Social Gospel and Social Justice

Justification By Faith And Social Justice By Works (Part 3)

by on December 2, 2025 | 2 Comments
golden calf

The late German-American political philosopher Eric Voegelin (1901–1985) observed that history is marked by recurring attempts to divinize a fallen created order as a way of escaping the anxiety of fragile and finite existence. He identified in the early church heresy of Gnosticism a paradigm for understanding how private spiritual ambitions are transposed into public political projects—from Constantinianism and medieval Christendom to the totalitarianisms of the modern left and right. Continue reading →

Justification By Faith And Social Justice By Works (Part 2)

by on November 25, 2025 | 2 Comments
golden calf

The gospel can be turned into law—even into new religious laws, especially when sweeter fruit is available to stave off the bitter taste of judicial conviction. When fallen creatures turn down contracts with part or all of the moral law, the door invariably opens to various forms of religious innovation, new orders for spiritual justice. Continue reading →

So You Say You Want A Revolution?

Addressing The Impatience Of Our Age

by on November 9, 2022 | 4 Comments

In the wake of the disaster that was World War I, in which about 8.5 million military personnel died and an even greater number of civilians died, there developed in this country and in Europe a desire not only for a future . . . Continue reading →

What Is Equity?

by on August 30, 2021 | 1 Comment

The word of the day is Aequitas (pronounced, ay-qwee-tas). If you have been paying attention to the cultural discussions current in the West, if you have children in school or are aware of the sorts of discussions that are occurring in schools boards . . . Continue reading →

Princeton Seminary Catches Up With Machen On Segregation?

by R. Scott Clark on August 20, 2021 1 Comment

Almost three years ago there was a controversy over the disclosure and publication of Machen’s hitherto unpublished letter to his mother in which he mentioned his objection to B. B. Warfield over the latter’s plan to integrate the seminary’s dormitory. Predictably, Machen was denounced by social progressives. They might have spoken too soon, however, since apparently PTS has come to agree with Machen in principle and practice. Continue reading →

They Turned The Covenant Of Grace Into A Covenant Of Works (Or Why The Distinction Between Law And Gospel Matters)

Understanding The Duplex Regimen Would Also Help

by on July 30, 2021 | 10 Comments

…In replying to DeYoung, Kwon and Thompson could have replied in kind, foregrounding theological questions raised by DeYoung. Indeed, they could easily have made the case that on the merits of DeYoung’s own theology he should be far more concerned about justice . . . Continue reading →

Your Ethnic Identity Is Important But It Is Not Ultimate

by R. Scott Clark on June 30, 2021 8 Comments

Christians are not Gnostics. Against the Gnostics, Christians have, since the first quarter of the second century, affirmed the essential, inherent goodness of creation. Against the Gnostics and Marcionites we also affirmed the unity of the covenant of grace. Both of those truths help us to address the problem of ethnic tensions in Christ’s church. Continue reading →

The Gospel Is About Justice But Not That Kind Of Justice

by R. Scott Clark on June 24, 2021

In an article in By Faith Online (Feb, 2021) Megan Fowler writes, “Moses Lee believes Gen Z isn’t asking philosophical questions about epistemology [theory of knowing]. Gen Z wants to know that the gospel is beautiful and true, and that it is deeply concerned about justice.” Continue reading →

The Middle Ages Are Back

by on July 6, 2020 | 1 Comment

DiAngelo instructs us there is nothing to be done here, except “strive to be less white.” To deny this theory, or to have the effrontery to sneak away from the tedium of DiAngelo’s lecturing – what she describes as “leaving the stress-inducing . . . Continue reading →