I know some preachers who are very good men, and very devoted to Christ, who seem somehow to let their Christianity make them cold and dead to all the movings of friendship. They do not outwardly lead the lives of hermits; on . . . Continue reading →
2010 Archive
We Expect the AAUP to Speak Up
An adjunct prof at the University of Illinois has been fired for offending a student (engaging in “hate speech”). What was that “hate speech”? He dared to contrast a natural-law approach to homosexuality with other approaches (HT: AR). RELATED POSTS Natural Law, . . . Continue reading →
The Glory of Rome
The election of Pope Paul III in 1534 signaled the beginning of the counter-Reformation; that is Rome’s response to Luther, Calvin and their followers. One way Paul III hoped to counter the teachings of the reformation was to complete the construction of . . . Continue reading →
When Bellicosity is No Virtue and Other Beauties
It depends, of course, upon who is being or deemed “bellicose” doesn’t it? John Muether has a helpful meditation on this question in the latest issue of the Nicotine Theological Journal (“thus think, and smoke tobacco”—Ralph Erskine (1685-1752; in “Smoking Spiritualized“). The . . . Continue reading →
Audio Resources: The Presbyterian and Reformed Family Tree
Ever wonder whence the split Ps and broken Rs come? Here’s a great interview with WSC’s Darryl Hart on the Presbyterian and Reformed family tree.
Horton: To Be or Not to Be? Reformed Christianity And American Evangelicalism
Somewhere along the way, however, the evangel became increasingly separated from evangelism; the message became subservient to the methods. Today, it is taken for granted by many that those most concerned about doctrine are least interested in reaching the lost (or, as . . . Continue reading →
Another Area Where a Two-Kingdoms/Spheres Ethic Would Help
Rome still doesn’t seem to understand how grave the problem of pedophile priests is. NPR (HT: RNS) reports on the new measures adopted by the Vatican, including revisions to canon law, to address the crisis.
Only God is Self-Sufficient
Martin Downes is reading Van Til: If one does not make human knowledge wholly dependent upon the original self-knowledge and consequent revelation of God to man, then man will have to seek knowledge within himself as the final reference point.
Review: Souls in Transition
Dale Van Dyke is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California and a pastor of Harvest OPC in Wyoming, MI. He has review today of Christian Smith’s latest. Myth: Young adults are into spiritually but not religion. This hoax has been promoted most . . . Continue reading →
17 Points Adopted by PCA GA
You saw it on the HB on April 30 in draft form. Then, on May 27 David Hall let us know about the action of the NW Georgia Presbytery to adopt a version of the 17 Points. Wes White has the version . . . Continue reading →
We're Talking About Practice; Not a Game, Not A Game, Not a Game
CNN has the story (HT: RNS). The ban still must pass the French Senate before it becomes law. This is a complicated issue. On the one hand the burqa (full body covering) and the niqab (partial face covering) are religious and political . . . Continue reading →
On Being Distracted (Updated)
I’m posting this as I was in the middle of answering 40 emails and putting the media player on pause. The WHI links follow an excellent interview with T. David Gordon on this very problem. I was particularly struck by his struggle . . . Continue reading →
Polanus 400
Amandus Polanus wrote one of the more significant Reformed theologies of the first half of the 17th century. It’s a remarkable work. Andrew Myers has a nice post introducing Polanus.
A Modest Proposal Renewed
Yesterday I got an email from a confessional Reformed Christian in Germany. It’s a “big deal,” because there aren’t very many Reformed folk left in Germany. His letter was a plea for help. It’s his impression that the confessional Reformed churches in . . . Continue reading →
The Old Harmony is New Again
Philip Benedict concedes that the Harmony was a more hopeful than a realistic expression of Protestant unity. But he adds that it was “one example of the conviction of many Reformed that the bonds of brotherhood ought to encompass the Lutheran churches . . . Continue reading →
The Presbyterian Guardian is Back (Link Corrected)
Well, the back issues are now available online (HT: Josh Martin)
A Less Famous Hero
The Rev Mr Arthur Kuschke is not the most well-known hero of Reformed theology, piety, and practice. There’s a high probability that you have never heard of him but despite his relative anonymity (some in the OPC and WTS will know his . . . Continue reading →
Beach Replies to Nampa (Pt 2)
…Nampa here (inadvertently) makes the Study Committee’s point for it by presenting materials that illustrate FV ambiguities and theological haze the FV spreads. First, we meet FV statements that report that baptism and covenantal membership constitute nothing short of divine salvation and . . . Continue reading →
Still A Stumbling Block
A Heidelblog Classic from January 9, 2007: —— A Jewish critic of Dr Laura Schlessinger (for her public abandonment of orthodox Judaism) writes: “The late Yeshayahu Leibovitz pointed out that the quintessential symbol of Christianity is Jesus dying on the cross for . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours—To the Church at Smyrna: The Story of Fikret Bocek
This week Office Hours talks with Fikret Bocek, graduate of Westminster Seminary California and a Reformed church planter and pastor in Izmir (Smyrna), Turkey. In this interview, recorded last summer, just after the planting of the congregation in May, 2009, Fikret tells . . . Continue reading →