-)

Phillip: I hope we never get comfortable with sin, our own or others. I don’t know where the lines are. That’s the trouble. Despite the magic book, we don’t have all the answers. Christianity is messy. All we can do is try to get it right. And apologize when we don’t.

Regarding church discipline, I would like to give a short example from my church from some 35 years ago. One of the men in our church was having an affair with another lady who was also a member. As usually happens in small towns, the affair became public.

Our pastor at the time made the two come before the church (not sure if it was a separate service or as part of a regular service) and publically admit their sin and repent.

People have told me that our church has never been the same since that point. Feelings were crushed, sides were taken, and a growing church suddenly hit a wall.

I say all of that to say if you pastors/ministers/others are dealing with some kind of sin, especially in a small setting where everyone knows everyone else, you better be careful. A lot of caution and a lot of discretion is called for. Because inevitably the parties in question will have their own supporters who can rationalize any behavior. You are dealing with a whole circle of other people indirectly.

On a completely different note, I watched Door In The Floor last night. Wow! Jeff Bridges is up for an Oscar for that one, right? He must be. Simply amazing.

I’ve still got a big problem with the idea that any one of us is responsible for confronting any brother or sister that we see engaging in one of a certain list of sins that we have somehow determined to be worth confronting someone.

The more aware I become of my own sin (thanks, Judson), the more clearly I see how offensive to God it is, and the less eager I am to point out others’ sin to them. I’m proud, I’m gluttonous, and in fact I hit all three of the unholy triumvirate (lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, pride of life) constantly. Can I even approach someone in open sexual sin without pride? Not at this point in my life, I don’t think I can. My head would say that only God’s grace keeps me from the same, but my heart would be self-congratulatory.

Confronting others about their sin seems to inevitably lead to seeing sin as something we can just stop doing, rather than something for which Christ atones and the Holy Spirit gives us strength to resist.

Were I a pastor, I would have to confront people about sin sometimes, and that would be one of the biggest struggles for me, I think. Perhaps that is why so many pastors I’ve known (but not all) end up with what seems to be a terrible view of sin.

Still, clearly we (whomever “we” actually is) are instructed to urge brothers and sisters to purity (as much purity as we can muster, at least) under certain circumstances. I just wish I could get a comfortable handle on which sins require that sort of intervention, and why those and not others.

Sin is really, really bad. It destroys. It makes people murder. And divorce. And have gay sex. We had all better stop doing it right this minute. I am deadly serious.

Know what’s worse? Not only is sin really bad, but our minds are so depraved that we don’t even know how bad it really is. Even at our most censurious, we are only seeing the 3 oz. tip of the 500 ton iceberg.

If we really had a grasp of just how much carnage that one little example of sin is really about to wreak, our hearts would simply stop out of sheer terror.

Scary.

I know only one thing. If sin is that incomprehensible- if we really do understand it so little- then the love and mercy of God had better be 500 times more incomprehensible than the destruction of sin.

Sanctification. It is indeed about the growing awareness of our sinfulness, and the growing despair of anything inside ourselves to save.

But it is also about the incomprehensible love of God growing in us, which we spread around to the miserable sinners in our midst. Covering their sins all over. A thousand times over. As has been done for us.

Guidelines for commenters will be posted in a few days.

Josh at Here We Stand gives us the problem with Reformed Theology from the Lutheran point of view. A good, succinct, summary.

Michael Crichton is a genius, an omnivorous researcher, and he doesn’t buy global warming. He thinks its hype and junk science. It’s all coming in his new novel.

Ann Coulter reports on liberal outrage at…..the autopen!

The story of the $50k cloned cat is unbelievably sad. Actually a lot of other words come to mind, but I won’t go there. (It’s insane.)

Seasonal displays being looted. Is it the worst Christmas ever?

If you haven’t heard Piper read, “The Innkeeper,” you need to listen. It’s a wonderful poem.

Sitting here waiting for the storm. Made one last trip into town for egg nog….and Denise’s stocking stuffers. I usually do that Christmas Eve, but Christmas Eve is looking to be a mess down here.

I hope you are keeping track of the new books over at Monergism Books. John is working hard, and he’s very open to your book suggestions.

It appears that the Italians have gone to the dogs….and cats.

