Entitlement: When Grace Isn’t Grace
Entitlement is rooted in a prideful heart that sees grace no longer as grace but as one’s due.
When we lose sight of the fact that common grace is grace and not our due, we become like travelers who bemoan poor overnight travel accommodations and forget the paradise that is our final destination. Few people would disagree that a sense of entitlement permeates our culture. But as the Preacher said, “There is... Continue Reading
Shall We Cancel the Theologians?
Dealing with the sins of men like Luther and Edwards.
Contemporary Christians need to remember that our hands are not so clean. Anyone who uses a computer or smartphone to decry racism or call for reparations for American slavery can only do so because of contemporary slave labor in China. Does the fact that others own the slaves who make the goods we buy make... Continue Reading
Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light
Husbands who are battling sexual addictions are also facing the constant temptation of lying about it to their wives.
Deception virtually wipes out any growth a marriage has made, leaving wives feeling like they are back at square one. But the enemy is so crafty in telling husbands the very opposite lie—that confession will take them back to square one. Deception, not confession, is your enemy, brothers! It may or may not surprise... Continue Reading
Refuting Theological Error
Beliefs inevitably have consequences on our lives and actions.
All theological error originates from the evil one. He is more cunningly skillful than we could ever know at leading people astray through academic and highly nuanced theological error. As is true with every other danger that we face, when we come to study theological error we must remember the words of the Apostle Paul:... Continue Reading
When We Think on Heaven
Setting our minds and hearts on Heaven is not optional for the Christian.
Nothing can stop us when our eyes are focused on glory. Fear is vanished, anxiety disappears, and worry exits the door. We become so enraptured with what we will experience in the New Earth that the cares, fears, and temptations of this present Earth quickly fade into the abyss. There is something sanctifying about... Continue Reading
The Use of Images Is an Indicator of the Functional Authority of the Standards in the PCA
How is it possible for PCA ministers to live together peaceably when they cannot even agree on a fairly basic point of Christology and moral theology?
Has not the PCA already taken a clear and unequivocal position on the natures and person of Christ and on images of God? That this a live issue both theologically and practically tells us something about the role of the Standards in the life of the church. It seems to me that the future of... Continue Reading
Wisdom and Productivity
The man who is a sluggard can learn and grow in wisdom; he has a model on which to follow—the ant!
What the ant teaches us is that diligence and productivity are fit for a wise and flourishing life. Man was made to work and to work hard. Adam, even before his fall, was created and called by God to work, to tend to and “keep the Garden” (Genesis 2:15). Solomon, in wanting his son... Continue Reading
I’m a Public School Teacher. The Kids Aren’t Alright.
My students were taught to think of themselves as vectors of disease. This has fundamentally altered their understanding of themselves.
It’s time for a return to normal life and put an end to the bureaucratic policies that aren’t making society safer, but are sacrificing our children’s mental, emotional, and physical health. I am proud to be a teacher. I’ve worked in the Canadian public school system for the past 15 years, mostly at the... Continue Reading
The “Social Trinity” vs. Nicene Christianity
Some contemporary theologians have redefined the Trinity in terms of “community.”
The social Trinity explains how some theologians–both liberal and evangelical–can say that God punishing His Son for our sins amounts to cosmic “child abuse.” They do not grasp the implications of the Incarnation, that the Father and the Son are one substance, so that in Jesus, God is taking the sins of the world into Himself... Continue Reading
Don’t Look Up—Prophetic or Pathetic?
Hollywood is not-so-subtly preaching to us.
Don’t Look Up is a good old fashioned, modernist film—with a clear moralistic message. The trouble is that it is the wrong message. *Spoiler alert: This article contains details of the plot and ending to the movie “Don’t Look Up.” There was a time when comedians got lots of laughs mocking the religious eccentrics... Continue Reading
Why Do We Sin?
All sin is rooted in failing to glorify God as “the true God and our God.”
We should realize that we are not sinners merely because we sin, but that we sin because we are sinners. When we read or hear God’s law, we should be convicted of our personal sins, which should lead us to personal repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Few people understand the extent... Continue Reading
Three Books to Read on Homosexuality
Our battle with our culture about sex is not a new one:.
The idea that God whispers about sexual sin in his Word is nuts! In some ways, one can say that what God says about sex in the Bible is deafeningly loud! This past Sunday in my church, I spoke about Bill C-4 that passed in Canada, and about the city ordnance that is being proposed... Continue Reading
We Need Reformation in 2022
In times of acute persecution, when the gospel is at stake, when the church is on the ropes, we must stand up and fight for costly discipleship.
If we wish to attract and grow genuine disciples, we must offer much more than inspiring civil religion, spiritual pep rallies, and pageantry. We must demonstrate a kind of faith known not for power and “success” but for weakness; scandalous not for hypocrisy but for hardship. The church stands in need of reformation once... Continue Reading
Jordan Peterson: Why I Am No Longer a Tenured Professor at the University of Toronto
The appalling ideology of diversity, inclusion, and equity is demolishing education and business.
We are now at the point where race, ethnicity, “gender,” or sexual preference is first, accepted as the fundamental characteristic defining each person (just as the radical leftists were hoping) and second, is now treated as the most important qualification for study, research and employment. I recently resigned from my position as full tenured... Continue Reading
The Plague of Morally Toxic Public Schools
In too many public schools, leftist indoctrination is corrupting young hearts and minds.
What happens in public schools really matters, to each student, to each family and to our nation. Because, as Abraham Lincoln said: “The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation is the philosophy of the government in the next.” What would happen if a child were to spend most of his waking hours, during... Continue Reading
The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism
Where once there was a culture war between Christianity and secular society, today there is a culture war within evangelicalism itself.
