An overture to the 51st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America would expand the pool of representatives for those accused by church courts and bring the PCA’s practice more in line with that of her conservative presbyterian sister denominations. Church . . . Continue reading →
May 2024 Archive
Alexis de Tocqueville and American Exceptionalism
It must be acknowledged that in few of the civilized nations of our time have the higher sciences made less progress than in the United States; and in few have great artists, distinguished poets, or celebrated writers been more rare. Many Europeans, . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: Questions About Reformed Baptists And Supralapsarianism
Dr Clark answers listener questions about Reformed Baptists and about whether supralapsarians have their own Christology. Continue reading →
Review: Retrieving Augustine’s Doctrine of Creation: Ancient Wisdom for Current Controversy By Gavin Ortlund
It was in seminary that a certain Church history professor (and President of the HRA) taught me about the technical theological distinction between lumpers and splitters. If you are unfamiliar, let me clue you in. There are people who group things together . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Sub-Christian Nationalism (6)
Dr Clark continues evaluating the Statement on Christian Nationalism. Continue reading →
Perkins Explains What Baptism Does And Does Not Do
The third point is, how baptism confers grace? Answer. It confers grace because it is a means to give and exhibit to the believing mind Christ with His benefits, and this it does by His signification. For it serves as a particular . . . Continue reading →
As It Was In The Days Of Noah (29): 2 Peter 1:12–15
Peter knew that his pilgrimage was coming to a close. He says so in verse 14 in our passage: “I know that the removal (ἀπόθεσις) of my tent (σκηνώματός) is soon.” Continue reading →
Five Christian Ideas That Promote Political Moderation: Part 1
Many American Christians show an increasing affinity for radical politics. Many of these, dissatisfied with lawless excess and social decay, are more inclined to a politics of the far right, though not exclusively.1 Continue reading →
Luther: We Are No Longer Under The Types And Shadows
Now the Galatians had been forced by the false apostles to observe these same rites as something necessary for righteousness. This is why he says that they have lost grace and Christian liberty, and have turned back to the slavery of the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: If We Baptize Holy Covenant Children Why Not Holy Unbelieving Spouses?
If Reformed Church baptize covenant children because Paul calls them “holy” in 1 Corinthians 7, why don’t we baptize unbelieving spouses, whom Paul also calls holy? Continue reading →
How We Got Here: The Roots Of The Current Controversy Over Justification
Presently there is open disagreement within Reformed and Presbyterian churches over the most basic elements of the doctrine of justification. Some are arguing (implicitly and explicitly) that the doctrine of justification contained in the Reformed confessions and catechisms (i.e., symbols) is either inadequate or incorrect. Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For the Week of April 29–May 5, 2024
These were the top five posts for the week beginning April 29–May 5, 2024. Continue reading →
We Are Free To Obey
One of the most important aspects of the Christian life I learned about in seminary has to do with our freedom in Christ to love and obey God. I’m always thankful to my professor R. Scott Clark for emphasizing the following point, and it’s . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast For May 5, 2024: “Feathers And All:” The Scriptures Are Enough (12)
In this episode Dr Clark considers the uniqueness of the Pentecost events in Acts. Continue reading →
Psalm 50: The Heart Of A Worshipper—Proper Sacrifices (Part 2)
In the first part of our exposition of Psalm 50, we considered what proper, or correct worship is—that is, worship offered according to the Word of God (Regulative Principle of Worship) and given with all of the heart, mind, soul, and strength. . . . Continue reading →
The Canons Of Dork #28 For May 4, 2024
Sometimes you have to drive outside the lines. Continue reading →
Advice To Young Pastors
I was twenty-eight years old when I started in full-time ministry in 1999 as associate pastor of a large Presbyterian church. I was thirty when I was called to pastor a small suburban church on my own. I made loads of mistakes . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: What “Last Days” Really Means
This use of the phrase “last days” as marking the dawn of the new age of redemption can be seen in Peter’s Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:16–17). Peter demonstrated that the coming of Christ and his resurrection clearly meant that the last days . . . Continue reading →
How Was Christ Alive To Sin?
In our Bible study for the Eugene Reformed work, we have been faithfully crawling through Romans—the slow pace is my fault I am afraid. Romans is just such a rich book of the Scriptures that I cannot resist looking at every little . . . Continue reading →
Presbycast: Talking To Your Neighbors About Worship
Drs. R. Scott Clark and Harrison Perkins, and small-church ministers Aaron De Boer and Zach Byrd made up a geographically and denominationally diverse panel of earnest, pastoral, and learned men. Here is the episode audio in its native habitat. For future reference, . . . Continue reading →