“A Denial…Of the Biblical Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints”

That’s the conclusion of R. C. Sproul, Jr. about the self-described “Federal Vision” movement. You can read it for yourself in his column titled, “Two Birds, One Stone” in the February issue of Tabletalk magazine. The focus of the magazine is on . . . Continue reading →

The Struggle Against the FV on the Ground in the PCA (Updated)

The 2007 GA decision against the FV was just the first phase of the struggle. It was the air campaign but wars are won on the ground and the ground war over the Federal Vision seems to be heating up. Lane Keister . . . Continue reading →

Olevianus on the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness

Todd is reading Olevianus’ Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed at In Principio Deus (in the beginning God) and he notices a strong contrast between the way Olevianus wrote about the imputation of Christ’s merits and the way the Federal Vision writes about . . . Continue reading →

It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again: Keister Refutes Moon

Ever had a déjà vu experience? Ever had a déjà vu experience? Ever had a déjà vu experience? Ever had a déjà vu experience? This is the experience I’ve been having watching the discussion concerning the Federal Vision in the PCA Siouxlands Presbytery. I’ve been having . . . Continue reading →

What’s Going On in the Siouxlands Presbytery (PCA)? Updated

Update 29 Jan 2010 Wes White re-publishes the 2007 rejection of the FV by Siouxlands Presbytery. UPDATE 26 Jan 2010. Wes White has the latest including his protest against the finding that there is no strong presumption of guilt in the teaching . . . Continue reading →

On Defining Conservatives, Liberals, Latitudinarians, and Good Behavior

Pastor (Teaching Elder) Brian Carpenter has an update about the FV controversy in the Siouxlands Presbytery (PCA).  In two PCA presbyteries men are doing the hard work that needs to be done for the sake of the peace and purity of the . . . Continue reading →

Office Hours January 4, 2010: Horton Talks to Clark

In the latest episode of Office Hours Mike Horton inteviews yours truly about the role of church history in the Christian life, about the federal vision controversy, and about Recovering the Reformed Confession.  You can hear more episodes of Office Hours at . . . Continue reading →

Top Ten HB Posts for 2009

The HB began in 2007 as a low-key exposition of the Heidelberg CatechismHeidelberg Catechism and gradually morphed into a discussion of issues surrounding the federal vision and then into a broader discussion of contemporary issues surrounding the recovery of the Reformed confession. . . . Continue reading →

Proposed by SJC Panel: Indict Leithart

A panel of two teaching elders (ministers) and two ruling elders (elders) has recommended to the full Standing Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church in America that the complaint against the Pacific NW Presbytery of the PCA, which refused to prosecute the . . . Continue reading →

Of Sacred Cows and Secret Societies

At the beginning of the Christian Reformed Church (CRCNA), in 1857, there were three great reasons given for  separating from the Reformed Church in America (RCA): the RCA sang hymns instead psalms, the RCA did not send children to Christian schools, and . . . Continue reading →

Now This is the Way It's Done

It’s one thing for consistories, sessions, presbyteries, classes, synods, and general assemblies to make statements against the Federal Vision (and the New Perspective(s) on Paul). Those were and are necessary and important preliminary steps but those statements must be followed with ecclesiastical . . . Continue reading →

On Precision and Latitude

Over the last year or so there seems to have been a concerted effort to discredit any sort of “two-kingdoms” (or two-spheres) approach to Reformed ethics and this despite the long-history and pedigree in Reformed theology of distinguishing between the kingdom of . . . Continue reading →

Audio: Exposition of the Nine Points (part 7) "Covenantal Arminianism"

Exposition of the Nine Points (Pt 7)-Covenantal Arminianism Synod rejects the errors of those who teach that a person can be historically, conditionally elect, regenerated, savingly united to Christ, justified, and adopted by virtue of participation in the outward administration of the . . . Continue reading →

CT Reports on Shifts within Inter-Varsity

When I was in college the BSU (Baptist Student Union) was the place to meet nice Christian girls, Crusade was for evangelistic-minded types, Navigators was for spiritual discipline, and Inter-Varsity (IV) was for intellectuals. IV was clearly associated with the historic, confessional . . . Continue reading →

Something Weird in the Siouxlands

I’ve been trying to follow recent events in the Siouxlands Presbytery but I’m confused about what’s happening. I’m not expert in the Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America (and I’m not going to become so) so I assumed . . . Continue reading →

Speaking a Foreign Language

In response to another post, Daniel F., one of Doug Wilson’s more ardent defenders, asked me to listen to a clip from a sermon which is supposed to demonstrate Wilson’s pristine evangelical, Protestant, Reformational orthodoxy on justification. What follows is a lightly . . . Continue reading →

In John’s Latitudinarian Garage

I don’t know what’s in your garage, but from time to time mine has become pretty cluttered and stuff has to be pitched. What we keep and what we pitch says something about us. People have theological garages too, in which they . . . Continue reading →

URCNA Study Committee Rejects FV (Updated)

UPDATE:  Here is the URCNA Report At Synod Calgary (2004) Synod of the United Reformed Churches in North America, in response to a complaint over a sermon preached by a (now former) URCNA minister, adopted Three Points on justification on the basis of . . . Continue reading →

A Gentle Rebuke to Brother John (Updated)

UPDATE 12 October 2009 The remarks that follow highlight areas of significant disagreement so let me preface my remarks thus: I am thankful for the good work that John Piper has done. I’m most thankful for his clear and strong stand in . . . Continue reading →

Even on His Birthday…

There is a generally fair piece on the resurgence of interest in Calvin and in aspects of his theology among evangelicals by Daniel Burke of the Religious News Service. It is better than most pieces as Burke took the time to interview . . . Continue reading →