10 Errors to Avoid When Talking about Sanctification and the Gospel
It’s clear that Christians are still wrestling with the doctrine of progressive sanctification.
Error #5: There is only one reason Christians should pursue sanctification and that’s because of our justification. The Heidelberg Catechism lists several reasons—motivations even—for doing good. “We do good because Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself, so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to... Continue Reading
Benefits of Biblical Christianity (II)
The benefits of a biblical Christianity also extend beyond the individual–to the church, family, and beyond
To grow, thrive, and follow God’s call and design for their lives, Christians are to join and participate in the worship and life of a local church body, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” (Hebrews 10:25) The visible church, to the degree that it coheres to the biblical pattern given for it, is one... Continue Reading
Thinking Thoughtfully About Doug Phillips’ Resignation
It is past time to challenge the church to clearly examine the teachings within the patriarchy, family integrated church, and militant fecundity movements and warn each other of their dangers
Look at the teachings that have come out of patriocentricity, especially in the last 6 or so years. Teaching that men are the prophets, priests, and kings of their homes, daughters are helpmeets to their fathers, women are here primarily to fulfill the creation mandate and are expendable if threatened with ectopic pregnancies, women do... Continue Reading
Retrieving the Lord’s Supper
Is the Lord's Supper a gospel issue?
The fact is that the Lord’s Supper is gospel proclamation. Take 1 Corinthians 11:26 as proof of this: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” That word “proclaim” is a preaching word. The Lord’s Supper is a proclamation of the gospel every... Continue Reading
Why American Compassion Won’t Save the World
Sending care packages abroad has marginal impact, because people have to eat 365 days a year
“We,” Westerners with a rescue mentality, will never solve “their” problems. As I write this, the country is being rocked with a national scandal the newspapers are calling “Cashgate.” High public officials and politicians have siphoned into the national treasury and the country is broke. The country’s health care system, always threadbare at best, has... Continue Reading
Evangelicals and Obamacare
The issue is not about having a safety net or not for the needy; it is more about whether Obamacare is good law that provides a balance of coverage and value
My sense is that conservative Christian objections to Obamacare in particular, and to the expansion of government in general, are driven not only by the unfortunate policy specifics, but also by more general concerns that are fundamentally and legitimately theological. More specifically, such opposition is funded by real if often inchoate convictions about theological anthropology,... Continue Reading
Contra Leithart: No, The Reformation Isn’t Over: Before You Reject At Least Understand It
Peter Leithart declares the “End of Protestantism;” it’s not at all clear, however, that he understands what he wants to end
The Reformation isn’t over, not at least for the confessional Protestant churches, who don’t equivocate, who understand what Rome is really saying, who still submit to the Word of God as the sole, unique authority for faith and life, who affirm the sole sufficiency of Christ and righteousness for us for acceptance with God, for... Continue Reading
Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?
Ministers of large churches need to quit complaining about how hard it is.
Such threats are no doubt nasty and frightening. But does the wider world need to know about them? Does placing such knowledge in the public sphere serve to do anything other than enhance our own delusions of importance? Perhaps I am alone in this but maybe, just maybe, there are others out there who... Continue Reading
Three Signs the Worship Wars May Be Ending
Several factors lead to unifying those in the church.
I am hopeful, for the three reasons noted, that we will have fewer and fewer worship wars. I am hopeful we can worry less about our own preferences, and more about the unity of the body of Christ. Jesus Himself said in John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples,... Continue Reading
The Punches I Never Saw Coming
One pastor's reflection from a decade of ministry.
Pastoring is like being a Gumby doll. You will get pulled in many directions and sometimes feel a limb will fall off. There are cards of encouragement to write, sick to visit, leaders to equip, lessons to plan, staff to mentor, couples to counsel, prayer to offer, weddings and funerals to perform, your own heart... Continue Reading
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