Three Reasons to Study Historical Theology
Recognizing Christ’s Work in His Church Throughout History
To ignore godly teachers of the past is to ignore the very means Christ has given for the edification of the church (Eph. 4:11–16). As we humbly receive the wisdom of those who carried the torch of doctrinal fidelity before us, we can live in greater understanding of the theological language we use today, becoming... Continue Reading
Suffering Leads to Glory (Psalm 22:22-31)
The resurrection means that Jesus is vindicated, you are included, and that God’s church will keep growing.
Do you ever doubt if Jesus’ death was sufficient to atone for your sins? God doesn’t, so you don’t have to either. The resurrection is proof that Jesus did the work that he set out to accomplish at the cross, and that work is sufficient for your need and mine, that God was satisfied with... Continue Reading
We Need to Support the PCA’s Agencies
Old School PCA Confessionalists have long exhibited ambivalence toward the Institutions of the PCA. It's time we embraced them with a view toward making them thoroughly Reformed.
Other than prayer, the best way Old School Confessionalists can support the agencies of the PCA at this time is by searching for more men who share a commitment to robust, Old School Presbyterianism who will be willing to serve on the permanent committees to help shape the policies and priorities of the College, the... Continue Reading
Christians Are a Last Days People
Thinking Through What Time It Is
Christians are a Last Days people and will continue to be, until Christ’s return. Let’s not get caught up in the Speculation Industry that promotes confusion, distorts biblical texts, and deceives people far and wide. The Lord Jesus will return in great glory and splendor. But his return isn’t prompted by or connected to a... Continue Reading
Psalm 136 and the Blessing of Spiritual Speed Bumps
“for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Every aspect of your life story is underscored and interwoven with God’s love. You and I never “move on” from remembering and basking in his steadfast love. We never graduate from the school of his love. It’s the spiritual air we breathe, the oxygen we need as we embrace blessings, endure hardship, and wrestle with... Continue Reading
4 Reasons Why the Bible Does Not Support Transgenderism
Our Bodies are Given to Us as a Gift
God created human beings in his image as male and female (Gen. 1:26–27). Our bodies are good gifts given to us by God that we are to use for his glory (1 Cor. 6:12–20). As a God of order and design, God opposes the confusion of man as woman and woman as man.[6] This point about... Continue Reading
Mission to Paganistan
A few important points that were reinforced from this trip to Paganicon.
Over the course of Paganicon, our little team had opportunities to have conversations. Some went deep, sharing the overlap between John 1 and Genesis 1, bringing forward Bible prophecy as a touchstone to what is authentic (and, in doing so, landing on the Gospel). Sometimes, it wasn’t about the conversation per se but about respectfully... Continue Reading
Current Paganization of Nation and Church: Shepherds, Rise to The Occasion
It is evident that America and Western civilization are strongly undergoing re-paganization in both perspective and practice.
What is important is for shepherds to take seriously their responsibility to protect their flocks. Don’t ignore issues threatening the purity of the church or moral practices of the sheep. Likewise, don’t ignore the reality of the “. . . the massive escalation in hostility toward Christianity and a biblical worldview.” A spiritual battle is definitely raging,... Continue Reading
Have the Courage to Declare Christ Is King
Christians Must Speak the Truth
“Christ is King” is merely the next linchpin for smearing Christians who misbehave politically. The point is to strip Christians of any meaningful political power by preying on their weakness for tolerance and policing their language to such an extent that more time is spent squabbling about how to assert a very true thing than... Continue Reading
In a Scrolling World, Are We Numb to the Resurrection’s Shock?
On Easter, a third of the planet’s population honors the day in history when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
Easter is an annual remembrance of a historical event that’s still being celebrated, arguably on a greater scale than ever, nearly 2,000 years later. That’s because it’s the biggest news story of your life, or any life—even of those who shrug it off or scroll right past it. Can you remember any top world news headlines... Continue Reading
After the Resurrection
Forty Days of Appearances and Teaching
“He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Ponder the powerful effect that these proofs and teachings would have had on the disciples. What a unique and precious period of their earthly lives to have such encounters... Continue Reading
Waiting in an Age of Instant Gratification
Media has become an integral part of life itself. Our lives have become dominated by the digital.
As Christians living in an age of instant gratification, we will no doubt succumb to the pleasures of Egypt from time to time. But more importantly, the Christian knows that nothing in this age can bring ultimate gratification. For that, we seek the city that is to come (Hebrews 13:14). Time seemed to move at... Continue Reading
Carl Trueman on Trump vs Biden
Trueman’s latest masterpiece contrasts what he calls “Trumpite ‘evangelicalism’” with “Biden’s brand of ‘devout’ Catholicism.”
My confidence is not so much that most evangelicals will make the correct choice (though I believe they will), but that they will be fully persuaded over who they believe to be the correct choice. Again, when have we been offered two more polarizing candidates with glaringly antithetical agendas? And why have so little confidence in the ability... Continue Reading
Why Do You Do What You Do (and Not Something Else)?
God is good to give human beings skills and passions and good to allow us to express them in our vocations.
When I ask others why they do what they do, I’m often blessed to hear them describe their love for things I’ve never considered lovable….He is good to allow our enthusiasm about these things to be transferable and contagious. One of my favorite questions for times of small talk is “Why do you do... Continue Reading
How Church History Helps—Part 2
Employ church history to help you fight the good fight and keep the faith.
Church history will help you live the Christian life and be faithful to Christ. It will provide you with clarity in an era of confusion. It will help you be consistent while many others waver. The faithful examples and arguments of giants from the past gives you credibility when other people doubt you. The courage... Continue Reading
Church as Blueprint
In the Old Testament, the Temple was a microcosm, a miniature copy of reality.
