T.S. Eliot: “I Should Be Glad of Another Death”
Several years ago I decided to start reading poetry. This was no easy endeavor. Poetry distills complex thoughts into compact sentences full of association and tone. Thus learning to read and understand it was difficult for me. As is often the case though, the reward for such hard work is very high. T.S. Eliot was the first poet to really grab me and refuse to let go. His poetry drew me into a new world I never expected to find. Since...
George MacDonald: Life, Works, Legacy
I was 14-years-old the first time I saw the name George MacDonald. It appeared in C.S. Lewis’ Surprised by Joy (1955). It didn’t make an impression initially, but as I read Lewis more, MacDonald’s name became unavoidable. “Whoever this MacDonald was,” I surmised, “he clearly made a profound impact on Lewis.” This may be your experience too: if you’ve heard of MacDonald at all, it’s been by way of Lewis. After all, he has been one of...
“The Parson’s Tale”: Chaucer’s Defense of Christian Marriage
by Jared Austin During the month of September 2014, the Helwys Society Forum is exploring literary figures and themes in the Great Tradition. In subsequent articles, we’ll consider George MacDonald, T.S. Eliot, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. But in this article, we’re considering Geoffrey Chaucer’s defense of Christian marriage. Christian marriage is under attack in America. As American culture becomes increasingly secular, what seem...
Tradition vs. Traditionalism: What’s the Difference?
When we think of “tradition,” what comes to mind? For some, it is archaic hymns that are drudgery to sing, while for others it may be preaching that is solemn and boring. It is the routine worship service that lulls everyone to sleep. It is dull, unappealing, and leaves the soul unmoved. For many, tradition means older Christians clinging to a forgotten past that no one wants, (except them perhaps). They talk about how people have...
Worldview, Ethics, and Engaging the Culture
In his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”[1] In a similar manner, Scripture tells us, “For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.”[2] To use a modern term, our “worldview” often serves as the basis upon which we make our momentary decisions in life. Specifically, answering the question, “How should we live?” requires...
Autonomous But United
I grew up in Free Will Baptist churches, occasionally attended local association meetings with my father, and regularly attended the annual National Association Free Will Baptists. Even from a young age I knew that all Free Will Baptists didn’t share identical philosophies of ministry, nor did they agree on Bible translations, or what men and women ought (or ought not) to wear. But from what I could tell, we were a lot alike. I knew...
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