Take Up and Read

David Murray gives twelve reasons why public worship is to be preferred to private worship. This is an excellent corrective to many who think worshiping by yourself or with your family is the high point of the Christian life. I also find it interesting that all worship in Revelation is corporate.

Uri Brito gives a brief defense of pouring as the preferred mode of baptizing. I think pouring or sprinkling is the most biblical method. Immersion is fine, but the entire defense of it is from Romans 6 and even that is weak.

Kevin DeYoung has a summary of the Republican and Democratic Party Platforms on Abortion. He summarizes the different parties' views since 1976. This makes for interesting and in many ways frightening read.

I continue to enjoy Peter Leithart's books on political theology. He makes me think and evaluate things biblically. Here is an interview he did with Trevin Wax. I especially enjoyed the three things the church needs to do: teach the whole Bible, celebrate the Lord's Supper, and practice church discipline.

Are we going to have enough good pastors in the coming years? Jeremy Mann says no and gives his reasons why.  I am not sure I buy everything he writes. But his points are worth considering, especially the draw of the academic life. The pastorate is not where the smartest men go anymore. They become professors. Why? I think often it is prestige.  I would also add that the low view of the church and authority has led to a lower view of the ministry. Leaders in the church need to reflect on why the ministry is in the shape it is and how we can fix it.