Dear Pastor,

“I was told in a theology of ministry course that I am taking as an elective that the church in its worship should not be attached to western European models.”

Can you tell me what was heretical about what I said happened in my theology of ministry course?

Thanks in advance,

Confused in Bible College

Dear Confused,

1.) It is impossible to not have some culture influence our worship. As Western Man has been saturated with Christian worship for over 1000 years and as Western men are the ones who have dedicated the most time to thinking about what Biblical worship looks like I think it is reasonable for Western men to continue worshiping in Western Christian categories.

2.) If it will not be Western man who will it be? The juju syncretism of the Philippines and Mexico? The Haitian Witch Doctor culture in the Church? Certainly your Prof can’t be so stupid as to think there is worship from nowhere. Well, if culture is going to affect our worship which culture has been most shaped by Biblical categories?

3.) If non-Westerners want to worship according to their culture then let them build their own churches and offer strange fire to the Lord.

4.) In all this we must remember that theology is that which determines culture. So… it is not just a matter of culture influencing worship. It is a matter of theology influencing worship. Why not follow a culture which has been shaped by Christian theology?

5.) In the end he’s just saying, once again, that all cultures are equal and no culture should have pride of place.

6.) Enjoy with me the irony of this chap teaching this while your sitting in your very Western classroom, reading very Western books, under the tutelage of a man trained himself in the Western system in a college that would never exist had it not been for the creation, by the West, of the University system.

Dear Pastor,

Have you any belief in God or the Sovereignty of God whatsoever and do you not believe the scriptures that declare God gives life and takes it away?

Did you believe Jesus when he told us to turn the other cheek, to not resist evil?

How can you call yourself a Christian when out of love for your own life you refuse the very commandments of God. I walk out that door each day with no gun because as a Christian it is God who gives my life and takes it away and if he chooses to take it away via either a Church shooting or a car crash then so be it, who am I to disagree with the timing of the one who created the entire universe?

Just so you know, you are not just arguing Dr. Piper here, you are arguing the very word of God. After Jesus commanded a sword be bought he healed the ear of the slave on whom it was used and warned the disciples that whoever lives by the sword, even to defend the most high, will die by it which is why none of the disciples after this incident ever took up a sword or anything else in defense of either themselves or anyone else but instead they laid down their lives and resisted not evil exactly as their master had commanded.

Sincerely yours,

Edna Scopoi

Dear Edna,

You ignorant slut. (Sorry … sometimes I can’t stop myself from channeling Dan Aykroyd.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVtZkyBTabQ

I know it may come as a surprise to you but Christianity is not defined by the pacifistic Anabaptist categories you have adopted. In point of fact, at one point in time Anabaptist “theology” was considered heresy. This, in part, explains my longing for the good old days when the Reformers used to use the “three-times Baptized” technique on the Anabaptist’s. (Just kidding — kind of.)

God does indeed give life and take it away. However this does not mean that I am to idly stand by and watch when someone is attacking my wife and family with intent of bodily harm because I want the attacker to have a chance to go to heaven. Indeed, Scripture informs me that it is my responsibility to provide said attacker with the opportunity to meet the Almighty, if he is has intent of rape or murder on his mind, as inflicted upon the judicially innocent.

Allow me to introduce you to the Westminster Confession. You’ve probably never heard of it being an heretical pacifistic Anabaptist. I trust you have the capacity to look up the texts that correspond to the numbers. These texts from the Bible prove you are ignorant about what Scripture teaches on self-defense or defense of the judicially innocent.

Q.) 135: What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?

A.) 135: The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves [1] and others [2] by resisting all thoughts and purposes,[3] subduing all passions,[4] and avoiding all occasions,[5] temptations,[6] and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; [7] by just defense thereof against violence…

1. Eph. 5:28-29 2. I Kings 18:4 3. Jer. 26:15-16; Acts 23:12, 16-17, 21, 27 4. Eph. 4:26-27 5. II Sam. 2:22; Deut. 22:8 6. Matt. 4:6-7; Prov. 1:10-11, 15-16 7. I Sam. 24:2; 26:9-11; Gen. 37:21-22

Q.) 136: What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?

