Valley Center In April
April 2017 Archive
Grammar Guerilla: Conversations, Discussions, And Arguments
For the better part of the last decade I have been hearing and reading the expression, “I do not like that conversation” or “I do not like that discussion.” If, in this context, the nouns discussion and conversation mean “the exchange of . . . Continue reading →
With The Daily Brew On Church History And Confessions
It was good to sit down this week with Adam and Jeremy on The Daily Brew discuss the importance of church history and confessions. We talked about ways to get started studying church history, some of my favorite biographies, the value of . . . Continue reading →
Who Is anti-Science?
Using the authority of “scientific consensus” to stifle heterodox hypotheses and alternative fields of research: Science is never truly settled. Indeed, challenging seemingly incontrovertible facts and continually retesting long-accepted theories are crucial components of the scientific method. Examples of perceived truths overturned . . . Continue reading →
In Defense Of Religion
One frequently sees the sentiment “I am not religious, I am a Christian” or something like this. This notion manifests itself in a variety of ways. For example, over the last several years we have seen the gradual abandonment of traditional Christian . . . Continue reading →
Sasse Talking Sense In The Senate On The Constitution
Sola Scriptura Contra The Anabaptists In 1523–24
In his second disputation with Balthasar Hubmair, in 1523, Huldrych Zwingli well articulated the formal principle of the Reformation: “For in all controversies concerning faith and religion, the divine Scripture alone ought to be our measure and rule rather than oral tradition.” . . . Continue reading →
Psychiatrist: Transgenderism Is Without Basis In Science
From a scientific perspective, let me clarify what ‘transgendered’ actually means. I am speaking now about the scientific perspective and not any political lobbying position that may be proposed by any group, medical or non-medical. ‘Transgendered’ are people who claim that they . . . Continue reading →
Owen On Sola Scriptura As Applied To Public Worship
Q. 3. How, then, are these ways and means of the worship of God made known unto us? A. In and by the written word only, which contains a full and perfect revelation of the will of God as to his whole . . . Continue reading →
The Rule Of Worship, Christ And Culture, And Asparagus Fest
As near as I am able to determine, the first fellow in the procession is a minister in the Church of England. I infer this from his (Roman) clerical garb, from which I infer that he might also be sympathetic to the . . . Continue reading →
Political Correctness Crushes The Individual
I am more convinced than ever that awareness of how propaganda works on us is KEY to helping our society regain sanity and reason. As more and more students at campuses around the country shout down politically incorrect speakers — even to . . . Continue reading →
The Church Of The Holy Elaboration
One of the highlights of the Spring semester is the opportunity to read through and discuss the Belgic Confession. Yesterday, as we worked through articles 24–27, a theme emerged. One of the great differences between the Roman communion and the Reformed communions is . . . Continue reading →
Available Now: Luther—The Life And Legacy Of The German Reformer
More information.
Muller: Sola Scriptura Was Essential To The Development Of Reformed Theology
Another precedent, already noted, was the confessional embodiment of the sola Scriptura of the Reformers. Insofar as confessional theology offered a primary basis for doctrinal development, the tendency of the Reformed confessions to begin with a doctrine of Scripture bore immediate fruit . . . Continue reading →
What Advantage Has The Jew? Much In Every Way.
A correspondent to the HB writes to ask, “According to Paul, who are Abraham’s children?” In one way or another, I get this question frequently. Most American evangelicals have been taught some version of Dispensational theology or are otherwise influenced by it . . . Continue reading →
Talking Covenant Theology With Theology Gals
Coleen and Ashley host a Reformed theology podcast aimed primarily at other women. In this episode they wanted to talk about covenant theology and related issues (e.g., Dispensationalism, baptism). Here’s the episode (with resources and show notes). Here’s the HB archival version. . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Mike Horton On Rediscovering The Holy Spirit
We live in a time of great, even extraordinary interest in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In some measure, this is because we live after the outbreak, in Topeka and in Los Angeles, of neo-Pentecostalism just after the turn . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On The Discovery Of The Empty Tomb
We now come to the closing scene of our redemption. For the lively assurance of our reconciliation with God arises from Christ having come from hell as the conqueror of death, in order to show that he had the power of a . . . Continue reading →
Meditations On Simon The Cyrene
Around Good Friday it is fitting that we should think first of all about the Lord of Glory who was crucified for his people (1 Cor 2:8). It is he alone who obeyed on our behalf, as our substitute. He alone is . . . Continue reading →
With Rob Ham On Recovering The Reformed Confession
Rob is pastor of Keystone Heights Presbyterian Church in, wait for it, Keystone Heights, FL (northeast of Gainesville). He hosts a daily podcast, which is available via the church’s website or sermon audio or on iTunes. Rob is a former student of . . . Continue reading →