Confessional Reformed Devotional Literature?

In Recovering the Reformed Confession I defined the the “Reformed Confession” both narrowly (referring to the confessional documents adopted by the churches) and broadly referring to the theology, piety, and practice in, with, and around the confessions themselves. Subsequent discussions here and . . . Continue reading →

Blame it on the Reformation: Hart Replies to Gregory

I have been in conversations before with Roman Catholics about a sacramental view of the universe and it still leaves be flummoxed. It is akin to the Reformed w-w phenomenon where Christianity is nothing unless it provides a comprehensive account of everything. . . . Continue reading →

The Law Written on Their Hearts

Paul Bloom, in the NY Times Magazine (May 5, 2010), writes: A growing body of evidence, though, suggests that humans do have a rudimentary moral sense from the very start of life. With the help of well-designed experiments, you can see glimmers . . . Continue reading →

Deconstructing Puritanism

In “Beware the Puritan Paralysis” Trevin Wax cautions us about a tendency to introspection. He makes a very important point: Too many times, we dress up our introspection with flowery terms like “accountability” and “mortification” and “gospel-centered change.” Even if all these . . . Continue reading →

So Many Reasons

On this day we rightly pause to give thanks for the innumerable blessings we have received, both those common to all image bearers and those saving benefits particular to believers. Chief among the latter are saving faith and Spirit-wrought union with Christ . . . Continue reading →

The Reformation Lives…In Italy

When we think of Italy we probably don’t think about a growing, confessional Reformed church but it exists. The Rev Andrea Ferrari not has the coolest name in the Western world but he is the minister. He was ordained in 2010 and . . . Continue reading →

Was Calvin A Homosexual Convict?

Recently a correspondent wrote to ask about the following: “An interesting story: in 1527, the year he was 18, Calvin was arrested, tried, and convicted of homosexual activity. Instead of being executed (per French law at the time), he was branded with . . . Continue reading →

Unintended Reformulation?

Brad Gregory is a well-respected Reformation historian. He has taught at Stanford and now teaches at Notre Dame. His study of martyrdom in the Reformation period is highly regarded. He has produced a new work which is receiving a good deal of . . . Continue reading →

It’s Here: Muller on Calvin and the Reformed Tradition

This is going to be fun. Anyone who is interested in the history of Reformed theology, in finding out what the classical Reformed authors (of which Calvin was one) actually said, must get to grips with the work of Richard Muller. By . . . Continue reading →

Children Can Memorize But Are The Adults Willing?

Parents and other catechists have sometimes said or implied to me that children just aren’t able to memorize in the modern age and therefore we shouldn’t insist that they memorize Scripture or catechism. This morning I had reason to doubt that. I . . . Continue reading →

Malthus or Althusius? An Introduction To A Pioneering Reformed Social Theorist

We seem to live in a Malthusian age, i.e., an age of increasing scarcity or perhaps fear of scarcity, where concern over how to divide an economic (and environmental) pie of limited size (called a “zero sum game”) has replaced the idea . . . Continue reading →

In Case You’re Still Debating Whether to Attend the Conference

San Diego County inland is a series of hills, ridges, and canyons. This view is about 15 minutes north of the seminary. People who haven’t visited North San Diego County may imagine it to be much more urban than it is. There are . . . Continue reading →