On many Sundays I find pastors telling me “Remember your baptism!” Sometimes water is poured into the font. Sometimes there is a bit of liturgy. But what do we remember, really? I hang around Presbyterian churches. Most of the people around me were baptized as infants. How many secretly respond Nope! Can’t remember a thing about it.” Even […]
St. Jerome, the Complicated Christian
Today the Western Church commemorates St. Jerome (c. 347-420). What a complicated fellow. First passionate about secular literature, he gave it up to be a scholar of the Bible and a leader in the ascetic life. Absolutely counter-cultural — but maybe this Doctor of the Church still has things to teach us. He was controversial […]
Okay, Why “Trespasses,” “Debts” and “Sins”? (Heidelberg Catechism Q119)
One peril of visiting a new church comes when it is time to pray. At least if the congregation of a traditional flavor they will wrap up with something like “Now let join our voices in the prayer Christ himself has taught us, saying…” It all goes fine for a while: …Father… …Name… …kingdom… …will… …daily […]
How to Organize Your Faith (Heidelberg Catechism Q24)
Shhh! A whole lot of Christians are quietly afraid that someday, someone will ask them about their faith. We need some outline points, like the pegs on a coat rack. No hooks and you just have a pile of stuff on the floor. Add a row of pegs and you can hang up a whole lot of stuff […]
Found on the Church Doorstep — Wishing for St. Francis of Assisi
As I was leaving church with my son I looked down. There was something shiny on the ground. A bullet casing. Someone had shot a bullet and this bit of brass landed here. On the doorstep of my church. Where we worship the Prince of Peace. Where we learn that those who make peace are blessed. I put […]
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