Matthew’s comments on sanctification ought to irritate those who have been griping at me for the last month. Handoff!

Check out Arkansas (from in front of my house). From the moment it started snowing I’ve been hearing the sirens from emergency vehicles. One big wreck near where I live. I admit it: southerners can’t drive in the snow.

Since I’m “snowed in” and I have some time while Heather feeds Elisa, I’ll make some minor comments about sanctification because PWinn dared me to :-). Understand that I come from a very serious holiness background and the seminary I attended is committed to classic Wesleyan understandings of sanctification. I’m committed to most/some of it. There are two important issues for me that I am shamelessly ripping from two of my heroes. The first, Bob Tuttle, told me one time, “You just try to stop sinning by stop sinning. It’ll eat your lunch.” Bob taught me that santification is a God issue—the Holy Spirit is at work and there is nothing I can do to make myself holy. That means if I do grow in Christ-likeness I have nothing to boast about because God is doing the work. Second, I heard Dennis Kinlaw talk about sanctification on a tape I have and he made the most incredible statement I’ve ever heard: sanctification is more about my awareness of my own sin than anything else. The more “sanctified” I become the more aware I am of my own disgusting sinfulness. It’s almost enough to make me not want to endure sanctification. (Yes, I’m using progressive terms, but that’s the only way I understand it at this point because I refuse to accept the instantaneous sanctification that comes as a “second blessing” or “baptism of the spirit”.)

I guess the best way to say it is that I’m full of crap and the more I see of myself in the light of Jesus the crappier I look. Sanctification isn’t about not sinning, it’s about Jesus becoming more and me becoming less. And less of me is good for the show as Jim Rome would say.

Since Michael is graciously closing the tavern on Friday, I only have to endure your criticisms for one day :-P

Two very different posts and an announcement:

I am glad to read that Martha Stewart is gaining some insight from her prison experience. I have no real opinions on Martha, though I think the Feds incarcerating people for non-violent, victimless greed is not the America I love.

Read this account from Mosal and all the comments. Important reading.

The BHT will be closed from 6 p.m. Friday December 24th until 6 p.m. Sunday December 26th.

IM is updated with a story that tells too much about me. I sure hope Faye Carlson isn’t reading my blogs :-) Does the Story Matter?

Phillip: The question is, whose job is it to tell the guy he is sinning and needs to cut it out? Mine? Yours? The pastor’s?

Good question. Yours, I think, since you are the one that knows. I don’t know where to completely divide where we intercede and where we don’t. But sin is destructive. The sin in my example is very destructive. The number of people wronged and hurt by this could be enormous. If someone we know, a brother or sister in the faith, is harming themselves, and others, can we really stand by and do nothing, just hoping God will intervene? Is love content with that? It may seem to be the loving and gracious thing to do to ignore what is happening and stay away. I maintain that is just the opposite of love.

I hope and pray that if I am destroying myself or others with a sin that is evident to those around me, that someone has the love and grace to tell me about it.

I think it’s not too difficult to say how this operates in a healthy (see IX Marks) church.

1. The elders, pastor have a general oversight of the church. Sin that threatens the life, health and public integrity of the church is appropriate for them to deal with (lovingly, but firmly). (See I Cor for an example of this. Paul is disappointed that the Corinthians are APPROVING of an open, pagan-style sexual relationship within a family. There do not seem to be functioning leaders in Corinth- at least not good ones- and Paul urges the Corinthians to take care of this because of the gravity of the effect on the church.)

2. Clearly this is NOT THE SAME as confronting every sin in the church, or of having people present in the congregation who might be “sinners,” like prostitutes for example. The pastor/elders are never given the charge to get all up in everyone’s personal business. Christians aren’t given the keys to every dark corner of every other Christian’s life, to shine the light wherever they want, regardless of their own spiritual condition or circumstances.

3. Preaching, teaching, counseling—- all are important ways of guiding, confronting and shepherding. And all are quite different from public confrontation or humiliation, or should be. Good elders will do plenty of confronting…..in the right times and places, and with the right situations.

4. Some people may be in a higher level of accountability. Leaders, for example. Or others may voluntarily enter into a mentoring relationship and give select persons- not everyone in the church- the right to ask questions, and confront if necessary. But this is a special relationship, and not something everyone would enter into.

