As many writers have noted, perhaps most notable among them recently the Archbishop of Canterbury, in Western culture, the cross has largely lost its religious significance. One would not see pop stars of the 1940s and 50s wearing gold or silver cross while performing. . . . Continue reading →
Thanks to the brothers and sisters at Christ United Reformed Church, Santee, California for doing such a terrific job hosting their first ever Reformation Day conference last Saturday. The audio for the entire conference is available online. Here’s my talk on “By Grace Alone, . . . Continue reading →
Last time we looked at what is known from Scripture and from extra-biblical documents about the Roman governor who sentenced our Lord to death. The question remains, however, why our Lord permitted this? Indeed, “permitted” may not be strong enough a word. . . . Continue reading →
It is also important to comment on Junius’s relationship with Jacobus Arminius, who became professor at Leiden University in 1603. Junius carried on a correspondence with Arminius after meeting him at Leiden in 1596 at the wedding of Geertje Jacobsdochter (Arminius’s aunt) . . . Continue reading →
When we read the Gospel accounts we can be tempted to disconnect them from the historical context in which the life of Christ occurred. One of the several functions of this line in the Apostles’ Creed, “suffered under Pontius Pilate” is to . . . Continue reading →
THE CREEDS OF FOUR COUNCILS RECEIVED. And, to say many things with a few words, with a sincere heart we believe, and freely confess with open mouth, whatever things are defined from the Holy Scriptures concerning the mystery of the incarnation of . . . Continue reading →
“Evangelical,” on the other hand, although it is a fine term, does not quite seem to designate clearly enough the position of those who hold specifically to the system of doctrine taught in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as distinguished from other . . . Continue reading →
Church growth is a thorny subject. First there are the thistles of rationalism in which self-proclaimed experts offer to sell to pastors and churches a three-point program which will transform their average congregation to a super church. Back in the late 80s and early . . . Continue reading →
This is part of the Shia observance of Day of Ashura.
Tom and Ray Magliozzi, better known as one-half of Click and Clack of Car Talk fame, died yesterday of complications stemming from Alzheimers. He was 77. As Ray said yesterday, it was true. He really couldn’t remember the puzzlers. Tom and Ray . . . Continue reading →
Μὴ οὖν τις ὑμᾶς κρινέτω ἐν βρώσει καὶ ἐν πόσει ἢ ἐν μέρει ἑορτῆς ἢ νεομηνίας ἢ σαββάτων· 17 ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ (Col 2:16–17) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of . . . Continue reading →
That rational, logical, research-based position will satisfy some, but it will not satisfy anti-spanking activists, who would have the government tell parents how they may and may not discipline their children. They see no difference between two open-handed swats to a child’s . . . Continue reading →
The Plains are not exactly a hotbed of confessional Reformed theology, piety, and practice. Nebraska is predominantly Romanist (28%). Lutherans make up 16% of the population followed by Methodists (11%), Baptists (9%), and (mainline) Presbyterians (4%). The Platte Valley Presbytery (PCA) has 9 . . . Continue reading →
It’s season 6 and we’re talking about wisdom. Foolishness has been a part of the human condition since the fall but it was not that way in the beginning. We were not made to be fools and it is possible to find . . . Continue reading →
With the ongoing stramash surrounding Gordon College and its accreditation, the pressure is building on institutions of higher education with religious affiliations. The only question now seems to be: how many will stand firm? If an institution as prestigious and powerful as . . . Continue reading →
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It cannot be too strongly emphasized at the outset that Calvin did not think of himself as “Reformed” in the sense of inner-Protestant polemics. Calvin was not a Calvinist but an Evangelical, and what he thought about Luther can only be understood . . . Continue reading →
Each year on this date confessing Protestants remember Martin Luther’s protest against the abuse of indulgences. He followed the academic custom of the day by compiling a list of theses, short statements or claims. Sometimes one would follow from the other but . . . Continue reading →