Gary North’s recent passing reminded me of the enormous capacity of certain men to produce so much in a lifetime. Of course, men can be productive beings on many fronts, but that productivity often stems from foundational theological stimuli that allow him to conform his thoughts after it. If such roots are stable and coherent, they can provide a rich motivation for creativity and exegetical application. Furthermore, if that foundation is comprehensive, one can articulate a host of themes like economics, politics, history, etc. Gary North’s legacy was the Calvinistic legacy which saw no part of human endeavor unworthy of exploration. He turned every stone and system and hurled his inimitable mind into it, seeking to unearth its treasures and nurture fields yet uncultivated.

While tracing the roots of such prolific Calvinism goes back to the man himself–an astounding Genevan pastor in the 16^th century, no one has done more to cultivate the Genevan theologian than the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper. Kuyper asserted that Calvinism provided the rationale for the cultivation of Christendom, unlike any other system.

For Kuyper, Calvinism is the most astute form of biblical Christianity. Further, Calvinism is the only sustainable ideology that meticulously undid the sacerdotalism of the Church, but more than that, it “unveiled again to fullest view the glories of the Cross.”[1]

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My adventurous wife gave the boys a Christmas gift in 2020 they will never forget. When it was delivered and unloaded in our backyard, the trucker asked me casually, “So, are you doing some sodding work in the backyard?” And I casually answered him, “No, this was our Christmas gift to my boys!” With an elongated mouth stretch that I haven’t seen since Ace Ventura in 1994, he exclaimed: “You bought your children dirt for Christmas?!” So, then I took the next 30 minutes to give him a theology of dirt starting in Genesis and leading to the dirt of the New Creation. And then, I signed an autograph of my Jonah commentary with a note, “Find land, son!”

Everything is true, except the latter part. There wasn’t much time to elaborate on the claim that dirt theology is essential to a healthy biblical theology. But still, the whole thing rings true. Man, made from dirt, shall return to dirt. And such dirt will be reconstituted to used gloriously in the New Heavens and Earth. Dirt is good. Man as a symbolic human exerts a dirt-like function in the world. He offers himself as that which can be used as the environment for growth and nurture.

It’s safe to say there hasn’t been a more creative $200 spent in our household. In the two years we have had the dirt mound, the thing has been excavated, used as mud pies, used as a hiding place, functioned as the headquarters for sword fights, and more. And, it’s not merely a manly thing. We had about 20 in our house yesterday for Lord’s Day dinner and several little girls enjoyed treating the mound place like a little garden and exploration site. I probably should have told them that the Garden was on a mountain. But I am not sure they were ready for such theologizing. The whole thing was comical and fun to behold.

I also find the entire endeavor something of a paradigm to consider. In an age of insiders, be an outsider. Play with dirt. Amuse yourself to death, which incidentally is a place of dirt. Man is primarily a ground creature made to dwell among creatures. The more grounded he is, the more satisfied he is with his accomplishments and calling. He names animals in the Garden as a sign that he rules over dirt and where animals trod.

Dirt is the stuff of life. It’s where little men begin to mold civilization and create new plans to destroy darkness. It’s the hill they live and die on, and it’s the headquarters for strategic Christianizing. While some may say, “it’s just dirt,” we say, “the dirt is just!” Kingdoms begin here, especially when they are ruled by little covenant princes.

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Sociologist George Ritzer coined the term “McDonaldization,” to refer to the principles of the fast-food market applied to society at large. When used for the church’s life, it means that church life is a privatized, quick-fix faith rather than discipleship or apprenticeship in the Christian community. As a result, it diminishes the significance of long obedience in the right direction.

Church comes packaged for fast consumption. You sit down on Sunday morning with your latte purchased at the coffee shop, usually at the entrance, and then you consume the service like a theater with your buttered popcorn and extra-extra-sized soda.

We have industrialized church to make us feel at ease with the experience of worship; our live-streamed service is so live that as long as you keep tithing, we are perfectly ok with you staying at home on Sundays. So, sit for 45 minutes, make business contacts to extend your professional career, and leave your faith at the exit door. Then, see you at the buffet for lunch!

Nothing in this model resembles, approaches, or nears a robust biblical faith, whether phrased with the rationale of evangelism or Gospel-centeredness.

We are to taste and see that Jesus is good, which means worship is not a fast consumption, but the hard work of making melody in our hearts to Christ and one another, of listening and repenting, of grieving our sins and exalting in our Savior. All of this demands the loyalty of men and women at all baptized stages of life to taste and see Jesus, not as a consumer, but a called inheritor of grace.

The McDonaldization of the Church is an abomination, and woe are we if we allow that philosophy to be seen as normal or if we act indifferent to such things. Christians are slow eaters: we allow the Word to enter and chew on it day and night. We taste and see that the Lord is good, which means we experience and objectively acknowledge that God is who he says he is and will not be mocked.

If Jesus is truly all-glorious above, then the saint must be all-enthralled below. So come, let us worship and give of ourselves—body and soul—before the throne of God for he is good and his steadfast love endures forever

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These last few days have been filled with long conversations with dear friends. I treasure them and their words with my heart. On one evening, we delved into each other’s lives and history; on another evening, we spent time dissecting the glories and agonies of life; and the other night, we sat around good food and delved–again–deep into our histories and who the shaping figures are in our lives. Even though parents speak in fragments to one another, I trust even those incomplete sentences–interrupted seven or eight times by the needs of four-year-olds–bore good fruit.

This is all a tribute to good conversation; the kind that leaves an imprint on the next day, and the next day. I am the kind of romantic who believes discipleship happens like that; through long conversations in the right direction. Some intimate, some intriguing, but always stimulating. There are people, and then there are people who are curious. The latter make good friends. These friendships are enriched by resurrection meals around a fire in good and in bad times.

One of the blessings I’ve had over the years is to speak freely about a host of issues that few pastors wish to discuss on social media, unless, of course, they take upon themselves anonymous identities. I met with a pastor a few months ago who wondered if I get a lot of “hate” from readers for the things I say. I was genuinely puzzled by his words. I simply take it as an exercise in written dialogue with others. Yes, some don’t like this or that, but I will take that rather than this sentiment.

I am part of a denomination that rarely if ever makes the map when it comes to national discourse. Our pastors are not well known; with few exceptions, they don’t make headlines, and when we do, it’s to engage in intramural discussions that 0.001% of evangelicals care to ponder and the other times, we find ourselves as the amusement of leftists.

I actually find this lack of exposure fairly comforting. It means that I, as a pastor of a growing congregation, have the luxury of opining about a host of topics I find to be biblically important, culturally necessary, and pastorally expedient without distractions. This allows me to minister to a small group of people that are interested in growth and find arguments built in lengthy paragraphs compelling.

In some ways, my goal of writing has always been to slowly, but surely, convince my readers that building frameworks for life are important, and thinking about current issues or rituals through a Christian perspective is crucial for the well-being of any society. I am still a believer in long-form conversation and dialogue about the good, true and beautiful, and I view it as an investment in the kingdom of God.

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