Warning to some: Don’t idealize every church into really high levels of community. It is a diverse experience, depending on a lot of factors unique to each church.

Michael: Yes, I think your first point is exactly my point, stated much better than I did. Judgment as discernment is vital, but judgment of others is what screws us up.

Bill: Clearly the adulterer is sinning. Of course anyone else other than the organist’s spouse having sex with the organist would also be sinning. To judge the act of having sex with another’s wife is required of us, and we can all acknowledge that it is sin. Of course, so is thinking (in a fantasizing way, let’s say) about having sex with the organist, according to Jesus! The question is, whose job is it to tell the guy he is sinning and needs to cut it out? Mine? Yours? The pastor’s?

I ask this ver real question because I’m wondering where the dividing line is between taking action against open sexual immorality (as in your example and the Corinthian case) and someone highlighting every single example of sin in the lives of everybody in the church. Clearly, that would take more time than there is time, and be extremely counter-productive. Do we overlook small sins? What constitutes a small sin? Is it how public the sin is that’s the issue? Is it only worth addressing when it threatens to split the body? Is there a hard line, or just a fuzzy one? Should we be led by the Spirit of God to confront someone, and if so, how would we know?

Your statements so far, taken to extremes (and I mention this because I have seen it taken to extremes), don’t reflect what I know of the overwhelming love of God. While I’m sure you don’t yourself act out the extremes, I’m curious if you have any modifier-statements to make that would restrain others from doing so?

Reading over my posts, I seem to have come across as if I already know the answer to this. I’m sorry for that, because I don’t. It’s meant as an honest question, and I’ll try to respond in a less-antagonistic way. :-)

Michael: If anybody thinks I was too hard on Reformissionary, feel free to send them our AIM log from yesterday so they know how I really felt! On second thought, maybe you shouldn’t…

Danny and others: The BHT has been around since 2002. In the history of the BHT, there have been many large, emotional discussions: Civil War, War in Iraq, Calvinism, Worship Music, just to name a few. Several dead horses are in the garage. During these discussions, some fellows get uncomfy. Some leave. Some gripe. Some stop posting.

At other times, the place is dead. Hardly anyone posts. Then I use QotD and maybe it livens up. Maybe not. It’s not my concern, though if I had a choice, I’ll take the craziness.

If someone thinks PW was too tough on Reformissionary, tell him. He has email. I’ll tell you right now that I am not all that excited about lurkers whose only purpose seems to be to look for something in my posts to call me out over. It makes “no commenter” blogging look pretty good when your most humane and compassionate posts get called out over an “unbiblical” statement. If someone thinks I write in hopes of being minced by the theologian wannabes out there….wrong conclusion. I don’t run the BHT as a place to practice autopsying me.

So I am sorry for he chaos. We have a lot of lively posting on this topic of my supposed antinomianism. If it’s not your cup of tea, just be patient.

Alex, I’ll keep this on the board, but go to extended. More »« Less

I’d like to see more creativity like this.

If I smoke pot and I shouldn’t, and I become a Christian, what are you going to do about it if I keep smoking pot?
I am dealing w/ this exact issue as a high schooler in my Sunday school class is lighting up. I thought he quit a while a go but now I am considering how I can deal with it. I’m thinking about just telling him it is illegal (certainly nothing spiritually damning about it) and he may get arrested.

My site has been redesigned. I’m working on the links at the top today (woot) and I’ll have updates on those pages shortly.

Michael: As of recent, perhaps the last 5 weeks, I have seen a decline in structure here. Us drunks are all yelling and aren’t really listening. The QotDs led to some awesome comments, questions and insight.

Trying to catch up. Just doing some last minute Christmas shopping for my wife. Of course, any gifts I purchase are simply under-the-tree place holders. Just something to open and look at until she can exchange them for something she wants. In fact, the more I think about what to get her, the more I am inexorably drawn away from something she would actually like. So I just have dollar figures in mind and search around for something that matches it. Not a perfect system but it has worked well for me.

Jim: I agree completely. Judgement that I am talking about must be redemptive, and I agree that often it is not.

