Paul Helm has taught at the University of Liverpool (1964–93), was Professor of Kings College London (1993–2000), and held the J. I. Packer chair in theology at Regent College (2001–05). He was one of the first writers to critique the Calvin Versus . . . Continue reading →
October 2018 Archive
Charles Finney Does Not Live Here
Did you stop and get to know those people in the churches? Did you ask them about their burdens? Is it possible there were things much bigger that you were overlooking because of a superficial need for an emotional buzz during worship? . . . Continue reading →
Reformation 2018: Salvation Is By Abounding Grace Alone
Protestant churches, i.e., those that still believe and confess the theology, piety, and practice recovered in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, celebrate Reformation Day on October 31. This is the day, in 1517, that Dr Martin Luther (1483–1546), a German . . . Continue reading →
So You Say You Want A Revolution?
Judging by what one sees in the media, Americans seem to be at war with one another. Political violence seems to be a rising problem. We are not yet witnessing the sorts of bombings and mass protests that marked the late 1960s . . . Continue reading →
The Gentle Genevans: Reversing The Myth Of The Persecution Of Witches In Calvin’s Geneva
An old and tenacious legend insists that Calvin’s Geneva—the largest and most important city in the Jura region–was terribly severe in its persecution of witches. Hugh Trevor-Roper, the most recent exponent of this belief, declared that “In Geneva, which before had been . . . Continue reading →
Follow The Money: Opponents Of Religious Liberty Spending Large Sums
Some opponents of broad religious freedom protections have spent over $500,000 on advocacy and public relations campaigns related to the Masterpiece Cakeshop Supreme Court decision, a CNA analysis of recent foundation grantmaking has found. The spending is among at least $2.4 million . . . Continue reading →
AGR On Romans: The Power Of God For Salvation (5)
Romans is one of the greatest resources available to the Christian faith and life. Written in the mid-to late AD 50s to the congregation in Rome, Paul sent this pastoral letter to make clear the gospel, that salvation is from the Lord, . . . Continue reading →
The World Was Made To Be Known And You Were Made To Know It
Is the world that we experience with our five senses (taste, touch, smell, hear, sight) real or an illusion? To some that might seem like a silly question with an obvious answer but, in fact, it is one that has troubled philosophers . . . Continue reading →
Why “Distributed” Pastoral Education Is Not The Solution
There are problems with the traditional model for preparing pastors but some of the proposed alternatives are worse. One of those is “Distributed Education” model. The traditional model is that you have 20 professors on campus and all the students have to . . . Continue reading →
Talking Baptism And Defining “Reformed” With Theololgy Gals
For your listening pleasure: an hour-long conversation with the Theology Gals podcast (Coleen and Angela) on how to define the adjective Reformed and answering questions about baptism. Here is the episode. RESOURCES On Being Reformed: Debates over a Theological Identity by Matthew . . . Continue reading →
New Film: American Gospel
For far too many American and global Christians, the “prosperity gospel” is all they know of Christianity. For far too many Christians what the Scriptures actually teach about the law and the gospel is almost entirely unknown. Their leaders and influences are . . . Continue reading →
Why Don’t Confessional Reformed Churches Grow More Quickly?
When newcomers enter confessional Presbyterian and Reformed (hereafter, P&R) churches they have entered a world that is different from that with which they are familiar. I have written a very brief tour guide for such pilgrims and their hosts. In this essay . . . Continue reading →
A Study In Leadership, Loyalty, And Courage: Sgt Major John Canley Earns The Medal Of Honor
Pastors Are Not Cowboys
I am just back from Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is cowboy country. While there I had opportunity to talk to an old friend and pastor about the business of shepherding and loving God’s people. Wyoming is cowboy country. The cowboy is Wyoming’s “brand.” . . . Continue reading →
What Madness Is This?
What madness is this? What unholy and devilishly complex word could contain such a multitude of meaning? Merriam-Webster, “Words at Play” on the etymology, history, and meanings of “nice.”
1929 Or 2018?
You will have a battle, too, when you go forth as ministers into the church. The church is now in a period of deadly conflict. The redemptive religion known as Christianity is contending, in our own Presbyterian Church and in all the . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Echoes Of Exodus
Few stories in the Bible are as important to understanding the rest of Scripture as the Exodus. Throughout the Old Testament and beyond, this event came to define the nature of salvation. It was paradigmatic. Thus, in order to understand Scripture on . . . Continue reading →
AGR on Romans: The Power of God For Salvation (4)
Romans is one of the greatest resources available to the Christian faith and life. Written in the mid-to late AD 50s to the congregation in Rome, Paul sent this pastoral letter to make clear the gospel, that salvation is from the Lord, . . . Continue reading →
AGR On The State Of Modern Preaching (1) With W. Robert Godfrey
Scripture says: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, . . . Continue reading →
Prayer, Privacy, And Piety
When teaching his disciples about prayer, our Lord said: And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. . . . Continue reading →