Just kidding, of course. We know you don't hate music.

And most importantly, what's with the embedded pictures? When did we become the cool kids' blog? I thought we were the vanguard of the right wing. Only liberals use visuals... I'm not sure I even know how to embed something.

In all seriousness, Greg, I appreciate your thoughts. You always bring a sharp mind to these kinds of things.

I agree that the list of behaviors I mentioned are examples of Christian ethics. My point would be that if Christians genuinely hold to the ethics taught in the NT, they will have a radical impact on their culture (Wilberforce comes to mind as an example, the church's current stance against abortion is another).

I would even agree that social action/mercy ministry/electing Mike Huckabee are implications of the gospel. But I think that they are inescapable implications. I think Jesus did too. In Matthew 25:31-46, we see the Son of Man coming with his angels to sit on his heavenly throne in glory. And what will he be looking for? What will distinguish his sheep from the goats? Cups of water, food given to the hungry, clothes for those in need. Obviously, the sheep didn't earn their reward by their mercy... so musn't it be the case that Jesus is viewing those actions as the evidence of their saving faith? That's a heck of an implication.

Now, look, I know that in verse 40 Jesus limits the objects of mercy to his "brothers". And Greg, you mentioned the NT doesn't mention the need for mercy outside the family of faith. But in all honesty, I loathe that argument. Certainly the church has an obligation to its own, no doubt about it. I'd even accept that the church's primary obligation is to its own. But when we start to make careful exegetical arguments in order to limit the number of people to whom we owe mercy... well, isn't that exactly what the Pharisees did? Can you imagine standing before the Son of Man, the same one who told the parable of the Good Samaritan, and saying, "Wow, you know, it just wasn't clear in the text. It seemed like we only owed mercy to other Christians." I know my own heart, I know how reluctant I am to show mercy, I know how badly I want to have an excuse not to show mercy to those outside the church... and so I am very suspicious of any argument that justifies my coldness of heart.

Just to be clear, Greg, I am not suggesting that you lack mercy or have a cold heart. In fact, I think you're right that we are talking about matters of emphasis. But I think that the renewed emphasis on social action in Reformed circles is a good thing. As a pastor, I haven't yet found a church member that was too passionate about social reformation and mercy ministry. More often, I have to cajole Christians to simply make friends with a non-believer. I can't wait until my church is so merciful to outsiders that I have to rein them in a little.