We are now1 supposed to call the Online, Sometimes-Somewhat-Reformed Christian Nationalists and their assorted adjacencies the “New Christian Right” rather than the opprobrious but apt denominator “Woke Right.” Well, that’s fine—movements have the risky right to attempt rebranding. Remember “New Coke”? Nomenclature aside, we’ve noticed . . . Continue reading →
Author: Brad Isbell
Brad Isbell is a ruling elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Oak Ridge, TN, board member of More In The PCA, co-host of the Presbycast podcast, editorial member of Presbyterian Polity, and treasurer of the Heidelberg Reformation Association.
Where Are All The Women?
We are very reliably informed that a recent visitor to a PCA church circled all the names of the church’s officers in the printed worship bulletin and wrote, “Where are all the women?” on the page, which he or she duly folded and dropped in . . . Continue reading →
Too Much Confidence And Not Enough Controversy?
Who/what did Machen oppose (and who/what opposed Machen) besides theological liberalism of the Fosdick and Auburn Affirmation ilk? Moderate evangelicals who put unity, peace, and growth before doctrinal fidelity Boards and agencies that valued efficiency, worldly ideologies, and influence above faithfulness Ecumenists . . . Continue reading →
Video: Pastoring in DC, Planting Differently
URCNA minister Rev. Brian Lee joins us to talk about pastoring in the challenging city of Washington DC (very near Capitol Hill) and his denomination’s new church planting manual. Continue reading →
Nothing New Under The Sun
The year was 1972, the month was July, and I was living the summer school’s-out vacation dream in the small town of Senath, Missouri that I’ve often compared to Andy Griffith’s Mayberry. How was it like Mayberry? Well, I could walk two . . . Continue reading →
What The Cave Of Adullam Tells Us About The Visible Church
The cave of Adullam would not be David’s last place of residence. His life would not always be on the run with “everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul.” (1 Samuel . . . Continue reading →
It Is Not That Complicated
One of the reasons terminology matters is because the BCO is not just for professional presbyterians. Imagine the confusion of a member (maybe one under discipline or appointed or nominated for some office or role) who opened a PDF of the BCO . . . Continue reading →
Machen Rejected Sunday Football But Not On Theocratic Grounds
Machen wrote a letter to a notable politician on April 20, 1933. Just as he saw what was coming with fascism in the 1930s in Europe, so Machen saw the encroaching menace of the National Football League, which held its first championship . . . Continue reading →
Stuart Robinson On The Superiority Of The American System Over Christendom
Next, after a thousand years of repose and silence in the Church, the third was developed (Soteriology) through the labors of Luther and Calvin, proclaiming salvation as by grace through faith, leaving the fourth, Ecclesiology, yet to be developed. Do not the providences . . . Continue reading →
Isbell On The Types Of Christian Nationalists
There are at least three types of Christian Nationalists: the highbrow Wolfeans (HW), the folk evangelicals (FE) who have always spoken vaguely of “takin’ this country back,” and the barely Christian, mostly charismatic/megachurch dominionist-NARcrowd (I’ll call them CMDs). The self-consciously protestant HW . . . Continue reading →
Chilling Words From A Significant Figure Behind The Scenes Of The “New Right”
Most American Christians, whatever their views on Big Healthcare and corporate ethics, were stunned and disturbed by news that a health insurance CEO was gunned down on a Manhattan street yesterday. Why would Christians not be indifferent to—let alone support—such a thing? . . . Continue reading →
We Choose The Heidelberg And Westminster Over Ricky Bobby
No one (as far as we know) advocates that Presbyterian and Reformed elders conduct special November and December home visits to determine whether members are displaying manger scenes with all the characters of the Nativity present and accounted for. What might be . . . Continue reading →
The Biblical Middle Between Hierarchy and Anarchy
Concepts of representation and visibility often come up in social and political discussions about equity, inclusion, fairness, or justice. These concepts can be wrongly or unwisely imported into the church, a spiritual body with her own ethics, processes, standards, and constitution. Yet there is a pressing . . . Continue reading →
God Has Ordained Men, Means, and Method
The wonderful Preface to the Presbyterian Church in America’s Book of Church Order is an overlooked masterpiece of piety and practice—an especially helpful resource: Christ, as King, has given to His Church officers, oracles and ordinances; and especially has He ordained therein His system of doctrine, government, . . . Continue reading →
A Ruling Elder’s Advice For Surviving The Election
1. There is little at this point you can do to affect the outcome of the election except to vote. 2. God is sovereign and will not be surprised by any outcome. 3. In light of the above fact, be calm for . . . Continue reading →
What Should We Think About At The Table?
At my church, the Lord’s Supper elements are distributed (the bread then the wine), held, and then the congregants partake in unison to demonstrate the communal nature of the meal. I like this way of doing it though it’s certainly not the only way. . . . Continue reading →
What Is It?
A recent visit to what I suppose to be an ordinary, middle-of-the-road, mid-sized Southern Baptist church stunned me, though it shouldn’t have—I should have known better. What I encountered (they used the word “encounter” a lot) was arguably not a Christian worship service. . . . Continue reading →
Sauls Leaves PCA, Becomes Egalitarian
You might have heard that one of the Presbyterian Church in America’s most notable ministers got in trouble, was suspended by his presbytery, went through a lengthy discipline process, eventually resigned his church, and two days later was restored as a member . . . Continue reading →
Hart On Slippery Slopes
Brad Isbell: As you know in times of ecclesial controversy and change the conservative, confessional, or traditionalist side is often accused of making slippery slope arguments. Sometimes these arguments are consciously made as in Jon Payne’s recent post at the Gospel Reformation Network, . . . Continue reading →
NAPARC’s Lonely Stand
It’s 2024 and NAPARC denominations stand almost alone for male-only pastors/preachers and lay leaders (elders). The Southern Baptists are far from solid on this issue (https://sbcamendment.org/) and most evangelicals are giving way by degrees. Decisive action from the SBC would help, but . . . Continue reading →