I suppose entertainment has always had some pedagogical intent and I suppose that, at some level, I have long been aware of it but in recent months I have become increasingly aware two things: Continue reading
Christ and Culture
Culture Is Important But It Is Not The Most Important Thing
Culture is important but it is not the most important thing. Continue reading
Suicide By Theocracy
If American evangelicalism dies, suicide will be the cause of death listed on the official Coroner’s report. American evangelicalism will likely not die due to external persecution. Historically, persecution tends to strengthen the church. If it dies, it will die because it . . . Continue reading →
The Language Of A “Twofold Kingdom” Has Deep Roots In Reformed Orthodoxy
Once more: it was John Calvin (1509–64) who distinguished between the two spheres on God’s kingdom: Continue reading
To Evangelicals Tempted By Eastern Orthodoxy: Something To Watch Before You Convert
Planting A Reformed Congregation In Romania
Reformation Romania is a church planting project of the United Reformed Churches in North America. In this video Pastor Mihai Corcea explains what Eastern Orthodoxy looks like, on the ground, in Bucharest and how the influence of Eastern Orthodoxy has has actually made it more difficult to reach Romanians with the gospel. Continue reading →
The Unexamined Premise Behind Mars Hill: Transformationalism
One of the unexamined themes Of the podcast series, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, is the stated purpose of the Mars Hill congregation and movement: to transform the Seattle metro. Continue reading
What To Do About Halloween On The Sabbath?
There are three major questions here: Halloween, the Sabbath, and how Christians ought to relate their faith in Christ to their life in the broader culture. Continue reading →
What If What The Church Needs Is Not A New Christendom?
Christianity is greatest when…
Continue reading →
Polycarp: A Model For Ministry In The Post-Christian West
Polycarp (Πολύκαρπος), whose name might be translated as fruitful was the leading pastor (ἐπίσκοπος) of Smyrna (today, Izmir, Turkey) on the Agean coast of Asia Minor. We do not know a great deal about his life. He was friends with Ignatius, the pastor of Antioch, who was (presumably) martyred about AD 115. Continue reading →
Heidelcast 193: Taking Calls On Christian Platonism And Covid-19 Restrictions
We are taking a break from the series, What Must A Christian Believe to take some calls and answer some questions. The first question comes from Deborah in Chicago who asks about the trend among evangelicals to talk about “Christian Platonism.” What is . . . Continue reading →
Trueman On The Failure Of The Evangelical Elite To Understand The Cultured Despisers Of Religion Are Despisers Of Religion
There are times in history when Christianity feels its place in society coming under threat. As it finds itself pushed to the margins, two temptations emerge. The first is an angry sense of entitlement, an impulse to denounce the entire world and . . . Continue reading →
How Nebuchadnezzar Helps Explain Our Moment
When Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams were interpreted by Daniel, a surprising prophecy was made that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would soon fall, and “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. . . . Continue reading →
Bob Godfrey On “What’s Going on Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics & Power” (2)
Bob Godfrey has been teaching the Adult Sunday School class in (what is now) the Escondido United Reformed Church for forty years. Some of that material has made its way into print and, in that way, perhaps you have benefited directly from . . . Continue reading →
Christ The Only Way, Doctrinal Confusion, And A Twofold Kingdom
A few years ago President Trump nominated Russell Vought to a post in his administration. Opponents of the nominee found an article written by Vought in which he criticized a Wheaton College professor for advocating a pluralist approach to salvation. During his confirmation hearing the ACLU bizarrely attacked Vought for denying religious liberty. The ACLU conflated Vought’s religious views with his policy views (perhaps because that is what the ACLU now does). Sen. Sanders of Vermont grilled Vought over his public, Christian conviction that faith in Jesus is the only way of salvation. Either Sanders was being cynical or he is incredibly ill-informed about a basic tenet of orthodox Christianity. Continue reading →
How The Spirituality Of The Church Can Address The Legacy Of Apartheid
As South Africa’s second-largest metropolis (after Johannesburg), Cape Town not only has a rich history but is also a melting pot of scenic views, cuisines, and skin colors. She boasts incredible beauty but also thrombotic veins of prejudice and inequality, which are . . . Continue reading →
Part 4: What’s Going On Right Now: Sex, Race, Politics, and Power with Dr. W Robert Godfrey
In this fourth session of Bob’s Sunday school class at the Escondido URC, he explains what led to the collapse of Christendom. It began with Luther at Worms, in 1521. In his famous speech he presented a choice: to maintain Christendom, the powerful . . . Continue reading →
An Unusually Thoughtful Podcast: Presbycast On When Church Became Theatre
The Presbycast is one of my favorite podcasts and Harrison Perkins, a regular contributor to the Heidelblog, is one of my favorite writers and, in this episode, like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, the two come together: They are discussing Jeanne Halgren Kilde’s . . . Continue reading →
With Back To The Reformation Podcast Taking About Politics And The Church
The question of how Christians should relate Christ (i.e., their allegiance to Christ and the Christian faith) to culture is perhaps the most pressing challenge facing the Christians individually and the institutional, visible church. A subset of this question touches on how . . . 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 →
Straight Talk About Homophobia
In just a few short years the noun Homophobia has become one of the most powerful words in the English language. It has an interesting, if brief, history. It was derived from the combination of two Greek loan words brought into English, . . . Continue reading →