Deus Misereatur

“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it”” (Luke 18.15-17). Some readers are new to the world of infant baptism, and several may never have seen infants and children being baptized. I suspect that some might consider our actions as either superstitious or simply squishy sentimentalism. I understand why you would think this. I too once said things like that and thought in that way. I once was a Church of Christ minister who preached regularly against infant baptism. So I want to show you two or thee of the reasons, biblically, why I long ago embraced infant baptism. Try to keep your defenses down for a bit and set your biases to the side, and attempt to see some of the things I ...

Calvin’sTheology and its Reception: Disputes, Developments and New Possibilities J. Todd Billings and I. John Hesselink, editors Westminster John Knox Press 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202-1396 www.wjkbooks.com Copyright 2012 ISBN: 978-0-664-23423-3; $30.00 Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber, Assistant Pastor, Heritage Presbyterian Church (PCA), Edmond OK 5 Stars The ripple-effect of Calvin’s thinking has sent it’s subtle, and not so subtle, waves into many corners of the Christian lake. An excellent example of the various ways this has happened are elucidated in “ Calvin’s Theology and Its Reception: Disputes,Developments and New Possibilities ”, edited by J. Todd Billings and I. John Hesselink. This manageable, 250 page paperback, is written for seminarians, pastors, thinkers and theologians, while being accessible enough for the thoughtful lay reader. The editors, who also authored two of the chapters, have set up five sections that cover ...

[NB: On the Sunday evening after the 2012 election,I preached this sermon. I am posting the audio link HERE . for you to listen to while reviewing these notes.I hope you find this encouraging, helpful, and re-orienting] -------- Something that we as Christians need to remember is that we are dual-citizens, & that creates for us a weirdness that we want resolved. But to resolve this weirdness by going too far in either direction places us in a perilous situation. The reality is voiced in the words of Moses Exodus 2.22, “I have been a stranger in a strange land.” This idea of being aliens, outlanders, foreigners became a motif in Scripture for God’s Church, in both the Old Testament & the New. Let us look at the direction God gives to His strangers in a strange land. Strangers—V.1.   Background-Chapter 24 (5-7). They are strangers [exiles] for their own good. A Strange Land—V.4-14. ….how should they respond? 1. V.5-6: Build, develop, be fruitful & multiply...