I’m grateful that you’re reading Recovering the Reformed Confession and that you took the time to write. I don’t know that I will be able to satisfy your concerns. It may be that we disagree on some basic issues. Let me try . . . Continue reading →
Author: R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He is professor emeritus of church history and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California, where he taught for 29 years. He also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007 and the Heidelcast since 2009.
Hart: It’s Not About Style
Darryl writes: “…pipe organs are no more beautiful than guitars, and upper-, middle-, and lower-class aesthetics have no standing in “traditional” Reformed worship. The reason has everything to do with theology of the Lord’s Day, when Christians assemble with all the angels . . . Continue reading →
What You Don’t Know About Harold Camping
Harold Camping is back in the news with yet another prediction of Jesus’ return. What you might know not, however, is that Harold has a history of this dating back to before his first false prediction in 1994. He was an elder . . . Continue reading →
Religious Freedom Watch: Feds to Force Schools to Monitor Facebook?
Neil Munro writes at the Daily Caller: “Education Department officials are threatening school principals with lawsuits if they fail to monitor and curb students’ lunchtime chat and evening Facebook time for expressing ideas and words that are deemed by Washington special-interest groups . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: What the Bible Actually Says About the End Times
In this episode Office Hours talks with Dr Kim Riddlebarger, author of The Man of Sin: Uncovering the Truth About the Antichrist and about how to read Scripture the way God intends for it to be read. Kim is pastor of Christ . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus on What Is the Sum and Substance of Scripture
In the prolegomena (prefatory remarks) to his published lectures on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83), the primary author of the catechism and the one authorized by Frederick III to explain the catechism wrote: “The doctrine of the church consists of two . . . Continue reading →
Mark Galli Reviews Bell on Hell
Galli writes, “but in raising such momentous issues, he has raised crucial questions that also must be asked. If universal salvation is true, why does Jesus not showcase it? Why is Jesus’ teaching characterized instead by a relentless focus on the last . . . Continue reading →
Glimpses Into Modern Missions in Jerusalem
David Zadok is a WSC grad who is working in Israel with HaGefen Publishing. You can hear interviews with David here and here. The following is from his latest newsletter:
Something for the "Missional" Movement to Consider
Wes Bredenhof has a provocative post regarding the influence of Harry Boer (a theologian in the CRC who attacked aspects of the doctrine of predestination as unbiblical) on some contemporary ideas of “mission.” He writes, “In Boer’s view, mission is not so . . . Continue reading →
Is "Desiring God" A New Law?
Darryl Hart writes, I have nothing personal against John Piper. I believe him to be basically sound theologically, though I wish he were a confessional Reformed Protestant. And his earnestness is truly impressive. I do not sense that he is faking what . . . Continue reading →
Pray for R2G
Sebastian writes: “Greetings in the name of Our Lord and Savior! I am full of joy when I remember you, our brothers and sisters, dear congregations, who faithfully pray for us and support us financially! Knowing of your support and being reassured . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Dennis Johnson on Preaching Christ From All of Scripture
In this episode Office Hours talks with Dr Dennis Johnson, author of Him We Proclaim, about what it means (and doesn’t mean) to to preach Christ from all of Scripture. Don’t forget: We need you to call 760-480-8477 with your question for . . . Continue reading →
Baby Laughing at Ripping Paper-The WSC Connection
Micah is the son of Marcus and Mandi McArthur. Marcus is a 2003 graduate of Westminster Seminary California, where he earned his MA in Historical Theology. His thesis was “Apocalypse and Broken Chains: Millerism and Abolitionism in Antebellum America, 1830-1844.” Presently he . . . Continue reading →
William Godfrey Ordained to Ministry of Word and Sacrament
Every Christian Sabbath is a day of joy. After all, by God’s grace we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Yesterday, however, was a particularly joyful Lord’s Day at Grace URC in Torrance, CA since WSC graduate William Godfrey was ordained to the Ministry of . . . Continue reading →
Pastor Dave is Looking for Courageous Calvinism in the PCA
He writes: “I’m not sure that there are many in the PCA with this conviction. We are going with the flow, paddling with the current of broad evangelicalism seeking relevance, influence, and recognition. And sadly, to the extent we pursue those things . . . Continue reading →
Maybe They Really Don’t Get It
Over the years of battling the moralists (Federal Visionists, Norman Shepherd et al) I’ve not always been certain whether the moralists understand the orthodox doctrine of justification and reject it or if they think they are really teaching it. Here’s a post . . . Continue reading →
Colson Calls for Doctrinal Boot Camp: But Which Doctrine?
In 1994 Chuck Colson attempted to convince evangelicals that the decline of the culture was so precipitous that they needed to set aside the historic Protestant doctrine of justification in favor of an intentionally equivocal statement about how we are accepted by . . . Continue reading →
Tabletalk: Divorcing Doctrine from Scripture
What follows is from the latest issue of Tabletalk, which contains a series of letters from “Legion” to his young assistant, the style of C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Dear Pithius, Our dear boy, you quite misunderstand the problem. So long as Christians . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: From Mainline to Sideline
In this episode Office Hours talks with the Rev Mr John Bales, interim Library Director at Westminster Seminary California about his journey from the Protestant mainline (RCA) to the confessional Reformed sideline.
Legal and Gospel Mortification
Ralph Erskine (1685-1752) was the brother of Ebeneezer Erskine and a defender of the Reformation doctrines of justification and sanctification against the neonomians and legalists of his day. Mortification is the old-fashioned way of saying, “dying to self.” In the Heidelberg Catechism . . . Continue reading →