For my own part I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that ‘nothing happens’ when . . . Continue reading →
theology
Reformed and Pentecostal?
James K. A. Smith has an interesting post at CT: Teaching a Calvinist to Dance. In this post he says he longs for a “a kind of ‘Pentecostalized’ Reformed spirituality.”
The Rejection of Errors (1): A Brief History of the Antithesis
Part two of this series is here. ___ Kim Riddlebarger is working his way through the Canons of Dort. He’s covering the Rejection of Errors. The RE was the Synod of Dort’s way of re-asserting the anthesis between the Reformed faith and . . . Continue reading →
Turretin Summarizes the Reformed Faith
Thanks to David for posting Turretin’s brilliant summary
Recovering the Reformed Confession: The Interview
Thanks to the CTC guys for inviting me to play with them on the most recent CTC podcast to discuss Recovering the Reformed Confession. We had a wide-ranging discussion (because it’s a wide-ranging book) and it was good clean fun. This is . . . Continue reading →
It's Out: Recovering the Reformed Confession
Click on the image to order. You can see the front matter (table of contents etc) and read a sample chapter online for free. It’s $19.63 for 350 pages. There is more info here. Thanks to Kim, Martin, Lane, Dennis, Timothy, Danny, Ben, . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Darryl Hart on "Deconstructing Evangelicalism"
The fellows at CTC provide an excellent interview with WSC’s own Darryl Hart on the nature and deconstruction of contemporary evangelicalism and the differences between evangelicalism and Reformed theology, piety, and practice. Is it possible that evangelical-ism doesn’t really exist? It’s a . . . Continue reading →
David is Reading RRC
At Pilgrim’s Redress.
Is Humanism Evil?
David asks, The term “humanism” seem to incite disgust in most conservative Christians today but I have heard Calvin and other reformers referenced as “humanists.” What is the difference between the word’s use in that context and the present one?
Godfrey: Real Calvinism is A Head and Heart Religion
“Strong on doctrine and scholarship, but weak on life, evangelism and passion.” Too frequently this is the popular image of Calvinism. Contemporary Calvinists may sometimes be responsible for perpetuating this image. In their eagerness for theological precision some Calvinists seem to want . . . Continue reading →
Calvin As Theologian of Consolation (Pt 2)
Part 1: Introduction to Calvin’s Life and His Own Need for Comfort I. Calvin’s Exegesis of Consolation (in Paul) In the first part we saw that Calvin was a pilgrim who himself needed the consolation of the gospel, given by the Spirit, . . . Continue reading →
Do You See How He Makes This Distinction Between Law And Gospel?
Do you see how he makes this the distinction between law and gospel: that the former attributes righteousness to works, the latter bestows free righteousness apart from the help of works? This is an important passage, and one that can extricate us . . . Continue reading →
Reformed Is Enough Or Why I Wrote RRC
David J. Miller published a lengthy account yesterday of his journey out of the OPC to Eastern Orthodoxy and to Anglicanism of different sorts and back to confessional Presbyterian and Reformed theology, piety, and practice. It’s a long-ish piece but it’s a . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Kelly Kapic On John Owen, Theology, And Piety
Kelly Kapic is Professor of Theological Studies at Covenant College. This is a sort of lost episode. Kelly was on campus campus in February, 2010 to talk with our students about theology and piety. That spring we renovated the Office Hours studio . . . Continue reading →
Reformed Is A Confession More Than A Culture
These arguments often come down to definitions. If we define culture as the sum of a series of factors including language, a web of relationships (family, community), that shapes the way we think about food, clothing, and work then culture is one . . . Continue reading →
Reformed And Pentecostal?
In view of the controversy over the recent Strange Fire conference up the road, it seemed like a good time to re-post this HB classic from 2008. § James K. A. Smith has an interesting post at Christianity Today, Teaching a Calvinist to Dance. . . . Continue reading →
The Importance of Being More Than Earnest
Doctrine. Theology. For many evangelicals these words are as pleasant as the phrase, “impacted tooth!” That theology is irrelevant to Christian life has essentially become a received dogma. Nevertheless, as much as indifference about Christian truth reigns among evangelicals, to the same degree . . . Continue reading →
Drawing the Line: Why Doctrine Matters
Imagine Mike. He’s an unusual mechanic. Where other mechanics find natural laws (such as gravity) unavoidable and even useful, he suspects them to be arbitrary, invoked in order to stifle his creativity. We can imagine how the story ends. Cars brought for . . . Continue reading →
Independence And The Practice Of The Faith
On Independence Day 2014 we should remember that one of the principal concerns of the founders of the Republic was the freedom not only to assemble for public worship but also to practice one’s religion. Since the so-called (and self-described) Enlightenment of . . . Continue reading →
With Chris Buskirk On Christianity, Civil Life, And Liberty
I spent some time yesterday talking to Chris Buskirk (filling in for Seth Leibsohn) on 960AM the Patriot (Phoenix) about the election, the place of Christians in politics, civil life, and religious liberty. Here’s the audio: