The rulers of the church began to think that the glory of it consisted in its numbers, finding both their own power, veneration, and revenue increased thereby. In a short time, the inhabitants of whole cities and provinces, upon a bare, outward . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
What The Gay Pride Movement Should Know About God’s Rainbow
Within the last twenty four hours, the rainbow has appeared everywhere. I’ve seen pictures of the White House painted with the colors of a rainbow. Silicon Valley companies are implementing all sorts of creative ways to use the rainbow as a sign of victory for the decision. Facebook has declared a celebration allowing members to add a rainbow filter to their profile picture to make clear those who support the decision. Twitter has added a rainbow heart icon with the hash tag: Love wins. From Google to Starbucks to AT&T, the rainbow has become the new flag for America, from sea to shining sea, America is now draped with the rainbow. Continue reading →
Has Doug Wilson Really Changed His Mind About The Federal Vision?
Since he published his “Federal Vision No Mas” post in January, 2017 several correspondents have written to ask whether he is still a Federal Visionist or to assert that he is not. This is the intended effect of his post: to create . . . Continue reading →
Therapy, Sin, and Shame
For most of world history, until quite recently, most of the world thought about the most basic questions in life categories of right and wrong or in legal categories. God was thought to be what he is thus we humans need to . . . Continue reading →
Hart: “Contemporary Worship” Is The Triumph Of Summer Youth Camp
In fact, what stands out about [Praise and Worship approaches to public worship] is the aura of teenage piety. Anyone who has endured a week at one of the evangelical summer youth camps that dot the landscape will be struck by the . . . Continue reading →
What If Everyone Does Not Want To Live In New Christendom?
This documentary was premiered in 2004 and appeared on YouTube a little more than a decade ago. After some years it disappeared and then reappeared on moscowid.net. I do not necessarily share the film maker’s social, philosophical, or theological views but the . . . Continue reading →
Mark Driscoll 2019: Young, Restless, and Freudian
He Has Read As Much Freud As He Has Calvin
I think everybody’s view of God is a rejection or projection of their earthly father…Atheism says, ‘I have no Dad.’ Agnosticism says, ‘I never met him and I’m not looking for him. Deism says, ‘he used to be here but he went . . . Continue reading →
For Whom Is Christ Mediating?
If you are an adult you know about mediators. It is not uncommon now, when one signs a contract, to agree to “binding arbitration” or to “mediation” either in lieuof going to court or before going to court. A mediator, then, . . . Continue reading →
What Pastors Should Tell Their Wives
A few years ago I wrote an article on what pastors should not tell their wives. In it I argued that there is much that it said behind closed doors, in elder meetings (e.g.,consistory or session meetings), that should not be repeated . . . Continue reading →
It Is Not Too Late To Register For The Conference
You know about Revoice but do you know about Rosaria? There is an alternative to Revoice and Rosaria Butterfield will be articulating that case, in conference, in Escondido on July 26, 7:00 PM in the Heritage Center at Calvin Christian School. The . . . Continue reading →
What Was A Comedy Sketch Is Now Daily Life In The USA
Time For Another American Revolution?
HT: Jack Miller
Revoice, Nashville, And The Therapeutic Revolution
More than 50 years ago Philip Rieff alerted us to what has been called the “therapeutic revolution.” The West did not pay attention and now our broader culture is awash in therapeutic categories and rhetoric. Anyone, on most any university campus, who . . . Continue reading →
Moses’ Law for Modern Government: The Intellectual and Sociological Origins of the Christian Reconstructionist Movement
By J. Ligon Duncan, III A paper presented to the Social Science History Association, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Saturday, October 15, 1994 Department of Systematic Theology Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS Copyright © 1994 Introduction For many years now, students and professors in . . . Continue reading →
With Echo Zoe: Introducing The Canons Of Dort
2018–2019 was the 400th anniversary of the Synod of Dort so it has been a kind of Dortpalooza on the Heidelblog. Recently I talked with Andy Olson about the basics of the Synod and the Canons of Dort. If you are new . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours With Ligon Duncan On Covenant Theology and More
Dr J. Ligon Duncan III is Chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary, where he is also the John E Richard Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. He was senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jackson, Mississippi for 17 years . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours Season 5: On Sanctification: New Life In The Shadow Of Death
In season 5 of Office Hours we focused on the biblical, Reformed, and confessional doctrine and practice of sanctification, i.e., the process of being made holy, of being brought gradually and graciously into conformity to Christ by the Holy Spirit. The doctrine . . . Continue reading →
Canons Of Dort 33: The Grace Of Perseverance Is A Spiritual Doctrine
The Reformation gospel of salvation by grace alone (sola gratia), through faith alone (sola fide), as defined and confessed by the Reformed churches and as rejected by the Remonstrants (Arminians) was intended to produce and had the effect of giving comfort to . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours Season 6: To Know Wisdom
Ours is not an age characterized by wisdom either inside or outside the church. Conferences on wisdom will not likely pack a football stadium (at least not a large one) but wisdom is a major theme in Scripture—terms for wisdom occur more . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours Season 8 Celebrated The 500th Anniversary Of The Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was one of the most important theological, social, religious, and political episodes in Western history. It is reasonable to divide all Western history in two: before the Reformation and after. Nevertheless, in our time, the Reformation is not well . . . Continue reading →
Starkweather: Depravity, Dystopia, And The Death Penalty In The Heart Of America
On this date in 1959 the state of Nebraska executed the death sentence upon Charles Starkweather, an admitted, notorious spree killer and mass murderer. Certainly, when “Charlie” (as he was known) was captured after a shootout in Douglas, Wyoming there was little doubt and by the end of his trial it was certain that he had committed a shocking and brutal series of murders in and around what was then a sleepy college town and state capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska. The only real question that remained through the trial, which persists to this day, is whether Caril Ann Fugate, whose family Charlie murdered, accompanied him willingly during his spree, whether she cooperated in or even committed some of the murders, or whether she was a hostage (as she later claimed) and suffered from Stockholm Syndrome. Continue reading →