Heterosexual Civil Unions
Perhaps there should be less sacred marriages and more secular civil unions.
Those who do not plan on making or keeping such antiquated vows, perhaps they ought to pursue civil unions with a judge in a courthouse. Perhaps they want to live together in some sort of partnership. Perhaps they are willing to file their taxes jointly. Perhaps they want to have kids in a respectable manner.... Continue Reading
Does the Son Eternally Submit to the Authority of the Father?
The relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit is so much more than authority and submission.
In conclusion, I don’t believe that Grudem has proven his case for an eternal submission of the Son to the authority of the Father. Matthew Henry and John Calvin repeatedly interpret the above passages as being about Christ’s role as Mediator and not about authority and submission. There is a distinction in the persons of... Continue Reading
Real Peace and Rest
Peace and rest isn’t something to be sought only on the weekends or during vacations.
Long lasting, real, and forever peace and rest comes from knowing that all our burdens and cares have been taken from us at the cross. It comes from knowing that our greatest fear and burden, the sin that separates us from God, was removed forever when Jesus died as our substitute. It comes from knowing... Continue Reading
Some Perspective On Fads In Science
Popes and councils err. So do scientists.
In other words, the current dominant characterization of science as referring solely to the study of the natural world is more a matter of politics (civil and informal social coercion) than it is about actual knowledge or coherent beliefs. When we hear figures from politics and the entertainment business, such as Al Gore, warning us about an... Continue Reading
The Duggar Disaster
How should the church react to abuse?
The church must never demand that victims of sexual abuse quickly forgive their abuser. It is worth noting that in the Bible forgiveness is always (always!) predicated upon repentance. The church needs to understand the unique nature of sexual abuse. It is a profoundly heinous sort of crime and the victims must therefore be cared... Continue Reading
You Can Almost Always Trace Legalism Back to This
Legalism happens when good things get reduced to a very particular set of rules and statutes.
Legalism is like bloodletting. It seems like a good thing. Creating a set of rules to follow seems like it will promote morality and keep people on the straight and narrow. Legalism feels like the safe thing to do. It gives us a feeling of being in control of our lives. When we create rules,... Continue Reading
Pastors from South Sudan on Trial for Their Lives in Khartoum
If the pastors are found guilty, three of the eight charges against them carry a possible death sentence.
As with most religious freedom violations in Sudan, there is an interesting back story. The Sudanese government is attempting to take the Bahri Evangelical Church’s compound away from the Christians and sell it to Muslim investors with the help of corrupt church officials that they forced upon the church. In November and December 2014 parts... Continue Reading
Our Confession of Faith: From 3 Words to Over 12,000 – How? Why?
Reformed Presbyterians have the longest statement of faith in the evangelical Protestant world. Why?
The main reason why we have a longer Confession of Faith is because of the need that developed over the centuries to more clearly state the truths taught in the Bible. Almost always, these truths were clarified in response to errors that crept into the church. This is nothing new, of course. Most of Paul’s... Continue Reading
My Father Killed My Mother
In a matter of seconds, God gave me a new understanding of what it meant to honor my father
“In the aftermath, my sisters and I were adopted by my maternal grandparents, and in the face of that great tragedy, we did what any family would do—we circled the wagons, we bonded over our grief. A significant portion of that bonding came through our shared hatred of not just the evil things my dad... Continue Reading
Why Moms and Dads Both Matter in Marriage
Mothers and fathers both add distinct benefits to the development of children
“Whereas mothers are biologically prepared to nurture, teach, and provide care that is especially important for foundational development, fathers are predisposed to take a facilitative approach to parenting, fostering self-reliance, achievement, and healthy peer relationships in ways that are particularly important especially as children begin to transition to adult life.” As the Supreme Court... Continue Reading