Reformed Theology: in times like these.
Plausible and strange doctrines are still with us, as are those who boast of their virtue, or want to climb from status to status by advantageous trading up of marriages. It is interesting that Polycarp says we should meet more frequently. Perhaps it is because of the pagans among which we live, who are driven Continue Reading
Those of us who are learned find that if we tell the truth we are shunned. The politic man bends with the fashions of the ruler. The worldly wise retreat, but the Godly remind the rulers that the decisions being discussed were made publicly. Christ’s death did not occur secretly. Nor did his resurrection. Acts Continue Reading
This was sung at Church this morning. Found the original artist. And this is local.
This letter is attributed to Ignatius, who wrote to Polycarp. The love of schlarly disputation is seen as a sin: for scholars stir up strife. They make difficult what should be plain. We should never trust the academic unless he is also a practitioner of the craft he teaches. Otherwise, let the scholar take holy Continue Reading
There are many who want us to become spiritually developed, seeking the deep things of God, concentrating on spiritual practices, and not attending to the habits of oppression and sin within our lives and in our congregations. None of us are perfect, and any who say that they are without struggles with sin lie. But Continue Reading
This is the last two chapters of Polycarp’s letter. He commends the letters of Ignatius, and the writer of the letter, and wishes that all is well for the readers. Chapter 13. Both you and Ignatius wrote to me, that if any one went [from this] into Syria, he should carry your letter with him; Continue Reading
We are continuing with Polycarp. I’m quoting from a blog that is a commentary on his letter, particularly about Valens, an elder in the church, who hs fallen away. This could have been for economic or social reasons. Members of the Philippian church met with Ignatius. The citizens of Philippi had previously been viewing the Continue Reading
After Anne Locke, John Donne. Later, much later: Donne was a Puritan — equally reformed — but while Locke was a refugee from the Catholic Monarch of England, Donne was a functionary for the Commonwealth that replaced the monarchy under Cromwell. His Holy Sonnets remain some of the best in English. Religious or secular. Thou Continue Reading
In this time and in this world we will be tested and tried. We will be held to account. There are those who deny this, and exalt reason. This does not work. Those who call themselves recovering Christians and such fall into delusions, and the injustice they cause is greater than that which led them Continue Reading
I’m working through the publicly available English texts from the early Church. Polycarp is one of the earliest post apostolic writers. Only one of his letters survive. Again, two chapters of his letter to the Phillipians at once. Chapter 9. I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience to the word of righteousness, and to Continue Reading
Bad Behavior has blocked 386 access attempts in the last 7 days.
Recent Comments