Contra Webbon et al.: Denying That Jesus Is A Jew Denies His True Humanity (Part 1)

webbon shields mar 2026

You may have likely heard or read something about Christian nationalism. Regular readers of this space will be familiar with this movement.1 As it exists in the USA, among those who identify as Reformed—whether they are actually Reformed is quite another question . . . Continue reading →

Against the Theology of Glory (Part 2)

Nowhere in the Gospels, perhaps nowhere in the New Testament, is the union between Christ and believers and its implications taught more clearly than in John 15:1–17. Jesus outlines the truth that he is the vine and those who are united to Him by the Holy Spirit in true faith bear fruit. Jesus says he will consummate this union by laying down his own life for his friends, those whom he has chosen. Continue reading →

What Not To Do When Visiting The Dying

Escondido At Dusk

In the video he tells the story of how he visited John MacArthur as he, MacArthur, was dying. He recounts how he began by doing something “that men do not often do to men like him but should do all the time. I walked in and I said ‘Dr. MacArthur, is it well with your soul? Are you reading the Word, talk to me about your prayer life. How is your communion with Christ?’” Continue reading →

What Is Reformed Theology? (Part 13)

wirt 2

In the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer every Christian prays, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). This is an implicit recognition that we do not presently live in heaven. Continue reading →

The Last Work of a Student or the First of a Scholar?

That slogan puzzled me the first few times I heard it, but I think I understand it more clearly now. I was puzzled because the word scholar means “student.” It is a Latin word derived from the noun schola, or school. A scholar is . . . Continue reading →

Why Caution About Jonathan Edwards Is In Order

Jonathan Edwards (1703–58) is America’s most famous theologian and perhaps its most famous philosopher too. He is an important and influential figure and worth seeking to understand for these reasons alone. We should think about Edwards for other reasons, however. He is the theologian par . . . Continue reading →

Rethinking the Crusades

The History Channel reminds us that on November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II ordered the First Crusade. Before 1979 it was more difficult than it is today to imagine such a thing, a leader of a world religion ordering a military crusade to conquer . . . Continue reading →

Problems with the Presidential Prayer Breakfast

Let me be clear: I am not opposed to presidents, prayer, or breakfast. I am not opposed to praying presidents having breakfast.1 I am not opposed to prayer before breakfast. All these are good things. The annual presidential prayer breakfast, however, is . . . Continue reading →

Canonization, Saints, And Christ Our Only Mediator

The AP ran a story in October 2022 on the naming of seven new Roman “saints.” According to the story, “Two of the new saints were Americans: Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint from the U.S., and Mother Marianne Cope, a 19th-century . . . Continue reading →

On Humanizing and Dehumanizing

In The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis worried about the effects of replacing sin and forgiveness with disease and therapy. His chief concern is that we would lose our humanity. This remains a great concern. Recently, one of the Supremes, not Diana Ross . . . Continue reading →

What Is Reformed Theology? (Part 12)

wirt 2

Our older theologians used to say that we are justified in order that we might be sanctified.1 The order in that expression was intentional. Before the Reformation many in the church had come to reverse justification and sanctification. Continue reading →