We are writing with some concerns about our child’s experience in school around the issue of gender. We understand this is a challenging and controversial topic in schools, and respect that different children and their families have different needs and beliefs regarding gender . . . Continue reading →
Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America (Part 3): Strategic Planning And Corporate Culture Change
When the 35th GA convened at Memphis’ Cook Convention Center June 12–14, 2007, the PCA was changing from the inside out. Its expanded Overtures Committee met for the first time, and the CMC (Cooperative Ministries Committee) was begun. CofCs (Committee of Commissioners) . . . Continue reading →
The Establishment Principle
In my mind, the Old Testament model of theocracy doesn’t clearly correlate with the New Testament or Apostolic Church practices, or even the Patristics for that matter, which suggests that applying Old Testament concepts to Christian statecraft might be anachronistic or misguided. . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (49)
This is part 49 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Review: The Lord’s Prayer: Learning from Jesus on What, Why, and How to Pray by Kevin DeYoung
Most of us know that we should pray more often. We do not need a book to tell us this. We only need to consider our own daily prayers to see our failures. If we already know this, then why bother reading . . . Continue reading →
Dear Abusive Men In The Church
Dear abusive men in the church, I so often feel like berating you, but in what follows I actually want to give you a compliment of sorts. You are succeeding in changing hearts and minds about a key issue facing the church . . . Continue reading →
Sub-Christian Nationalism? (Part 7)
In Article VIII the Statement (version 2) says: WE AFFIRM that God’s purpose for civil government is to establish justice for His glory and the good of all people. We affirm that unjust laws harm people and that just laws reflect the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (48)
This is part 48 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Machen On Christianity & Liberalism (47)
This is part 47 in our series from Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Continue reading →
Synod Turns Back Neland Ave CRC Appeal
Synod 2023 of the Christian Reformed Church in North America rejected an appeal by the council of Neland Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids, Mich., of a Synod 2022 order that called for the congregation to rescind its decision to ordain a deacon . . . Continue reading →
Laboring For The Spoils Of Scripture: Augustine’s Threefold Hermeneutic (Part One)
“Like fingernails on a chalkboard.” Sometimes that phrase captures my response to a bizarre interpretation of Scripture. For example, I recently read a modern commentary on the story in Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus heals a man with leprosy: “Jesus stretched out his . . . Continue reading →
The Early Church Fathers On The Anti-Christ
The earliest Christian documents which mention the Antichrist contain slight theological reflection, apart from a brief mention of him in connection with a particular biblical passage. Over time, the short-shrift given him begins to change. Some tie Antichrist to heresy (appealing to . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For the Week of July 3–9, 2023
These were the top five posts for the week beginning July 3–9, 2023. Continue reading →
Finding The Heidelcast On Google Podcasts
There has been some confusion among Google Podcast listeners as to how to find the Heidelcast on Google Podcasts. The Google feed changed several months ago. It is now here. Subscribe here. All the Episodes of the Heidelcast Subscribe To the Heidelblog . . . Continue reading →
Expressive Individualism, The Associated Press, Reality, And Lunacy
The AP Stylebook was, until recent years, one of the most respected and influential authorities for American journalists. Undergraduate journalism students are regularly directed to the AP Style as the “bible” for journalists. It functions similarly to the way the Chicago Manual . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast For July 9, 2023: Sin, Salvation, & Service: The Threefold Truth Of Romans (26)
In this episode Dr Clark works through with Romans 7:15–25, where Paul continues to meditate on the problem of the Christian’s experience in sanctification. For more on these see the resources in the show notes. The opening audio features Chad Vegas from . . . Continue reading →
Did The Reformation Corrupt The Gospel By Baptizing Babies?
That is just one of a series of claims made recently by my friend Mark Dever, who is a devout Baptist. Rather than reading my summary of Mark’s claims, you should watch this brief video clip for yourself, to which I will . . . Continue reading →
Gladness In The Face Of Realism: An Examination of Restoration and Rejoicing in Psalm 126 (Part 1)
The Psalter is a multivalent book, giving us examples for how the godly respond to the whole spectrum of experiences that we face in the Christian life. This collection of songs contains praises, laments, thanksgivings, and so many other examples of how . . . Continue reading →
Activists Are Controlling Scientific Research
A significant social-science paper, co-authored by my casual friend Michael Bailey, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Northwestern, was just retracted by the prestigious Springer-network journal Archives of Sexual Behavior. It’s worth looking at exactly why this happened. …All right: enough wordplay. In reality, anyone . . . Continue reading →
Ruling Elder Renaissance
The recently-concluded 50th Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly in Memphis, TN was the second-largest ever with (unofficially) 2250 elders in attendance; only the previous year’s assembly was larger with 2385 in attendance. More significantly, this year’s meeting solidified a trend of . . . Continue reading →