William Godfrey Ordained to Ministry of Word and Sacrament

Every Christian Sabbath is a day of joy. After all, by God’s grace we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Yesterday, however, was a particularly joyful Lord’s Day at Grace URC in Torrance, CA since WSC graduate William Godfrey was ordained to the Ministry of . . . Continue reading →

What Happens When You Don’t Have a Category for Wisdom or Nature

Introduction: Losing Our Religion When Andy Kaufman wrestled women in the late 70s and early 80s it was a gag, it was outrageous because, until he did it, it was unthinkable. Why? Because there is such a thing as nature (i.e.., the . . . Continue reading →

Pastor Dave is Looking for Courageous Calvinism in the PCA

He writes: “I’m not sure that there are many in the PCA with this conviction. We are going with the flow, paddling with the current of broad evangelicalism seeking relevance, influence, and recognition. And sadly, to the extent we pursue those things . . . Continue reading →

Maybe They Really Don’t Get It

Over the years of battling the moralists (Federal Visionists, Norman Shepherd et al) I’ve not always been certain whether the moralists understand the orthodox doctrine of justification and reject it or if they think they are really teaching it.  Here’s a post . . . Continue reading →

Colson Calls for Doctrinal Boot Camp: But Which Doctrine?

In 1994 Chuck Colson attempted to convince evangelicals that the decline of the culture was so precipitous that they needed to set aside the historic Protestant doctrine of justification in favor of an intentionally equivocal statement about how we are accepted by . . . Continue reading →

"Tough Grace" Is Not Grace (and It’s Not Law Either)

In an unsigned editorial yesterday CT came out in favor of what it calls “tough grace.” The presenting issue or symptom is CT’s concern that Christian institutions are failing to be both “tough” and “gracious” simultaneously. The argument is that the fall . . . Continue reading →

Tabletalk: Divorcing Doctrine from Scripture

What follows is from the latest issue of Tabletalk, which contains a series of letters from “Legion” to his young assistant, the style of C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Dear Pithius, Our dear boy, you quite misunderstand the problem. So long as Christians . . . Continue reading →

Legal and Gospel Mortification

Ralph Erskine (1685-1752) was the brother of Ebeneezer Erskine and a defender of the Reformation doctrines of justification and sanctification against the neonomians and legalists of his day. Mortification is the old-fashioned way of saying, “dying to self.” In the Heidelberg Catechism . . . Continue reading →