UPDATE 28 JUNE 2010 CT takes a similar approach to the Caner story. Since this post appeared, Caner has been removed from his position as Dean but remains a faculty member at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Original Post 30 May 2010 Ergun . . . Continue reading →
American Christianity
The Anti-Canonical Spirit Of American Religion
A canon is a rule, a measure, an objective standard by which things are measured. A canon is also a limit. Americans have never been particularly fond of limits. We are a busy, restless people always pushing the boundaries. Every school child . . . Continue reading →
The Problem with Churches and "Social Justice"
Darryl explains.
Idols of the Heartland? The Megachurch Background of American Idol
The LA Times has a story chronicling an interesting connection between some evangelical megachurches and contestants on American Idol (HT: Bill J.).
"Sectarians" v "Relevants" in the PCA and the Strategic Plan
“Nowhere has the disagreements between the “sectarians” and the “relevants” been more evident than in the discussions regarding the Regulative Principle of Worship, women in diaconal ministry, and the cultural mandate of the Church. The Metro New York Presbytery of the PCA, . . . Continue reading →
Second and Third Thoughts on Edwards
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 →
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 →