Phillip: Yes, I’ve heard people say that as long as we don’t do the same thing, it’s okay to judge. That seems to be what you’re saying,

Nope. Not what I’m saying. I’m saying that if I judge something that you are doing to be a sin, then I must also judge that it is a sin if or when I do it. Are you saying that if your brother in the pew in front of you is having sex with the organist (not his wife) that you should say nothing? Are you in fact saying that you don’t even think about the situation? Because if you think about it at all, and say in your mind “hmm, he’s committing adultery” then you have judged him, whether you approach him or not. Not judging is only possible if you are brain dead or a moral relativist of unparalleled mental discipline.

Perhaps we are speaking past each other.

S.M.H. at Touchstone has a good post on “The Problem with Sermons.”

PW audio reviews the new U2. He sounds so calm. So sane. So…..OK….who is it? Really?

I’m starting to feel like Kent: Bloomington has had 4-6 inches of snow already and we’re supposed to get several more inches, with a possible total of 11 inches before tomorrow morning. I just heard that the low Christmas Day night will be about 12 below!

I think I need a thick porter to get through the day!

Anyway, I thought for some levity and workday chuckles, I’d offer you this scenario.

Most all of you have seen “It’s A Wonderful Life”. You watch it, and the tears just gush out when they sing “Auld Lang Syne” at the end.

Now, my fun challenge to you is to imagine what the classic movie would have been like had Clarence shown how good the world had been if George had not been born (a la “The Beavis & Butthead Christmas Special”).

For example, a capitalistic paradise would have been realized had George not been born: no socialist machinery in Bedford Falls!

Or, think about what the movie would have been like had it been Mr. Potter never being born.

Hey, I’m at work and bored. But at least I’m getting paid!

Okay Russell, I don’t understand how my claim that Christians should not appeal to a consequentialist ethical framework (real or supposed) is rhetorical sophism, especially in the case of reasoning about whether or not people should get married because they have kids. Please unpack your reasoning.

Phillip’s response is, “why not just trust God to guard the integrity and purity of the community? Why must the community do anything?” Let’s take this response on analogy with evangelism: “why not just trust God to change people’s hearts? Why must the community do anything?” You can see the problem. God ordains means as well as ends in His providential ordering of things, and so the community, in guarding its integrity and purity is doing God’s work.

With reference to the issue of our unmarried couple, I see this as a pastoral issue, first and foremost. If it is to be a disciplinary matter at all, that should be in a very remote sense. I do think that it is necessary for the church to show love and grace with the hope that God would set things aright. But is exhorting people to strive and do good works beyond the purview of the Church? It seemed Paul did that an awful lot.

Lurker Cheryl has a blog, and is a good writer. Add it to your list.

A winter storm is crossing Kentucky right now. A real mess. We will get two inches of rain before any snow arrives. Floods and snow. That’s our white Christmas. With the conditions some people live in around here, it is a terrifying combination.

Thanks to Jason Boyet for the advanced copy of the book. I will read and comment. Thanks!

Josh: I quote the Formula of Concord and you come in demanding a forum? Off to Landover for Christmas services, and don’t return until you are saved. :) BTW my daughter thought she saw you in a coffee shop, but I told her the idea of you drinking coffee was ridiculous.

Why don’t you send me some paragraphs on the Lutheran view of sanctification that I can post over here?

>doesn’t it highlight the idiocy of judging the actions of others when we ourselves have been forgiven of so much?

As usual on this subject, three vital things are being ignored.

1. Jesus warning to the Pharisees was about judging in God’s place. Judgement as discernment, including about morality and choices, is part of living a truthful life. A person who refuses to make judgements should avoid the book of Proverbs at all costs. It is really going to screw you up. But Proverbs isn’t telling you to sit in God’s chair and judge others like you are God’s brain and everyone else is mere mortals.

2. Connected to this is the humility that needs to accompany all claims of knowledge of other persons. Boy oh boy oh boy have I learned this at OBI. I may know the behavior, but I don’t know the story, or the journey. Every day I ask God to keep me humble in what I say about a student’s behavior, because I had a pretty normal childhood, and many of these kids haven’t had the first normal day yet. So when I “judge”- and I have to, as do we all here- I try to keep in mind that I see very very little of the big picture.

3. Finally, it all depends on the relationship. I have a lot more permission to make judgements in some relationships than others. A church that has said to its members, up front, we are going to encourage one another with a certain level of accountability, is asking for permission to make judgements within a relationship. Joining that church, or joining an accountability group of some kind, is giving that permission. But I don’t have this with everyone, and Paul plainly says it’s not my business to judge those outside the church. That’s God’s job. This is really, really important.