Getting worship right really matters. Of course I’m fully aware that plenty will agree with me but their vision of “right” will not cohere with mine. It’s a challenge we have to work through. But, even so, it does mean that if we want to reform our communities we start by reforming the worship of... Continue Reading
About “Close” Confessional Communion
Why "credible profession of faith" of penitent, baptized church members is not the biblically sufficient criterion for admission to the Lord's Supper.
Those convinced of the confessional Presbyterian & Reformed view of close/confessional communion might find themselves conscience-bound by the Word of God to abstain from participation in an improperly administered sacrament. The usual standard for admission to the Lord’s Supper in Orthodox Presbyterian Church congregations (and in congregations of other NAPARC denominations) is that the... Continue Reading
The Dangerous Logic of Hate Crimes
Scotland’s vague new hate crime law is anything but “reasonable”.
The problem here is that today “reasonable” has no real content. Indeed, the legislation uses the adjective “reasonable” again and again as the essential criterion in judging whether an act or statement is a crime, but it offers no definition. That is surely a worrying lacuna. We should remember that this is a world where... Continue Reading
Reasons to Oppose Background Checks in the PCA
The 51st PCA General Assembly, in June 2024, will consider five overtures requesting amending the Book of Church Order to require background checks for ordained church leaders.
As Martin Luther and the Reformers held (and died for), only the Word of God can bind the consciences of believers. Church councils and church decrees (including the Book of Church Order) can and do err. We do not submit to our brethren when they require us to act against our consciences as informed by... Continue Reading
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
Inerrancy reminds us that when the Bible speaks, God speaks and He does not fail to utter the truth.
The Bible is no longer accepted or believed as fully trustworthy by many. As one seminary professor described it, “What we are experiencing is an existential mood in the country. Many of our students come to us with a relative view of the Bible.” If the evangelical Church does not awaken to this situation, it... Continue Reading
As Christianity Declines, We Must Confront the Threat of Pagan America
I have no doubt the result will be the making of many saints.
Christians cannot simply escape into their little ghettoes. The Christian religion cannot avoid witnessing in the public square, and its adherents, whether they be doctors, lawyers, teachers, government employees, business owners, or landscapers, cannot help but have their work informed by their faith. That battle, even if it is a losing one, must be fought in... Continue Reading
Advocates, Not Merely Adherents: Lay-of–the Land Observations and Challenges for Complementarians
We aren’t doing a good job of arguing for biblical complementarity on the merits.
We are called to be advocates, not just affirmers. We are called to be articulators, not just adherents. Compromise usually begins with silence. It ends with disavowal. And we must have an ear for the silence. Yes, each of us will have different ministry passions or commitments. But we must keep before us an ever-present... Continue Reading
Authority is Good
For far less than an obstruction to the gospel, authority is a picture of Jesus’ very life and ministry to us.
There are creatures, and a creator, and they are not the same thing. When it comes to authority, God is completely and utterly other. Whether we are husbands, mothers, managers, or pastors, we serve at God’s pleasure, derive our authority from his power, and expect obedience from others only insofar as he allows. Authority in... Continue Reading
What Does It Mean to Wait on the Lord?
For the Christian, waiting is the application of faith in time.
How should those united with Christ face the reality of waiting on the Lord? We should wait with acceptance (forbearance). We should wait with confidence (steadfastness). We should wait without anger (patience), because the God of abundant life will not fail us. We should wait with the knowledge that the wait is worth it (hope).... Continue Reading
The Power of the Resurrection Worldview
The Father is glorified by the quality of the spiritual fruit—Christ-like attitudes produced through our union with Christ.
God has already begun to fix everything in this world broken by sin. What a privilege to be called to the mission to spread surrender to Christ’s rule over our own heart loyalties, heart attitudes and every sphere life where we have influence. “The kingdom of God is the renewal of the whole world through... Continue Reading
Atheism, Civil Religion, and the Fate of the West
Even Dawkins can see the cultural value of Christianity.
While I do greatly value the West and all its goods, and will continue to fight for them, I know that it too, like everything else, must one day come to an end. Sure, it will last longer – or less longer – depending on how we treat that which made it possible: biblical Christianity.... Continue Reading
Oh How I Love Your Law!
You’ve got to love it—it is a command. But at the same time, “you’ve got to love it” because it is so good.
Moses ascended the earthly mountain of God and came down with the law written on tablets of stone. But later, he expressed a longing that all the Lord’s people might have the Spirit (Num. 11:29). The law of Moses could command but it could not empower. By contrast, Jesus ascended the heavenly mountain of God... Continue Reading
Dealing with Discouragements in Ministry
When we set our hand to the plow of Christian ministry, we will find that the Lord supplies us with the grace necessary for us to press through.
The ultimate encouragement to help ministers press through the discouragements they experience when they face trials and challenges is that we were created, redeemed and called into ministry in order to bring glory to Christ. The cry of the ministers heart must ever be, “He must increase, I must decrease.” The ministries to which we... Continue Reading
Some Lessons I Have Learnt after 10 Years of Pastoral Ministry
The church need Jesus, you are only any help to them by pointing them to him and away from reliance upon you.
It may seem obvious, but you are not the saviour of the church; Jesus is. That truth should set you free. The church does not depend on you, but on Jesus. The church does not depend on your ministry, but on Jesus. The work does not stand or fall on you, but on Jesus. Be... Continue Reading
The Preaching of Jesus Was Powerful and Relevant
Jesus was a preacher, not just a talker. He proclaimed the truth.
As you listen to a preacher for any length of time, you will hear a constant theme or a reoccurring emphasis that continues to resurface over time. This common focus of a preacher spotlights an ongoing goal in his ministry. For instance, if you listen to any health, wealth, and prosperity preacher it’s very likely... Continue Reading