individual (vertical) vs. corporate (horizontal) sin.

       Though your sins are like scarlet, 
       they shall be as white as snow; 
       though they are red as crimson, 
       they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Some familiar hymns use the striking wording of this verse.

“Whiter than snow, whiter than snow, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”

But do we recognize the sins spoken of are specific social evils? The preceding two verses state:

“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

[Biblical Ethics and Social Change, S.C. Mott]

These are the sins that Isaiah 1:18 is seeking to address, and instead now its applied only in our sin against God (vertical).   Something went wrong when confession went from corporate (public) to individual (private).  There needs to be a reclamation of corporate confession and repentance.

are we concerned with church growth for the sake of church growth, or for the purpose of seeing people who formerly did not know Christ, come to know Him?

why I’m still an OT major.

 While I don’t agree with/question some of the conclusions Brotzman makes, overall I am really enjoying this book. Its a pretty easy read (thusfar), and its really facinating (though it generally gives a summary).  The footnotes are spectacular, and give me info for further reading if I decided to pursue a more specific topic. Reminds me why I love the OT. Sometimes you need a reminder about why you chose something in the first place (this spills into all areas of life, I suppose). 

I might end up a theology major. Give me a year (all my electives are going in this direction). 

Oh!  So funny. When I visited Westminster last year I spoke with Paul’s OT professor (who is also in the process of being “fired” or whatever) about my research paper (for Song of Songs) and he suggested I spend most of my time reading Emanuel Tov.  Lets just say, this book, in a scholarly fashion, disagrees with Tov on some very key points.  Good to know an Evangelical pointed me to a liberal- and… is still an evangelical! :) 

I might as well start embracing my liberalness. I don’t know when I became the liberal. Seriously.

I’m sorry Jabba the Hutt- you have got to go.

For someone who I’ve been told has so much acclaim (and should be respected)- I was appalled by John Frame’s critique of Michael Horton’s Christless Christianity.

Peter Enns review, strike one. Michael Horton review, strike two. Why is there all this WTS hate?

White Horse Inn’s response to Frame: here

 in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

I got hit by a car, twice.

a bruised reed he will not break

bethlehem literally means “house of bread/food” 

 

so cute! :)

Raise up my mind, loaded down with the heavy weight of sin, and lift my thoughts to heavenly things. Once I have tasted the sweetness of celestial happiness, I am ashamed to think of terrestrial things.
Draw me and deliver me from all fleeting creaturely comforts, for no created object can fully satisfy me nor console me. 
Unite me to You by an inseparable bond of love. You alone can satisfy the lover and without You all things are utterly worthless.

We must rest in God above all other good gifts.

My most sweet Spouse, Jesus Christ, most pure lover, Lord of all creation, who will give me the wings of true freedom to fly toward You and find my rest in You? 

When will I be fully free to see how sweet You are, my Lord God?

When will I become so fully absorbed in You, that for the love of You, I will no longer be conscious of myself but only of You, and in a way that surpasses the powers of my senses and is not granted all men to experience?

I often complain and bear my uneasiness with a sad heart.  Countless evils befall me in this vale of tears, and very often they disturb me, depress me, and darken my way.  They distract me and slow me down, entice me and so entangle me that I am no longer free to go to You, nor anymore do I enjoy the sweet embraces You are accoustomed to grant the souls of the blessed.

Let the cry of my heart and the many desolations I suffer on earth find a favorable hearing with You!

Oh Jesus, splendor of eternal glory and comfort of the pilgrim soul, I am voiceless before You, but I will have my silence speak to You.  

How long will my Lord delay in coming? May He come to me, His most needy servant, and gladden my heart. May He stretch forth His hand and deliver me, unfortunate as I am, from all distress.

Come to me, come! Without You, no hour or day is joyous! You are my joy and without You I have no one to share my table.

Misery is mine; I feel I am a prisoner fettered down with heavy chains. I wait for the light of Your presence to refresh me; turn Your kind face toward me and set me free. “

[Thomas a Kempis]

hm.

“Among some later Puritans, “God” had become someone other than the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Trinity was not as prominent as a single, unitary being of blinding glory and power.”

for salvation, how much of your theology needs to be correct?