Right there in the middle of my IM essay on grace is a section on Church discipline. We can’t reject it. But we have to be sure it expresses God’s love and grace and doesn’t replace God’s love and grace.

Read it and comment. More »« Less

Okay, Bill, I didn’t actually mention Matthew 7, but I’ll bypass your claim that we are to judge others for now, both because I can’t believe you made it and because it’s early in the day, and I’ll need time to type up the plethora of passages from Matthew to Revelation that are flooding into my mind. Let’s instead visit your statement that we can only judge when we’re willing to have the same standard applied to ourselves.

It’s somewhat of a Romans 2 thing, right? Here’s Romans 2:1, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Yes, I’ve heard people say that as long as we don’t do the same thing, it’s okay to judge. That seems to be what you’re saying, but I hope I’ve read you wrong, because when one continues on to read the next few verses, well… “Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”

What are “the same things” in this case? I suggest that they are sin. Not “the same exact sin,” but sin. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, pride of life. The contrast is between God’s judgment, based on truth, and our judgment, not based on truth.

I’m reminded of the parable of the man who was forgiven much and yet held a debt over another man. Yes, it’s about forgiveness, but doesn’t it highlight the idiocy of judging the actions of others when we ourselves have been forgiven of so much?

It still comes down to what it means to judge, I think. It is easy for us as Christians to define the word in such a way that it couldn’t possibly apply to us. We have commentors doing just that. “I’m not judging when I tell you that you’re completely wrong and that your words and your actions are wrong and not right.” Really? What are you doing then? What is judgment, then?

Of course I can and am obligated to judge a particular action as right or wrong. I judge that it would be wrong for me to do XYZ, as I am instructed. But the moment I take my eyes off of the action in front of me, and start looking at another person, it seems I’ve run afoul of the logs/specks standard, which tells me to deal with my own sin and let others deal with theirs, does it not?

Jesus hung out with the dirtiest of sinners, and the most we ever hear of Him dealing with their sin (and remember, He’s perfect, and we’re not; His judgment is based on truth, and ours isn’t) are a couple of “go and sin no more” references and some “your sins are forgiven you.” Contrast that with most Western Christians, who are quick to approach someone “in love” to tell them that what they’re doing is wrong, all the while glorying in their own choice of sin. It’s the very definition of hypocrisy.

Perhaps judgment isn’t defined by people, but by the actions themselves. Which do I judge more harshly: gluttony or sexual lust? Pride or anger? How are they even any different? And yet we have churches full of fat, proud people (as pastors, often!), while we bar those who aren’t married and aren’t keeping their sexual lust in check.

No offense intended to the proud gluttons in the crowd. I picked those as the example since they apply to me.

Why don’t we trust God to complete the work He has begun? Why don’t we pray as Paul did, and let the Holy Spirit do His work? Isn’t that a clear manifestation of pride itself, that it is up to me to tell someone where they are wrong, because clearly they don’t know and God isn’t going to tell them, and clearly I’m just the man for the job?

Bill: one of the things you’re up against, I think, is that even though we (that is, believers generally, not “we here at BHT”, or you specifically) say things like “No one is suggesting that we become the morality police,” there is a looming, nasty tendency operating within “evangelicals” today that to be exactly that.

I’m going to fall back on my “discipline must be redemptive” line on this topic, too. Any time we take action on the basis of an evaluation of someone’s actions where we can’t confirm that the principle aim is to restore the person, then we’re not in the discipline business, we’re extracting retribution or executing damage control. The later may be necessary in extreme cases, but it shouldn’t be veiled behind the name “discipline” just to give us cover. If we’re going to kick Bob out of the session because he spits on Sunday and the local Atheist club takes notice, let’s at least be honest enough to say that we’re acting to preserve our corporate image in the community; Bob isn’t fooled, and the Atheist club isn’t either. If we’re going to go into the retribution business, we’d best prepare ourselves, because eventually it’s going to look like Northern Ireland or the West Bank unless someone decides to be Christ-like.

Okay, maybe I should be a bit clearer, although I think Russell has misrepresented my point. I never said that a church should line up girls and boys and pair them off, nor do I think that anyone can adduce that proposal from what I have said. It’s pure rhetorical sophism to do so.

