Category: Life Issues

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Thoughts on Mere Christendom

It seems clear that the Church is moving in a direction of no return. As a result, we will need institutional consensus on how to move forward culturally, sacramental consensus on how to move forward ecclesiastically, and a domestic consensus on how to move forward in the home.

In all these spheres, I am arguing for a consensus of principle, not methodology. This means we will need to overlook certain practices to pursue a greater, unified agenda.

Culturally, we will need to embrace institutions that are decrying leftist policies without exception. While this may entail remaining in certain institutions temporarily, it also means that we begin to create new institutions that protect the principles of mere Christendom.

New business models will emerge as a result of fruitful discourse. Such models will carry the imprimatur of Christ, though they may at times contain non-Christians. But every non-Christian must work under the ethic of Christendom. This will necessarily create expected tension.

Churches must also participate in this cultural renewal, but she is primarily a blueprint expositor and a cultivator of virtue. She lays the groundwork for institutional transformation by calling laborers to Word and Sacrament.

Congregations form the center of kingdom work as a headquarter for spiritual grace, strengthening communities, fostering discipleship, enhancing our rituals of hospitality and love, and providing a biblical grammar in pulpit and song. Thus, a genuine ecclesiastical conservatism affirms that the Church is central to the purposes of God in the kingdom and that from her flows the wisdom of God to the world (Eph. 3:10).

She must, however, see that she does not divide foolishly. She must find a consensus that allows her to work with other bodies in advancing the cause of orthodoxy. And she must not remain together for the Gospel foolishly. She must know when to forsake the sinking ship.

Sacramental differences may keep bodies from worshiping together in the same building or religious affiliation, but it should not keep us from holding the shovel in one hand and the sword in the other in the same house project.

Domestic consensus must occur at all levels. We must understand fundamental roles in the home not merely as an orderly pursuit but as how society is rebuilt. When roles are reversed, there is a cosmic shift in the oikos.

Masculine leadership must look one way, and feminine beautification must look another. Assumptions about parents and children must return to Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 5-6 as roots for a proper new domesticity.

While we should expect sphere confusion at times, we should work with these assumptions. We must not waste this opportunity in our historical landscape. The fields are ready to be harvested.

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The Democrats and Death and a Vote for Life

One of the fundamental reasons voting is an important element of a free society is that it allows us to have a pulse on culture. It gives us a sense of where society is headed and allows us to offer cohesive strategies moving forward. It also unites human beings under particular ethical trajectories.

When the election unfolded in 2020, I argued consistently that politics has consequences and consequences arise with politics. While we argued against Trump’s bad character, evangelicals of all stripes voted for what they believed would be a step toward the good ol’ days of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who had a multitude of faults but was humble enough to apologize for the Bay of Pigs. That kind of eccentric common grace is over.

The intent of many to side with a party that virtually sought the approval of atheism on its platform and who unanimously voted just a few hours ago to codify the legal murder of the unborn throughout the entirety of the pregnancy was blemished. I trust moving forward many will reflect deeply on how important it is to give up décor in public, for sane policies shaped by savvy incrementalism. I still find Trump’s strategy to fill the 100 court vacancies he inherited with young, smart, talented, and committed conservatives one of the smartest moves from a politician in my lifetime. For all his faults, the man saw the need and began thinking about the future right away without any hesitation.

But many evangelicals wish for something more sanitized. But they will not find this in the Gospels. A quick glance through the Gospel of Mark will offer the distinct impression that Jesus does not give a shekel of care for niceties and kosher dinner parties. When John was beheaded for confronting Herod, Jesus came right behind him and said, “Let me give you an opportunity to do the same to me.” Our Lord kept poking at the novel ways the political leaders sought to infatuate themselves to the heirs of Abraham. He kept cursing at them with holy sarcasm and serrated edges.

It bears repeating that the abortion element comes to the forefront of these discussions because life takes form from the moment of conception. To remain neutral or to vote against the cause is to give in to the gods of tranquility. In Numbers 32, Reuben and Gad requested some peace and quiet in the farmlands of Jazer and Gilead. The problem was not the request, the problem was that Israel was united and ready to cross over the land, and do battle. It was not time to flee confrontation. It was time for war!

As John Frame observed,

“So there must be, however much the world will despise us as religious fanatics, indeed, especially since the world despises these convictions, a special place in our hearts for the unborn.”

It appears that too many would rather live peaceful lives than live a life that leads to peace. Peace is not the absence of war, but the result of a war well fought. So, we cannot leave aside the fact that 49 Democrats voted for the right to kill preborn up to the moment of birth, and we should not overlook that all 50 Republicans and one Democrat, voted to sustain the leaked draft from the Supreme Court. These are not two identical systems, they are flawed systems fighting against each other.

