This is a case about change—and how best to handle it under the United States Constitution. From the vantage point of 2014, it would now seem, the question is not whether American law will allow gay couples to marry; it is when . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
Heidelberg 40: Why Did Jesus Have To Die? (1)
From a purely human point of view, from a historical point of view, from an intellectual point of view, there have been few historical figures as compelling and important as Jesus of Nazareth. Many regard him as a sort of Jewish Socrates, . . . Continue reading →
From Tolerance To Compulsion
We’ve gone from tolerance to compulsion,’’ the Giffords’ lawyer, James Trainor, told me. “State government should not be forcing people to violate their own religious beliefs, nor should they be forced to make a choice between making a living and violating their . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 39: The Curse Of The Cross
As many writers have noted, perhaps most notable among them recently the Archbishop of Canterbury, in Western culture, the cross has largely lost its religious significance. One would not see pop stars of the 1940s and 50s wearing gold or silver cross while performing. . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Reformation Day 2014
Thanks to the brothers and sisters at Christ United Reformed Church, Santee, California for doing such a terrific job hosting their first ever Reformation Day conference last Saturday. The audio for the entire conference is available online. Here’s my talk on “By Grace Alone, . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 38: Why Did Christ Suffer Under Pontius Pilate? (2)
Last time we looked at what is known from Scripture and from extra-biblical documents about the Roman governor who sentenced our Lord to death. The question remains, however, why our Lord permitted this? Indeed, “permitted” may not be strong enough a word. . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 38: Why Did Christ Suffer Under Pontius Pilate? (1)
When we read the Gospel accounts we can be tempted to disconnect them from the historical context in which the life of Christ occurred. One of the several functions of this line in the Apostles’ Creed, “suffered under Pontius Pilate” is to . . . Continue reading →
The Reformed Are Catholic
THE CREEDS OF FOUR COUNCILS RECEIVED. And, to say many things with a few words, with a sincere heart we believe, and freely confess with open mouth, whatever things are defined from the Holy Scriptures concerning the mystery of the incarnation of . . . Continue reading →
Machen: Evangelical Is Not Enough
“Evangelical,” on the other hand, although it is a fine term, does not quite seem to designate clearly enough the position of those who hold specifically to the system of doctrine taught in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as distinguished from other . . . Continue reading →
Growing Reformed Churches: Doing The Simple Things
Church growth is a thorny subject. First there are the thistles of rationalism in which self-proclaimed experts offer to sell to pastors and churches a three-point program which will transform their average congregation to a super church. Back in the late 80s and early . . . Continue reading →
Shi’a Islam Celebration Of Ashura (Caution: Hard To Watch)
This is part of the Shia observance of Day of Ashura.
Ben Says Thanks
November Sun
A Friend Most Of Us Never Met
Tom and Ray Magliozzi, better known as one-half of Click and Clack of Car Talk fame, died yesterday of complications stemming from Alzheimers. He was 77. As Ray said yesterday, it was true. He really couldn’t remember the puzzlers. Tom and Ray . . . Continue reading →
Sabbaths Or Sabbath In Colossians 2:16–17?
Μὴ οὖν τις ὑμᾶς κρινέτω ἐν βρώσει καὶ ἐν πόσει ἢ ἐν μέρει ἑορτῆς ἢ νεομηνίας ἢ σαββάτων· 17 ἅ ἐστιν σκιὰ τῶν μελλόντων, τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ (Col 2:16–17) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of . . . Continue reading →
Spanking Children Shouldn’t Be A Crime
That rational, logical, research-based position will satisfy some, but it will not satisfy anti-spanking activists, who would have the government tell parents how they may and may not discipline their children. They see no difference between two open-handed swats to a child’s . . . Continue reading →
Planting Reformation Seeds In The Plains For A Future Harvest
The Plains are not exactly a hotbed of confessional Reformed theology, piety, and practice. Nebraska is predominantly Romanist (28%). Lutherans make up 16% of the population followed by Methodists (11%), Baptists (9%), and (mainline) Presbyterians (4%). The Platte Valley Presbytery (PCA) has 9 . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Horton On Finding Wisdom
It’s season 6 and we’re talking about wisdom. Foolishness has been a part of the human condition since the fall but it was not that way in the beginning. We were not made to be fools and it is possible to find . . . Continue reading →
A Growing Cloud
With the ongoing stramash surrounding Gordon College and its accreditation, the pressure is building on institutions of higher education with religious affiliations. The only question now seems to be: how many will stand firm? If an institution as prestigious and powerful as . . . Continue reading →
See You In Santee
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