Theology

Lockdowns Reveal An Enemy, the Passions of the Flesh. We Must Live by The Spirit.

April 1, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

Well, that changes our Easter plans. We planned to have people over for an outdoor meal, but we cannot do that now or else face a fine. Ontario has entered into a four-week lockdown.

Churches can still meet but only at 15% of capacity. Even so, there is only so much goodwill, so much patience, and so much restriction that we can as a nation accommodate.

I am not a prophet. But this may cross the line for many an elder-board. [Read more…] about Lockdowns Reveal An Enemy, the Passions of the Flesh. We Must Live by The Spirit.

From Death to Death, Living in Canada

March 29, 2021 by wagraham Leave a Comment

We have legalized ending the lives of those who feel themselves to be at the end of their life; we have also authorized the ending of lives before they have left the womb.

From beginning (womb) to end (assisted dying), we make choices that devalue the beginning and end of life. What does that mean for Canada? What does it mean for people caught in the middle of death? [Read more…] about From Death to Death, Living in Canada

FAQ on Romans 13

March 26, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

What does Romans 13 have to say about the myriad of civil matters that we face today?

Here I want to make a few observations that come out of the heart of the nerd who has been studying reformation theology and writings. Granted, these observations on Romans 13 in reformed thinking do, of course, touch on all the issues we have today.

Even so, I am not writing this as some sort of online battle, which normally I would not say but today I feel I must due to how volcanic the internet seems. I offer this little FAQ as simply my thoughts on Friday morning and later updated in the day. [Read more…] about FAQ on Romans 13

When you are tempted to think you are at war with fellow Christians

March 25, 2021 by wagraham Leave a Comment

When you are tempted to think you are at war with fellow Christians, remember: Christ “has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” If it’s true for Jewish persons and Gentiles, how much for us already a new creation in Christ (Eph 2:15)?

Social media, online communication, and the speed of the news tempt us to vilify each other for clout, sales, or whatever else. Often, however, the real war is the war in our heart—it deceives and tempts us (James 4:1). [Read more…] about When you are tempted to think you are at war with fellow Christians

Impassibility Is Good News for the Soul

March 16, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

Impassibility means that God has no nerves, blood, or flesh. So he doesn’t get hangry, mad due to lack of sleep, or dopey. He is Spirit (John 4:24). So he doesn’t have emotions that fluctuate on the basis of hunger or lack of sleep.

He is not like the Greek and Roman gods whose vices are ever so human. They commit adultery, become enraged, and so on.

Theological Triage: What’s of First Importance?

March 15, 2021 by wagraham 1 Comment

When it comes to theological triage, Paul calls the Gospel (the story of Jesus and its climactic moments) of first importance:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

I strongly suspect that Paul here defines what he means by “raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” as he has done something similar with the cross in the beginning of the letter.