A) 136: The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves,[1] or of others,[2] except in case of public justice,[3] lawful war,[4] or necessary defense;[5] the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life;[6] 

1. Acts 16:28 2. Gen. 9:6 3. Num. 35:31, 33 4. Jer. 48:10; Deut. ch. 20 5. Exod. 22:2-3 6. Matt. 25:42-43; James 2:15-16; Eccl. 6:1-2

So, Enda, we see you are gravely ignorant on what the Scriptures sanction about protecting one’s wife from a rapist by blowing his head off his shoulders.

Now, as to your twisting of texts let us consider them.

Jesus told His disciples not to look for personal revenge. When I am defending the judicially innocent I am not looking for personal revenge. I am defending the judicially innocent against the malignancy of evil. When I am defending myself from the attack of the wicked which is intended to kill me I am not returning evil for evil. I am returning kindness for evil since stopping the malignancy of the evil lunatic is a kindness to them and to others. It would be evil for me to allow the lunatic to continue their rampage.

I believe the command to “turn the other cheek,” was given with the intent of ending personal and individual affronts (not rape and murder) that found people obsessing over paying people back. Jesus is denouncing the impulse in us that always desires to “even the score.” He is NOT teaching that we should go all Quaker and turn a blind eye to someone raping our wives and daughters before our very eyes. Only a Psychopath could really believe that.

Secondly, I bet you wear your safety belt when you go driving around town. Who are you to work against the timing of God who may desire to take your life. How dare you wear that safety belt against the clear commandments of God? How dare you work against God’s timing to take your life in a car accident?

You ask me, “who am I to disagree with the timing of the one who created the entire universe?” My response is, “who are you to think you know the timing for your death of the one who created the entire universe?”

Finally, you cite the whole incident with Jesus, Peter, Malchus and the cutting off of Malchus’ ear.

1.) This does not apply because Jesus was submitting to the Father’s will to be hoisted upon the Cross. When I am defending the life of someone I’m pretty sure that they are not on their way to die for the sins of the world. If I ever come across someone who is about to die for the sins of the world you can be sure I won’t defend them.

2.) Those who live by the sword will indeed die by the sword as the life of Abraham Lincoln illustrates so well. However, self-defense or the defense of the judicially innocent is not living by the sword.

Now, here are some questions for your Anabaptist folly. I’ve already given you a boatload of Scripture above that you have to provide some twisting in order to avoid but here are a few others. What do you do with Jesus saying to His disciples,

Luke 22:35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing. Luke 22:36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. ”

Then there is the inspired Scripture which teaches,

Jeremiah 48:10: Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Finally there is the issue of cowardice. People who refuse to defend the judicially innocent from mayhem and attack strike me as cowards and Scripture speaks very plainly about cowards,

Revelation 21:7 The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. 8 But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Enda, you really need to reconsider this line of thought.

“The end determines all that precedes it.” — Romano Guardini

1.) If you have a pessimistic eschatology everything else you believe will be defeatist.

2.) One’s teleology determines the meaning of everything up to the final end which your teleology anticipates.

3.) This explains why eschatology precedes soteriology.

4.) This means that God had in mind the end from the beginning and nothing, therefore, in God’s revelation can be properly understood apart from a proper eschatology. Yes, folks, your millennial views matter.

5.) This means that eschatology is not something you study only at the end since the end is always in everything else.

6.) This means eschatology is central. Theological prolegomena which ignores teleology is worthless.

7.) This means if your Pastor doesn’t understand this that you need to find a different Pastor.

8.) This means you should read Geerhardus Vos.

