Heidelcast 55: Why We Can’t Move On (1)

by Heidelcast on December 21, 2013

There is a certain amount of pressure within the NAPARC world to “move on” from the Federal Vision. In the next three episodes we’re going to consider why that is and how Reformed folk, particularly ministers and elders (but laity too), should . . . Continue reading →

St Paul’s “Vile Speech”

by Heidelblog on December 21, 2013

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor . . . Continue reading →

Religious Liberty And An Indefinite Article

by Heidelblog on December 20, 2013

Over a century and a half passed, and the Supreme Court began to muddle the meaning, especially in 1947’s Everson v. Board of Education. Justice Hugo Black took it upon himself to change the phrase from “an establishment of religion” into “the . . . Continue reading →

Orange County Bodes Ill For The Evangelical Future

by R. Scott Clark on December 19, 2013

…the future of the evangelical church as glimpsed from Orange County might be no church at all. Robert Schuller’s brand of worship might just turn out to be nothing more than a spiritual fad. As the generation that embraced it—middle-class, baby-boomer whites . . . Continue reading →

Should I Buy It?

by R. Scott Clark on December 18, 2013

Frequently I receive the question in my inbox: “Should I buy this book?” What I would like to say is, “Yes, buy every book but don’t buy every book you buy.” I think it is a good idea to own and read . . . Continue reading →

Doris Lessing On The Habits Of Mind Inherent In Political Correctness

by R. Scott Clark on December 18, 2013

…Of course, I am not suggesting that the torch of Communism has been handed on to the political correctors. I am suggesting that habits of mind have been absorbed, often without knowing it. There is obviously something very attractive about telling other . . . Continue reading →

Harold Camping Dies At Age 92

by R. Scott Clark on December 17, 2013

According to a statement released by Family Radio, Harold Camping (1921–2013) has died (HT: Sarah Pulliam Bailey—Her RNS story) When the internet became available to the public, after connections became fast enough to allow pages to download in less than 30 minutes, . . . Continue reading →

Geerhardus Vos On The Creation Days

by R. Scott Clark on December 16, 2013

30. To what is appeal made to support the nonliteral interpretation? a) To the fact that sun and moon (or rather the rotation of the earth around its axis in relation to the sun) were not yet present. As we know, the . . . Continue reading →

Office Hours: Sanctification, Perfectionism, And Romans 7

by R. Scott Clark on December 16, 2013

There are many ways to err in the doctrine and practice of sanctification. One of the most egregious errors the church has faced, which continues to afflict believers, is the teaching that believers can and should reach “entire sanctification” in this life. . . . Continue reading →

Ralph Erskine: The Greatest Sin Is Pardonable By Christ’s Righteousness

by R. Scott Clark on December 15, 2013

It is a great sin to think any sin little; but it is a greater sin to think the righteousness of Christ is not above all sin. Our disobedience is the disobedience of man; but Christ’s obedience is the obedience of God: . . . Continue reading →

Wisdom On Introducing Psalm Singing

by R. Scott Clark on December 14, 2013

1) Many people do not know you can sing the psalms (at least, other than Psalm 23, 62, and 100). “The psalter” is a foreign term, and even after people are introduced to singing psalms, they find it incredibly awkward to actually . . . Continue reading →

Heidelcast 54: The Story Of The Meyers Case (Pt 2)

by Heidelcast on December 14, 2013

For those who are outside the Reformed churches, the so-called (and self-named) Federal Vision movement probably seems like a tempest in a teapot. For those of us, however, who worship in Reformed churches, the FV is no theoretical discussion. There have been . . . Continue reading →

What Is True Faith? (9) Its Gospel Agency

by R. Scott Clark on December 13, 2013

In part 8 we saw that the source of true faith is the sovereign, powerful, re-creating work of the Holy Spirit. Ordinarily, however, he works through what the classic Reformed writers, including Calvin, and the Reformed churches call “the means of grace” . . . Continue reading →

Maybe Darryl Had A Point? Driscoll v. Catholic Creeds

by R. Scott Clark on December 13, 2013

I don’t know why people are not debating whether Driscoll should even be writing books. —Darryl Hart, “Tribalists All” Second, the Apostles’ Creed [sic] defines the Son as “begotten, not made.” The point was that something begotten was of the same substance . . . Continue reading →

On Troubling The “Top Men”

by R. Scott Clark on December 12, 2013

. . . criticism of certain leaders of evangelicalism who seek to exert massive influence in the evangelical world but who eschew proper accountability to that world is not identical with criticism of God’s people tout court. It is specifically criticism of . . . Continue reading →

Distance Ed: After The Hype

by R. Scott Clark on December 12, 2013

Tamar Lewin (HT: Kendrick Doolan) writes in Tuesday’s NYT “two years after a Stanford professor drew 160,000 students from around the globe to a free online course on artificial intelligence, starting what was widely viewed as a revolution in higher education, early . . . Continue reading →

Available Now: Gillespie Against English Popish Ceremonies

by R. Scott Clark on December 11, 2013

“Gillespie’s famous book is a vitally important work in the history of the Scottish Reformation, but it is much more than simply that. It has abiding and profound value for all who are committed to knowing, applying, and following the Word of . . . Continue reading →

Check Out Monergism.com

by R. Scott Clark on December 11, 2013

Thanks to Kim Riddlebarger, for the heads up. John Hendryx runs a great website, Monergism.com. He’s a friend of the Heidelblog and has been very helpful about letting readers know what’s happening at the HB. He’s given Monergism.com a makeover. It’s an . . . Continue reading →

On Catechetical Preaching

by R. Scott Clark on December 11, 2013

The reason this is a wonderful practice is that this type of preaching demonstrates the unity of Scripture. In reality, different texts from various authors and generations testify to a unified body of truth. This manner of preaching ensures that we develop . . . Continue reading →

The Ninth Commandment And The New Media (UPDATED)

by R. Scott Clark on December 10, 2013

The ninth commandment is still a part of the moral law of God. It requires that all humans tell the truth. It says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” As my dear friend Don Treick always says, “It’s in . . . Continue reading →