Leithart on Justification and Baptism
"Does the New Testament teach that 'baptism justifies you'? I think the answer is Yes."
However, it is worth pointing out that this article represents a doubling down of error on Leithart’s part, bringing his public teaching more explicitly at odds with the reformed standards (both the Westminster Standards and the 3 Forms of Unity) and, indeed, a fundamental reformational and Protestant understanding of justification. This ought to be sufficient... Continue Reading
Calvin the Liturgist: How ‘Calvinist’ is Your Church’s Liturgy?
Calvin's approach to liturgy, described in The Form of Prayers, was biblically thoughtful and consistent with early church worship.
To achieve this tone of spirituality, said Calvin, simplicity is important. Liturgical practices that call attention to themselves obscure God, kill worship, and subvert the life of faith. One must understand Calvin’s long passages against images, relics, veneration of the saints, sacramental ism, and all human ceremonies as his conscientious effort to restore direct, simple... Continue Reading
Stop Comparing Your Trials
Comparing your trials to someone else’s cuts you off from the comfort God wants to give you in your trial
No matter what we go through, someone out there has faced something that’s more difficult, more intense, more challenging. But that doesn’t change God’s compassion for you in your trial.The God who reveals himself as boundless in compassion and mercy walks with each one of us in our trials, tailor matching the comfort receive to the need of the moment.... Continue Reading
Christians and Movies: Are We Contextualizing or Compromising?
Film watching is a matter of wisdom, not fear. But my great fear is that we are being unwise.
My goal is not to create an artificial line, a legalistic rule that we cling to as a mark of purity. Instead, it’s a question of discernment, and that’s why I am left wondering: Is there anything to which we would simply say, “No matter how much artistry may be involved in this film, it uses copious amounts... Continue Reading
Keeping it Real
Are we really going to let our subjective feelings determine authenticity? I'm afraid we've lost the meaning of authenticity as well.
We often confuse the raw, here and now, recognizable situation as the true and authentic. But there is only one person who is authentic, Jesus Christ. And the truth is we need a preservative of sorts to reach holiness. In order to even be able to have eyes to see and ears to hear about... Continue Reading
What are We Missing in Our Worship?
A confession of sin and an assurance of pardoning grace that accompanies it.
We also want to confess our sins weekly in corporate worship, because when we don’t we miss out on one of the most powerful encouragements and joyful moments of gathering together: the assurance of God’s pardoning grace. If we aren’t confessing sin, then there is no place for the assurance of pardon in our services.... Continue Reading
Your Grammys’ Church
The latest Grammy Awards celebrating the liberating power of music, with all the stunning technological Hollywood bells and whistles, is The New American Religion
The vacuous marriage sacrament of the “Grammys religion” and its further trivialization as an entertainment stunt, only underlines the spiritually empty gospel that Tinsel Town and its beautiful people were pushing, unopposed, into the homes of people who pay these artists their inflated salaries. There is no competing message, no other opinion allowed from other... Continue Reading
The Ivory Tower’s Blue-Collar Misfits
When elitism dominates the institution, or can anything good come out of Nazareth?
In the 28 years since those episodes my status as misfit remains intact. My colleagues talk of going to see films (with subtitles no less!); I go to movies. They try the latest, trendy restaurant; I eat at home. They speak of ski trips in the Rockies or vacations on “the islands,” my trips are to NASCAR... Continue Reading
10 Marriage Tips Every WIFE Needs to Hear
Marriage tips to wives from a woman who has wrestled with and learned from issues in her
Marriage is a commitment. In sickness and health, in good times and in bad. Those vows are sacred. They don’t say “if you have bad times”. They say “in good times AND in bad”, implying that there WILL be bad times. It’s inevitable. So choose to love anyway. He’s worth it. There’s a blog post... Continue Reading
In Search of the Godly, Manly Man
How many of our wives, daughters, sons and parishioners are looking at us, saying, “Father, do something, be the man for us!”
Tenderness is a good trait. The same can be said of meekness. Etiquette and manners are to be learned and practiced. Hospitality is the trait of the godly elder and deacon. There is nothing noble about a brutish, unpolished, uncultured bully. We should want to be men of the arts; education is to be highly... Continue Reading