The first time I heard the expression, “Pies, Docs, and Kuyps” was during a seminary lecture by Derke Bergsma. He was relating what had already become a fairly standard sociological taxonomy in the Reformed world. There are three kinds of Reformed folk: . . . Continue reading →
Confessional Presbyterianism
Audio: How Not To Be A Heretic
You and I are not the first ones to read the Bible. Christians as individuals and the church as a corporation has been hearing, meditating upon, and reading God’s Word for its entire history. One of the principal fruits of that corporate . . . Continue reading →
Creeds Are Unavoidable
Christianity is a creedal religion. You cannot separate Christianity from its ancient creeds. In fact, every true Christian adheres to the ancient creeds of the church, whether he knows it or not. We all have creeds. Whether formal or informal—whether written or . . . Continue reading →
Good News From Charleston, SC
Jon Payne, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA), sends word of good news about this church planting work in Charleston. Not all the church news that comes over the transom is good news but this report is encouraging. Jon writes: Christ Church . . . Continue reading →
Paul’s “Faithful Saying” And The Gospel Of Salvation
First of all, then, let us observe that this “faithful saying” takes us back into the counsels of eternity and reveals to us the ground, in the decree of God, for the gift of His Son to the world, and the end . . . Continue reading →
Happy Birthday To The Shorter Catechism!
Thanks to Wayne Sparkman for his consistently excellent daily posts. From his keyboard comes a reminder that today is an anniversary of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. On this day in 1647, the House of Commons ordered the printing of the Westminster Shorter . . . Continue reading →
Carnell’s Ironic Critique Of Machen
The mentality of fundamentalism sometimes crops up where one would least expect it; and there is no better illustration of this than the inimitable New Testament scholar, J. Gresham Machen. Machen was an outspoken critic of the fundamentalist movement. He argued with . . . Continue reading →
Confessional Presbyterian Volume 6 Available Now
The Confessional Presbyterian is six years old this year. Volume 6 is as outstanding and useful as the previous 5 volumes. You may subscribe before Jan 1, 2011 for $18.00 (($25 Institutional/Foreign). The USA rate will rise to the normal retail price . . . Continue reading →
2011 Westminster Seminary Conference: Christianity and Liberalism Revisited
Few figures have been as important to Reformed Christianity in North America as J. Gresham Machen. He faced many of the same challenges that we face now and he did so in a way that advanced the faith, he did so winsomely, . . . Continue reading →
A Confessional Alternative to the PCA's Strategic Plan From the NW Georgia Presbytery (Updated)
UPDATE 27 MAY 2010 David W. Hall, pastor of Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA), Powder Springs, GA offers some “Answers to Questions” about the overture. The overture is now online (PDF). ORIGINAL POST 24 MAY 2010 On April 30, 2010 the Rev Dr . . . Continue reading →
Is the Strategic Plan Presbyterian?
“There are some attributes of a thing that can be altered without compromising its basic character. You could remove the stone cladding of Buckingham Palace to reveal the red brick underneath and it would still be Buckingham Palace. Yet if you painted the White . . . Continue reading →
Machen on Creeds and Doctrinal Advance
Thanks to Dan and GR for posting this gem from Machen.
Light Summer Reading
I’m part way through Lane and Oreskes on the genius of American constitutionalism. It’s a breezy spin through the history of the constitutional crisis. The first part of their thesis is attractive to Augustinians. They argue that the founders realized that their . . . Continue reading →
New Nicotine Theological Journal 12.3 (Summer 2008)
John Muether writes the lead essay, “GA Roundup: Mute Courts” surveying some the major actions of the OP and PCA summer assemblies. If you’ve ever had to listen to a fraternal delegate abuse his privilege, you shouldn’t miss this one. Darryl Hart . . . Continue reading →
Sean's Lectures Online
Earlier this year we had the pleasure of hosting Sean Michael Lucas. He lectured on Edwards to our Reformed Scholasticism seminar, and gave other talks as well. Here is his lecture on Billy Graham’s role in Southern Presbyterianism, “The Only Hope for . . . Continue reading →
New: Nicotine Theological Journal vol 12.2
The latest NTJ is out. This issue focuses on the controversy over the doctrine of Scripture at WTS/P. The NTJ is sponsored by the Old Life Theological Society and published quarterly (sort of) and edited by that redoubtable duo of Orthodox Presbyterians, . . . Continue reading →