We live in a time of political tensions and increasing polarization. In these days, when some around us through impatience or fear flirt with radical politics, Christians must keep their wits. In part 1 of this two-part series, I introduced the case . . . Continue reading →
It was he who sanctioned the external legal religion of the Roman Catholic Church and conferred on medieval Catholicism its actual character. He is the capstone of the ancient world, the foundation stone of the new. Through his liturgical writings and his . . . Continue reading →
The third point is, how baptism confers grace? Answer. It confers grace because it is a means to give and exhibit to the believing mind Christ with His benefits, and this it does by His signification. For it serves as a particular . . . Continue reading →
Many American Christians show an increasing affinity for radical politics. Many of these, dissatisfied with lawless excess and social decay, are more inclined to a politics of the far right, though not exclusively.1 Continue reading →
One of the most important aspects of the Christian life I learned about in seminary has to do with our freedom in Christ to love and obey God. I’m always thankful to my professor R. Scott Clark for emphasizing the following point, and it’s . . . Continue reading →
Drs. R. Scott Clark and Harrison Perkins, and small-church ministers Aaron De Boer and Zach Byrd made up a geographically and denominationally diverse panel of earnest, pastoral, and learned men. Here is the episode audio in its native habitat. For future reference, . . . Continue reading →
Elijah was gone, taken directly to heaven (2 Kgs 2:1). The kingdom of Israel was a corrupt mess. Ahaziah had instructed his people to inquire of Baal-zebub, god of Ekron, to see if he would recover. This was a fatal decision (2 Kgs 1:2–4, 16). Continue reading →
Infants of believing parents are likewise to be baptized. The grounds of their baptism are these. First, the commandment of God, “Baptize all nations” (Matt. 28:19), in which words the baptism of infants is prescribed. For the apostles by virtue of this . . . Continue reading →
On the subject of preaching, the apostle Paul says the proof true preaching is that it centers on Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23; 2:2). Interestingly, Paul is not merely content to say we must preach Christ, but that we must preach a . . . Continue reading →
The Charismatic movement was a controversial issue for the day, even among reformed and Presbyterian churches. Much of the past century, with its cooperation with broad evangelicalism, left some churches unprepared to speak to this issue. The PCA, in its first major . . . Continue reading →
Of our receiving of Christ given by God, two things must be observed. One is that we must there receive Christ where God offers and gives Him, that is, in the word and sacraments. The second is that faith is our hand . . . Continue reading →
Chris Gordon and Daniel Borvan continue their conversation on Alistair Begg’s recent statements on attending a gay wedding. RESOURCES Resources On The Rule Of Worship Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The . . . Continue reading →
Choirs (and their casual, modern descendants worship teams and praise bands) have been near-ubiquitous in Reformed churches for less than two centuries, but just like government programs, once instituted these groups are difficult to disband even though their historical pedigree is weak. Arrangements may be . . . Continue reading →
According to that redoubtable source of all wisdom and truth, Wikipedia, the Kaufman-Hart Play, You Can’t Take It With You, debuted on Broadway in 1936, ran for 838 performances, and won a Pulitzer. The 1938 film, starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, . . . Continue reading →
The second question is, when faith begins first to breed in the heart? Answer. When a man begins to be touched in his conscience for his sins, and, upon feeling of his own spiritual poverty, earnestly hungers and thirsts after Christ and . . . Continue reading →
I have a Christian friend who works in human resources for a large financial services institution. She recently shared with me that, for the sake of diversity and inclusion, employees are now strictly prohibited from discussing matters of religion in the office. . . . Continue reading →
In Proverbs 13:12, we read that, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick . . .” Thousands of counseling hours over more than ten years at Baylight have made this biblical truth visibly evident. Life’s dominating circumstances can surely weigh anyone down, but nothing . . . Continue reading →
Chris Gordon and Daniel Borvan discuss recent comments made by Pastor Alistair Begg on gay marriage, and how those statements have affected the Christian community. Continue reading →
On the surface the logic of the atonement is straightforward. We sin and are therefore under God’s wrath. When Jesus died on the cross, he suffered the punishment that sin deserves. If we put our faith in Christ, we have eternal life. . . . Continue reading →
They say that words have meanings, and that those meanings matter. It seems, however, that in a culture formed by social media and hot takes, the use (or overuse) of certain key words that should communicate big ideas has frequently resulted in . . . Continue reading →