Heidelcast 215: Behind The Scenes Of The Collapse Of The West

Heidelcast

on March 7, 2022

We are interrupting our series on prayer, Our Father, to air to a talk I gave yesterday to the Escondido URC Adult Sunday School class. We also got an interesting question on the Heideltext line about the nature of the presence of . . . Continue reading →

K–12 Schools Are Downstream From The University

Heidelblog

on March 5, 2022 | 5 Comments

This outsized influence of the university on K–12 schools occurs not without precedent. Once before, our nation’s dominant philosophy of education universally altered. Prior to the 20th century, American education was almost universally classical in nature — great books, grammar and rhetoric, . . . Continue reading →

Created for Union: John Williamson Nevin And The Supper

Christopher Smith

on February 14, 2022 | 1 Comment

On June 9, 1886, a funeral was held in a church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The deceased, John Williamson Nevin (1803–86), was a pastor, professor, and theologian in the German Reformed Church. Friends and family were in attendance as well as several theologians and professors of differing fame and reputation. None of this was unusual for a theologian’s funeral in nineteenth-century America. There was, however, at least one irregularity: A. A. Hodge (1823–16) gave one of the eulogies.1 Hodge’s late father, Charles Hodge (1797–1878), and Nevin were involved in one of the most prominent sacramental controversies in nineteenth-century America, yet the younger Hodge eulogized the very man who contested with his father decades before. Even now, the controversy and theologies that gave rise to it live on long after the death of the major figures. Continue reading →

Trueman: It Was Not Chrysostom’s Administration Of The Sacraments That Led To HIs Death

Heidelblog

on January 31, 2022

Years ago, when teaching at a seminary, I was responsible for the course on the ancient church. In every class I have ever taught, I have regarded it as my chief task to introduce students to the great primary texts on the . . . Continue reading →

The Main Purpose Of The ‘Rule Of Faith’ Is to Help Readers Identify Jesus As The One To Whom The Scriptures Point

Heidelblog

on January 12, 2022

Jesus Christ is not the solution to a puzzle, whether that solution is derived by means of a sophisticated homiletical method or a sophisticated hermeneutical method. Jesus Christ is God the Son in person. Someone, not something, is the central subject matter and scope of Scripture. Someone, not something, should be the central subject matter and scope of Christian preaching. Continue reading →

Heidelcast 207—What Must A Christian Believe? (23): Life Eternal

Heidelcast

on January 10, 2022 | 1 Comment

This is the 23rd and final episode in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the twelfth article, “life eternal.” The twelfth article has been a part . . . Continue reading →

On The State Of Higher Ed In America And The Hope Represented By A New University

Heidelblog

on December 30, 2021

This is a bold and indeed a risky undertaking, but one that we wholeheartedly support. The educational establishment in this country is worse than moribund. It is a disaster—and not (to adapt an image from the philosopher David Stove) a static disaster . . . Continue reading →

The St Nicholas Of History (Sort Of)

R. Scott Clark

on December 24, 2021 | 2 Comments

After the recent Heidelcast episode on Christmas and Santa Claus, Brad Isbell reported that his better half asked something to the effect of, “but what about the real St Nicholas?” This is a great question and one that I have intended to . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 202—What Must A Christian Believe? (19): The Forgiveness Of Sins (1)

Heidelcast

on December 12, 2021 | 3 Comments

This is episode 19 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the tenth article, “the forgiveness of sins.” That phrase does not occur in the earliest . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 201—What Must A Christian Believe? (18): A Holy Catholic Church, The Communion Of The Saints

Heidelcast

on December 6, 2021

In our survey of the rule of faith we have reached the ninth article, “A Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints.” Over the years I have received several questions about this phrase, “holy catholic church.” When American Christians, particularly American . . . Continue reading →

Pew Poll: Christendom Lives In The Hearts Of Many Americans

R. Scott Clark

on December 3, 2021 | 5 Comments

On October 28, 2021 The Pew Research Center published another of their fascinating and illuminating polls. This one surveyed the attitudes of Americans on the relations between church and state. For our international readers the USA has a written constitution (other nations . . . Continue reading →

The 1619 Project Privileges Narrative Over Facts

by R. Scott Clark on November 9, 2021 3 Comments

According to a significant number of scholars of American history, one of the most serious weaknesses in the self-described 1619 Project, which argues that racism and slavery was a central motivation for the origin of the American Republic, is that it is factually inaccurate. Continue reading →

Heidelcast 197—What Must A Christian Believe? (14): Christ Ascended

Heidelcast

on November 7, 2021

In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the sixth article: “He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.” It is never easy to be separated a . . . Continue reading →

What’s Going On Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics, and Power with Dr. W Robert Godfrey (3)

R. Scott Clark

on November 5, 2021 | 3 Comments

In this third session of Dr. Godfrey’s Sunday school class at the Escondido URC, he develops how Christianity fared under Christendom. He explains the trajectory of challenges Christianity faced as it became wealthy and influential and, sadly, moved away from the gospel. . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 195: What Must A Christian Believe? (12) On Christ’s Descent Into Hell

Heidelcast

on October 25, 2021 | 4 Comments

In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the fourth article: “suffered under Pontius, Pilate, crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell.” In this episode we focus on the last clause, “he descended into . . . Continue reading →

University Professor To Be Fired Because He Did Not Apologize For Students Rushing To Judgment

R. Scott Clark

on October 22, 2021 | 1 Comment

Theater students study the principle of the “willing suspension of disbelief,” meaning that in order to enjoy a show, audience members must suspend their critical thinking and believe that the performance onstage is really happening. To make sense of Coastal Carolina University’s . . . Continue reading →

Trueman On The Failure Of The Evangelical Elite To Understand The Cultured Despisers Of Religion Are Despisers Of Religion

R. Scott Clark

on October 16, 2021 | 3 Comments

There are times in history when Christianity feels its place in society coming under threat. As it finds itself pushed to the margins, two temptations emerge. The first is an angry sense of entitlement, an impulse to denounce the entire world and . . . Continue reading →

Gregory of Nyssa Against The Chiliasts

R. Scott Clark

on October 13, 2021 | 3 Comments

Now if we loudly preach all this, and testify to all this, namely that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, always changeless, always imperishable, though He comes in the changeable and the perishable; never stained Himself, but . . . Continue reading →

Laying the Foundation…. Twice

Patrick J. O’Banion

on October 13, 2021

Where do we begin our theology? The answer may seem obvious: We begin with God. Theology, after all, is talking about God; that’s literally what the word means. But things get a little more complicated when we get around to developing a . . . Continue reading →

Reminder: Wikipedia Is Not A Reliable Resource. It is Just Another Social Media Platform

R. Scott Clark

on October 8, 2021 | 3 Comments

Regular readers of this space will know how often I have warned about the problems of Wikipedia. The truth about Wikipedia is that it is not a reliable resource. I warn my students that if they cite it in their research they have . . . Continue reading →

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