Revelation 9 (Carson)

Revelation 9 contains some horrific imagery of the wicked and their judgment. If you haven't read it recently, take a moment to read it. And if you want, here are a few comments on this chapter from Don Carson's daily devotional book, For the Love of God, Volume One: Whatever the referents behind the horrific …

Pain and Suffering in the Christian Life (Carson)

Some people do almost anything they can to avoid any kind of pain and suffering. If there's any risk of pain or suffering some people will not take the risk no matter what. This is what has been called the great untruth of fragility: what doesn't kill you makes you weaker (Lukianoff/Haidt). If a person …

We Can Know! (Carson)

The Gagging of God by Don Carson is one of those books I read some years ago that I still think about and appreciate. I'm sure many of you have books like this: you read them, really enjoyed them, and you go back to them from time to time because they were super helpful in …

Do Not Wound A Brother’s Conscience! (Carson)

 While studying 1 Corinthians 8 today I was reminded how firmly Paul told Christians with stronger consciences to give up their rights for the sake of Christians with weaker consciences.  In fact, it's based on the gospel (v.11).  I appreciate how D. A. Carson explained 1 Cor. 8 in his devotional, For the Love of God (vol. …

When the Category of Evil Disappears (Carson)

"The Intolerance of Tolerance" Here's a helpful discussion of evil, truth, and the "new tolerance": Once the category of evil disappears, our moral discernment has no structure. Strong fiber is reduced to mush; the skeleton of moral reasoning is taken out, and what is left is jelly-like protoplasm. We end up not only with rampant …