I want to spend this, my first blog post of 2014, addressing how we think about the subject of homosexual attractions and actions. For what it’s worth, much of this applies to heterosexual attractions and inclinations, as well. I think an overhaul in our thinking on the subject is long overdue. Hear me out, then… Continue reading Taking a “People First” Approach to Homosexual Attraction and Actions
Tag: apologetics
Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture
James Tissot, Jesus Found in the Temple (1890) Yesterday’s Gospel has one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament, Luke 2:51, “And he [Jesus] went down with them [Mary and Joseph] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Is there any… Continue reading Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture
Day 7: O Emmanuel
Tonight’s O Antiphon is the last one, and it’s the most famous and probably the most beautiful. It’s “O Emmanuel.” The name Emmanuel.means “God with us,” and it’s taken from Isaiah 7:13-14, in which Isaiah says, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of… Continue reading Day 7: O Emmanuel
Day 6: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Rex Gentium,” meaning “King of the Nations,” or “King of the Gentiles.” The idea is that the Messiah would be King, not only of the Jews, but the Gentiles as well: that is, of all nations. For example, Isaiah prophesied of the Christ (in Isa. 2:4), “He shall judge between the nations,… Continue reading Day 6: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
Day 5: O Oriens (O Rising Sun)
Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Oriens.” The Latin word “Oriens” literally means “Dawn,” “Rising Sun,” or “East.” The “O Oriens” prophesy comes from Isaiah 9:1-7, Holman Hunt,Christ the Light of the World (1854) But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb’ulun and the land of Naph’tali,… Continue reading Day 5: O Oriens (O Rising Sun)
Day 4: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Clavis David,” which means “O Key of David.” It’s a reference to Isaiah 22:19-23, and the rise and fall of a man named Eliakim. In this passage, God removes Shebna from his position of power as Master of the Palace, replacing him with Eliakim: Peter Paul Reubens, St. Peter (1612) I… Continue reading Day 4: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
Bloodless Persecution: Ten Easy Steps to Marginalize and Silence Traditional Christians
Phil Robertson The latest religious freedom dust-up involves the suspension of Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty, after A&E discovered to its shock that one of the conservative Evangelicals they’d been profiling wasn’t in favor of homosexuality (quelle horreur!). In one regard, it’s reasonable to be upset: we now live in an age in which it’s frequently… Continue reading Bloodless Persecution: Ten Easy Steps to Marginalize and Silence Traditional Christians
Day 3: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Radix Jesse,” which means “O Root (or Shoot, or Flower) of Jesse.” In other words, the Messiah will come from Jesse’s lineage. We hear this title for the Messiah in Isaiah 11:10: “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his… Continue reading Day 3: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
Day 2: O Adonai (O Lord)
Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Adonai,” which means “O Lord,” and is one of the Divine titles used in the Old Testament. Because the name YHWH was considered too sacred to even speak, pious Jews would often replace the Name with Adonai, meaning Lord, instead. In Isaiah 33:22, the prophet Isaiah says: For the Lord is our judge,the Lord… Continue reading Day 2: O Adonai (O Lord)
Day 1: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
Tonight’s O Antiphon is “O Sapientia,” which means “O Wisdom.” All of the first three O Antiphons are tied to the Messianic prophesy in Isaiah 11:1-5. I’ve bolded the relevant part for today’s Antiphon: Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the… Continue reading Day 1: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)