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Paul T. McCain
First Thoughts Articles
A Wordless Gospel is Like a Digitless Phone Number
How many times have you bumped into the expression, “Preach the Gospel, if necessary, use words.” I detest that expression. I think I understand why some people like it, they want to emphasize the need to not only be hearers, but doers of the Word. OK, I get that, but the vast majority . . . . Continue Reading »
Why Here? Why Now? On the Flurry of Torture Posts
I’ve been watching the flurry of posts and intense debates in comments on the issue of torture here, and wondering, frankly, “What’s going on? Why has this become such a hot topic here?” I’m almost tempted to say it is becoming like torture to read yet one more blog . . . . Continue Reading »
The Lord Visits His Temple
[caption id=”attachment_4980” align=”alignleft” width=”489” caption=”Sitting in Midst of the Doctors. James Tissot, c. 1895”][/caption]Today is the first Sunday after Epiphany, an observance of our Lord’s visit to His Temple as a boy.The Glory of . . . . Continue Reading »
The Baptism of Our Lord: Jesus Takes His Place with Sinners
Today many liturgical congregations observe and celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. Our Lord Jesus is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:13–17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, . . . . Continue Reading »
Commemoration of the Cappadocian Fathers
Basil and the two Gregorys, collectively known as the Cappadocian Fathers, were leaders of Christian orthodoxy in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the later fourth century. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa were brothers; Gregory of Nazianzus was their friend. All three were influential in shaping the . . . . Continue Reading »
Attempting to Reform the World is Ultimately Unsatisfying
Only the Christian is in a position to judge clearly how basically unsatisfying it is for man, both as an individual and as a social being, to have as his ultimate goal the civilizing and humanizing of the world, because he himself has found his own fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. . . . . . . . Continue Reading »
Bach and Japan: How Beauty Serves the Truth of the Gospel
If you took a moment to watch the YouTube video I posted in my previous note about Bach, you will rejoice in Mr. Suzuki’s clear and forthright witness to Christ and the Christian faith. Nearly ten years ago my friend Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto wrote a piece for FIRST THINGS, and I thought it might . . . . Continue Reading »
News Flash: J.S. Bach was a Christian - Why Suzuki Gets Bach
One of the world’s premier interpreters and conductors of Bach music is the Japanese musician Masaaki Suzuki. And he gets Bach, unlike many Westerners. I am sick and tired of discussions of Bach by secularists who do everything they can to avoid, dismiss, denigrate and intentionally ignore the . . . . Continue Reading »
How To Destroy the Church
I was struck by this powerful remark:The ways of destroying the church are many and colorful. Raw factionalism will do it. Rank heresy will do it. Taking your eyes off the cross and letting other, more peripheral matters dominate the agenda will do it-admittedly more slowly than frank heresy, but . . . . Continue Reading »
The Epiphany of Our Lord
A blessed and happy Epiphany to you all. The Epiphany of our Lord was, in the ancient church, a day that was set aside to commemorate not only the visitation of the Magi, but the Lord’s Baptism, and his first miracle. The season of Epiphany was developed to offer separate meditation and . . . . Continue Reading »
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