Posts tagged "Repentance"
Previously on Parenthood, Pt. 5: Perfect Love & Prodigal Returns
Christmas / Forgiveness / Relationships / Suffering / TV

Previously on Parenthood, Pt. 5: Perfect Love & Prodigal Returns

by Matt Schneider on Dec 17, 2012 • 6 Comments

This is the fifth installment in a look at the theological and pastoral wisdom found in the current season of NBC’s Parenthood, mostly regarding the intersection of unsuspected love in the context of suffering. It has been almost a month since I have written anything, mostly because I felt the program was in the middle of a filler-episode streak, understandably serving to carry on the narratives of its many subplots but not standing out with profound moments of grace in ways earlier episodes have. Don’t get me wrong. There were some touching moments in recent episodes like Adam caring for Kristina…

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John Calvin on Repentance, Regeneration, and Pastoral Care
Reformation / Theology

John Calvin on Repentance, Regeneration, and Pastoral Care

by WB on Oct 16, 2012 • 5 Comments

It’s easy to either write off John Calvin for certain interpretations of his theology or to invoke his name indiscriminately as a supporter of one’s own point of view. Reading his Institutes lately has been an interesting project for me, if for no other reason than to clarify Jean’s actual position on things. Some observations:

“…by repentance I understand regeneration, the only aim of which is to form us anew in the image of God, which was sullied, and all but effaced in the transgression of Adam.” (Institutes, III.3.ix)

1. First, in looking at Calvin’s view of ‘regeneration’, we should see clearly his…

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Gordon MacDonald and the Pool of Evil
Forgiveness / News

Gordon MacDonald and the Pool of Evil

by Aaron M. G. Zimmerman on May 15, 2012 • No Comments

Gordon’s MacDonald’s thoughts on “Vigorous Repentance”:

I once thought that repentance simply meant that when you do something bad, you mention it, say that you’re sorry, and move on. But a revisiting of the Bible on this subject has moved me to understand that repentance is, first and foremost, an acknowledgement of that deeper pool of evil that lies resident in every one of us and which is ready to explode at any moment.

If you know anything about MacDonald, you know that he knows about glory, failure, and grace. I’m thankful for men and women like him who recognize with clear…

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