When the State Tells Pastors What to Tell Their Congregations
If a pastor in England in the 1630s, or in Canada in the 2020s, can be compelled to speak certain messages at the state’s command, then religious liberties are at risk.
James I “transmitted the Declaration to his bishops with an order that it be read from pulpits, but resistance was immediately forthcoming. Some clergy, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, determined to refuse compliance, while a few bold spirits preached against the royal proclamation.” The king withdrew the order, but the declaration’s impact upon England was... Continue Reading
PCA Standing Judicial Commission Denies Complaint Against Missouri Presbytery
The SJC ruled that Missouri Presbytery did not violate the investigation requirements of the Book of Church Order and did not err when it declined to bring charges against Greg Johnson.
The SJC officially concluded, “Based on the Record, there was no reversible error in the decisions reached by Missouri Presbytery regarding the four allegations. It was not unreasonable for Presbytery to judge that TE Johnson’s ‘explanations’ on the four allegations were ‘satisfactory.’ (BCO31-2).” The Standing Judicial Commission (SJC), the highest judicatory of the Presbyterian... Continue Reading
Woke Theory At Evangelical Colleges
Christian parents often assume that evangelical institutions are free from such secular ideologies. But recent developments at three leading evangelical schools suggest they need to look more carefully.
Why are evangelical universities adopting secular strategies to address a spiritual problem? As one professor put it, administrators are “risk-averse” and hope this will save them from being called racists. But what if their anti-racist solution to racism is itself racist? And what if, in their attempts to avoid criticism, evangelical colleges embrace a secular... Continue Reading
Is The Neo-Evangelical Coalition Worth Saving?
The life of the confessional Protestant is not in coalitions but in Christ and in his visible, institutional church.
What animates the confessional Reformed churches is a holistic theology, piety, and practice lived out in the context of congregations and in the life of the broader institutional church. We are animated by a theology that we share with our Reformed forebears, which we have not amputated or substantially revised. We are animated by our... Continue Reading
Mark Driscoll and the Power of “Father Hunger”
Mark’s persona was compelling to younger men confused about the meaning and purpose of manhood.
It’s no surprise the lingo of “boot camp” spread into evangelicalism through Acts 29’s church planter gatherings. The atmosphere of “telling it like it is,” being “confronted by the truth” and “doing whatever it takes for the kingdom” had massive appeal to a generation of young men who came from homes where fathers were hooked... Continue Reading
Reformed Church in America General Synod Daily Recap: Saturday, October 16, 2021
General Synod 2021 of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) is meeting October 14–19 in Tucson, Arizona.
Recognizing that some separation is inevitable, we believe the RCA has an opportunity to act in an exemplary way by providing a generous exit path for those churches which decide to leave and by inviting those churches to also act generously. While the process currently outlined in the RCA Book of Church Order (BCO)…allows a... Continue Reading
Remaining Faithful When Others Embrace LGBTQ+ Theology
How do we walk through this minefield, pursue humility in our own hearts, and yet remain firm in God’s Word?
You are vulnerable to outside voices tempting you to give in, but the best remedy for standing firm for the long haul is to remain in God’s Word, continually steeping yourself in his perspective and truth. When I speak about how the Bible should inform our sexuality, someone invariably comes up to me and says,... Continue Reading
Five Reasons Why I’m Voting for Overture 37
The change would call for presbyteries to examine the personal character of candidates for office, giving specific attention to notorious concerns.
Overture 37 provides a helpfully pointed guide for character examinations that meets the evident needs of our situation. Church courts will be greatly aided in fulfilling their biblical duty by focusing on sexual immorality, relational sins, abuse, racism, and gross financial mismanagement. It also will communicate to our leaders what character is regarded as necessary... Continue Reading
Once Dominant Liberal Denomination Sells Headquarters in Dramatic Downsizing
The United Church of Christ has been experiencing an uninterrupted purging of members for decades now as a direct result of their increasingly liberal theology and practice.
The liberalizing of Christianity is not a recipe for growth. And the selling off one of those liberal denomination’s headquarters is just the latest chapter in that lesson. We often hear sad stories about how the Christian Church is shrinking in America. But what many news outlets fail to mention is the types of churches... Continue Reading
Asbury Sermon on ‘Therapeutic Self’ Prompts LGBTQ Twitter Rage
Asbury Theological Seminary President Dr. Timothy Tennent is facing a social media backlash for preaching a an orthodox sermon at Asbury’s convocation for the 2021-22
The result of these shifts has been the elevation of sexual satisfaction to the apex of our culture and making sexual identity our deepest source of self-knowledge. He concluded with an account of how Christianity enables a proper sense of identity; one rooted in the transcendent law of God instead of authentic individual expression. ... Continue Reading
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