There’s a place for intelligent debate and carefully reasoned rebuttals in the marketplace of ideas. But … Mockery can also be an appropriate response to the actions or ideas we encounter in the public square. And even within the church square. That being said, I have to share a video created by Warren McGrew and posted on his YouTube channel called Idol Killer.  McGrew is a very likable, knowledgeable, and humorous guy who happens to be a former Calvinist and, as such, tends to take shots at Calvinism. In the past week Idol Killer has been posting short satirical videos…

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) Question: How can the Kingdom of heaven possibly BELONG to those who almost certainly do not have a properly developed doctrine of the Trinity or the Incarnation?  I bet most kids can’t tell a supralapsarian from an infralapsarian!  Or a Calvinist from an Armenian. And I’ve met very few children who have an informed opinion on the Millennium. Or infant baptism. Sheesh. Maybe Jesus misspoke here?? What did these kids know? I mean, besides Jesus.

I listen to a lot of YouTube videos on theological topics – sermons, debates, responses to current events, etc.  I am not using YouTube as an echo chamber, in fact, I find it fascinating to explore various viewpoints. I have listened to Calvinists and non-Calvinists, atheists and theists, and Protestants, Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox. YouTube videos present a microcosm of American Christianity – and it’s a view nearly impossible to attain through any other means. One of the trends I have noticed is how we tend to define Christian belief as primarily the mental assent to a specific set…

As I have pondered Philippians 4:8-9, I have been pulling together a list of (mostly secular) things that hit me as true, noble, lovely, admirable, excellent and/or praiseworthy. Here is what I have so far, in no particular order: What’s on YOUR list?

There are some important implications that can be drawn from Philippians 4:8-9: 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.    Here are a few:

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.   (Phil 4:8-9) I have been preaching through Paul’s letter to the Philippians for several weeks now and we are nearing the end. How appropriate that this passage falls on Halloween weekend! I have never been a huge fan of Halloween in general, but if I…

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:4-7) We tend to think of rejoicing as being the opposite of sorrowing, mourning, or grieving. But here Paul seems to imply that what stands opposed to our rejoicing is not sorrow but anxiety. When I am anxious, my mind is occupied with…