Homeschool Apostates, Homeschoolers and Legalism
Implicit legalism is the atmosphere, the unspoken assumption, the unstated focus that hoists heavy burdens upon sensitive consciences
It is the culture of a church, the mood of a ministry, the passion of a pastor that binds consciences in a de facto manner. Its practitioners may formally reject the overt legalism of resting in one’s works or adding to God’s law. But they may not be fully aware of the effects of their... Continue Reading
Tyndale Releases Results of Mark Driscoll Plagiarism Investigation
After taking the necessary and important time needed to investigate all aspects of this issue, Tyndale House Publishers has concluded the following
Tyndale rejects the claims that Mark Driscoll tried to take Peter Jones’s ideas and claim them as his own. Moreover, at Pastor Driscoll’s invitation, Peter Jones has written on the Resurgence website, and spoken at a Resurgence event, as well as a Mars Hill workshop. Quite the opposite of trying to take Peter Jones’s ideas,... Continue Reading
Around the corner
What changes are likely to characterize the next generation?
When I asked in this column six weeks ago what major cultural changes might lie ahead of us Christians over the next few decades, I was hardly ready for your thunderous response. I listed there (it was our Nov. 2 issue) four big changes I’ve watched in my lifetime—and asked you to identify issues of similar import... Continue Reading
Where Did He Learn that Evangelicalism Is the Same as Presbyterianism?
Evangelicalism is precisely the ecumenical conversation for which Peter Enns longs.
His desire for “Openness to Different Ecclesiastical Traditions” should include a willingness on his part to let Presbyterian Church Americans or Orthodox Presbyterians to be exactly what they are — communions of Reformed Protestants. If he’d regard evangelicalism as loose and conservative Presbyterians as narrow, he could revel in the melting pot that evangelicalism is.... Continue Reading
Where’s All of the Tolerance? Duck Dynasty and Homosexuality
Phil Robertson, the head of the Duck Dynasty family, in an interview with GQ declared homosexuality to be a sin.
Unfortunately, I fear we will never hear a response like this ever again from the homosexual community. Why? Because they don’t just want the freedom to be homosexual. They want approval of homosexuality. And they will never feel that approval as long as people are allowed to disagree with them. I knew this day was coming.... Continue Reading
Christmas Is For Those Who Hate It Most
What makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year is also what makes it the most difficult time of the year
We have it sunk deep into our collective cultural consciousness that Christmas is for the happy people…. But this is so damnably backwards. Christmas – the great story of the incarnation of the Rescuer – is for everyone, especially those who need a rescue. Jesus was born as a baby to know the pain and... Continue Reading
Tidings of Discomfort and Joy
In breaking with The Episcopal Church, many Anglican congregations have lost beautiful buildings but gained something greater
Since TEC consecrated Gene Robinson as its first openly homosexual bishop a decade ago, hundreds of churches have fled the denomination. TEC is one of 38 provinces in the 70-million member worldwide Anglican Communion. The departing parishes emphasize that TEC’s approval of homosexuality is one outgrowth of deeper doctrinal problems: TEC leadership has questioned the authority... Continue Reading
Liberty of Conscience in the Public Square: Challenges to the Affordable Care Act
Two religion clauses of the First Amendment; what do these clauses mean?
What does this mean about religious liberty in the public square? First, the clause on establishment means only one thing: Congress and the states shall not create state-sponsored churches. It does not open the door to all sorts of imaginative “religious” issues. Second, the free exercise clause means that everyone has liberty of conscience. Together,... Continue Reading
The Intent of Westminster Larger Catechism 109 Regarding Pictures of Christ’s Humanity
The Westminster Assembly intended to proscribe pictures of Christ in Larger Catechism 109
The wording of public ordinances and subsequent widespread destruction of depictions of Christ, the Parliament’s authorization of views such as those held by Vicars and others, Laud’s view contrary to the Homilies noted in his trial, and the involvement of the four London ministers in identifying idols for destruction which included pictures of Christ….all indicate... Continue Reading
Comforting Eve
Eschatology is not simply that with which the Bible ends; it is also that with which the Bible begins, and that knowing our eschatology is extremely comforting
What could truly comfort Eve—and us? In a profound sense, the answer is eschatology. It is the consummate coming of Christ and His glorious kingdom, and the foretaste of that kingdom that we have now through His Word and Spirit. That is eschatology—and there is nothing more comforting than that. There are countless places in... Continue Reading