Author Archives: me

A Lutheran perspective on North American Christianity

Posted on August 4, 2009 by me

From a recent sermon (Lutheran): … we need to recognize that the religious culture of North America is Evangelicalism.  This culture has its roots first in Puritanism, which is basically Calvinistic, and secondarily in the great revival movements of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, The Liturgy | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Karl Barth on the Gospel

Posted on August 3, 2009 by me

I’m not a Karl Barth fan, but he had some good thoughts on occasion. The Gospel is not one thing in the midst of other things, to be directly apprehended and comprehended.  The Gospel is the World of the Primal … Continue reading →

Posted in Theological Musings | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

On attending church

Posted on August 2, 2009 by me

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Spiritual stuff, The Liturgy | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

On Preaching Law vs Preaching Gospel

Posted on July 27, 2009 by me

The Internet Monk has a great post (correction, rant) today about pastors who preach the law rather than the gospel.  For a Baptist, he’s pretty smart: Law preaching is powerful. It feels powerful. Even when it’s done poorly and just … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Theological Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment