This article is a reprint of the original “Idols of the Heart and ‘Vanity Fair.'” Summary The article discusses the ways in which sin is more than just our bad behavior. In particular, our bad behavior arises through three, interlocking sources: flesh, world, and devil. Despite analyzing the origin of sin, the article is not meant to lead us on an idol hunt, whether in ourselves or in others. Given that flesh is only one source of sin, peering inside of ourselves to find our sin and ignoring our environment is shortsighted, especially since it is how we interact with our environment that shows our orientation.

This article highlights the difference between legalism and spiritual discipline. A habit such as forcing ourselves to pray before a meal is spiritual discipline, not legalism. The key is that the practice, properly done, is not a means of earning favor or salvation, but a means of growing in our union with Christ. This fear of legalism can cause us to not do things that would benefit us in our race (Hebrews 1:1–2).

This article is closely related to Mike Ovey’s The Art of Imperious Ignorance. Carson addresses a recent social media post affirming imperious ignorance in the case of LGBT affirmation, making some additional points to Ovey’s article: Omniscience on a subject is not the criteria certain knowledge, and it is misleading to claim it. Not having complete knowledge doesn’t necessarily free us to act according to our own interpretation.

This article is a reminder that history is rarely so simple that it can only be explained by a single causation, be it an individual’s history or a nation’s. As the well-known saying goes, “Correlation does not equal causation.” This may often be used in a statistical sense, but DeYoung is arguing for it in a historical sense.

Replogle discusses the impact of Bonhoeffer’s Life Together on his life and views on leadership and ministry, particularly this quote: It makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God himself accordingly.

This paper discusses Jonathan Edwards' ideas on virtue. The main idea is that we can truly say that non-Christians can still be virtuous, though only through a partial view of true virtue. Edwards uses terms of general and particular beauty, referring to the scope of the beauty (or in this case, virtue): particular beauty is limited to a narrow scope, while general beauty is comprehensive. As an example, he mentions notes in a musical piece which may together sound harmonious, but in the context of the entire piece may sound discordant.

Kauflin lists five indicators that worship music might be becoming an idol: Responding more emotionally to arrangements than content Singing feels boring Caring more about how a song makes you feel than what it says Not thinking about what you’re singing Having a hard time feeling connected to God apart from music As Kauflin says, “music is great, but Jesus is greater.” Music is rightly only a vessel for bringing us closer to God.

This article discusses Edmund Clowney’s diagram for preaching from the Old Testament and the common pitfalls made while doing so. The diagram is in his book Preaching Christ in All of Scripture. Correct logical progression draws the symbolic meaning of an Old Testament text and shows its fulfillment in Christ through the redemption story. Then the significance of all of this to the church is shown. There are different errors jumps in this progression that can be made, all of which lead to some mistake.

This article draws a great analogy from firefighting to pastoral ministry, which I think applies to all Christian ministry.