If you want the pulse of society, look no further than the issue of life. Look no further into how Democrats would categorize us, and then ask the question, “Can we afford to overthink the ballot?” I think the answer is clear. Our strategizing needs to be a lot more clever and subversive.

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Church Grammarian

Dear friend,
I am a church grammarian. That’s a short way of saying I shepherd people into good words, good thinking, and good actions. I am also quite aware that people don’t want to learn, and that some people learn slowly. Church life will always be filled with good, average, and poor students, but the ones who do excel are always the ones eager to hear the Word of the Lord gladly. For this reason, I teach and re-teach the alphabet of the Christian faith for Christians need to know their language.

Within my grammatical education, I try to convey the idea that we need to be around other grammar students. We learn best together which is generally why the least educated about church grammar are those who choose to study church grammar on their own. This didactic approach fails too many tests, including the verbs, nouns, and adjectives of church life. You can’t grow in church life without knowing what to do, who the people are, and the attributes that make up such people. In sum, self-learning is self-defeating.

The grammar of the Gospel is quite clear: Jesus died, he rose and ascended for us. Yet, our grammar tends to reflect the “I” without the “they.” The secret of church grammar is that everything Jesus did was for us. Without the “us” there is no “I”. You are placed in a setting of “us” and “they” for a reason. It’s God’s approach to education. When you flee this basic classroom principle you begin to forget the basics. In the church, “We believe,” “We confess,” and “We affirm,” are the fundamental elements of who we are.

Yours truly,
Pastor Brito, Ecclesiastical Grammarian

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A Letter to a College Student Struggling with his Faith

Dear college student,

College is an amazing experience! I confirmed my calling, found a wife, and grew immensely in my faith. I call that a win-win-win. But for you, the experience has been far short of compelling and satisfying. It seems your faith is taking one step forward and two steps back. If this pattern continues, it seems almost certain that you will want nothing to do with the Jesus you grew up with and heard from the pulpit every Sunday. In fact, there are times when you seem to speed up the process to apostasy.

I have a great fear that your ears are only open for the business of the wicked, and your tongue is desperately seeking to imitate the scornful. Your experience is not uncommon. I have seen too many young people go to college and never return to the Church again. But I expect more from you. The seduction of that nominal Christian or that open atheist may be great, but your God is greater. Don’t let empty philosophies take you away from the empty tomb. At this stage, you need a dose of warnings. The road you are going may seem flowery, but there are hidden land mines and inconspicuous deep pits dug to trap you. Take the other road: the one that is unmistakably clear. That’s the road to true joy.

It will be good to see you this summer. The cold brew at the new coffee shop is the talk of all the coffee aficionados. Some trick about straining twice through a coffee filter or using a sieve lined with cheesecloth…anyway, it’s very tasty. We need to keep talking. Your faith is too important and your life is too precious.

Yours truly,
Pastor Brito

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The Pain of Charlottesville Reveals an Act of False Worship

You are what you worship. What happened in Charlottesville is a theological reaction against true worship. Racism and violence come from a people who have created a god in their own image. The god they created is a self-serving and self-consuming deity that devours the good, true, and beautiful and spits out a fully grown sin that leads to death (Jam. 1:15). It is a god that deceives man and allures him with the whisper of superiority. And fallen man eagerly bows before evil to taste a vaporous glory.

But the end of all false worship is death.

The God of all justice will restore man to true glory, and we who watch from afar the misery and injustice suffered by others must humble ourselves and bow down before the cosmic LORD who demands of all tribes, tongues, and people, “Come to me and worship at My feet for under my rule is true and everlasting life.” #Charlottesville #grieving

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Pondering Death: Another Day as a Pro-Lifer

On Thursday mornings, I join a group of young mothers and their children and several Roman Catholic folks for a litany in response to abortion.a We give thanks for those who have given so many years to speak for life in a place of death. One gentleman who is there quite often has been peacefully serving in the pro-life movement for over 30 years. His eyes give the appearance of defeat as he paces back and forth. His disheveled appearance adds to his age. I asked him if he ever feels discouraged. He tells me that every time he sees young people standing in front of this place of death he is energized.

As we go through this litany, I had a thought. I had noticed cars passing driving by the abortion facility. Some of the vehicles came and parked. As the protagonists exited the cars, they walked proudly, defiantly to the building. They didn’t say a word.

The building has no charm. It looks like a warehouse, but a busy one. Other folks park, look at us somewhat bemused by our skepticism about their decision. It’s as if we are ruining their perfect day. “Leave me the ___alone! This is none of your business,” he says. The man next to me looks at him and replies: “It is my business. That’s a human being your girlfriend has inside of her, and you are about to let some doctor kill him.” He flips him off. The veteran pro-lifer is not one bit discouraged. “Maybe he will meditate on what I said,” he tells me.

