Calvin & Hops

Sunday, December 10, 2017

The Bodily Temple and It's Maintenance

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

- 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Thursday, 14 December 2017 from 1800-2000(ish)

Rotolo's Pizzeria (1409 E. 70th St, Shreveport)

I hope that everyone had an excellent Thanksgiving, though I'm sure that you lamented the lack of a C&H last month. Could this have been the ignominious ending to 2017 intellectually robust spiritual fellowship? Fear not! Your final fix of manly character and conversation for this year is not in the past and will occur this Thursday at a new location. Rotolo's offers a slightly better location for you Shreveport brethren, a potentially cheaper menu, and $1 craft brew nights on Thursdays. To top off the pick, there's no smoking for you dainty-of-lung and under 21 is allowed so please feel free to bring the young men in your lives that would be encouraged and challenged to join us.

A quick insight into the philosophy of topic choice before getting into the meat: Every month I attempt to cycle between personal/applicable and overarching/worldview. Last month was more of the latter and some of the former as it concerned firearms, gun control, governmental limits concerning it, and a congregant's (potential) responsibility towards them. This month will hit more onto the former (or the belt, in this case): As the masthead verse states, our body is God's temple. What does that look like?

Questions:

Does the temple imagery/description only apply to sexual sins (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)?
Does God care what we eat? How it's sourced, raised, harvested, etc.?
To what does/should the Latin phrase abusus usum non tollit (“Abuse does not take away proper use”) apply? Why?
What defines defiling our bodily temples or putting it at risk? Smoking, alcohol, caffeine, tattoos, piercings, trans-fats, skydiving, roller coasters, etc.? Why and who/what decides?
Should Christian liberty be negotiable in that it should be given up in deference to fellow Christians who are gravely offended or possibly tempted?
As our bodies are not corrupt and imperfect, are decaying and dying in a fallen world, how much does this matter as we look forward to incorruptible, redeemed bodies in the life to come?

Readings:

Fear, Shame, and Guilt at Lunch (Blog & Mablog: Douglas Wilson)
Beer, Bohemianism, and True Christian Liberty (Grace to You: John MacArthur)
Concerning Christian Liberty (Martin Luther)

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

The Armed Christian: Where Firearms Fit in the Modern Christian World

“If we see the lives or livelihoods of any in danger of being taken away unjustly, we ought to bestir ourselves all we can do to save them …”

- Proverbs 24:11-12

Thursday, 26 October 2017 from 1800-2000(ish)

The Noble Savage (21 and over)

With the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas, much ink is being spilled concerning firearms, availability, restrictions, liberty, morality of self-defense and other related topics. As Christian men, God has laid the expectations at the feet of heads of households that they protect, provide for and defend their families and protect and defend their countries. If this is true, then the conversation in light of reaction to this tragedy is where we as men, laity, and leaders should stand.

Questions:

Is gun control a personal moral/ethical issue or simply a political/philosophical one?
Where should we stand in the tension between Romans 13 and God's call to protect the weak?
Is God more glorified "if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake" (1 Peter 3:14) or in "defending the weak and the fatherless; upholding the cause of the poor and the oppressed...rescuing the weak and the needy; delivering them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4)?
Was the example of individuals and communities coming together to defend themselves and destroy their attackers (and take their spoils!) in Esther 8:3-9:11 a descriptive or prescriptive one for our communities?
Is pacifism a legitimate position for the Christian man? Or Machine Gun Preacher Sam Childers?

Readings:

Christians, the Second Commandment, and the Duty of Self-Defense (The Captain's Journal Blog: Herschel Smith)
Shooters, the Tower of Babel, and Gun Control (Blog & Mablog: Douglas Wilson)
Why All Christians Can Back Better Gun Control (Christianity Today: Sharron Miller)
Should Christians be Encouraged To Arm Themselves? (Desiring God: John Piper)

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Irons in the Fire

Unfortunately, September's C&H will be Overcome By Events (OBE). I apologize, but we'll need to push to October for our next meeting. On the upside, it'll give us more time to read and contemplate our next subject (when I actually get around to posting it!).

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Do This In Remembrance of Me: Grape Juice, Wine, and Leaven in Today's Sacraments

While the Protestant Reformation cleared away the superstition surrounding the sacraments, it nevertheless recognized the place given by Scripture to baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which, alongside the Word, deliver the gospel to sinners.

- Michael Horton

Thursday, 24 August 2017 from 1800-2000(ish)

The Noble Savage (21 and over)

Jesus instituted the Eucharist in the upper room during Passover, as recorded in the Bible in three separate locations: 1 Cor 11:23-26; Mark 14:22-24; Matthew 26:26-30; and Luke 22:14-23. While there can be much to discuss regarding it (credo vs. padeo or transubstantiation vs consubstantiation/sacramental union, etc.), the question that we are digging into this month are the elements themselves.

