Few figures are as electrifying and divisive in the study of American religious history as Jonathan Edwards. To many he is and can be only St Jonathan, the paradigm of theology, piety, and practice. To others the story is more complicated. It . . . Continue reading →
American Christianity
Church Bells and Bible Studies (UPDATED)
Update 26 April 2010 A federal court has ruled that the city ordinance restricting church bells is an unconstitutional abridgment of religious speech. Now that the principle is established, perhaps the congregation will accommodate itself to its neighbors and moderate the number . . . Continue reading →
Hart Brings Machen to the Mainline in Omaha (Link Corrected)
It’s been long enough since the fundamentalist-modernist controversy that much of evangelicalism has coalesced or become indistinguishable from the old liberalism. The old lines between “liberals” and “conservatives” are fuzzy. Many in the mainline are unaware of the sideline or of the . . . Continue reading →
Evangelicals and Gnostics Together?
Gnosticism is perhaps the most ancient heresy of all. It posits a radical spirit-matter dualism, matter/creation as the result of a demi-urge, a hierarchy of being and deities, it denies the OT, the God of the OT, and the humanity of Jesus. . . . Continue reading →
Horton Comments on Warren at DGM
Nail, meet hammer.
Careful How You Vote in Moscow
Or you may face church discipline. You might want to keep this in mind if you’re thinking about attending or joining the Confederation of Reformed Evangelicals.
Godfrey: Church or Club?
Bob Godfrey has an provocative essay on the Tabletalk site. Recommended reading.
Congratulations to Phil Ryken
Congratulations to Phil Ryken who this morning was named the new president of Wheaton College. Here’s the brief story by CT. As former “Wheatie” (I think I can say that, can’t I? I taught there from ’95-97) this seems like a very . . . Continue reading →
On Defining Conservatives, Liberals, Latitudinarians, and Good Behavior
Pastor (Teaching Elder) Brian Carpenter has an update about the FV controversy in the Siouxlands Presbytery (PCA). In two PCA presbyteries men are doing the hard work that needs to be done for the sake of the peace and purity of the . . . Continue reading →
Machen: The Church is Not the Rotary Club
Dan has the quotation at GR.
The Evangelical Abuse of Statistics
CT has published an interesting summary of research by Christian Smith. Some of the “facts” about American Christianity you think you know may not be facts at all.
Machen: Isn't There Some Place?
Darryl has a great start to 2010.
On P&R Churches and "Holy Days"
Andy Webb has a very helpful post on this topic. Darryl Hart asks when Presbyterians became Adventists? With the help of Leigh Eric Schmidt makes some very interesting and important points about the way commercial interests coincided with the interests of revivalist . . . Continue reading →
Clergy Ratings Hit 32-Year Low
According to a December 11, 2009 story in USA Today a Gallup Poll shows that Americans’ views of the “honesty and ethics” of clergy have hit a 32-year low, with just half rating their moral caliber as high or very high….” We . . . Continue reading →
More Bad News For The Mainline
A December 7, 2009 report from the Barna Group details the continued slide of the mainline churches (i.e. the American Baptist Churches in the USA; the Episcopal Church; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Presbyterian Church (USA); the United Church of . . . Continue reading →
Could There Be A Connection?
In a post dated 2009 the Barna Group notes two trends. First, they note the growing acceptance of female ministers in (mostly) mainline (read liberal) denominations, e.g. the PCUSA, the ECUSA, UMC, UCC, etc. The number of female ministers has grown “substantially” . . . Continue reading →
WHI and the Wages of Spin
Two of my favorite entities, the White Horse Inn and Carl Trueman in one interview.
David Strain Interviews Darryl Hart
David is a Glaswegian in exile. He writes at Letters from Mississippi. Part 1 covers Old Side Presbyterianism (if you don’t know what that means, you should read this interview) and evangelism. It’s a nice follow-on to the Dever interview. There’s audio . . . Continue reading →
Transcript of WHI Interview with Robert Schuller Online
At the new WHI site. (HT: Cal.vini.st)
A Belated Happy Birthday to Machen
Thanks to Martin and Sean for the reminder. Machen was the original warrior child. The OLTS has a nice remembrance. And more at Geneva Redux.