Always Reforming

It is no wonder that those who celebrate the Lord's Table quarterly (if that) have little use for a penitential season like Lent.  When our religion is entirely propositional and intellectual, it often becomes stripped from the reality of our physical bodies.  When worship is reduced to listening to a theological lecture and singing (or mouthing) some choruses, we have gnostically disregarded our bodies as nothing more than hapless bystanders before the throne of grace. Lent teaches us to say "No" to ourselves. Lent teaches us to be moderate, even in good things. Lent teaches us to worship the Creator and not His Creation, the Giver and not the gifts, the Provider and not His provision. Lent teaches us that we are dust, wholly weak and worthless apart from our Creator and Redeemer. Lent teaches us that something far greater than this world awaits us. Lent is a devotional tool that helps us apply the principles of the Bible.  It is a voluntary season of physical acts that

His hands, Pierced, His brow, Bloodied, His back, Striped, For me. Behold! What love, My gain was His loss, Behold! What love, That took the shape of a cross. His life, Spotless, His death, Brutal, His love, Unmatched, For us. Behold! What love, Our gain was His loss, Behold! What love, That took our place on the cross. His cup, Drunk, The Wrath, Appeased, His passion, Finished, For us. Behold! What love, Our gain was His loss, Behold! What Love, Who placed Himself on that cross. His tomb, Empty, His name, Gloried, My flesh, Risen, With His. Behold! What love, My gain was His loss, Behold! Such love, Compels me to bear my cross.

The Church is corporal.  It is not a corporation. The Church needs shepherds.  It does not need CEOs. The Church is grown by Jesus Christ through faithful Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit, not by business development techniques.  Sloganeering and strategizing have no place in the Church of Jesus Christ.  Of course, self-awareness, intentionality, and planning for the future are not unbiblical, but churches borrowing growth methods from secular sources is sure to have unintended consequences.  Improper methods are also often indicative of improper goals and an improper orientation. When clergy gatherings sound like board meetings, something is amiss. If anything is to be gleaned from the explosion of ephemeral megachurches, it is that proper discipleship requires the Gospel and the Sacraments, not concerts and consulting firms.  Organization is wise and proper, but resorting to modern business models often reveals a lack of faith in the Faith once handed down. Clergy and lay le

To sit, To focus, To slow down, To contemplate. To rest, To reflect, To find peace, To meditate. To write, To have time, To be still, To concentrate. To be, To make time, To enjoy, To ruminate.

Education is important.  Education is vital.  Education is paramount. This has been the universal opinion of tyrants, religionists, economists, and zealots of all persuasions.  In fact, the importance of education is one of the few things upon which virtually all philosophies can agree.  The intentional and systematic training of our children is obviously a good thing.  What could be more important than the formation of the minds of our young?  What is more powerful than the opportunity to shape the worldview of those who will one day lead our nation?  What is more lasting, more enduring, than determining the content and perspective of the education of those who will one day bury you? You may be surprised to hear me say, then, that my favorite hashtag is #abolishgovernmentschools.  You see, too many people (most of whom attended government schools) believe that opposition to government involvement in an activity is equivalent to opposition to that activity itself.  Nothing could be fur