Part 2 Modern evangelicals often assume that the line between post-canonical and canonical life is blurry or non-existent. It is widely assumed that we are in the exact same place in history as the prophets and apostles and that we can, if . . . Continue reading →
wisdom
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (5)
Part 4. We like the idea of special, individualized messages from God about our particular circumstance or question. We don’t much like the idea of struggling in prayer and thought over what is the wisest course. But as important as the Reformed . . . Continue reading →
Faith, Magic, and Bernie Madoff
UPDATE 29 June 2009 Madoff received a sentence of 150 years in prison today. Original story 8 May 2009 The investors in Madoff’s Ponzi scheme received higher than average returns. Most of those who invested with Madoff had no idea how he . . . Continue reading →
John Fesko on "Wisdom" and "Signposts" by Joel Kim
These are both new in the WSC “Faculty Reflection” section of the WSC website. John’s essay is here and Joel’s essay is here.
A Well-Hammered Nail: Hywel Jones on Ps 119
A skilled carpenter at work is a thing of beauty. The hammer goes where it ought and the nail is struck soundly. In Scripture, wisdom and skill are closely related and they are often regarded as Spirit-given. It is certainly true that . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Where Wisdom is Found
UPDATE: Here’s a brief update on the latest Office Hours contest and a look ahead to upcoming episodes. Be sure to subscribe to Office Hours in iTunes, via RSS, or Zune so as not to miss anything. § Office Hours this week . . . Continue reading →
The Perils of Self Promotion: Wisdom for Ministers and Ministerial Candidates
Wisdom from Escondido URC pastor Chris Gordon: The peril of self-promotion in the Christian ministry is nothing new. Jesus himself had to deal with this problem on numerous occasions in his own disciples. The Son of God became a servant to seek . . . Continue reading →
What Pastors Shouldn’t Tell Their Wives
The Dangers of Too Much Transparency
Megan Hill, a Presbyterian pastor’s wife, has been writing about what pastors tell their wives and what they should tell them. I can answer that question in one word: nothing. By nothing, I mean “no confidential information.” A pastor may tell his . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 9: The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (Pt 2)
An HB Classic
According to Deuteronomy 29:29 believers are to trust in, rely upon, listen to, and obey that which God has revealed rather than seeking what God has not revealed. In the history of redemptive history the practice of seeking God’s will where he . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 10: The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (Pt 3)
Modern evangelicals often assume that the line between canonical and post-canonical life is blurry or non-existent. Making that distinction, however, is essential to knowing God’s will. This isn’t the most popular way of thinking about God’s will, however. After all, why listen to . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 11a: The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (Pt 4)
We like the idea of direct, special revelation that speaks to our particular circumstances. Most of us don’t relish the idea of struggling in prayer, of dealing with doubt, of making a decision in the midst of uncertainty. God could clear things . . . Continue reading →
Advice To Young Preachers
Time was that church historians also taught church polity and what is sometimes called pastoral theology. This was, I suppose, because we used to recognize that the study of the history of the practice of the church gives a certain insight into . . . Continue reading →
How Large Should A Congregation Be?
A faithful HB reader wrote to ask about a good problem. His confessional Reformed congregation is growing. The question is how to proceed? Should the congregation expand the building or seek to establish new daughter congregations? Below is my reply. § It . . . Continue reading →
On The Wisdom Of Screens
Until very recently, if I mentioned screen and church in the same sentence one would have thought of a rood (Saxon for “cross”) screen, which separates the nave from the chancel. There, in the chancel, is the altar and the choir in . . . Continue reading →
Freedom of the Christian Man (2)
Part 1. Many of us have spent time in forms of Christianity that are very strong on rules and slavery and very weak on grace and freedom. By “rules and slavery” I refer to the imposition of man-made rules by which sanctity . . . Continue reading →
For Elders Thinking Of Inviting Arminius Into Their Pulpit
From the time he entered the pastoral ministry, James Arminius (c. 1559–1609) was a controversial figure but he was also a minister in good standing in the Reformed Churches. Despite the intense controversy that his views and teaching generated, views that fractured . . . Continue reading →
Don’t Wait Until Your Father Gets Home
It’s past time to talk sensibly about spanking. Parents in this country seems living under a double oppression: (1) the unfounded notion that spanking may damage the psyche of their children; (2) fear of being reported to the child welfare authorities for . . . Continue reading →
My Favorite Atheist Lesbian Author: A Case Study In Providence
I first encountered Camille Paglia in 1991, just after she had published the essay, “The Joy of Presbyterian Sex.” Blame Bob Godfrey. I was pastoring a church in Kansas City and happened to be visiting Escondido and stopped by Bob’s office. He . . . Continue reading →
Of Coarse Jesting, Wisdom, And Christian Liberty
A faithful reader of the HB wrote to ask about to think about seeking God’s glory while hanging out with and having a good time with the guys. Here’s my expanded reply: § How do we think about hanging out with the . . . Continue reading →
It’s Not Unusual
To borrow from that paragon of 1960s Welsh hipness: It’s not unusual for one generation to doubt the mores (the customs) of the previous generation. What we think of as the “teen culture” rebellion of the 1950s (e.g., Elvis) and 60s (e.g., . . . Continue reading →