One reason no one wants to talk about the comity agreement is that it is not always observed. One suspects that few church planters or pastors even know that there is a comity agreement that is supposed to be informing our church . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
“My Thirst For More Drove Me On”
My thirst for more drove me on. I began to explore the doctrine of the Spirit. Raised as a cessationist, I believed that the Holy Spirit comes to each believer at conversion, after that there is nothing more to it. I was . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Three Graduates Going To Serve The Lord
As the man said about the Grateful Dead, academic year 2020-21 has been a “long, strange, trip.” For part of the year we have been online only and for part of the year we have been in hybrid mode, with some of . . . Continue reading →
Bannerman: No One May Call Himself A Christian Who Does Not Believe The Christian Faith
1. There are some men who object to all authorized creeds and articles of faith whatsoever, on the ground that they make the name of Christian and the advantages of Christian fellowship dependent on assent to certain positive truths or dogmas, whether . . . Continue reading →
Heidelmini-cast: Why The Ten Commandments Say No And More
David writes to the Heidelcast to ask about the ten commandments. “Do you have any thoughts why the first commandment as well most of the ten commandments start with the word no?” So we know what we’re talking about let’s listen to . . . Continue reading →
Help For New Deacons (And Others) Regarding Homelessness And Addiction
What cops and others who work daily with the homeless know but what the national media will not tell you is that a relatively small percentage of people are on the street with nowhere to go due to circumstances beyond their control. Continue reading
Discounted 40% Until June 24, 2021: On Being Reformed
From now until June 21, 2021, On Being Reformed is discounted 40%. This means that the e-book price is $32.99 and the hardcover is $41.99. The Coupon code is: SUMMER21 Order here. More about the book here. Resources How To Subscribe To . . . Continue reading →
From “Insofar As” To “Good Faith:” The Slope To The Mainline
Introduction There is what PCA RE Brad Isbell calls a “quiet crisis” in the PCA. PCA TE Jon Payne says “the future doesn’t look good for the PCA.” The presenting issue just now is so-called “Side B” or “Gay Christianity.” On this . . . Continue reading →
Preparing For Persecution
Since becoming a pastor I’ve been convinced that one of my most important responsibilities it to preach and pray in a way that prepares people to suffer for the glory of God. Suffering – which is a wide and broad biblical category . . . Continue reading →
The Eternally Begotten Son Is Consubstantial With the Father
The Son’s generation involves no priority or posteriority, and certainly no inferiority but designates order alone. If it did involve priority or posteriority of any kind, then the Son would be inferior to the Father. Previously, I emphasized that the Son is . . . Continue reading →
Clear Evidence Of Declining Academic Standards
In classics, two major changes were made. The “classics” track, which required an intermediate proficiency in Greek or Latin to enter the concentration, was eliminated, as was the requirement for students to take Greek or Latin. Students still are encouraged to take . . . Continue reading →
Memorial Day 2021: We Remember
What If The Lord Does Not Accept Our Praise Music?
…We have been trained by the broader culture that how we feel when we come to worship is determined by the success of the instrumentation to create a good feeling. The assumption is that praise is created by the success of the . . . Continue reading →
Are P&R Churches “Wholly Inadequate” To Investigate Abuse?
Julie Roys reports that, on May 14, 2021, the Central Indiana Presbytery (PCA) approved a committee report recommending that the Presbytery bring charges against a pastor (Teaching Elder).
Three Benefits Of The Reformed Confession
…We do this first, by our agreed upon confession. Presbyterians confess as biblical the statement of faith found in the Westminster Confession of Faith, which says: “All synods or councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err; and many . . . Continue reading →
Is There A Sexual Abuse Crisis In Christian Schools?
Regular readers of this space will know that I have warned about the dangers of sending children to public schools. There is a quiet crisis occurring inn public schools: sexual abuse. Nearly every day in America a public school teacher or staffer . . . Continue reading →
The Role Of Philosophy In Theology: Ministerial Not Magisterial
Cards on the table: I am a little concerned by a trend that developing among evangelicals.
The Language Of A “Twofold Kingdom” Has Deep Roots In Reformed Orthodoxy
Once more: it was John Calvin (1509–64) who distinguished between the two spheres on God’s kingdom: Continue reading
60 Minutes Report On The State Of The Transgender Debate Is Illuminating
CBS News has released online Leslie Stahl’s 60 Minutes report on the state of the transgender debate. Continue reading
June 2021 Issue Of Table Talk Magazine: “The Confessing Church”
The June 2021 issue of Table Talk magazine (from Ligonier Ministries) is devoted to the importance and use of confessions. Here is the table of contents: “Why We’re Confessional” | Burk Parsons “The Confessing Church In History” | John Muether “Confessions and . . . Continue reading →