While the long 19th century gave birth to a variety of intellectual movements, it also saw its fair share of anti-intellectualism. The fallout from the Second Great Awakening was one such example; this era of American religious life witnessed the rise of . . . Continue reading →
Christian Life
Ministry Friends And Clemson Football
With Week Zero and several Atlantic Coast Conference upsets behind us (it is the end of the season, not the beginning that counts though), finally football fans enjoyed a full weekend of real games over Labor Day. A humbled Clemson program, still . . . Continue reading →
Dead Idols In The Temple Of The Living God: A Biblical Analysis Of The Modern Idea Of Idols Of The Heart (Part 3)
In our last article, we argued that genuine Christians cannot be called idolaters, since idolatry is apostasy. This is true in general, as testified by the Old Testament, but this is also true of the two verses most commonly cited in favor . . . Continue reading →
To The Evangelical Nicodemites (Part Four)
The question, for Calvin and for us, is “whether the Christian man, being rightly instructed in the truth of the gospel, offends God or not, by doing as the others do when he is among Papists, by going to Mass and other . . . Continue reading →
Dead Idols In The Temple Of The Living God: A Biblical Analysis Of The Modern Idea Of Idols Of The Heart (Part 2)
In the previous article, we summarized the arguments of David Powlison and Tim Keller, since their teaching has likely had the greatest influence in popularizing the concept of idols of the heart in Reformed churches. In order to make the biblical concern for idolatry relevant to modern people, they removed the transcendent realities from idolatry and instead wrote about idolatry only or predominately as something figurative. Continue reading →
The Value Of Self-Examination In The Christian Life
Another means to be used diligently for the promoting the life of faith, is, examination of our state and ways, according to the word of God; whether we be, at present, in a state of sin and wrath, or of grace and . . . Continue reading →
How To Respond To A World Gone Mad
What should Christians do when it seems the world has gone mad? Many believers in the West face that question daily. Action seems more effective than theological precision when dealing with the madness of crowds. Isn’t theological precision a luxury for when . . . Continue reading →
The College Football Season Dawns: Values, Commitment, And Discipleship
We have only one day until the return of ESPN’s GameDay and football kickoff extravagances. I can still smell the freshly mown grass watered by the early morning dew, and feel salty sweat stinging eyes, and the total body ache and bruising . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On Purity
Ever since God revealed himself Father to us, we must prove our ungratefulness to him if we did not in turn show ourselves his sons. Ever since Christ cleansed us with the washing of his blood, and imparted this cleansing through baptism, . . . Continue reading →
Dead Idols In The Temple Of The Living God: A Critique Of The Modern Idea Of Idols Of The Heart (Part 1)
In recent decades, the concept of “idols of the heart” has become nearly ubiquitous in the American church, and particularly in Reformed churches. In part, the popularity of this concept has come from a couple of prominent Reformed pastors and theologians, David Powlison and Tim Keller. Continue reading →
Sporting Chance Providence: Olympics Pedagogy
Even though I cannot use sporting “chance” as a header for a column, I still learn a lot from sports—always have. Growing up playing competitive sports taught me many lessons that I would not have learned otherwise, and these have helped in . . . Continue reading →
To The Evangelical Nicodemites (Part Three)
Calvin was well aware of what he was about to ask of the crypto-Calvinists or secret Calvinists. He wrote letters of comfort to some of them as they languished in dark, rat-infested prisons, awaiting a sham trial and a bloody, fiery death. He also understood that what he was saying was controversial. Continue reading →
To The Evangelical Nicodemites (Part Two)
Calvin was well aware of what he was about to ask of the crypto-Calvinists or secret Calvinists. He wrote letters of comfort to some of them as they languished in dark, rat-infested prisons, awaiting a sham trial and a bloody, fiery death. He also understood that what he was saying was controversial. Continue reading →
The Difference Between Old And New Testament Believers Is Not What You Think
Good mystery stories maintain suspense until the big reveal. On a second reading, however, all the clues needed to deduce the big reveal should be obvious. The Apostles discovered this once Christ rose from the grave when they reread the Old Testament . . . Continue reading →
Perkins: We Are Clothed With Christ Now
…though we be clothed with Christ in baptism, yet we must further desire to be clothed upon (2 Cor. 5:4). In this life we are clad with the [righteousness] of Christ (1 Cor. 1:30). This is one garment. In the life to . . . Continue reading →
The Fruit Of The Spirit: The Third Fruit—Peace (Part 2)
When Paul talks about peace as a fruit of the Spirit, we have to remember the above aspects of peace. It is found in God, and it is from God through faith in Christ. These are objective. When Paul mentions peace as a fruit, however, he is referring to peace in a subjective way. Continue reading →
The Fruit Of The Spirit: The Third Fruit—Peace (Part 1)
In one episode of the 90’s sitcom Seinfeld, the catchphrase is “serenity now!” Frank (George’s dad) had high blood pressure and he heard on a cassette tape that if you say, “serenity now,” it would help keep your blood pressure down. So . . . Continue reading →
Political Therapeutic Deism
In my new book, The Spirit of Our Politics, I introduce a new term, Political Therapeutic Deism, inspired by the term Moral Therapeutic Deism which was coined by sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton. Political Therapeutic Deism is a system of beliefs . . . Continue reading →
To The Evangelical Nicodemites (Part One)
Over the last few years there have been a few laments about “Reformed rocks stars.” Carl Trueman has rightly warned against the cult of personality.1 Now, I would like to turn the tables. If we should be concerned about rock stars and . . . Continue reading →
The Utility Of Education For Perspective
Perspective is important for all areas of life. In his book, A Non-Anxious Presence, Australian pastor Mark Sayers describes a strategic shift that took place during the Korean War when the US Air Force transitioned from propeller-powered aircraft to jet fighters. When flying . . . Continue reading →