“Thou has pierced my heart with Thy Word, and I have loved Thee.”1 In the last article, we examined Augustine’s vigorous Christ-centered interpretation of Scripture. Another significant aspect of his biblical interpretation is love. For Augustine, the proper interpretation of Scripture leads . . . Continue reading →
2023 Archive
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (50)
This is part 50 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Using Strength to Serve
We live in a time where it is thought that strength must be shown for it to be “strength.” Arguing online is the norm. Brash politicians are lauded. The bolder the talking head, the better. For men to be men they must . . . Continue reading →
Are Theocratic Politics Of The Essence Of The Reformed Confession?
When Theodosius I (AD 347–95) took the throne in AD 379, no one knew how profoundly the next 1,500 years of Christian history would be affected (and effected) by his promulgation of the decree (AD 380) to make Christianity the state religion . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For the Week of July 10–16, 2023
These were the top five posts for the week beginning July 10–16, 2023. Continue reading →
Did Jesus Really Turn Water Into Wine?
The account of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana is a well-known story from the Gospel of John. When commenting upon this passage, many focus on the exceptional quality of the wine that Jesus produced, while others prefer . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast For July 16, 2023: It’s A Q&A Palooza!
It’s 90 minutes of calls, texts, emails, comments, and questions. Did the Reformed (e.g., Calvin) hold to a continuationist view of the gifts? Did the Reformed hold to common grace and the free offer of the gospel etc? How do we read . . . Continue reading →
Gladness In The Face Of Realism: The Practice of Restoration and Rejoicing in Psalm 126 (Part 2)
“Here today, gone tomorrow.” “Like the flip of a switch.” “In the blink of an eye.” “At the drop of a hat.” We have a stack of phrases to express how quickly our situations can change, even unexpectedly so. We can all . . . Continue reading →
How “Pride” Month Became a Religious Holiday
The month of June hadn’t even begun yet when Donald Trump became the first Republican president to express his support for LGBT Pride Month. On May 31, President Trump tweeted about celebrating LGBT Pride Month and how we should “recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT . . . Continue reading →
Ray Of Hope: Parents With Inconvenient Truths About Trans
We are writing with some concerns about our child’s experience in school around the issue of gender. We understand this is a challenging and controversial topic in schools, and respect that different children and their families have different needs and beliefs regarding gender . . . Continue reading →
Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America (Part 3): Strategic Planning And Corporate Culture Change
When the 35th GA convened at Memphis’ Cook Convention Center June 12–14, 2007, the PCA was changing from the inside out. Its expanded Overtures Committee met for the first time, and the CMC (Cooperative Ministries Committee) was begun. CofCs (Committee of Commissioners) . . . Continue reading →
The Establishment Principle
In my mind, the Old Testament model of theocracy doesn’t clearly correlate with the New Testament or Apostolic Church practices, or even the Patristics for that matter, which suggests that applying Old Testament concepts to Christian statecraft might be anachronistic or misguided. . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (49)
This is part 49 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Review: The Lord’s Prayer: Learning from Jesus on What, Why, and How to Pray by Kevin DeYoung
Most of us know that we should pray more often. We do not need a book to tell us this. We only need to consider our own daily prayers to see our failures. If we already know this, then why bother reading . . . Continue reading →
Dear Abusive Men In The Church
Dear abusive men in the church, I so often feel like berating you, but in what follows I actually want to give you a compliment of sorts. You are succeeding in changing hearts and minds about a key issue facing the church . . . Continue reading →
Sub-Christian Nationalism? (Part 7)
In Article VIII the Statement (version 2) says: WE AFFIRM that God’s purpose for civil government is to establish justice for His glory and the good of all people. We affirm that unjust laws harm people and that just laws reflect the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (48)
This is part 48 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (47)
This is part 47 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Synod Turns Back Neland Ave CRC Appeal
Synod 2023 of the Christian Reformed Church in North America rejected an appeal by the council of Neland Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids, Mich., of a Synod 2022 order that called for the congregation to rescind its decision to ordain a deacon . . . Continue reading →
Laboring For The Spoils Of Scripture: Augustine’s Threefold Hermeneutic (Part One)
“Like fingernails on a chalkboard.” Sometimes that phrase captures my response to a bizarre interpretation of Scripture. For example, I recently read a modern commentary on the story in Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus heals a man with leprosy: “Jesus stretched out his . . . Continue reading →