On Baptisms Pretended and Real
A recent baptismal service in our church made a profound impression on our four year old daughter Kaitrin. Much to our joy, she began asking questions about baptism on the…
Aaron Denlinger
Flight vs. Freedom: Calvin on Hagar (Gen. 16)
“Hagar, servant of Sarai.” So the angel of the Lord addressed the Egyptian slave (Gen. 16.8) who had the great misfortune to be drawn into Abraham and Sarah’s scheme to…
Failures in Faith and Prayer: Calvin on Gen. 16.1-3
Sarah’s problem, in Calvin’s estimation, was that she believed the promise of God. Or at least, that was part of her problem — part, that is, of what actually drove…
Irenaeus on Reading and Understanding Scripture
The second-century Church Father Irenaeus’s most famous work, Against Heresies, was principally directed at the contemporary heresy of Gnosticism, especially as that movement found expression in the thought of a…
True Freedom vs. Unrestrained Choices (to Marry)
According to President Barack Obama, “we are all more free” as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage last month — a claim that disturbed me…
Doubt vs. Incredulity: Calvin on Gen. 15.1-21
Given the controversies surrounding justification in his day, it’s no surprise that Calvin camps out on Gen. 15.6 (“[Abraham] believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness”)…
The Origins of Children’s Church (Or Not)
The fine team of scholars working around the clock at Lutheran Satire have unearthed footage detailing the late Victorian era origins of Children’s Church. If you’re not already familiar…
The Best Medicine for Fear: Calvin on Gen. 14.1-15.1
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward.” So says God to Abraham in the opening verse of Genesis 15. Upon first glance, Calvin…
The Best Medicine for Sadness: Calvin on Gen. 13.5-18
Calvin assumes that Abraham’s divorce from his nephew Lot (Gen. 13.8-9) caused the eminent patriarch considerable pain. “There is no doubt,” the Reformer writes, “that the wound inflicted by that…
Slavery, Expatriation, and Prosperity: Calvin on Gen. 11.31 – 13.4
Scripture’s account of Abraham’s trip from Ur to Canaan via Haran, subsequent ramble through the Promised Land, and short but eventful stay in Egypt before rewinding his course through Canaan,…