“The church’s disclosures, in a series of essays online, are part of an effort to be transparent about its history at a time when church members are increasingly encountering disturbing claims about the faith on the Internet. Many Mormons, especially those with polygamous ancestors, say they were well aware that Smith’s successor, Brigham Young, practiced... Continue Reading

If our defense of innocent victims is to be credible, we should also defend and fully restore those exonerated after submitting to the humiliation and disruption of accusation and investigation. They should bear the consequences of their own sins, but not for the sins of a false accuser.   Because I sometimes write about Christian... Continue Reading

“Pastors and teachers preach and teach the Word, equipping the members of the body to build one another up to maturity. To each member is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. In these actual, gathered communities, God’s people can learn by experience what is excellent. Of course, if these assemblies pass... Continue Reading

“One of the recognizable characteristics of those Protestants who were not identified with the magisterial Reformation, is a distrust of tradition. In an oft-noted irony, this has led to many churches upholding an unexamined and hardened tradition of anti-traditionalism. The New Testament, however, repeats an emphasis on the central responsibility of receiving and passing down,... Continue Reading

“We deny that a rejection of popular culture is tantamount to elitism or a disdain for the average believer. We also deny that there are no contemporary examples of orthopathy, or that orthopathy exists solely in the past.” This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” We affirm that... Continue Reading

“Today most people consider works of imagination as enjoyable distractions, but of little real significance. Even most Christians assume that their cognitive beliefs about God are important, but musical or poetic expressions about God have little purpose beyond making truth about God interesting, enjoyable, or exciting. This leads to the conclusion that what works of... Continue Reading

In his sermon on “The General Deliverance,” Wesley concluded that, whatever happens, “[God] will certainly do what will be most for his own glory.” I nearly fell off my chair in surprise and excitement to find in Wesley this deeply biblical truth that I had learned from Calvinists. God will do what brings him the... Continue Reading

I also thought Moo and Bauckham should have answered why they believed certain scientists over others. Bauckham dismissed Beisner’s references to other Scientists as practicing pseudo-science. I think this is an unfair, unwarranted, and unproven accusation. If Moo and Bauckham make an argument in the fields of Old or New Testament or Theology, they expect... Continue Reading

Deliberately mine the historic tradition of psalmody and hymnody for worship.  Not that anything written by anyone still alive is to be excluded.  Far from it.  But try to make sure the songs of worship reflect the chronological sweep of the church’s life, from the Book of Psalms onwards.  Make people aware that praise did... Continue Reading

Many of those forming the new church are or were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort. Several had asked to talk to the First Presbyterian congregation about breaking away from the national church but were denied, Garrett said. The steering committee for the church is seeking not only charter members, but also help... Continue Reading