Alex,

Of course its rhetorical sophism. But the argument you made was that consequentialism is not acceptable for Christians, and the implication in context was that the normal cause and effect relationship regarding pushing people toward marriage solely on the grounds of their mutual offspring is suspended for people of faith. Where’s the rhetorical sophism now? Like begets like.

Et. al.,

The question I see isn’t one of what someone should do, its about whose problem it is to deal with. If I smoke pot and I shouldn’t, and I become a Christian, what are you going to do about it if I keep smoking pot? At what point are you going to excommunicate me if I persist in my “sin”? At what point is my spiritual life MINE and not yours to dictate? Why would we make one “sin,” that of failing to marry, more imperitively the business of the church, while letting private drunkenness, hardness of heart, greed, and envy slide?

When did the Church get into the Law Enforcement business?

If we would just stick to the gospel proclaiming business, I really think God can handle the rest. He can even speak through the gospel to the unmarried newly saved and bring them around to “respectability” eventually. If He wants to.

how about a recovering fundementalist?

I’m sure God is not please for some reason by allowing R.F.’s into our midst. (JN)

Jesus seems to make it very clear that we are not to judge others at all, while reserving the right of judgment to Himself.

Where does He make that clear? If you throw out “Judge not”, I can throw back “judge righteous judgment”.

To refrain from judging is not only unlikely, it is impossible. whenever you see a behavior, in yourself or someone else, and say “this is a sin”, you have judged. The only way to keep from judging is to smoke enough pot to fry your brains into oblivion. (That would be a sin, by the way. And if I saw someone in my church doing it, I have not only the right, but the obligation to go to them and tell them what they are doing is wrong. Love demands nothing less, and scripture commands it)

The only thing Matthew 7 is saying is to use the same standard on ourselves as we do on others.

Do you define judgment as condemning someone to Hell? If so, then I agree, but I don’t think anyone is saying that.

One of the reasons that the Church is so important, is that it is sometimes easier to see in others what you do not see in yourself. Hypocritical? Perhaps. But if I am willing to go to my brother and mention something that he is doing wrong, I hope that someone else is willing to do the same for me. Does it require self-examination? Much.
No one is suggesting that we become the morality police, but if brothers and sisters in Christ cannot do this for each other, what is the point? That’s why I’m a bit confused about the adultery story posted awhile back. Yes, it was handled badly all around. What I didn’t see (and perhaps missed), was any indication that the female friend who was confided in turned around to the adulteress and said “what you are doing is wrong”. That’s judgment, and it is right, and biblical and necessary and if she didn’t do it, then she did a disservice to her friend.

Part IV of the Formula of Concord (Lutheran Confession), which directly addresses the issue of antinomianism, justification, good works, etc.

Absolutely important to read. (I didn’t copy it all.) More »« Less

Jim: I agree that the church does not sanction marriage. I do think Hebrews 13:4, Ephesians 5, and the pastoral letters make it clear that marriage is to be “honored” as a sacrament of Christ. Scripture doesn’t make the church the enforcer, but how about the promoter, the enourager, the teacher, and on a higher level, the example of marriage? I also think Christian marriage is a public covenant- a promise made before God and community- and the church gathered is an important (not essential) community to involve in that covenant. So I don’t think the church is out of the marriage business entirely. You are right to say the couple is heading in the right direction, and I think we ought to recognize that a lot of the problem here is the anxiety of social change. Sorry folks, but this is how a lot of people get married now, and I will help all of them if I can. It’s a step in the right direction. Sorry it’s not an old fashioned courtship.

All: The single most foundational issue in reformed theology (Biblical theology) is the nature of sin, i.e. “total depravity.” And over and over and over again on this blog, we cover the same ground. We have to remind lurkers, commenters and one another that “sin” is not the two or three things we mean in this conversation. We ARE sinners. Our thoughts, motives, actions. Our total being is tainted, and all our good works are tainted. I truly can’t say how impossible it is to understand sanctification if you think it is a matter of doing more good things and fewer bad things. If you don’t see your complete and total sinfulness, then you are LOST in these discussions.

