I thought of writing a few posts about Dietrich Bonhoeffer since he's become popular again with the printing of Eric Metaxas new book "Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy". In order to give a brief biographical sketch the following is a summary of his life I wrote for a paper during my MA. To briefly summarize the relevant history, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German … [Read more...]
Not What These Hands Have Done (Horatius Bonar)
Hymn 567 in the Lutheran Service Book was written by a Free Kirk Presbyterian by the name of Horatius Bonar. (This hymn is a great expression of the doctrine of justification which was taught by the Reformation, and hardly recognizable when compared to the Pelagian love songs one shudders at today. It's strange how the meaning of 'Free Church' changed from being more to less … [Read more...]
Devotion to Christ the Worker
While studying Christian Socialism in England for my Master's paper, I found an interesting devotion that was spoken of amidst the working class and the defenders of the worker. One Christian Socialist wrote during the First World War: "Your scented and curled and comfortable little god on a nicely gilt crucifix is not the God of butchered soldiers and broken women and … [Read more...]
Parish Ale: Beer in Church, a Lengthy Tradition
In the middle ages (and in some places even until now) the parish was the centre of community life. There would be dances and celebrations in the church, as well as meetings of almost every kind. Some people stored valuables there, feeling that no one would dare rob such a sacred place. One Tradition I found out recently though was the brewing of beer for different feasts … [Read more...]
Civic v. Spiritual Righteousness and the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1661-1662
In our society when something tragic or extreme happens – like the shooting in Colorado – it is portrayed as an horrific exception to the rule of the normative goodness of human beings. By comparison, in days gone by, things worked much differently. In a society which confessed the total depravity of man, when things were going well and there was a lack of egregious crimes, … [Read more...]