Women in the Pulpit?
Women are not permitted to hold the office or to exercise the functions of an elder in the church.
In an age that often demeaned women as the intellectual and moral inferiors of men, Paul told Timothy that women, no less than men, have a right to be learners in the school of Christ (2:11). They are to adorn themselves in godliness—not only when they gather weekly with the church for worship (v. 9)... Continue Reading
The Ordo Salutis: Faith
Faith is the instrumental means through which we come to rely upon Jesus Christ who saves.
Historically, Protestant theologians have understood faith to contain three essential ingredients. When someone hears about the good news of Jesus Christ, first, they must understand what they’re hearing; there is a knowledge (notitia) of what and who they must believe. Second, belief consists in their assenting to (assensus) or agreeing with what they’ve heard and... Continue Reading
Pastoral Ministry and Pestilence
Benjamin Morgan Palmer viewed the fulfillment of his pastoral ministry as of greater importance than his own safety.
Pastors must face the dangers of pestilence with a fervor for the eternal well-being of others. May the Lord give His ministers a burden for the salvation of those around them—even in a time of uncertainty and fear about unknown pestilence. In the midst of the current worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, an account about the... Continue Reading
How DC Churches Responded When the Government Banned Public Gatherings During the Spanish Flu of 1918
“The Christian church is not a luxury, but a necessity to the life and perpetuity of any nation.”
Rev. Randolph H. McKim, pastor of the Church of the Epiphany in Washington DC, protested the continued ban on church gatherings.[25] In the opinion piece, he argued in strong terms that “nothing has so contributed to that state of panic which has gripped this community as the fact that the normal religious life of our... Continue Reading
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It,” and Calvin would feel fine (albeit slightly chippy)…
In our day, bearing the trials of our times, let us get to kingdom work.
Our Lord tells in Matthew 6 that our heavenly Father will provide for all of our needs in the midst of circumstances that threaten not only to suspend comfortable suburban activities and accouterments, but which make us legitimately afraid for our lives. Jesus calls us to focus not on our worry, but on our work.... Continue Reading
The Church after the Coronavirus
Important questions about the nature of the church have surfaced.
While there will certainly be adverse consequences from this current crisis, elders have opportunities to shepherd the flock of God through them and out to greener pastures. If the elders are prayerful, wise, and diligent in caring for the flock and the needs of the whole congregation, the local church may actually come out on... Continue Reading
Fear of a Changing World
Freedom from fear of change does not result from the absence of change—but the presence of an unchanging God.
When you are tempted to believe that your Father is giving you nothing but stones and snakes in this world when you are asking for bread (Matt. 7:9–11), just remember that wisdom does not fear “why were the former days better than these” (Eccl. 7:10). Wisdom hopes in One who is in control (Prov. 9:10).... Continue Reading
The Ordo Salutis: Union with Christ
God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together in Christ.
If we are talking about our salvation in terms of decree, as Paul is in Ephesians 1:4, then we must understand that were it not for Christ we would not be elect. Our salvation from beginning to end is for Him and through Him. However, if we are thinking about the Biblical logic of the... Continue Reading
Our Current Cultural Slowdown
There is a reason why God rested on the seventh day of creation.
My prayer is that, though the fallout from Covid-19 is more than I want anyone to face, since we are forced into a cultural slowdown anyway, it will be a time of drawing close to our Savior. A time where we are unable to bury our spiritual pains in a flurry of activity. Most importantly,... Continue Reading
Viruses, Your Immune System, & the Glory of God
Virus bombardment is nothing new.
In light of the voluminous mirco-terrorists ceaselessly assaulting us, it’s simply amazing that we are not debilitatingly sick every second of our existence. How is that? How do we keep living? In part, this thing that the God of the Bible created us with called our immune system. God’s people have been writing some... Continue Reading