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When did doctrine become a dirty word? It smacks of something fixed, and we love our freedom, even when it comes to who God is, and what He is up to. But we will rue the day that we force it to the back of the bus.
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Who Needs Theology? We Do!
October 1, 2008
J. I. Packer asks the question in his book HOT TUB RELIGION, why are there theologians?
"Is there a particular job that we should look to them to do for us? Yes, there is. By the lake in a resort I know stands a building grandly labeled Environmental Control Center. It is the sewage plant, there to ensure that nothing fouls the water; its staff is comprised of water engineers and sewage specialists.
Think of theologians as the church's sewage specialists. There role is to detect and eliminate intellectual pollution and to ensure, as far as man can, that god's life-giving truth flows pure and unpoisoned into Christian hearts.
Their calling obliges them to act as the church's water engineers, seeking by their preaching, teaching, and biblical exposition to make the flow of truth strong and steady; but it is particularly as disposers of spiritual sewage that I want to portray them.
They are to test the water and filter out anything they find that confuses minds, corrupts judgments, and distorts the way that Christians view their own lives. If they see Christians astray, they must haul them back on track; if they see them dithering, they must give them certainty; if they find them confused, they must straighten them out.
No, no; Religion is a Spring
That from some secret, golden Mine
Derives her birth, and thence doth bring
Cordials in every drop, and Wine;
But in her long, and hidden Course
Passing through the Earths darke veins,
Grows still from better unto worse,
And both her taste, and colour stains,
Then drilling on, learns to increase
False Echoes, and Confused sounds,
And unawares doth often seize
On veins of Sulphur under ground;
So poison'd breaks forth in some Clime,
And at first sight doth many please,
But drunk, is puddle, or meere slime
And 'stead of Phisick, a disease;
Just such a tainted sink we have
Like that Samaritans dead Well,
Nor must we for the Kernell crave
Because most voices like the shell.
Heal then these waters, Lord; or bring thy flock,
Since these are troubled, to the springing rock,
Look down great Master of the feast; O shine,
And turn once more our Water into Wine!
RELIGION Henry Vaughn 1621-1695
"Is there a particular job that we should look to them to do for us? Yes, there is. By the lake in a resort I know stands a building grandly labeled Environmental Control Center. It is the sewage plant, there to ensure that nothing fouls the water; its staff is comprised of water engineers and sewage specialists.
Think of theologians as the church's sewage specialists. There role is to detect and eliminate intellectual pollution and to ensure, as far as man can, that god's life-giving truth flows pure and unpoisoned into Christian hearts.
Their calling obliges them to act as the church's water engineers, seeking by their preaching, teaching, and biblical exposition to make the flow of truth strong and steady; but it is particularly as disposers of spiritual sewage that I want to portray them.
They are to test the water and filter out anything they find that confuses minds, corrupts judgments, and distorts the way that Christians view their own lives. If they see Christians astray, they must haul them back on track; if they see them dithering, they must give them certainty; if they find them confused, they must straighten them out.
No, no; Religion is a Spring
That from some secret, golden Mine
Derives her birth, and thence doth bring
Cordials in every drop, and Wine;
But in her long, and hidden Course
Passing through the Earths darke veins,
Grows still from better unto worse,
And both her taste, and colour stains,
Then drilling on, learns to increase
False Echoes, and Confused sounds,
And unawares doth often seize
On veins of Sulphur under ground;
So poison'd breaks forth in some Clime,
And at first sight doth many please,
But drunk, is puddle, or meere slime
And 'stead of Phisick, a disease;
Just such a tainted sink we have
Like that Samaritans dead Well,
Nor must we for the Kernell crave
Because most voices like the shell.
Heal then these waters, Lord; or bring thy flock,
Since these are troubled, to the springing rock,
Look down great Master of the feast; O shine,
And turn once more our Water into Wine!
RELIGION Henry Vaughn 1621-1695