Questions:

Is it sin to take either wine or grape juice as communion?
Is it sin to take either leaven vs unleavened bread as communion?
Is using an element not prescribed by Christ mean that He is not present and His promise is void?
What of those with struggle with allergies or alcoholism?
What of those where bread or wine is not common?
Is intiction (dipping the bread into the cup) wrong/a sin because it presupposes transubstantiation?
Are we wrong in not taking it on the second floor of a room, likely seated on the floor?

Leaven vs Unleaven:

Does Scripture Demand Unleavened Bread? (The Gospel Coalition: John Hammett)
An Old Debate Revisited (Biblical Horizons: Peter Leithart)

Wine vs Grape juice:

Wine or Grape Juice: Theological and Pastoral Reflections on the Fruit of the Vine in Communion (OPC: John Mahaffey)
SHORT Calvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper (Ligonier Ministries: Keith Mathison)
LONG John Calvin on the Sacraments: A Summary (Theology Matters: Viola Larson)
Grapejuice for Communion? (Canonwired.com: Douglas Wilson)

Friday, June 30, 2017

July Open Topic Thread

Or: While the cat's away the mice will play

An open thread for comments on what you gentlemen want to discuss July as I'll be travelling. Don't come up with anything too interesting or else I'll be quite bummed to have missed it!

Edit 20 July: I'll be able to attend, so I hope that you've picked a great topic! Another option will be to simply meet up and discuss what comes to mind...a couple things that I thought of the the last couple weeks is the statute of limitations (sinning against God has no timeframe...should crimes?) or Confederate monuments. Regardless, let's get together tonight and I look forward to some good fellowship.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Launching into Greatness: Post-High School and the Christian

What is the Christian to do after graduation?

Does it matter?

“In effect, the whole economic system is the means by which God gives us our daily bread. Each part of the economic food chain is a vocation, through which God works to distribute his gifts."

--Gene Veith

Thursday, 29 June 2017 from 1800-2000(ish)

The Noble Savage (21 and over)

Questions for discussion:

Is college necessary? Why or why not?
If college is the right choice, does a secular or sacred institution matter?
If college is the right choice, how do (potentially debilitating 5-to-6-digit) college loans square with Proverbs 22:7 (NIV), “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”?
Are the trades a noble profession for believers?
Is entrepreneurship a better answer?
How do we prepare young men in our church/families for noble service to God?

Resources and Insight:

Avoiding the College Trap - American Vision
College as a Counter-Revolution - Douglas Wilson
College Alternatives

Why we're here

The Philosophy Behind C&H,

One of my all-time favorite quotations comes from John Wayne. “Life is tough…it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” Though not necessarily related to stupidity, there exists a common failure on the part of Christian men to humbly sharpen their reasoning skills and learn from one another. We, like much of the heathen world around us, fall into the trap of failing to ever challenge one another’s thinking either because of personal cowardice or for unreasonable fear of causing offense. While I do not advocate offense for its own sake, I do advocate the sharpening of one another in the bond of true Christian love, toward the end of excellence in spiritual warfare with the forces of darkness around us. Let us help each other “take every thought captive to Christ!”

Calvin and Hops is a monthly (generally) meeting of men from a variety of Christian churches in the Bossier City/Shreveport area in an informal setting to discuss a topic of general interest. Our primary objective is to grow in knowledge and wisdom and the ability to reason, for the sake of the gospel. Christ is Lord of all, and we need to be able to communicate that to others. This is true whether we are discussing Biblical canon or homosexual "marriage". But, I ask you, which is the more likely subject in your workplace? Which is the more likely "hook"with the unbelievers around you that you can use to lead them to the fear and wisdom of the Holy One?

I will establish the topic of the evening as indicated on this blog. However, the topic of the evening may be trumped by another “hot” topic if it seems appropriate. Please use information posted on this blog to prepare for meaningful discussion. Also, I’m always soliciting for topics of interest; just contact me using the blog contact form, email, text, phone call, carrier pigeon, or just telling me at church/work/other.

Please mark your calendars and feel free to pass this on to other men you think will be interested. If they want to be on the mailing list, they’ll need to send me an email address and a name.

In Him,

RTR

P.S. This is a men-only meeting, as we need to be free to discuss things as men, the way men do. However, for those of you with young sons, I highly encourage you to consider bringing them, as long as you deem it appropriate given their age and maturity level; we would also change the venue if this is an issue. I think that our sons can learn much from the accumulated wisdom of older men, teaching them to follow (and think about) Christ effectively).

How We Work

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:

1. Don't bring it weak; participate, don't merely spectate

2) Have a thick skin

3) No personal attacks (ad hominem), either given or received

4) No sidebars...it's just plain rude.

5) No texting/phone use (unless you have young children/family that must reach you)

6) Define & clarify your terms - ambiguity serves both the speaker and listener poorly

7) Never, ever, walk out the door offended or offensive - keep short accounts and our spears aimed at the common enemy rather than each other

8) Always think about how this applies to you, your family, church, neighborhood, city, region, state, country, and world (roughly in that order)...change starts in the heart/head and works outwards.