If one is hapless enough to watch television or listen to conservative or religious (or conservative religious) radio, one hears endless rhetorical prefaces that assert the decline of Christianity in the industrialized West (or any of its sub-parts). In almost every case, . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: T. David Gordon
Catholic-Protestant Differences (Part 3)
Catholicism teaches that there is a season of purification after death that prepares one for the full benefits of heavenly life: “The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a ‘purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven,’ which is experienced by those ‘who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified’ (CCC 1030). Continue reading →
Catholic-Protestant Differences (Part 2)
Many/most expressions of the visible church on earth have some central administrative office, an office that serves the various particular churches administratively. Rome goes beyond this, however, and its pope is not merely an administrative official; he has authority to settle matters of faith and practice . . . Continue reading →
Catholic-Protestant Differences (Part 1)
I began my teaching career at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Most of my students elected to attend that seminary; it was not the denominational seminary of any denomination, so choosing to attend there was a choice not to attend a particular denomination’s favored/sponsored . . . Continue reading →
Misrepresenting God Or Bearing False Witness Against God?
Did Paul Allude To The Ninth Commandment In 1 Corinthians 15:15? Christ (and his apostles) lived a millennium and a half before the invention of the printing press; as individuals, they did not own Bibles (or any other books). Most would have . . . Continue reading →
Thoughts On Overture 12 From PCA General Assembly (2023) And Ascension Presbytery’s Sending The Overture To The Civil Magistrate: Part Three
The first two parts of this series discussed the confessional considerations for why I protested the sending of Overture 12 to the magistrates. In this final part, I provide two further considerations: practical and historical. II. Practical Considerations At this point, I . . . Continue reading →
Thoughts On Overture 12 From PCA General Assembly (2023) And Ascension Presbytery’s Sending The Overture To The Civil Magistrate: Part Two
4. Synods and councils are restricted in ways that individual church members, and even church officers, are not restricted. Chapter 31 of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) does not restrict church members from handling or concluding matters that are not ecclesiastical. Continue reading →
Thoughts On Overture 12 From PCA General Assembly (2023) And Ascension Presbytery’s Sending The Overture To The Civil Magistrate: Part One
Recently, I sent a (brief, four-page) protest to our Presbytery in response to its recent action of instructing our clerk to forward to the magistrates Overture 12 (adjusted for our geography) regarding transgender procedures for minors. Continue reading →
Alexis de Tocqueville and American Exceptionalism
It must be acknowledged that in few of the civilized nations of our time have the higher sciences made less progress than in the United States; and in few have great artists, distinguished poets, or celebrated writers been more rare. Many Europeans, . . . Continue reading →
Review: Jesus And The Powers: Christian Political Witness In An Age Of Totalitarian Terror And Dysfunctional Democracies By N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird—Part 2
Part one of my review discussed the perceived (by me) strengths of the book. My review continues with part two, in which I will discuss its perceived (by me) weaknesses. Perceived Weaknesses 1. Social Gospel 201. I do not recall finding Walter . . . Continue reading →
Review: Jesus And The Powers: Christian Political Witness In An Age Of Totalitarian Terror And Dysfunctional Democracies By N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird—Part 1
This stimulating volume by two highly regarded biblical scholars is introduced invitingly: Jesus and the Powers has one objective: to say that, in an age of ascending autocracies, in a time of fear and fragmentation, amid carnage and crises, Jesus is King, . . . Continue reading →
God’s Image And The Suicide Of Humanity
Whether there is a causal connection or not, shortly after humanity entered the nuclear era, two different kinds of literature (and movies) appeared that were fearful: nuclear destruction and humane destruction, the latter of which was ordinarily called “dystopian.” In much of . . . Continue reading →
The Belief Continuum
Often, we employ a single word for many uses; even for similar uses. We employ belief (and its cognate verb) to mean at least four things, each of which can also be usefully distinguished from the others, on a continuum: prejudice, opinion, . . . Continue reading →
Regarding Gambling
I do not write this out of any concern that gambling is necessarily a widespread practice among Christians, though I would not be surprised to find it so, since “Do not be conformed to this age” does not appear to be energetically pursued today. I write, instead, because I am surprised at the virtual silence on the question of the propriety of gambling among professing Christians. Continue reading →
Eve’s Messianic Hope For Cain In Genesis 4:1—Ordinary Hebrew Terms For Child
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man (אִישׁ) with (the help of) the LORD.” (Gen. 4:1) Translators and commentators have often noted two difficulties in translating the first verse of Genesis . . . Continue reading →
Paul’s Sentences And Ours
Several months ago, Dr. Clark emailed me, saying: “We are still interested in your reflections on media culture,” in reply to an earlier thread I composed about Israel’s Shema and God’s use of language—not image—to promote true knowledge of him. This brief . . . Continue reading →
“Hear, O Israel”
Contemporary Judaism, like love, is a many-splendored thing. For our own convenience, we often refer to three types of Judaism: Reformed, Conservative, and Orthodox, but there are many variations even within these three. Nonetheless, practicing Jews of any brand have a common . . . Continue reading →
Hammers And Nails (And PCA Overtures)
Prior to the 21st century, it was not uncommon for one’s elders in home, church, or community to have a significant influence on one’s attitudes, beliefs, and general outlook on life. If Marc Prensky was right (I believe he was), this changed . . . Continue reading →