To understand the importance of the statement “faith alone,” we need to remember why the Reformers sought to recover the doctrine of God’s grace. They wanted to emphasize the fact that we are made right with God not through any merit of . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: Heidelblog
Strong Meat from the Stacks: Sayers On Pope Nicholas In The Eighth Circle Of Hell
The paradox which Pope displays in balanced antitheses, is displayed by Dante in violently juxtaposed images. “Judge not” says the gospel, “that ye be not judged.” Nevertheless, “till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise, pass . . . Continue reading →
Undergrads Abandon Free Speech
The college student disillusionment with free speech is growing at an alarming pace,” said Buckley Program Founder and Executive Director Lauren Noble. “More students are intimidated from speaking freely and more students are willing to intimidate others from speaking freely than at . . . Continue reading →
The Pragmatic Roots Of The Megachurch
Like all evangelical entrepreneurs, Warren didn’t simply leave everything up to God—he had a business plan. When Warren was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, he studied the writings of church-growth advocates such as Donald A. McGavran . . . Continue reading →
The HB Top Five For The Week Of February 13–19, 2023
These were the most viewed posts for the week of February 13–19, 2023. Continue reading →
Waltke Lays The Axe To The Root Of Dispensationalism
On the other hand, dispensationalists commit a fundamental hermeneutical blunder when they simplistically base their views, on an ill-defined notion of “the normal, plain” meaning of Scripture, and even worse, against its own fundamental principle, disallow the analogy-of-faith principle that could correct . . . Continue reading →
Waltke On The “Fundamental Error” Of Dispensational Eschatology
With regard to eschatology, dispensationalists commit the fundamental error of leaving the Reformed principle that unclear texts must be interpreted in the light of clear ones, and, instead, they interpret the clear texts of the New Testament epistles in light of the . . . Continue reading →
Dane Ortland’s Church Investigated For “Retaliation Charge”––How Can Churches Do Better?
A 2021 firing of a female staff member from a Chicago-area church led by pastor and author Dane Ortlund was determined to have “substantial evidence” of retaliation, according to an investigation into alleged discrimination by the state of Illinois. The former director . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For the Week Of February 6–12, 2023
Here are the 5 most popular posts on the Heidelblog from the week of February 5–12, 2023. Continue reading →
Strong Meat From The Stacks: Lewis On Egalitarian Education
Democratic education, says Aristotle, ought to mean, not the education which democrats like, but the education which will preserve democracy. Until we have realized that the two things do not necessarily go together we cannot think clearly about education. For example, an . . . Continue reading →
Turning Church Visitors Into Church Members
Then, however, seemingly out of nowhere, the new member is gone. The pastor is never consulted, but he is told by another member that the visitor was unhappy with something in the church, usually the friendliness of the people, and they are . . . Continue reading →
Yes, Your New Testament Bible Was Originally Written In Greek
The Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM) has not only been around a while, but it has gained steam. There are many blogs, video conferences, and even now a seminary to train pastors in the HRM. Why has this movement gained so much headway? . . . Continue reading →
Australian Couple Awarded Damages For Religious Discrimination
A Western Australian tribunal has found a Christian couple were discriminated against when their application to foster a child was rejected over their view that homosexuality is a sin. Byron and Keira Hordyk applied to become short-term foster carers in 2017 through . . . Continue reading →
Theonomy Is Evolving
Back in the 1990s, theonomy and Christian Reconstruction were hot topics in the Canadian Reformed Churches, particularly in northern Alberta. Theonomy is the view that contemporary governments are obligated to uphold the Mosaic civil laws. Christian Reconstruction includes theonomy as one of . . . Continue reading →
I Feel The Need, The Need For Creeds
So deep is my appreciation for this creed that I commend its vocal and consistent corporate confession not only in the classroom, but in the weekly worship assembly of the local church. I did not always give this commendation, however, on account . . . Continue reading →
Now, Easier Than Ever Before: Subscribe To The Heidelblog!
It’s never been easier to subscribe to the Heidelblog. Continue reading →
Dating The Book Of Revelation
It should be noted that not all of those who advocate a pre-A.D. 70 date for the writing of Revelation would fall into the contemporary “partial preterist” camp, often associated with postmillennialism. Ken Gentry, the author of a significant book arguing for . . . Continue reading →
A Faithful Elder Stands Up For The Sheep
Last year, Hohn Cho concluded Grace Community Church had made a mistake. The elders had publicly disciplined a woman for refusing to take back her husband. As it turned out, the woman’s fears proved true, and her husband went to prison for child . . . Continue reading →
Brothers In Christ Or In Class?
There are a number of ways to look at the current divisions that are emerging in traditional Protestant and evangelical circles in the United States. The old fault line between those who affirm and those who deny the reality of the supernatural—the . . . Continue reading →
Jesus Already ‘Gets Us,’ We Need To Get Him
Now, as the UMC shrinks, Methodists are spending millions of dollars through The Servant Foundation to run an exceedingly silly campaign called “He Gets Us.” Trying to be relatable, they have run ads during sporting events wading into the cultural fight with . . . Continue reading →