1. How can we not lead with this piece of delicious pop-history: Martin Luther would have ruled Twitter, via Dominion author (and hopefully one-day conference speaker) Tom Holland. Part of what made/makes Luther such a compelling theologian is his down-to-earth, shocking, relatable polemic. The man does not mince his words, which is either a testament […]
Legislating Morality: The Political Enthusiasm of Christians
On How the Law Fails and the Gospel Succeeds
Another Week Ends: Martin Luther’s Emails, Resilient Kids, Fresh Starts, Popped Pandemic Bubbles, and Joy with Parkinson’s
1. Every now and then, you get to start the weekender out with the humor section. This week’s gem from the New Yorker, “Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, as E-mailed by Your Passive-Aggressive Co-Worker,” stole the show: FROM: Martin.Luther@vatican.org TO: All Vatican Staff Subject: A Quick Note Not to be that guy, and most of this […]
Home Security, Eternal Security, and Justification: A Quick Reformation Day Reflection
On Advertisements and Peace of Mind
I Love You Dead: The Good News of Incongruous Grace
“‘Dead, Dead,’ Whispered the Law. ‘Love,’ Whispered the Gospel.”
Another Week Ends: Operation Ceasefire, Idiot Prayer, Racism and Sin, Troublesome Empathy, Martin Luther, and Immortality
1. A pretty obvious place to look for the dynamics of law and grace is, well, the law. In a recent story from Mother Jones, Samantha Michaels describes a program designed to curb gun violence in cities with high murder rates. Operation Ceasefire identifies people who are at risk of shooting someone or being shot; rather […]
Our Unwelcome Infinite Summer: David Foster Wallace and Martin Luther on Desire and Discontent
“The burning doesn’t go away? … What fire dies when you feed it?”
Martin Luther on Where to Find God: Suffering and the Cross, Glory and Majesty
It’s Dangerous to Relate to God as Glorious Before You Relate to Him as Crucified
Another Week Ends: Martin Luther on COVID-19, Tara Isabella Burton, Christ and Calamity, Generational Sin, and Faithful Doubt
1. Mere Orthodoxy has published an excerpt from an excellent book, Christ and Calamity: Grace and Gratitude in the Darkest Valley, by Harold Senkbeil. I’ve noted some highlights below and if you like what you read, the e-book is free this month: Just what does it mean to deny yourself and take up your cross? […]
Netflix’s “Cheer”: Law and Grace in Action
It took just three days to plow through the six episodes of Netflix’s latest docuseries Cheer, but it was well worth it. I’m not a cheerleading expert, or even a casual fan, but my initial skepticism was quickly won over by the show’s tear-jerking storytelling. Don’t get me wrong, the flips are as amazing to […]
