Previously, I alluded to the fact that the sort of path of righteousness in which we are to walk is a character marked by the practice of justice, mercy, and faith. And as those who are fallen and redeemed works-in-progress, our practice of righteousness must include a humble attitude along with contrition and repentance when … Continue reading Repentance in the Psalms

I'm basically a Presbyterian—a Westminster Standards kinda guy. And I have Particular Baptist (1689 LBCF) friends who occasionally experience existential honest moments and confess themselves to be "Presby-Curious". To have and share such an honest moment of my own, I'm periodically Bapti-(re)considerate. I'm far from being comfortably settled in my baptismal theology beyond a shadow … Continue reading Baptismal Honest Moments

Here's a witty follow-up to my discussion about Righteousness in the Psalms. By way of contrast, this is what I'd imagine a psalm would actually say if it were written with the fearful mentality that I previously described, one that knows only the perfectionism of prescriptive righteousness and has no functional category of descriptive righteousness. … Continue reading Guttermouth: A Parody Psalm

I'm a fan of the explanatory power of preterism regarding the relevance of A.D. 70 to a number of teachings in the New Testament. But I'm not a fan of the dismissive use of preterism to hollow out the ongoing relevance of teachings in the New Testament. One potential example: The Sea Beast and the … Continue reading Dismissive Preterism

I have the distinct impression that in contemporary Evangelical and Protestant circles we have such an extreme knee-jerk reaction to Roman Catholicism and have become so wary of so-called "works righteousness" that we've allowed the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone to swallow up everything Scripture says about righteousness. To the extent … Continue reading Righteousness in the Psalms

… Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Aftermath

There are 20 or so imprecatory Psalms in the biblical Psalter—Psalms that curse and call down judgments and calamities upon the enemies of God and his people. Contemporary Christians commonly ask if praying, singing, or chanting such curses is something we're supposed to be doing and if the teachings of Christ and the New Covenant … Continue reading Cursing the Enemy in the Psalms

Here, I offer a rough sketch of the dense, multifaceted typology surrounding serpents and dragons in Scripture. If any of the associations in this sketch strike like a viper at the reader’s sensibilities, then simply crush its head and move on to the next. Terminology and Contextual Usage The Hebrew language is rich with terms … Continue reading Serpent and Dragon Typology

Everyone operating in this corporatist-consumerist market culture is about the business of identity curation or personal brand development. The only market choice not available is opting out. So, this culture full of options is an imposed obligation on us—as much so as the way of life in any other time and place. This is the … Continue reading LARPing Traditional Life

The common default paradigm we have in contemporary Evangelicalism is that of a lost sinner experiencing a sharp or sudden conscious crisis and conversion as an adolescent or adult. We've modeled contemporary worship music around it, and many hymns that arose from the revivalism of past centuries likewise express it. And it's appropriate when a … Continue reading Covenant Children in the Psalms