Did you know this whole thing started weeks ago with this post at what was then ms.us:

But you know what? I’m worse than Bill Maher. Lots worse. I stand in the shadow of the cross and spit on all that it means….all the while saying I believe it, and that it’s what my life is all about.

I know Jesus and still live no differently than this guy lives most of the time. My heart has the same cynicism and cruel indifference towards God. I know what the Gospel means, and most of the time I act like I don’t care. Some of the time, I don’t feel like I do care. My heart, mind and emotions ought to be saturated, filled, overflowing and satisfied with Jesus. But I still drink from the cisterns of the world, as if there were no fountain flowing freely from the throne. I look at the cross, and am moved no more than Bill Maher.

God became man for Bill Maher. God died for Bill Maher. All that stuff in The Passion that made me want to puke? For Bill Maher. And even more outrageous….for me. Far more outrageous that it’s for scum like me.

Take a glimpse at what we would be be were it not for the grace of our creator, and remember his bloody sacrifice for this man, for you and for a world much worse. Take a moment and worship such a God.

Either you get it, or you don’t. CHRIST BECAME A CURSE FOR US. HE BECAME SIN FOR US. HE BORE OUR TRANSGRESSIONS. And if it bothers you that I think of myself this way, and go into the pulpit, the church and the world thinking this way, then please, feel free to publish whatever you want wherever you want. Be my guest.

First off, to throw out another point for those keeping track for my excommunication trial, I’m having a difficult time seeing any NT evidence that the church has anything to do with officiating or “sanctioning” marriages. Not that it means anything.

I would argue that a couple deciding to maintain their living arrangements for the sake of their child, having already stated a desire to be married, set a date, etc., are doing a good thing. Continuity for the child’s sake is a good thing. At this point, expressing their mutual commitment by remaining as they are is a good thing. Continuing to have sex in this situation may be sin. Of course, so is looking at porn on the net (by the way, for those of you brought in by Google or Yahoo, there are no pictures of Brittney Spears kissing Madonna on this site, sorry,) or fantasizing about a woman you’re not married to, or even fantasizing about a woman you are married to in a way that reduces her to an object. For that matter, you’re also sinning if you voted wrong, or swear at the guy who cuts you off on the freeway, or had thoughts about playing golf when you should have been listening to the sermon, or told your kid to shut up because you simply didn’t want to have to deal with them after a hard day at the office, or any number of other things. If you hate gays, you’re sinning. If you hate me, you’re sinning. (I hate you back, too. If it’s any consolation, I’m sinning as much as you.)

Does it dishonor God to have an unmarried couple in the congregation? or gays, for that matter? or a tax collector? or a drunk? or a thief? or a dishonest business man? or a prostitute? or a leper? or a traitor? how about a recovering fundementalist? Before you answer any of those, consider this important question: is a God whose honor is so precarious that it can be damaged by the presence of such people within your church even worthy of your worship? Is He even capable of saving you at all?

I’m sorry if this is shocking news to some of you, but the fact is, God can take care of his own honor. None of us are offensive linemen protecting the Divine Quarterback (Bart, please note my obligatory football illustration) God’s a big boy; he’s all grown up now, and can stand up for himself.

Alex: I suppose I am having a reaction to your words on grace for two reasons:

1) Grace is defined so often in Christian circles as God’s unmerited favor. I have never heard it described as “God fixing things.”

2) That comment seems to say that if God is gracious he would be fixing Russell’s marriage. I believe God is gracious, but that that graciousness isn’t a gurantee of specific “fixes,” but an ultimate reconciliation.

The specific couple brought up by Alex present a more and more common problem in evangelicalism. I think we have to look at the mistakes of some of our reformed ancestors, and take a long look at what we believe is the role of Christian community, and then decide what is the “power” of the church in this situation. I would say the greatest power is love, encouragement, mentoring and truth-telling. I would further say that we have to realize forays into the personal lives of members can get very complex. As I said, we have a lot of sexual sinners in the church. I want to shepherd them as persons loved by God, but YES, persons called to the Holiness of God in the design of marriage. We can’t embody that perfectly this side of Eden, but we can still embrace marriage as an honorable bond and as a living picture of Christ. It ought to be commended and honored with any dealings with this couple.

Readers: I want to thank the kind lurkers who have written me kind notes about my post about how I deal with my sinfulness in my marriage. You’ve remin