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On the Gospel in preaching and practice

On a blog called Internetmonk, I am part of a group called the Liturgical Gangstas. The idea is that periodically the moderator of the blog asks a question of people from different Christian backgrounds who have an interest in liturgy to see how they would respond. Most of us are pastors, but not all. Today is one of the days when our “feature” is posted. Below is the question that we were... [Read more]

Bethel Confession of the Confessing Church and government

Germany in the years immediately preceding World War II and into the beginning of the “Reich” was a terrible place. In fact, Europe was a terrible place during this time. Statism in both its left and right wing forms was winning the day. In every country in Europe and in the USA, racism and xenophobia were openly and strongly expressed, even by churchmen. In Germany out of that hellish... [Read more]

Pithless Thoughts on true priesthood

Father Orthoduck is on the road, so he is printing below parts of a post from Pithless Thoughts. Please do follow the link and read the full post. Father Ernesto hopes to be able to blog again tomorrow. It is no secret to those who know me that I aspired to the priesthood for about 50 years of my life. For 30 of those years since I got fired from my one “full time ministry job” I’ve... [Read more]

Bethel Confession, Barmen Declaration, and Christian duty

As I have been posting the short series on government, I received the following question: What are your thoughts on the Bethel Confession and the Barmen Declaration, Father? First let me comment that if Dietrich Bonhoffer had been Orthodox, he would have probably been Saint Dietrich. There is no doubt that this was a man fully committed to serving the Lord Jesus Christ under terrible circumstances.... [Read more]

Government, Church, and relationships

Let’s recap, a lot of very conservative Americans have bought into a concept proposed by Abraham Kuyper at the beginning of the 20th century. That concept is that each facet of human life has its own “sphere of influence” within which it is sovereign and capable of acting without interference from other spheres of influence. While recognizing that there are areas of overlap, the theory... [Read more]

Church, State, and Kuyper’s Sphere Sovereignty

A week ago, before all the computer problems started, a person made the following comment: I also think there is a debate to be had regarding the form and function of institutions (Kuyper’s Sphere Sovereignty) – Church, State, Family, etc. This comment fits nicely into the government series that I had started and was delayed by lightning. Of course, this makes one wonder whether there is an... [Read more]

Rulers are God’s ministers

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because... [Read more]

A small excerpt from a history of child-raising

After the Talmud posting on child-rearing, I was doing some research into child-raising. I found the following quote. I should warn those who are easily shocked that it is a tough quote. Infant abandonment was also a fairly common phenomenon in early modern Europe. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the typical foundling (enfant trouvé, French; expósito, Spanish; gettello, Italian; Findelkind,... [Read more]

On the Orthodox in this country becoming “Greek”

The Episcopal Assembly of all Orthodox bishops in North America was held back in May. Both before and after the event, bloggers of various types have been busy condemning the event. The charges of Greek takeover are rampant. For instance, one blogger states: Underlying this article is the equation of the “Greek Orthodox Church” in Greece and the US with Phanar. Sorry but I have absolutely... [Read more]

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Let’s get some perspective!

So often we lack any sense of historical perspective in America. We love to use the saying about he who does not know history is doomed to repeat it. Then we promptly go out and make a mistake that could have been avoided with just a little knowledge of history. You see, the typical American attitude is to see something that we think needs to be changed, and then want it to be changed immediately.... [Read more]

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