It Is Time to Leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The sad truth is that faithful Presbyterians are not so much leaving their church as their church has left them
Is it any wonder that this same denomination has cast off the Word and chosen to redefine marriage? In their official statement, they wrote that their decision was “the result of deep discernment to hear God’s voice and discern God’s will.” In reality, it was not deep discernment but deep deception. If you are... Continue Reading
What Is Stewardship?
The concept of stewardship begins with creation
“Humankind’s stewardship began in the Garden of Eden, where God gave Adam and Eve full dominion over the entire creation. Adam and Eve were not given ownership of the world; rather, they were given the responsibility of managing it. They were to insure that the garden was tilled and cultivated, and not abused or exploited,... Continue Reading
It Is (Past) Time for a Delegated Assembly
What if the PCA's General Assembly was composed of delegates from the presbyteries?
“The unofficial motto of the PCA is “we’re a grassroots denomination.” That may at one time have been true. But we need to stop lying to ourselves. The PCA is run by the denomination’s program committees and the large and influential churches and presbyteries. The only hope for a real grassroots PCA is the move... Continue Reading
Leveraging Lunacy: How Bill Gothard Rode a Wave of Evangelical Goofiness
It is hard to believe that Gothard is not aware of common characteristics and tendencies of evangelicalism, since he is a product of evangelicalism
“The misappropriation of the biblical term “anointed” by church leaders over the past generation has produced results that do not merely border on lunacy, but are actually the embodiment of it. In most of evangelicalism the lunacy has been more subtle, its chief manifestation being authoritarian and abusive leaders who held themselves above accountability. You know:... Continue Reading
Dr. Ligon Duncan’s Seminar on the Marrow Controversy
The Marrow Controversy has much to teach us about the relationship of grace and law
“There are three interpretations of the Marrow controversy. Some argue that it was an internecine dispute of two sides that both held to the Westminster Standards. Those who condemned the Marrow quoted the Westminster standards against the Marrow men, which creates a certain plausibility for this view. This view is wrong in Duncan’s mind, though.”... Continue Reading
Calvin On Sanctification As An Effect Of Justification
Sanctification and justification are not parallel blessings independently given in Christ
“Calvin uses the phrases free justification, the mercy of God, and gratuitous acceptance to point to the same thing: that the primary cause of everything pertaining to salvation flows from God’s sovereign grace and mercy as freely offered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. That which secures a man’s salvation is ultimately not dependent upon... Continue Reading
Murfreesboro Mosque Fight Laid To Rest After Supreme Court Ruling
The fight to keep the mosque from being built ended June 2, when the nation’s highest court declined to hear the case
The four-year conflict over construction of the mosque, which opened in 2012, brought national attention to this Bible Belt city of 112,000 about 30 miles south of Nashville. Hundreds marched in protest after Rutherford County officials approved plans for the mosque in 2010. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) For years, opponents of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro vowed... Continue Reading
John Calvin on Wriggling in Worship
The concern is more about an attitude of one’s heart than about ants in one’s pants.
To “wriggle out of coming directly to God” in prayer, then, is a serious, gospel-denying matter. It is a squirming which we as adults are frankly more prone to than our children, having a more cultivated, even if proper, sense of all the reasons why God shouldn’t receive us into His presence when we seek... Continue Reading
Should Churches “Dialogue” About Sexuality?
The ones calling for dialogue will eventually take a hard line in spite of the accommodating rhetoric that gets them there.
Christians, you need to be aware of this strategy. False teachers typically won’t show up to your church wearing a sandwich board saying, “I am a false teacher.” Instead, they will appeal to your piety. They will try to make you feel that humility requires you to hold the teachings of Jesus and the apostles... Continue Reading
Dear Young Person, Don’t Believe The Hype…
We shouldn’t get so carried away with the worldly idea of “great”.
The desire to be the next _________ (fill in the blank with your favorite Bible teacher) has become the secret driving force of the young pastor. The pure first calling to just be a faithful preacher of the Word wherever God calls, even if it’s in a small rural church with little influence has been... Continue Reading