I began writing a few op-eds for our local Jewish paper, one of which was spotted by a Wall Street Journal editor, who invited me to submit to the Wall Street Journal. I did, and in the course of that year, published . . . Continue reading →
What Should PCA Confessionalists Do?
It is no secret that the Presbyterian Church in America is in turmoil. No one denies the existence of conflict and consternation. Though some consider the strife to be unjustified, even they do not believe the strife will soon cease or be . . . Continue reading →
Sophie And The Heidelberg Cat
I am not sure why it took me so long to get to Sophie and the Heidelberg Cat published in 2019. Perhaps it is because we do not have children in the house but Harrison Perkins, frequent contributor to this space, mentioned . . . Continue reading →
On Being Reformed Discounted 50% Now Until December 31
That should bring the price of the hardcopy to about $35.o0 and the e-book to about $27.50, which is approaching a reasonable price. Continue reading
Bond And A Betrayal Culture
There are two problematic layers built into No Time to Die’s manipulative betrayal of Bond fans. The first, and arguably less substantive, is the film’s abandonment of the 007 formula. Movie critics have praised the decision to depart from the standard format of find the villain, defeat the villain, get the girl, get away with a dryly humorous quip. This praise, however, is precisely what reveals the elitist nature of the modern entertainment industry. There is a necessary question: If twenty-five movies (plus the novels and a few video games) have had immense commercial success for sixty years while abiding by the same formula, what suggests that the audience wants the films to depart from the formula? Quite obviously, it seems that we continue to pay money to watch Bond movies because we want the formula. If we wanted something else, we would see a different movie. Continue reading →
Religious Freedom Watch: SCOTUS To Consider Whether Religious Schools May Do Religious Things
Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Carson v. Makin, a case that concerns whether Maine may constitutionally exclude religious schools from participating in the state’s private-school tuition-assistance program. To those who have been paying attention to recent Supreme Court decisions . . . Continue reading →
Religious Freedom Watch: Federal Courts Continue Turning Back Federal Mandate Regime
A federal judge Tuesday blocked a national COVID-19 vaccine mandate that would have required private government contractors to get their shots, dealing yet another blow to the Biden administration’s jab push. The mandate, set to take hold Jan. 4, was the latest . . . Continue reading →
In Case You Doubt The Pauline-Augustinian Doctrine Of Human Corruption
It Is Possible To Sear Ones Conscience
I feel that abortion involves taking a human life… Having decided that taking a life by abortion is sometimes the lesser evil,
An Interview With Hywel Jones On Transfiguration And Transformation
Until I read Transfiguration and Transformation by Hywel Jones, just out from the Banner of Truth, I did not realize that our English translations translate the same word as transfigure when applied to our Lord and as transform when it is applied to us. Hywel . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 201—What Must A Christian Believe? (18): A Holy Catholic Church, The Communion Of The Saints
In our survey of the rule of faith we have reached the ninth article, “A Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints.” Over the years I have received several questions about this phrase, “holy catholic church.” When American Christians, particularly American . . . Continue reading →
What Is Assurance?
During the darkest moments of our lives—when it feels we’re taking more delight in sinstead of Christ—where should we turn for the assurance of our salvation? All believers struggle with this at times. Even John Calvin said he could not “imagine any . . . Continue reading →
What Do We Mean When We Say That Jesus Hung Out With Sinners?
Jesus reclines at the feast of Levi, and he is surrounded by more tax-collectors and sinners. He is keeping company with some bad folk. To be labeled a sinner was not to be socially misunderstood; it wasn’t an unfair prejudice against those . . . Continue reading →
Pew Poll: Christendom Lives In The Hearts Of Many Americans
On October 28, 2021 The Pew Research Center published another of their fascinating and illuminating polls. This one surveyed the attitudes of Americans on the relations between church and state. For our international readers the USA has a written constitution (other nations . . . Continue reading →
Stop Blaming Your Problems On Luther
…Yet I dissent from Chalk’s genealogy of modernity. He goes on to argue that this notion of the autonomous, emotivist self can be traced to Martin Luther. In part this is because Chalk depends upon Jacques Maritain’s Three Reformers: Luther, Descartes, Rousseau . . . Continue reading →
What’s Going on Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics, & Power with Dr. W Robert Godfrey (5)
In this fifth session of Dr. Godfrey’s Sunday school class at the Escondido URC, he traces the long period of challenges to Christendom within Christendom, and the rise of the Enlightenment, which thought Christianity to be too focused on the world to come, . . . Continue reading →
Let Us Pray
The Supreme Court of the United States has just finished hearing arguments in Dobbs v Women’s Health. Continue reading
How To Handle A Divisive Person In The Church
As society is presently ripped apart with divisions on every issue, the church is likewise bombarded with divisive people who are using the current cultural divide to mimic the culture and tear apart the body of Christ. Christians have to be acutely . . . Continue reading →
An Aberration Or Standard In Progressive Covenantalism? Issues About Covenant Conditions
Caneday’s main argument is to undermine the law-gospel distinction. In his words, “This chapter disavows the notion that all of Scripture consists of two isolatable messages: law, consisting of God’s demands, and gospel, composed of God’s gracious giving. Instead, it argues that the formulation of covenant stipulations remain the same while the content of stipulations changes.” (pg. 103; italics original). Continue reading →
New Resource Page On Social Media And Wikipedia
In a very short period of time, social media has become one of the dominant forces in our age. Who does not have a social media account of some kind? Your Grandmother knows how to use Facebook and teens use and switch social media platforms the way they choose fashions, rapidly. Every social media platform, however, is a trade-off. We use them to connect with friends and to communicate but the social media platforms are using us at the same time. They are ostensibly “free” but that is because we, the users, are the content. Continue reading →
Another Reason Not To Rely On BigSocMedia
Twitter’s new CEO has introduced new rules which would appear to create an opportunity to de-platform certain views out of favor with our BigSocMedia overlords. Continue reading