How the Reformation Spread
Many means were used to spread Luther’s message to the continent and to England.
One of the most important factors was the influence of virtually thousands of students who studied at the University of Wittenberg and were indoctrinated into Lutheran theology and ecclesiology. Like Calvin’s academy in Geneva, Switzerland, the university became pivotal for the dissemination of Reformation ideas. Wittenberg and Geneva stood as epicenters for a worldwide movement. ... Continue Reading
The Statement on SJ&G Explained: Article 7, Salvation
"Blessed be the Lord, my rock...my lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer."
Most people today have this vague belief that as long as they are “good” people who do good works and are sincere that these efforts will earn them a place in Heaven. The notion that we can save ourselves, referred to by theologians as autosoterism, may be popular but it is foreign to the Bible. Scripture... Continue Reading
5 Myths about Calvinism
What makes Calvinism uniquely Calvinistic is not primarily its doctrine of the work of the Father in election, but its doctrine of the work of the Spirit in regeneration.
What really distinguishes Calvin as a theologian, and Calvinism as a theological tradition is its uniquely “high” doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit. In all the areas of theology where Calvin made his most distinguishing contributions, such as his doctrine of scripture or his doctrine of the church and the sacraments, we see... Continue Reading
Debating Darwinism
Among Reformed theologians and scientists, the response to Darwin and evolution continues to be diverse.
From the 1960s until the present day, the debate over evolution in the U.S. has been fought primarily in school boardrooms and courtrooms. This has greatly affected many contemporary Christian responses to science in general and evolution in particular. The Intelligent Design (or ID) movement grew out of these controversies as a new response to... Continue Reading
Expressive Individualism: What Is It?
The highest good is individual freedom, happiness, self-definition, and self-expression.
Once we understand the term “expressive individualism” we get from Bellah and his fellow sociologists as well as the “Age of Authenticity” as defined by Taylor, we begin to see the elements of this worldview and how it affects life in Western societies today. This is where Australian church leader Mark Sayers helpfully sums up several... Continue Reading
The Last Mentioned Sin
The fact that Judas sold Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver shows just how great an injustice one will commit for the least profit.
From the catalogue of sins and injustices we hear about in our day, bribery is almost entirely absent. However, Scripture repeatedly sets out this evil–even to the supreme example of it in the betrayal of the Son of God. In our day, bribery in all its sophisticated and subtle forms may be the least mentioned... Continue Reading
10 Things You Should Know about Studying the Bible
We study the Bible because it is God’s word to the world. We want to hear him.
You may read Ephesians 1:1-14 in thirty seconds, but you can study it for years. You may come to the end of reading the gospel of John in two hours. But you can never come to the end of searching its depths. This means we can expect a lifetime of happily moving deeper and deeper into... Continue Reading
Heaven on Earth?: Talking with Our Children about Death
For ourselves and our children, we need to be ready to give biblical answers and gospel encouragement when the time comes.
So, what should we tell our children about death? In my experience, children want answers to three basic questions. Why do people have to die? Are you/am I going to die? What happens when we die? These can be hard questions to answer. The good news is that God has given us answers in the Bible.... Continue Reading
Hypocrisy
Its Definition, Deceit, and Defeat
The Apostle Peter acted hypocritically when he refused to eat with the Gentiles (Gal. 2:13). Later, that same apostle would write to many: “Put away all malice and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1). We must come to realize that even as Christians we are not immune to any sin.... Continue Reading
Breeding Familiarity: The Righteous Suffer
Suffering is too important, pivotal, and central to Christianity that when we think wrongly about it there's a lot at stake.
Whenever we begin to think of suffering in terms of what is or is not deserved, or are directed by some form of karma, or declare that what one reaps he has sown, or say that what goes around comes around, this logic begins to niggle its way into our hearts – the unrighteous suffer... Continue Reading