Romans 6:¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

“The Gospel is temporary, but the law is eternal and is restored precisely through the Gospel. Freedom from the law consists, then, not in the fact that the Christian has nothing more to do with the law, but lies in the fact that the law demands nothing more from the Christian as a condition of salvation. The law can no longer judge and condemn him. Instead he delights in the law of God according to the inner man and yearns for it day and night.”

Herman Bavinck

When St. Paul writes about being “free from the law,” he is not at that point teaching us that being Christian means being antinomian. The “freedom from the law” that Paul is referencing here has to do with the freedom from the condemnation of the law. This is a condemnation that is a reality for all those outside of Christ. Man, as being mortal is always governed by some law and so it is literally not possible to be free from law in the sense of having a lawless existence.

Freedom from the condemnation of the law is the good news the Gospel brings. Outside of Christ, we are forever burdened by the accusation of God’s law that we are guilty of not keeping God’s law. In Christ, we are free from that accusation and condemnation that we are guilty of because of our violating God’s law, and we are free from the condemnation of God’s law precisely because Christ is the one, in His crucifixion, who, as our substitute, already received in Himself the penalty and condemnation that was properly designed for us due to our breaking of God’s law.

Having been set free from the condemnation of God’s law we are now at liberty to walk in terms of God’s law without any fear because there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and who no longer walk consistent with our sinful former appetites but who now walk according to our law honoring desires as we are new creations.

1.) Introduce a whole new category of sexual orientation

2.) Create a distinction between perverted sexual orientation not acted upon, which people are not responsible for and perverted sex for which people are responsible.

3.) Continue to fuzz the line between perverted sexual sexual orientation not acted upon, which people are not responsible for and increasing intimacy between people of the same sex as long as they are not involved in sexual activity.

a.) For example, two same sex oriented people could conceivably live together as Bunkies as long their bond excluded active perverted sex. Keep fuzzing that line so that eventually the affirmation of perverted sexual orientation becomes the affirmation of perverted sex.

b.) For example… allowing people who affirm their sodomy to become members in church and who do so without making the distinction that only their sexual orientation is queer.

4.) Twist the Scriptures that deal with sodomy so as to teach that the sin of sodomy was either,

a.) As pursued by heterosexuals who by engaging in sodomy were sinning again their sexual orientation

b.) As pursued by people involving themselves with Temple sodomite prostitutes

5.) Insist that people who continue to stand with God’s Word on sodomy are self-righteous Pharisees who are damaging “the least of these.”

6.) Point out that sodomites are victims who are being persecuted by Oppressors and that Christ came to raise up the persecuted while bringing low the Oppressor.

7.) Remind people that Christ was accused of eating with Tax-collectors and Publicans and that if Jesus were here today the very people He would dine with would be sodomites.

8.) Remind people that as all people are sinners therefore people (sinners) have no business pointing out the sin of sodomy. Since we all sin, nobody should be talking about the sins of others. We don’t want to be hypocrites after all.

9.) Insist that God’s law has no role when dealing with sodomites. God’s law must be set aside in favor of winning sodomites by Hospitality Evangelism. Studies show that sodomites don’t convert if they are told that God’s law forbids sodomy. Win sodomites by having them over for Brunch.

10.) Point out that Jesus talked much more about greed and never about sodomy thus implying that the sin of sodomy is not that big of a deal in comparison to greed.

11.) Emphasize that we are to love our neighbor thus communicating that it is not loving to stand directly against sin.

12.) Organize conferences where “Christian” sodomites can find one another and be affirmed in the normativity of their psychological injury.

13.) Hire Psychologist Dr. Mark Yarhouse (PsyD) to write a white paper (A Christian Perspective On Sexual Identity) defending sodomy and then have that paper unofficially adopted by the Gospel Coalition, making that white paper the gold standard for at least some Seminaries.

14.) Confront and demand for the inclusion of queers in the ministry on the floor of denominational gatherings. Shame people for their lack of Christian charity if they oppose you.

15.) Rinse and repeat as long as necessary.