After The Presents: Some Excellent Podcasts

R. Scott Clark

on December 25, 2021 | 2 Comments

First, there is a new podcast in the Presbycast network of podcasts: Presbygirls. It features Sarah Morris, member of Westminster PCA, Roanoke, VA and the author of an excellent essay at Ref21, “Brothers, We Are Presbyterian Are We Not?” and Zoe Schimke, . . . Continue reading →

Merry Christmas From Martin Luther

Inwoo Lee

on December 25, 2021 | 3 Comments

This is a wonderful story to tell about very great men and pillars of the churches. Paul is the only one who has his eyes open and sees the sin of Peter, Barnabas, and the other Jews, who were acting insincerely along . . . Continue reading →

The St Nicholas Of History (Sort Of)

R. Scott Clark

on December 24, 2021 | 2 Comments

After the recent Heidelcast episode on Christmas and Santa Claus, Brad Isbell reported that his better half asked something to the effect of, “but what about the real St Nicholas?” This is a great question and one that I have intended to . . . Continue reading →

W. Robert Godrey: “What’s Going on Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics, & Power” (8)

R. Scott Clark

on December 23, 2021 | 2 Comments

This is the eighth session of Bob Godfrey’s Adult Sunday School series at the Escondido URC. In this session he discusses the dramatic changes in American culture in the last few years wherein America has abandoned Christendom, a way of looking at . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: The Sum Of Covenant Of Grace Was Given In Paradise

Inwoo Lee

on December 23, 2021

[G]od gave the covenant of grace in the beginning to our first parents in paradise, the sum whereof was this: ‘The seed of the woman shall break the serpent’s head.’

Johnson To The PCA: “Merry Christmas. Here Is A Lump Of Coal For Your Stocking”

R. Scott Clark

on December 22, 2021 | 71 Comments

For several years now, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has been roiled by controversy over whether to admit to her ministry men who are same-sex attracted but celibate (i.e., the so-called “Side B” approach). The debate has centered around a the . . . Continue reading →

Been There, Seen That: Anglican Minister Warns PCA About The Future Of Side B

Heidelblog

on December 21, 2021 | 4 Comments

I share this letter to brethren in the PCA with some trepidation. With Prov. 26:17 in mind it is arguably foolhardy to get involved in another denomination’s ecclesial debates — especially one on the other side of the Atlantic! However friends in . . . Continue reading →

Good News For The Reformed Churches: Small Is In Again

R. Scott Clark

on December 20, 2021 | 9 Comments

“According to the recently released Faith Communities Today study, half of the congregations in the United States have 65 people or fewer, while two-thirds of congregations have fewer than 100.” Continue reading →

Heidelcast 204—What Must A Christian Believe? (20): The Forgiveness Of Sins (2)

Heidelcast

on December 19, 2021 | 3 Comments

This is episode 20 in the series, What Must A Christian Believe? In our survey of the rule of faith, i.e., the Apostles’ Creed, we have reached the tenth article, “the forgiveness of sins.” The truth of our righteousness with God is essential . . . Continue reading →

Of Christians And Rights

Heidelblog

on December 19, 2021 | 20 Comments

One of the crucial questions in our current moment of governmental overreaches has to do with how we understand our rights as Christians living in this world. Many of our current discussions evidence a great misunderstanding of our calling as believers in . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 203: A Christmas Story (With A Santa Clause)

Heidelcast

on December 18, 2021 | 4 Comments

We’re interrupting our series on the Apostles’ Creed to talk about Christmas. Usually at this time of year I post or repost some of the essays on the Heidelblog about Christmas but this year I thought it might be useful to talk . . . Continue reading →

Religious Liberty Watch: University Of Iowa Pays Christian Student Group For Violating Their Civil Rights

Heidelblog

on December 18, 2021

A state panel agreed Monday to spend nearly $2 million to settle two federal lawsuits brought against the University of Iowa in 2017 after a religious group denied a gay student a leadership role. The Iowa State Appeal Board, made up of . . . Continue reading →

What Dispensationalism Misses About The Temple

Heidelblog

on December 17, 2021 | 3 Comments

This is a serious interpretive problem for those dispensationalists who argue, in effect, that redemptive history takes a U-turn in the millennial age, as the reality which is found in Christ’s fulfillment of the Old Temple imagery in his own body, supposedly returns to the types and shadows of the Old Testament. Continue reading →

The Nature And Value Of Christian Liberty

Heidelblog

on December 17, 2021

Do you ever feel like other people are better Christians than you are? Maybe they read their Bibles more, give more money to the church, pray more for others, are involved in church ministry, do more good deeds, or never seem to . . . Continue reading →

Religious Liberty And Free Speech Suffers Another Defeat As LGBTQ Lobby Continues To Demand Affirmation Of Gay Marriage

Heidelblog

on December 17, 2021

A federal court in New York dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Christian wedding photographer who refused to photograph same-sex weddings. The woman, Emilee Carpenter, filed the federal lawsuit in April, arguing that New York’s nondiscrimination laws forced her to choose between . . . Continue reading →

Five Reasons We Do Not Need Ken’s Doxology

R. Scott Clark

on December 16, 2021 | 11 Comments

In a recent essay I mentioned in passing that we do not need Bishop Ken’s seventeenth-century substitute (i.e., “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”) for the Psalms since there are five doxologies inspired by the Holy Spirit and included in the Psalter . . . Continue reading →

Jon Payne: How Can An Ordained Officer Be Above Reproach If He Maintains A Settled, Gay Identity?

Heidelblog

on December 16, 2021

The Bible teaches that ordained officers in Christ’s church must be above reproach and Christlike in character.

UK Christians Respond To Proposal To Ban “Conversion Therapy”

These Laws Already Exist In Some US States

Heidelcast

on December 16, 2021

We are Christian ministers and pastoral workers from a broad range of churches, who have in common that we hold to orthodox, historic Christian teaching on sexual ethics. We are writing in response to the consultation on ‘Banning “Conversion Therapy”’ presented by . . . Continue reading →

Big Bird And Despair In The Big Apple

R. Scott Clark

on December 16, 2021

In October, 1982, Will Lee, who played the beloved “Mr Hooper” character on Sesame Street, died. In November, 1983 the show had to address his absence and explain it to their young views. The show was aimed at 3–4 year olds. Here is how they did it: Continue reading →

What’s Going on Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics, & Power with W Robert Godfrey (7)

R. Scott Clark

on December 16, 2021

This is the seventh session of Bob Godfrey’s Adult Sunday School series at the Escondido URC. In this session he explores the challenges faced by Christendom due to the Enlightenment and how it took shape in America. He argues that Christianity as . . . Continue reading →