Shooing Away the Legalism Boogeymen
More and more I’ve interacted with Christians humbly and faithfully working out their salvation with fear and trembling, only to have the legalism card slapped on them.
Being one of the more tragic errors, this boogeyman comes in the form of, “Mellow out on trying hard to obey. You’re free in Christ to let go and let God,” and chides humble saints from giving efforted consideration of obedience to their Lord. Ironically, this “legalism” label is sometimes slapped on someone as a... Continue Reading
The First Reformed Website on the Block
Monergism.com was the jackpot for many of my questions
When we encountered God’s sovereignty and outworking of salvation in our Scripture reading, we had no systematic teaching that informed us of the doctrines of grace. We had no covenantal understanding of God’s promises. Thankfully, we did have a firm grip on the inerrancy of Scripture, and though I didn’t have a theological term for... Continue Reading
Keeping Black Christians at Arm’s Length
Some in the white Reformed community seemingly use every opportunity to alienate black Christians and keep them at arm’s length
Thankfully, the growth of Reformed theology among African-Americans has not been contingent upon the welcome mat of some white Reformed brothers. God continues to do what he has done, “pouring out his Spirit on all flesh.” May my brothers and sisters according to the flesh continue to seek and embrace the truth of Reformed theology... Continue Reading
Venite Adoremus: In Praise of the Creedal Hymnody of Christmastide
Christmas hymns and carols are among the most beautiful, sing-able, and familiar; they are also among the most richly doctrinal and creedal
If, as people of faith, our humanity is both blessed and in various degrees redeemed by the coming of a Savior who took on our humanity, then by all means, hymnody that extols such beautiful truths is worth singing and celebrating! Not to mention the fact that the injection of such rich biblical, confessional language... Continue Reading
Long Term Crisis: Who Do You Care For?
How can a church provide long term care for members in need?
No church is perfect but a prepared church will respond better when these difficult problems come. Though many will volunteer to help out in an immediate crisis, it is the long term needs that strain the resources of the church and reveal its weaknesses. To keep love constant is a challenge but Christ calls us to... Continue Reading
Ukraine: Insanity, Tragedy, or Hope?
A long history under a brutal Russia has pro-Western Ukrainians concerned about their future
Earlier this month President Viktor Yanukovych gave in to Russian boss Vladimir Putin’s pressure and attempted to ditch his country’s growing ties with western and central Europe. That brought hundreds of thousands of protesters into the capital city’s streets, where they toppled a statue of former Soviet dictator Vladimir Lenin, sang the national anthem, blockaded... Continue Reading
Pope Francis and the Economists
An assessment of Pope Francis’ exhortation in Evangelii Gaudium (EG) as a call for a “Third Way” economic system
Juan Carlos de Pablo, one of the best professors at the Pontifical Catholic University in Buenos Aires, where I studied and taught, told his classes that, “if economists do not know economics, how can you blame the bishops for their economics?” Pope Francis has acknowledged the role of the laity in many areas, not only... Continue Reading
You’ve Never Seen a Snowflake in This Much Detail
Photos of snowflakes show order and beauty in God’s creation
Dendrites, the common six-armed shape, form at temperatures between 3 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Hollow columns form at 14 to 21 F and needles form at 21 to 25 F. “It is even possible for a single snowflakes to be a combination of shapes as it moves into different temperatures within a cloud,” Pindrock said.... Continue Reading
Are the Old Calvinists Giving Up Covenant Theology?
Rejoicing in a revival of Calvinism but concerned is that this Calvinism without covenant theology is insufficient
For many of us who discovered Calvinism decades ago, it was something like a second conversion. Likewise, for many of us who discovered covenant theology decades ago, it was something like a third conversion. The thrill was just as great. For many of us, Calvinism without covenant theology still borders on theological poverty. Like... Continue Reading
Does Jesus Have One Nature, or Two?
The Council of Chalcedon, in dealing with the mystery of the incarnation and affirming Jesus’ two natures, said that His two natures are perfectly united in such a way that they are not confused or mixed, divided or separated.
The Monophysites claimed that Jesus did not have two natures, a divine nature and a human nature, but only one nature. That one nature was neither completely divine nor completely human. It was, depending on how one looked at it, a deified human nature or a humanized divine nature. This heresy was very serious for... Continue Reading