Evangelicalism has successfully adapted to new media, with various groups creating huge online and social media followings. It has adapted to the rise and fall of evangelistic strategies such as revivals and street preaching. Christians may indeed be a declining and unpopular moral minority, but that is no reason to assume that evangelicalism’s day is... Continue Reading
“Presbyleaks” From a Business Analysis Perspective
Using Business Analysis to assess “Presbyleaks,” the release of the National Partnership documents.
From a BA perspective, if the NP asked about how to go forward, I would advise it to publish a purpose and mission statement compatible with PCA officer vows, accept all such within the PCA who desire to participate in order to grow in their understanding of PCA polity and practices, and do away with... Continue Reading
Canadian Pastor, Who Faced Six Years in Prison, $600,000 in Fines for Holding Worship Services, Receives Small Fine
Pastor fined for conducting worship services inside and outside of the church building.
On January 20, 2022, Richardson was fined $3,000 (plus lawyers’ fees). In response to this court ruling, Richardson wrote on his Twitter account: “Thank you for your prayers. I have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of support in prayer that I have received in the last few days. Praise God for a wonderful outcome: That... Continue Reading
Brother-Theologians: Preach the Word
Theologians Need to Prepare to Preach
Brother-theologians, preach the Word! Labor to study the works of God (Ps 111:2) and tell of them before the congregation (111:1). Pursue the finer points of theology and learn how to communicate them to Christ’s bride. If you are graced with the chance to study theology, remember: It is not just for you! It is for the church. Therefore,... Continue Reading
West Lafayette [RPCNA] Pastor, Elders At Center Of IndyStar Investigation Resign
The pastor and three elders of the RPCNA in West Lafayette, Ind., have submitted their resigntions.
Earlier this month, the judicial commission announced Olivetti was required to “refrain from the exercise of office of teaching elder until the judicial process is complete.” At that time, the commission announced that charges had been dropped against two of the 2020 Immanuel elders, Zachary Blackwood and Nate Pfeiffer, who had since resigned their positions.... Continue Reading
Do We Know the Whole Truth About Evangelical Half Truth?
We all want truth and to be associated with it but sometimes we cannot handle the full truth or we think others cannot and so we only emphasise part of it.
If people are told only that God is a God of love without any mention of his holiness and justice (or vice versa), then are we telling them the whole truth about God? When the message “God loves you” is given as a substitute for the gospel with no real qualification or supplement it gives... Continue Reading
Distinctively Christian Retirement: A Biblical Call To Serve Jesus Well In Older Age: An Excerpt
If age and health issues are limiting factors for you, what might your service of Jesus look like?
Perhaps you are convinced that those who are older or who have health issues should be active in serving God, but you find it hard to picture what that looks like. After all, you might not be able to preach or lead a congregation or head to the mission field. If age and health issues... Continue Reading
Update On Supreme Court Appeal: Supreme Disappointment and Sovereign Trust
The root issue in the case was whether the government has the right to define who is or is not a minister.
Justice Neil Gorsuch made a strong statement supporting our request. He wrote, “This case may be a small one, and one can hope that the error here is so obvious it is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon. But I would correct it. Bureaucratic efforts to ‘subject’ religious beliefs to “verification” have no place in a... Continue Reading
Songs in the Night
When Jesus entered the dark night of His soul on Calvary’s cross, He had these psalms on His heart.
When Jesus entered the dark night of His soul on Calvary’s cross, He had these same songs on His heart. He quoted from the Psalms, expressing both His despair in the words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1), and His hope when He finally said, “Into your hand I commit my... Continue Reading
How Paul Measured the Missionary Task
The taught word of God is primary.
Paul’s concepts of a “reached area” and the primacy of the taught Word of God can be a help to every church and pastor who are wrestling with how to effectively be about reaching every tribe, language, people, and nation. Is every sent one from the church to go to an unreached location, and is... Continue Reading
The Application of Scripture
What God demands of us is that we receive his word so that we are not conformed to this world’s way of thinking.
The most important application that preachers can make is to show how the text demands a particular pattern of thought that is then to be applied amongst the innumerable variables of life. Of course, only the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom can apply God’s word to the soul transforming the mind of the hearer.... Continue Reading
The Difficult Habit of Quiet
How often do we choose activity over quietness, distraction over meditation, "productivity" over prayer?
Our quietness says, “Without him, you can do nothing.” Our refusal to be quiet, on the other hand, says, “I can do a whole lot on my own” — and that feels good to hear. It just robs us of the real strength and help we might have found. God strengthens the quiet with his strength,... Continue Reading
The Blessings of a Confession of Faith
Confessions and creeds, while not bulletproof, can be extremely beneficial when used properly in the life of a Christian home, denomination, or organization.
When it comes to the local church, a confession of faith serves as a transparent advertisement as to where the church stands on important theological matters and can be extremely helpful for potential new members in the community. When people are looking for a church home, it’s important to define the church’s position on key... Continue Reading
What Does “Becoming Fishers of Men” Look Like?
Being fishers of men has much to do with human flourishing.
Jesus uses his authority (his power) in order to “fish men” out of the clutches of demonic oppression. He sets the on the bank and into flourishing. That is what it means to “become fishers of men”. And the disciples must learn this lesson. It isn’t about catching enough fish to sink your boat and... Continue Reading
Are You a “Judgmental” Christian? Good.
The goal in passing judgment then is dual-faceted, in that we point the believer back to the cross in the hope of their restoration.
What we should be looking for in correction of another believer is a pattern of sin, where the goal is one of restoration (Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1; Jd. 1:22-23). There are proper channels in which we are to do this in the life of the church (Matt. 18:15-20). We are likewise not to judge the unbeliever in... Continue Reading
