The answer to why high numbers of Millennials don’t trust other people lies in understanding the nature of trust itself and the social context in which Millennials find themselves. To trust someone, you need to share common bonds of affection, values, and . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
The Twofold Government And Citizenship
Cal State Has Crossed A Line
In (1559) Institutes 3.19.15 Calvin wrote that God has instituted a “twofold government in man” (duplex esse in homine regimen). This truth means that we have a legitimate interest in both sacred and secular spheres. By distinguishing between sacred and secular spheres . . . Continue reading →
The First Benefit Of A Smaller Congregation
When there are fewer people in a place, it’s much harder to hide. The first Sunday Abby and I attended the church (we’re members now), we sat in the back. Our intent was to bolt as soon as the benediction was pronounced . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: The Theology Of The Westminster Standards
The Westminster Standards are a collection of churchly documents, a confession of faith, and two catechisms drafted by an assembly of pastors and theologians called to meet to provide a confession and catechisms that would unify a nation divided internally by civil . . . Continue reading →
Discomfort As Ground For Silencing Dissent
When you invite very conservative speakers here who perhaps have controversial views on Islam or homosexuality, you essentially make Yale a very uncomfortable place for a large percentage of the people here on campus, and everyone should feel at home at college…. . . . Continue reading →
Ameer Saves The Day
The Cruelty Of Political Correctness
Even though reports were reaching social workers of the crimes in Rotherham as far back as the 1990s, nothing of consequence was done for more than a decade. The police were pigheaded and clueless, and the fear of being called “racist” paralyzed . . . Continue reading →
Mr Murray Distinguishes Law And Gospel
Recognition of this datum of awful sanctity, and republication of it with conviction and authority is the only path of repentance and restoration. As we recognize the awful sanctity that surrounds the law, we shall certainly be crushed with a sense of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 33: God’s Eternally And Only Begotten Son And His Adopted Sons (3)
We are considering how we understand the language of the Apostles’ Creed, when we say, “only begotten Son” and how we explain it in our catechism. In Question 33 we say: 33. Why is He called God’s “only begotten Son,” since we . . . Continue reading →
God’s Twofold Kingdom in Belgic Confession Art. 36
By using this language, the Belgic Confession grounds the civil government in God’s goodness, not his grace, in creation, not redemption. God rules over all things, but in two different ways, as the two kingdoms doctrine of the Reformers expressed. This doctrine . . . Continue reading →
Mr Murray On The Distinction Between Law And Grace
…the purity and integrity of the gospel stands or falls with the absoluteness of the antithesis between the function and potency of law, one the one hand, and the function and potency of grace, on the other. —John Murray, Principles of Conduct: . . . Continue reading →
Recovering The Reformed Confession on Kindle for $1.99
Thanks to HB reader Frank Aderholdt for letting us know that, for the moment anyway, the publisher is selling the Kindle version of Recovering the Reformed Confession for the paltry sum of $1.99. It is available in paper. The regular Kindle price . . . Continue reading →
Limousine Greens
If greens were going to match their advocacy with concrete action, they would move from Santa Cruz or Mill Valley to Eureka or Yuba City where the rain falls — or at least inward to Fresno and Visalia where for eons runoff . . . Continue reading →
It’s Not Unusual
To borrow from that paragon of 1960s Welsh hipness: It’s not unusual for one generation to doubt the mores (the customs) of the previous generation. What we think of as the “teen culture” rebellion of the 1950s (e.g., Elvis) and 60s (e.g., . . . Continue reading →
An Ambiguity About “Historic” Worship
Using a word like historic in connection with worship can immediately raise defenses and lead to misunderstandings. When some folks hear “historic” they think: “Oh no, you want a boring formal service with no new songs” or “you are trying to impose . . . Continue reading →
The Fugitive, The Truth, And Social Media
One of the television shows I remember watching as a boy, briefly when it was first run (1963–67) and then again re-runs, was The Fugitive. It was the story of a man who was falsely convicted of murder and who sets out . . . Continue reading →
Westerkamp Does It Again
A Topical Index To Luther’s Sermons
Trans. J. N. Lenker et al. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001) prepared by Shane Lems, M.Div © 2007 Shane Lems. All Rights Reserved. Usage: You may link to this index but it may not be copied wholesale without the permission of the author . . . Continue reading →
The Atrium Of Hell
Hence the horrors of conscience, which are to the elect a preparation for faith (Rom. 7. v. 9. 10. 24) inasmuch as the Holy Spirit kindles in them a desire for reconciling themselves to God. To the reprobate, however, they are the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 33: God’s Eternally And Only Begotten Son And His Adopted Sons (2)
In part 1 we took a quick trip through the fundamentals of Christology: one person, two natures. Any doctrine of Christ that confuses the two natures (Eutychianism) or that makes them into two persons (Nestorianism) is heresy. It denies fundamental, biblical, catholic . . . Continue reading →