One of the greatest strengths of Oliphint’s project is that, in a covenantal apologetic, there is no clear boundary between apologetics and evangelism. As Oliphint reiterates throughout his work, apologetics ought to be understood foremost as persuasion; persuading men and women of the truth of the Gospel.   K. Scott Oliphint, Covenantal Apologetics: Principles and Practice... Continue Reading

“Changes in the percentage of Christians within a society exert a measurable correlated influence of the economic well-being of that society.”   Should a country’s Christians-to-debt ratio be added to the list of economic indicators worth watching? Or more specifically, its evangelicals-to-debt ratio? According to a study of more than 100 nations, changes in the... Continue Reading

The most interesting part of Noll’s criticism is the fact that he chooses not to look closely at his own brand of evangelicalism: the Reformed churches.   When Mark Noll’s Scandal of the Evangelical Mind hit the market in the early 1990s it created a “title” wave that continues to move out in multiple directions. This fact... Continue Reading

“This is a dog that needs to be watched, obviously. The dog needs to be put down, frankly,” said Webb, who carried a .380-caliber handgun in his back yard Friday as the pit bull barked and growled at him from the other side of a weathered wood fence. “I got four kids, and they’re home-schooled,... Continue Reading

We have taken a few truths about Grace and distorted them, thinking freedom means we can do whatever we want instead of seeing the beautiful freedom of living like God intended. Had we actually been paying attention to the teaching we so like to abuse, we would find a few truths about Grace would smack... Continue Reading

They worry that people who act on their traditional, religious convictions about marriage are paying a price in the media and in state courts.   Conservatives are rallying around a House bill designed to protect religious people who advocate for traditional marriage — a belief, they say, that is held in increasing contempt. But supporters... Continue Reading

Tempted as I am sometimes to deceive myself into thinking I’ve scaled the mountains of Christian maturity, it’s good to be reminded I’m but a neophyte in the faith. I’m a dwarf in the presence of towering spiritual Redwoods, and I have much to learn.   One of my joys while studying in seminary has... Continue Reading

Scientists use “theory” both for what’s proven and what’s not, and Wade stipulates “that evolution has certainly occurred and no fact is better attested.” Excuse me? I’ve read numerous eyewitness accounts of Civil War battles: Those are well-attested. I’ve been in the DuPont labs where scientists developed nylon and other products: That history is well-attested.... Continue Reading

Conservatives aren’t anti-intellectual. They just don’t want the country to be hornswoggled by someone who claims to know something but does not actually know anything at all. The controversy isn’t a question about particular, commonly accepted facts but is instead about whether the further claims are justified by the data. What’s often in question is... Continue Reading

When grief shakes me “down to the cavity in my soul,” theology now means everything to me. I may not “feel” the presence of God when I grieve, but because I know that He is sovereign, that He cares for me, and that He is close to the brokenhearted, I can endure whatever situation He has... Continue Reading