Although the office of a priest and intercessor is to serve, it does not follow that the divine nature in Christ is inferior to the Father. It follows only that Christ was made less than the Father not in nature (physei), but . . . Continue reading →
HeidelQuotes
Turretin: Fatherly Chastisements Are Not Judicial Punishments
It is one thing to speak of punishments properly so called and satisfactory, inflicted by a judge for the satisfaction of justice; another to speak of punishments improper and castigatory or medicinal. We do not deny that the latter are often appointed . . . Continue reading →
The Woke Right And Gen Z
Older generations need to understand something uncomfortable: America’s youngest adults are not only trending in a new political direction — they’re doing so for reasons that most people over 30 haven’t even begun to diagnose. And if we don’t figure out why . . . Continue reading →
The American Revolution Was Not The French Revolution
Why was the American Revolution, of all great revolutions, the only successful one, resulting in two centuries and more of unexampled freedom and prosperity? The French Revolution, by contrast, illuminated by America’s example and Enlightenment thought, began in blissful optimism but collapsed . . . Continue reading →
Dear Pastor, Sometimes Turning The Other Cheek Means Taking It On The Chin
This is an important question because as a minister, I promise and guarantee that you will be the subject of ridicule, criticism, slander, libel, and the like—and this conduct, sadly, can often come from other ministers. Though a fair share of this . . . Continue reading →
Another Dangerous DSA: The Digital Services Act
When the First Amendment was written, having a public debate meant gathering in a town hall, a public square, or some other meeting place where ideas could clash face-to-face. The Framers of our Constitution knew that open dialogue and robust debate are . . . Continue reading →
Politics Is Downstream From Culture And Culture Is Downstream From Virtue
To avoid the sin of ideology in political life requires one to maintain the perspective that Kirk and Voegelin expressed in their work. As much as conservatism is about specific objectives such as keeping private associations vibrant, avoiding excessive government interference in . . . Continue reading →
Boring, Muddledheaded, And Banal
Philosopher James K. A. Smith suffered through a period of profound depression. He found solace and insight in the writings of some of the great Christian mystics. And what he learned, he tells us, is that there is a wisdom and peace . . . Continue reading →
DeYoung Reviews John Mark Comer’s Practicing The Way
If I had to describe Comer’s theological tribe in a sentence I’d say that he is deeply indebted to the Renovaré tradition of spiritual formation. Founded in 1988 by Richard Foster (b. 1942), Renovaré’s mission is to “imagine a world in which . . . Continue reading →
Machen Resisted Big Eva In His Day
I think the provision of the Foreign Mission Board that utterances of missionaries should not be subject to criticism until formal charges are brought is the most preposterous interference of speech of which I ever heard. The same tactics were pursued by . . . Continue reading →
Luther And The Jews: From Over-Realized Eschatology To Bitter Disillusionment
I also noted on Friday that it is the unusual, not the usual, which is often most interesting to the historian. Luther’s 1543 treatise is not unusual; but this was not the only book he wrote on the Jews; and the other . . . Continue reading →
Groothuis: We Will Not Forfeit Our Souls To AI
AI cannot read and it cannot write because it is not conscious, and thus it has neither will nor discernment. It believes nothing, feels nothing, and knows nothing. It is we human beings, made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27), who read and . . . Continue reading →
Horton: Machen Was Confessional, Not Sectarian
Already frail in health, J. Gresham Machen kept his appointment to preach in North Dakota. For someone reared in Machen’s world, the Presbyterian Church was far from being a “little flock,” as Jesus described his church (Luke 12:32). It was powerful in . . . Continue reading →
Sibbes: We Must All Be Unloosened From Our Houses Of Clay
Death is but a departing; like loosening a ship from the shore or moving a ship to another coast (2 Tim. 4:6; Phil. 1:23). We must all be unloosened from our houses of clay, and be carried to another place, to heaven. . . . Continue reading →
Bredenhof: How To Be A True Friend To The Suffering
When a friend or loved one is suffering, it can be challenging to say the right words. We want to have words that help rather than hurt. The example of Job’s three friends in Scripture shows us how easy it is to . . . Continue reading →
Sibbes: Heaven Is Not Heaven Without Christ
Heaven is not heaven without Christ. It is better to be in any place with Christ than to be in heaven itself without him. Paul loved to see Christ, to embrace him, and enjoy him that had done so much and suffered . . . Continue reading →
Turretin: We Obey Because We Live Not In Order To Live
Although Christ fulfilled the law for us as to obedience, it cannot be inferred that we are no longer bound to render obedience to God. It certainly follows that we are not bound to obey for the same end and from the . . . Continue reading →
Bredenhof: A Must-Read For Heidel-lovers
It’s a strange thing that even though the Heidelberg Catechism is one of our confessions, so little has been written on it. Sure, we hear sermons on it each Sunday, but where are the commentaries digging deeper into some of the theological . . . Continue reading →
One Of The Greatest Temptations Of AI
This is one of the greatest temptations of artificial intelligence—it can craft itself into whatever image we desire, and in fact it is designed to do so while minimizing our active participation. The underlying technology of predictive large language models utilizes weighted . . . Continue reading →
Ninth Circuit Defends Religious Liberty Against Alaska Airlines
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of two flight attendants, Lacey Smith and Marli Brown, who claim they were wrongfully terminated from their positions at Alaska Airlines, and discriminated against by the flight attendants’ union, because . . . Continue reading →