Another group of vehicles drives right by the clinic. They ride down to a cul-de-sac. They park away from people. Someone in the car is having second thoughts. They ponder for the last time whether this is the right decision. As we look, it feels like an eternity before the vehicle begins marching our way. We wait in silence uncertain about their decision. As they drive up the hill toward us, our only hope is for this car to keep going. They give an indication they are going to turn into the parking lot, and then suddenly the vehicle speeds away towards the main road; away from death.

But before we can even cheer several other cars come and join the others. The parking lot is getting full. The security guards smoke their cigarettes offering new-comers some instruction. They say people inside the building can hear the things we say outside, so I use my voice to project their way. “Lord, hear our prayer.” “For your steadfast love endures forever.” “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” “Hear us!”

These angels of life look at this generation and see a culture drunk with death. And though they have been at this life-saving business for decades, the battle continues. I hope by the end of their lives they might see the fruits of their labor. I know their labors are not in vain. Lord, have mercy!

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I am sorry!

This video is sad and hopeful at the same time. Listen to it and pass it on to others. There is hope for those who have fallen prey and succumbed to the pressures of the death industry called abortion. God has not abandoned you. He is here ready to embrace you and offer his forgiveness. Though women are guilty of making these life-ending decisions, they are usually led by the pressures of boyfriends who persuade them that a child would ruin their lives or plunge them into poverty, or other form of manipulation.

While some in the comments’ section decry such a powerful video, others find freedom and forgiveness in them:

Thank you gentlemen for the apology.  As a woman who aborted her child, mainly because the father of the baby didn’t want the responsibility of the baby, your apology will help many women hurting from aborting their babies.  My baby’s father refuses to acknowledge  his part of the pain I have endured from aborting our baby.   There will be women who will claim you have no right to say what you are saying, but I want you to know they don’t speak for those of us who get it.  Again thank you so much!!!

 

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The Pro-Choice New Chant

First published at Kuyperian.

The chant outside Texas Capitol was consistent and unmistakable: “Hail Satan.” As the peaceful pro-life advocates were singing Amazing Grace, a group of loud pro-abortion chanters added their own version (hear video).

 I am not saying that every woman who has ever committed abortion or support abortion are actively joined to some Anton Lavey gathering, or that Rachel Maddow will begin her show with a pro-Satan salutation, rather what I am saying is that this chant is an affirmation of the one who is behind these ideologies. Satan is the father of lies, and so he delights to hear his praises sung.

The Christian faith has always been a faith of life. The unbelieving heart is voluntarily against life. Policies and ideologies that delight in death are diametrically opposed to the Christian order. These loud advocates may have been trying to sabotage John Newton’s hymn, or to silence the pro-life sounds, but in reality they were revealing that which is fundamental to the way they look at the world. They were chanting from page one of their hymnals.  Out of the heart the mouth chants. We are all worshiping beings. We all worship something or someone, and that worship is most clearly demonstrated in song.

Ideas have consequences and consequences have songs. Every generation has its own soundtrack. This generation has finally found one for her ideologies.

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Affirming True Truth

Francis Schaeffer’s line true truth was coined as a result of the pluralistic culture he was a part of and which has in many ways engulfed our present society. Schaeffer was referring to a truth that is objective and not relativized by one’s preferences. The Gospel is true truth. The Church’s peculiarity stems from her unique message. It is indeed a message that is hardly embraced in the public square, but one which she must proudly proclaim: Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord.

Lesslie Newbigin’s classic work The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society addresses some of these  profound manifestations in the Christian world. He exposes the pluralistic and cowardly trends of the modern church a few decades ago and certainly still very much true in our own day. A Church can speak truth, but speak it so subtly and unwillingly that she permeates by her words a certain level of skepticism in her people. But there is also the type of belief that leaves the door open to other ideologies. Newbigin observed that,

As long as the church is content to offer its beliefs modestly as simply one of the many brands available in the ideological supermarket, no offense is taken. But the affirmation that the truth revealed in the gospel ought to govern public life is offensive (7).

Both are fatal. One slowly ceases to proclaim true truth, while the other leaves the door open for philosophical wolves. The Gospel is no longer that potent and offensive claim, but a powerless declaration that Jesus can be a lord, but is not necessarily interested in the job description.

True truth is declarational. Simple truth has its genesis in the One who claims to be the way, truth, and life. This three-fold declaration is not up for debate. Pluralism, religious pluralism, is doxologically impossible for you can only serve one master.