Confession Romans 12:9 says: “Let love be genuine” or, as some translations put it, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” Last year, on a family trip to Greece, I found myself wandering the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. One exhibit caught my attention: an ancient Greek theatrical mask, its smile grotesque and exaggerated, almost silly. But what really struck me was the label beside it: “Hypokritēs”. This is the very root of our English word hypocrisy....
Interchurch Cooperation or “Associationalism” The concluding paragraphs of 2LCF26 describe the Baptist practice of interchurch cooperation as a means of fostering peace, love, and mutual edification among congregations. The chapter firmly establishes that Christ alone is the supreme head of all churches; no external ecclesiastical authority—be it a pope, presbytery, synod, or any assembly of bishops—has the jurisdiction to dominate a local congregation. Despite the emphasis of Baptist polity on local autonomy and self-governance, 2LCF26 advocates for interchurch communion among churches, particularly those within close geographical proximity....
Discipleship in 21st Century Boston In Chapter 19 of Holiness, Ryle urges Christians to be like the tribe of Issachar, who had “understanding of the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32). Ryle says, “all ages have their own peculiar dangers for professing Christians, and all consequently demand special attention to peculiar duties” (Ryle 392). He was talking about 19th-century England. What about 21st-century Boston? What would be a peculiar danger for professing Christians in our context?...
Slides can be accessed here The Life and Legacy of St. Augustine: A Journey from Wayward Youth to Spiritual Giant Today we reflect on the life of St. Augustine, one of the most influential figures in Christian history. Perhaps you’ve heard of his famous conversion story or meditated on some of his thought-provoking quotes. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the blessing of reading about his life, and I hope his story can instruct and inspire us as well....
Subtle Pride How does pride manifest itself? Is it always chest-beating, chin-raising bravado and swagger, like those energetic UFC entrances into the octagon? No, there is a more insidious form that exists in the guise of self-deprecation, where individuals belittle themselves to elicit sympathy, reassurance, and pleasant contradictions from others. In my high school years, I encountered this subtler form of pride among my peers who, despite being academic overachievers, continually lamented their shortcomings....