Friday, July 3, 2020

Reflecting on C.S. Lewis—"On Ethics"

Though the world often seems very different today than it did in the middle of the previous century, the truth is that we are still in the midst of the debate between Christianity and Postmodernism that C.S. Lewis witnessed in its infancy. His thoughts in response to it are therefore still highly valuable. And in his essay “On Ethics," he reframes this debate in a way that helps bring fresh perspective to the picture.

Monday, June 1, 2020

The Church and the Armed Services

Today, we're looking at a question that often gets asked around Memorial Day:

Why should/would the church honor military service when Jesus was committed to non-violence?

Monday, May 4, 2020

Extolling Exemptions

As you may know if you’ve been following along with my “Potter’s Process” series, I am currently working to plant a new church in the Greensburg, PA area. One of the biggest sticking points, though really not an area of immediate need, has been making a decision on whether and when to pursue non-profit and tax-exempt status. The biggest issues are that it is costly to get and I could really use some expert help (which would cost more). To a lesser extent, there are some theological issues involved (I say “lesser” only because I am beginning to approach the conclusion they are not problematic).

Monday, April 27, 2020

Darkened Understanding

The internet is an incredible tool that has opened seemingly limitless opportunities for connecting, learning, and communicating. Of course, it has also been subject to a number of abuses just as any tool can be. Some are obvious, but for today, I want to discuss one of the more subtle examples.

Monday, April 20, 2020

Reflecting on C.S. Lewis—"Meditation on the Third Commandment"

This entry in our ongoing reflections on the essays of C.S. Lewis looks at 1941’s “Meditation on the Third Commandment.” Interestingly, I am not entirely certain which commandment he had in mind. And don’t say, “Are you blind? It says the third one right there!” I copied it, thank you very much. My point is that different traditions count the commandments differently. For Catholics, it is Ex. 20:8, “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” For Protestants, it is Ex. 20:7, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Lewis does not actually say which one he had in mind, and I do not know what Anglicans (which is what Lewis was) consider it to be.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Easter in Isolation

In our increasingly fragmented society, churches have been one of the few places where people of many different types can gather together and grow to know one another. Those of us who value that connection have therefore been especially troubled by the isolation prudentially undertaken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Not being able to go to our services, or choosing not to do so for our own safety and that of others, has been a sacrifice.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Putting the "Commune" in "Communion"

I had a conversation with another minister recently and felt that the topic of our discussion deserved some additional thought. He told me about how he had previously made the habit of providing individual Communion packets for anyone who wanted them. These small, hermetically sealed packets contain a small piece of bread and a bit of juice, making them convenient for travel. My pastor friend felt that handing these out made it easier for people to come to the Lord’s Supper wherever and whenever they were.