He finds the tone abrasive and high-handed at times, he accuses me of making arguments I don’t recall making (e.g., excluding congregationalists from the definition of Reformed. I’ve been accused of doing that but so far as I recall I didn’t discuss . . . Continue reading →
Recovering the Reformed Confession
When Bellicosity is No Virtue and Other Beauties
It depends, of course, upon who is being or deemed “bellicose” doesn’t it? John Muether has a helpful meditation on this question in the latest issue of the Nicotine Theological Journal (“thus think, and smoke tobacco”—Ralph Erskine (1685-1752; in “Smoking Spiritualized“). The . . . Continue reading →
What John Calvin Might Say to the PCA
From the pages of the Nicotine Theological Journal …I have learned that opposing views on worship threaten the very unity of this body. I have read your Westminster Confession on the matter, and was more than pleased to see the clear and uncompromising language . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck on the Categorical Distinction
Thanks to Brandon Wilkins for more good stuff on this essential biblical, Christian, and Reformed distinction.
Spiritual Maturity and the Psalms
Wes has good stuff from Herman Selderhuis.
It's Wrong When the Left Does It and Wrong When the Right Does It
According to the Presbyterian Layman Online (HT: AR) the PCUSA (the mainline, overwhelmingly liberal presbyterian denomination in N. America) has appointed a new director of what the Layman calls “controversial Washington lobbying office of the Presbyterian Church (USA).” My guess is that the . . . Continue reading →
The Categorical Distinction in Berkhof
Thanks to Brandon for highlighting this passage in Berkhof (under the Doctrine of God). There’s an entire chapter on this topic in RRC.
Godfrey: Real Calvinism is A Head and Heart Religion
“Strong on doctrine and scholarship, but weak on life, evangelism and passion.” Too frequently this is the popular image of Calvinism. Contemporary Calvinists may sometimes be responsible for perpetuating this image. In their eagerness for theological precision some Calvinists seem to want . . . Continue reading →
Witsius is Back!
Herman Witsius (1636–1708) was a faithful and godly Dutch Reformed pastor who also taught at Franeker, Utrecht, and Leiden. The traditional story about Witsius is that te sought to mediate between G. Voetius’ (1589–1676) concerns about piety and orthodoxy with the more . . . 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 →
The Origins of the Dialogical Principle
Brandon has a nice passage from J.—D. Benoit.
The Problem with Churches and "Social Justice"
Darryl explains.
Exegeting the Culture or Teaching the Faith?
Someone will object, “But why can’t we do both?” Fair question but my growing impression is that those who talk most about “exegeting the culture” seem to spend more time doing that than teaching the faith. This has been an issue with . . . Continue reading →
Deformation or Reformation?
Several people have forwarded various news stories from the UK regarding the possibility that the Free Church of Scotland may decide at GA this summer to permit the playing of musical instruments and the singing of uninspired, non-canonical songs in worship. It . . . Continue reading →
"Informed" or Reformed? A Sub-Text of the PCA Strategic Report?
Of course Reformed Christians want to be well informed but PCA church planter Martin Hedman has been writing some of the most thoughtful and incisive commentaries about the PCA strategic plan. Recently he commented, …it seems more and more that I am . . . Continue reading →
Volume 2: Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries
The purpose of the Heidelblog is to help the Reformed churches, Reformed Christians, and those interested in the Reformed faith to “recover the Reformed confession.” Of course, the first and most important resource in doing that is to “read, mark, learn, and . . . Continue reading →
Union with Christ In Caspar Olevianus’ Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed
Since, then, in the Articles of the Faith, which contain a summary of the gospel, Christ the King Himself offers to us that kingdom of His; and since He effectually confederates us to Himself through faith by the power of His Spirit . . . Continue reading →
Resources on Reformed Scholasticism
From the middle of the 19th century until the late 1970s the dominant story about Protestant scholasticism generally and Reformed scholasticism in particular was that it marked a departure from the warmly biblical spirit of the Reformation, that it marked a turn . . . Continue reading →
New Bavinck Institute Website
Thanks to Laurence O’Donnell (Calvin Seminary PhD student in systematics) for the heads up regarding the new Bavinck Institute website. They are featuring Ron Gleason’s to-be-released bio of Bavinck himself and an online journal, The Bavinck Review. Well done!
Traditionalists and Willow Creekers: Really the Same Thing
Zrim gets it. The regulative principle (=the second commandment + sola scriptura) is neither “progressive” nor “conservative” but radical.