Kingwood’s Dismissal Process Comes to a Close
The sixth and largest church of New Covenant Presbytery PC(USA) completes departure to ECO.
We’re not leaving the Presbyterian Church. We’re moving from one part of the Presbyterian family to another part,” he said. “We’re being faithful to God’s call.” More than three years have passed since First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood started its journey to a new denominational home. At long last, the trek out of the... Continue Reading
Dr. Dale Ralph Davis Invited to be Minister in Residence at First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC
Ralph Davis will be the Sunday evening preacher
I am delighted to inform you that Dr. Davis has agreed to come on a more permanent basis as Minister in Residence where, among some other things, he will be the Sunday evening preacher. Truth is, Dr. Davis retired a few years ago and lives in Tennessee, but he and his wife Barbara have already... Continue Reading
Calvin’s Two Liberties
Two Kingdoms, Christian liberty, and "cultural transformation"
To add ‘cultural transformation’ to Christ’s command to his first disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, would (in Calvin’s view) jeopardise Christian liberty, and no doubt we could add that it would be to privilege the educated middle-class Christians over their blue-collar fellow believers. A command, or a kind of culturally-correct pressure... Continue Reading
When Church Courts Err
The Trinity House fellows include: James B. Jordan, Peter Leithart, Rich Lusk, Steve Wilkins, and Jeffrey Meyers
Yesterday I learned that Leithart is now teaching at a place called The Trinity House in Birmingham, AL. I Googled it and found this: http://trinityhouseinstitute.com/solomon-among-postmoderns/. The announcement says: “Trinity House fellow Rev. Jeff Meyers and Peter Leithart will lecture at the annual All Saints conference at Community Presbyterian church in Louisville, Kentucky, November 1-3. Click... Continue Reading
My Family, In Black and White
"When I step out in public with my two black sons and one white son, we turn heads."
Modeling for my children how to be a minority has a bigger purpose than merely learning how to have dark skin in a white world. My lessons are about how to wear Christ’s skin. How to conduct yourself among a majority people who are instinctively prejudiced against you for who you are, and for who... Continue Reading
Is John Piper Really Reformed?
The answer to the question is obvious to most people, but often in two different directions.
Which is why my first reaction to the proliferation of even some of Reformed theology is profound gratitude. Do I think TULIP is the essence of Calvinism? No. Do I wish many who think of themselves as “Reformed” would go a lot farther back and dig a lot deeper down? Yes. But does it bother me that... Continue Reading
American Bible Society in the Spotlight after Surprise Firing
Prominent evangelicals express dismay over the firing of Douglas Birdsall, but ABS says it did offer him a severance package
Eleven prominent Christian leaders, including Redeemer Presbyterian Church Pastor Tim Keller, penned a letter expressing dismay over the New York-based American Bible Society’s decision to fire Douglas Birdsall just weeks before his inauguration as the group’s new president. “As Christian leaders who have known Doug over the entire course of his ministry, we are perplexed... Continue Reading
Saving Premature Babies: When Doctors Take the Place of God
The doctor, of all people, should advocate in favor of life because if the doctor doesn’t advocate for life the system will kill you
While pro-life is all too often associated only with those of us who oppose abortion it encompasses a much larger philosophy of making decisions in the favor of life. With life all things are possible, not necessarily likely or guaranteed, but possible. When physicians get into the business of taking onto themselves the authority to... Continue Reading
Does God the Father Love You Because of Jesus?
The death of Jesus is the demonstration that God does indeed love us
The instictive answer would seem to be, “Absolutely!” After all, when I think of my sin and what I deserve from the hand of the infinitely righteous and just God, how could He love me apart from a representative who is Himself perfectly holy and lovely? It might surprise you, then, to know that the... Continue Reading
Ordinary Cook, Unlikely Hero
Spurgeon got his theology from an old school cook
Mary King is proof that theology is intensely practical and absolutely crucial—the joy of those who cherish him. As the psalmist put it, “Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them” (Ps. 111:2). Countless thousands are spiritually indebted to the Prince of Preachers. He was indebted to a cook.... Continue Reading