In the last post I contended that the church isn't a voluntary society like the Rotary Club. I also introduced the taxonomy of "invisible church" and "the visible church". Here I want to offer biblical support for these categories. Before that though, a short definition of 'church' may be helpful. The word church (or Kirk … Continue reading Mother Kirk Part 2
church
Baptism, The Church, & Apostasy
Here begins a series on baptism, it's function in the church, and apostasy. Don't see the correlation? Stick with me, I think you will. All of this is flowing out of my study on the believers union with Christ (which has been faith changing!), a study I've been doing amidst increasing conviction that us evangelicals lack a … Continue reading Baptism, The Church, & Apostasy
Mother Kirk, Part 1
Really, what is the church?If you take your cues from the contemporary evangelical world, it's a voluntary society - like the Kiwanis or Rotary club, like the Gideons or YMCA. Apparently we've learned our ecclessiology from John Locke. Locke wrote, "A church, then, I take to be a voluntary society of men, joining themselves together … Continue reading Mother Kirk, Part 1
Means of Grace in the Church
Some ideas are challenging because they are difficult and new. Sometimes ideas are challenging because they have been poorly communicated. On Sunday I made an idea that was challenging because it's new to many more difficult because I poorly communicated it. Usually I don't go back and reexplain myself here on my blog, but I … Continue reading Means of Grace in the Church
Fantasy Kills Imagination (and the church)
Last week I read a great post from Donald Miller, How Fantasy is Killing Your Imagination. It was a convicting piece, forcing me to ponder what kinds of dreams I indulge.Miller writes, I’m capable of living almost exclusively in my mind. I can walk and daydream for hours. But some of these daydreams haven’t proved … Continue reading Fantasy Kills Imagination (and the church)
God Entranced 