July 2023 Archive

Gladness In The Face Of Realism: An Examination of Restoration and Rejoicing in Psalm 126 (Part 1)

by on July 8, 2023

The Psalter is a multivalent book, giving us examples for how the godly respond to the whole spectrum of experiences that we face in the Christian life. This collection of songs contains praises, laments, thanksgivings, and so many other examples of how . . . Continue reading →

Activists Are Controlling Scientific Research

by on July 8, 2023 | 1 Comment

A significant social-science paper, co-authored by my casual friend Michael Bailey, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Northwestern, was just retracted by the prestigious Springer-network journal Archives of Sexual Behavior. It’s worth looking at exactly why this happened. …All right: enough wordplay. In reality, anyone . . . Continue reading →

Ruling Elder Renaissance

by on July 7, 2023 | 1 Comment

The recently-concluded 50th Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly in Memphis, TN was the second-largest ever with (unofficially) 2250 elders in attendance; only the previous year’s assembly was larger with 2385 in attendance. More significantly, this year’s meeting solidified a trend of . . . Continue reading →

Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America (Part 2): The Urban Turn

by on July 7, 2023

The 14th GA met in the elegant Academy of Music (a performing arts center) in the city center of Philadelphia, June 23–27, 1986. In addition to sweltering summer temperatures, a sanitation strike threatened conveniences. Nevertheless, the Assembly met in city center Philadelphia, . . . Continue reading →

SCOTUS: Employers May Not Prohibit Sabbath Observance, But Do American Christians Care?

by on July 6, 2023 | 14 Comments

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recently convened to make some of the most significant rulings on religious freedom in recent years. The court held unanimously: “Title VII requires an employer that denies a religious accommodation to show that the . . . Continue reading →

Sub-Christian Nationalism? (Part 6)

by on July 5, 2023 | 1 Comment

WE AFFIRM that civil officials are God’s deacons of justice. Therefore, they must obey His commands and rule under His authority. We affirm that all human authorities, including civil officials, possess authority only as it has been delegated to them by God . . . Continue reading →

Discovering The Reformed Confession (Part 6): Reformed, Searching, and Undecided

by on July 4, 2023 | 9 Comments

Sovereign Grace Church has not yet landed in a denominational home. We are studying, inquiring, and praying. In good Reformed fashion, we are attempting to move slowly and deliberately—doing everything decently and in order. This step has not been easy for us. . . . Continue reading →

Recovering The Art of Persuasion

by on July 3, 2023 | 4 Comments

“Of all things that human beings do,” Mortimer Adler once observed, “conversing with one another is the most characteristically human.” Unfortunately, in our day, we no longer have many opportunities for meaningful conversations. Virtual conversations abound—we watch talking heads on television or . . . Continue reading →