Early indications of the difference that a constitutional republic made for Presbyterianism came when in 1789 The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America revised the Westminster confession and catechisms’ clauses on the civil magistrate. The original version’s conception of the . . . Continue reading →
American Religion
EPC Votes To Allow Ordination Of Celibate “Same-Sex Attracted” Pastors
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) voted last week at its General Assembly to approve a “pastoral letter” to churches that opens the door to ordaining celibate, same-sex attracted individuals—a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from within the denomination. The measure passed . . . Continue reading →
With Presbycast On Whether Revivalism Can Be Reformed
At the end of March Brad Isbell, Wilson Van Hooser and I discussed whether Revivalism can be Reformed. As usual, great fun was had by all. Here’s the video: Here’s the audio-only episode in the Presbycast Libsyn feed. Subscribe to the Presbycast . . . Continue reading →
Why Your Neighbor Has Become A Conspiracy Theorist
They were “kidnapping our loved ones and replac[ing] them with a bitter hollow shell of what they once were.” This sounds like a line from the campy 1978 sci-fi horror flick Invasion of the Body Snatchers, about aliens from a dying planet . . . Continue reading →
On Traveling From Münster To Geneva
In 1535 the Reformation was about fourteen years old. The Protestants had gained some legal status within the empire, but the existence of the movement was by no means secure. Internally, it was wracked with dissension over the moral and theological implications . . . Continue reading →
Jesus And Trump
Garrison Keillor used to open his monologues about the fictional town of Lake Woebegon by saying, “It’s been a quiet week in Lake Woebegon” and then go on to explain how it had not actually been quiet. The way the news is . . . Continue reading →
Was Dr Frankenstein Surprised By His Monster?
In February 2026, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth extended an invitation to Moscow, Idaho pastor Doug Wilson to lead a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon. The invitation generated immediate and considerable national attention: not least because Wilson has, over the . . . Continue reading →
Silicon Valley’s Religion
…My concern here is the underlying religion of the high priests of the Silicon Valley and beyond. After all, if pioneering engineers and tech billionaires are inspired by explicitly religious ideas, why shouldn’t Christians evaluate them? There are plenty of non-ideological folks . . . Continue reading →
Review: The Search For Christian America By Mark A. Noll, Nathan O. Hatch, And George M. Marsden
Christians often mimic the tactics of non-Christians in the social and political realms. For example, the “cancel culture” found in legacy media and social media is also found in evangelical media and Christian social media. American politicians and pundits use scare tactics, . . . Continue reading →
Toward A Confessional CRC: Synod 2025
The 2025 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) met from June 13–19 at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. The 49 Classes of the denomination sent 176 delegates to deliberate on important matters of the church. The headline . . . Continue reading →
33 Ministers And 26 Congregations Leave The CRC For The RCA After Synod Requires Churches To Uphold Christian Doctrine On Sexuality
At a church just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Tuesday (Feb. 18), 33 ministers from the Christian Reformed Church in North America stood up to read aloud a declaration, officially accepting ordination in a rival denomination, the Reformed Church in America. Having . . . Continue reading →
With The Pactum Podcast On Bad Theology
In this interview Dr Clark sits down with Pat Abendroth of The Pactum podcast to talk about different types of bad theology: pietism, biblicism, antinomianism, neonomianism, and more. Here is the audio from the interview: Here’s the video. RESOURCES Subscribe To The . . . Continue reading →
The Failure Of The Antioch Declaration
We do not need to convince the Christian Nationalists that they have a problem with racism. Some of them have recently published a statement on this very issue. They call it The Antioch Declaration. Continue reading →
Video: Bob Godfrey On Hope And A Healthy Eschatology
A lecture from W. Robert Godfrey recorded during the Suffering & The Hope of Christ’s Return conference. Continue reading →
Video: Bob Godfrey on the Challenges of Being Reformed in America
Chris Gordon speaks with W. Robert Godfrey about Reformed theology and the challenges of being Reformed in America. Continue reading →
Sauls Leaves PCA, Becomes Egalitarian
You might have heard that one of the Presbyterian Church in America’s most notable ministers got in trouble, was suspended by his presbytery, went through a lengthy discipline process, eventually resigned his church, and two days later was restored as a member . . . Continue reading →
Eddie Bauer On Creeds, Promises, And Covenants
I continue to learn theology at one of our local malls. Last fall I learned about True Religion. More recently I was at Eddie Bauer. Upon putting away the store receipt, I happened to notice a little blurb on the back titled, . . . Continue reading →
Bantering With Keith Foskey About Law, Gospel, Baptists, And More
On this special episode of YourCalvinist Podcast, Keith welcomes Professor R. Scott Clark to discuss a variety of theological topics, including why he does not accept the term “reformed baptist” as a proper historical category. Continue reading →
We’ve Been Dating It All Wrong: Richard Denton And The Arrival of American Presbyterianism
Pre-1700’s Presbyterianism in America is shrouded in mystique. Some would say it did not really exist since there was no formal Presbytery established until 1706. Too often it is made to appear that Presbyterianism suddenly dropped into the colonies out of nowhere, . . . Continue reading →
What The Dying Of The PCUSA Means
When, Dean Kelley published Why Conservative Churches Are Growing (New York: Harper & Row, 1972), the Protestant mainline was already in crisis. They were shrinking, and, as Kelley’s title suggests, the “conservative” churches were growing. This book was published the year before . . . Continue reading →