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Loving God As The Ultimate Good

  Loving God As The Ultimate Good Recently, in reading Augustine's  City of God , I was struck by his (Augustine's) teaching, that God is to be loved with  no reference to anything else .  In other words, God is to be loved for  who He is  without any appeal to anything else.  Of course, the great church father affirms and insists on the fact that this knowledge and love of the true God is only possible through the mediation of His beloved Son (The Word) of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.   When we love anything  else  in the universe--even properly and lawfully--we, in a sense love that thing/being/person/angel with reference to something  else,  even higher than the thing/being/person/angel.  We can love a rock, knowing that it could be a jewel; we can love a jewel, knowing that it could be a gift; we could love a gift, because it blesses a receiver; we can love a receiver (human person), because we want their...

How Real Christians Love People On the Other Side of the Political Spectrum

  How Real Christians Love People  On the Other Side of the Political Spectrum This issue (above) is a very active one today; and it seems clear to me that a lot of God's people are at their wits' end trying to figure out how they can love people who are so diametrically-opposite them with regard to politics (in particular).  Hopefully, what I have to share will be some help to you. . . .   First of all, it is important to note, that we do not have the option of  not  loving people.  Politics is certainly  no  excuse for this.  Second of all, learning to love someone you are not naturally inclined to (even) like, is really exciting, and liberating .  But certain principles should first be discussed. . . .   Foremost among these is the nature of real (not fake) love.  If we love someone, we desire their very  best  (ultimately in Jesus, of course).  So, loving people on the opp...

Theological Amateur Experts

  Theological Amateur Experts From the very outset, I do not wish to be misunderstood.  All of us--especially those of us who profess faith in Christ and who are faithful in His church--should seek to be the very  best  theologians that we possibly can be.   As a matter of fact,  all  human beings, simply by virtue of their being created in the very image of God,  are,  inevitably and without question, "theologians."   No  one is exempt from this.  Paul makes this clear in Rom. 1:19, where he wrote:  "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them,"  (ESV).  The  problem  is, the vast majority of fallen human beings are  very bad  theologians.  The preaching, hearing, and believing of the  gospel  of Christ is the  only  way anyone's theology begins to improve.   All  professing Christians are, by v...

Help For Pastors Regarding Rage Against Christ

  Help For Pastors Regarding Rage Against Christ Candidly, I had no intention of addressing this subject (right now, at least), until I heard some things earlier today; and then I felt compelled, (by the Holy Spirit, I believe), to put something in writing (right away), for my brethren in the church's gospel ministry.   Personally, I do not follow trends, or pay attention to what is coming across social media platforms, etc.  To me, this stuff is just too boring.  But, when I catch wind that certain people are fuming and raging against the reality and truth of the Holy Trinity (for example), or against what is commonly called "Calvinism," (for another example)--I am aware that my ecclesiastical gospel colleagues are probably sensing and experiencing some real Satanic anger; and I would like to try to help you men out.  I myself have been there many times.  (Everyone else is welcome to listen in.)   . . . First of all, do not take an...

The Glory of Puritan Worship

  The Glory of Puritan Worship I am perfectly well-aware, of course, that the word "Puritan" will scare-off some people; and they will have no interest in this subject.  But, for those of you who have the stomach for such discussions--I hope that what will follow will be helpful to you, and will be a blessing to you.   By "Puritan Worship," I have in mind, in  this  context, ( exclusively ), the subject of the faithful church's Sunday worship services.  For those of you who are familiar with it, I also am  assuming  the concept of the so-called "Regulative Principle."   . . . So, what I propose to  be  the "glory" of Puritan worship is its  unique  ability to be  universalized;  while, at the same time, being as "devoid" of  cultural  "trappings" as is practically humanly-possible.  In other words, "Puritan worship," at its  best,  is the  most  Scriptural, and th...

"Lord of The Sabbath"

  "Lord of The Sabbath" Our blessed and glorious Lord Jesus Christ called Himself "The Lord of the Sabbath" in Matt. 12:8 and Lk. 6:5; (and He uses similar language in Mk. 2:27).  All of these citations refer to the same instance of His disciples eating grain in the fields on the old Sabbath Day.   This "Lord of the Sabbath" appellation that our Messiah gives to Himself is an interesting and intriguing one.  He is not found referring to Himself as, "Lord of the Old Testament," or, "Lord of the Law," or, "Lord of History," (for instance), but, "Lord of the Sabbath."  Jesus  is  "Lord" of all those  other  things, and everything  else  God ever did or created--but we do not find Him calling Himself by those titles.   I suspect we believers have  underestimated  the significance of Christ's being "The Lord of the Sabbath"--and I hope that this humble effort (of this short paper) will help rectify...

Should we Fear Immanuel Kant?

  Should we Fear Immanuel Kant? Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), was a great philosopher.  I, for one, am quite appreciative of him, (although I have some serious divergence from him).  Kant essentially brought together the millenniums-old separation of rationalism and empiricism/Plato and Aristotle.   Kant's "rational/empiricism," with its "synthetic apriorism" was a  dramatic  step in philosophical history.  Even if you do not understand these terms, do not worry about it.  I am going to try to help us all comprehend the main crux of the matters.  I am going to try to make this as simple as possible.  If you see some errors in what I write, let me know. . . .   The bulk of the unregenerate intellectual world ended up  cowering  before this diminutive Prussian professor, who never ventured more than 100 miles from the place of his birth. . . . But,  do  regenerate believers in Jesus need ...