Just signed a deal for @PronomianLLC to publish Ariel Berkowitz’s newest book! Ariel’s scholarship has influenced my own work in big ways, so it’s a real joy and honor to have the opportunity to publish his work. Baruch HaShem!

One person in sinful rebellion could hurt the entire community, just like a little leaven leavens a whole batch of dough (1 Corinthians 5:6). Congregational exclusion should be a last resort after there is a process of attempting to reach the person and they demonstrate a repeated refusal to repent (Matthew 18:15-17). Also, the door must be kept open for restoration should the person eventually come to their senses (Matthew 18:10-14; James 5:19-20). But while we love those who go astray and hope for restoration, sin and spiritual rebellion must be taken seriously.

Congrats!

lol I guess you’ll have to judge for yourself. I mean, I like my songs. Definitely emo though (I’m a millennial).

And this was just the motivation I needed to hit up open mic tonight. It’s been a while. Thanks, Joel!

Dude it’s bad

In Ephesians 2:15, Paul wrote that Christ broke down the wall of division between Jew and Gentile “by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.” But what does Paul mean by this phrase? Is Paul saying that Christ abolished the Law of Moses, or something else? davidwilber.com/articles/doe…

Okay, thanks. You haven't persuaded me to stop thinking they're meaningful and good or to stop keeping them though. 🤷‍♂️

Why not? Jesus, the apostles, and the earliest Jesus movement (including Gentiles) observed them. I've been keeping them for almost twenty years. They're meaningful and good.

It was a very dumb post.

Many Christians are rethinking Halloween and opting for alternatives like church-sponsored "harvest festivals." I think that's great. But God already gave us harvest festivals to celebrate. They're in the Bible (see, e.g., Lev. 23; Deut. 16). So if you're looking for an alternative to Halloween, you don't need to come up with your own harvest festival. God has already given us the biblical harvest festivals.

And he explicitly commands us not even to think that he came to do that! "**Do not think** that I came to abolish the Law or Prophets."

Lol

No, the arguments for Matthean priority are bad and you should feel bad for agreeing with them.

Most people don’t intend to be hurtful. We know this because we know our own hearts and motivations. Yet when someone offends us, even in small ways, we often fail to extend to them the same grace we give ourselves. Instead, we let feelings of rejection and false assumptions take over: “They must not really value our relationship.” Such thoughts can grow into insecurity and bitterness. Scripture calls us to live self-controlled lives, not ruled by emotion. We must resist assumptions, pause to reflect, and humbly approach the person to share our feelings and seek understanding. Most conflicts can be resolved through simple, honest conversation.

This tweet from them pretending to care is as far as they will go. I did send a DM, and still haven’t heard back. Not holding my breath.

Origen’s Commentary on Romans offers a fascinating perspective on the Apostolic Decree in Acts 15. Rather than seeing the Jerusalem Council as setting aside the Torah for Gentile believers, Origen argues that the apostles looked to the Torah itself to determine what God required of Gentiles. This video explores his reasoning concerning blood, strangled meat, and circumcision, and what it might contribute to the larger question of Gentile Torah observance. davidwilber.com/videos/orige…

I’m really not exaggerating when I say that it was the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. The lady repeatedly interrupted me and talked down to me, implying I was stupid for not knowing I would be charged for stuff they didn’t tell me about. I asked to speak to her supervisor, and she made me hang up and call back. When I finally got ahold of a supervisor, she treated me the same way—repeatedly interrupted me and refused to even listen. I was then told that somebody would contact me within 48 hours to resolve my issue, and nobody did. Your customer service sucks, @Avis.