Posts

Social and Political Involvement: A Way to Love Your Neighbour

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There are many complex arguments about how precisely Christians should think about social and/or political engagement. I believe those discussions are important. However, I also believe there is a very simplified way of thinking about it: socio-political activity falls under the banner of loving your neighbour .  This does not answer every question, of course. In order to know what is most loving toward my neighbour requires knowledge of Scripture and wisdom in applying it to any given situation. I'm not claiming this is always easy.  But I think this can help us simplify matters and keep some important distinctions clear in our minds. "Love Your Neighbour" is Law First, the command to love your neighbour is just that: it is a command ( or law ). It is the second great commandment according to our Lord (Matt 22:39). And indeed, getting involved in social issues, voting well, advocating for upright laws, speaking up against moral decay, etc. are all good ways that we can s...
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Wisdom From Ecclesiastes for 2024

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On the final Sunday of 2023, our family worshipped in Arcola with our friends at MMRBC . The Old Testament reading came from Ecclesiastes 7. There is so much in that chapter, but in this post I'll restrain myself to verse 10. It says,  Say not, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Looking and longing for the "good ole days" is not a character trait of the wise, according to Scripture. We all understand this tendency (perhaps in recent years more than ever). There is this temptation to look back on a previous golden age with longing that is accompanied by self-pity or despair at the loss of it. This could be longing for days when our own lives were simpler or it could be yearning for a former period in history when things just seemed better. And then we can end up vexing ourselves as we wonder how it has come to this and why things had to change.  And this is obviously not a new temptation as it was worth addres...
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The Looming Storm Surrounding Conversion Therapy

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There has been a storm quietly brewing for a few years in Canada. It is a storm that is now gaining considerable strength, with the clouds starting to burst very close to home. It is centred around the issue of so-called 'conversion therapy.' And with the passing of Bill C-6 in the House of Commons, it is all but assured to be a problem in coming days. [ Note: since publishing this, a new bill has since been passed, Bill C-4, which indeed criminalizes conversion therapy ] Conversion Therapy Origins Historically, conversion therapy referred to therapy that relied on pseudoscientific techniques in order to "convert" homosexuals (or bisexuals) back to heterosexuality. These techniques included things like hypnosis, castration, testicle transplants (yes, you read that correctly), electroshock, and lobotomies. Many who underwent such therapy did so against their wills. It was, of course, largely believed that homosexuality was aberrant in the 19th century, and when combine...
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Make "Suffering for Righteousness' Sake" Great Again

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In the past year, many have argued that Christians are not being persecuted because the lockdowns affect everyone (not just Christians). Therefore, the argument goes, we ought not to think of this as persecution as we're just one group among many who are suffering to various degrees under government orders.  Many seem to believe that in order for it to be considered "persecution," it has to be clearly stated by the persecutor somewhere. Must persecution come with the declaration, "This is because you're a Christian" or "This is because of what you believe"? It's as if persecution has to be specifically targeted to Christians or it doesn't count. Anything less is sometimes portrayed as Christians being dramatic or even dishonest! This has all resurfaced in the wake of James Coates' arrest. I've seen a number of professing Christians online (usually pro-lockdown ones) speaking out to make sure we don't allow this to be called pers...
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The Essential Church

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Let's be sure to get one thing straight: the church is essential.  I came across a news report about Alberta's plans to introduce greater restrictions while avoiding full-on lockdown. The article did, however, mentioned a few voices calling for strict lockdown. One such group is called Masks4Canada, which, judging by the name, was formed within the last several months. The article included a copy of their open letter to Premier Jason Kenney. In it they brazenly call for the closure of indoor activities, including "places of worship." However, they later concede that "every effort should be made to keep elementary schools and daycares, which are essential services , open for in-person learning" (italics added).  And here we run into just one of the many problems facing us right now: who gets to decide what is considered essential and, therefore, worthy of making "every effort" to keep open?  Masks4Canada pops up out of nowhere and, with a seeming w...
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Different Songs of Praise for Every Century? Spurgeon on the Unchanging Gospel

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Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), often known as the Prince of Preachers, knew well what it meant to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). In mid-to-late nineteenth century England, rationalism was ravaging churches and denominations that traced their roots to the Protestant Reformation. It was argued that the old views of the absolute authority and infallibility of Scripture could no longer stand up to scrutiny. With that came assaults on key doctrines, including those related to the deity of Christ and substitutionary atonement. Spurgeon saw this devolution and stood in the gap, though it cost him dearly and quite likely contributed to his early death.  In his biography of Spurgeon, my professor, Tom Nettles (that's Dr. Nettles to me), recounts Spurgeon's battle for the gospel. I wanted to pass along an extended quotation pointing to the absurdity of changing and improving the gospel. Dr. Nettles writes: "To change such per...
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Resources on Racism and BLM

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I thought it might be helpful to compile a number of resources that analyze the current "debate" surrounding racism. I trust these will help Christians to not be taken in by various unbiblical philosophies being peddled these days. There are a number of great resources out there and I may add more as time goes on. But, for now, here's what I have... Audio Resources Just Thinking Podcast: Ep 102, "Black Lives Matter?" This is one of the most helpful explanations and exposés of the BLM organization that I've come across. It is a long episode but it will leave you informed about what the organization is all about. It is very well researched and will let you hear some of the claims of BLM founders in their own words. This is also available on your phone's podcast app.  The Hamilton Corner Podcast, Sep 7: "Black Lives Matter Are 'Trained Marxists' and They Are Trained in Other Things Too." This episode begins dealing with the topic at the ...
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