On Lamenting the State of the Church
Was there ever a "golden age" without struggle?
The Puritan authors consistently decry the problems of the church in their own day. The Reformation writers likewise display the unfortunate difficulties of their time—problems caused by radicals, disagreements among reformers, and lawlessness throughout the land. With the early church fathers, the situation is no different. Doctrinal disputes, theological laziness, rampant antinomianism or legalism among... Continue Reading
When a Black Woman Married a White Man
People are confused about interracial relationships
A listener wrote in to ask an important question: “Can a white woman marry a black man?” I applaud the bravery of this woman because instead of remaining confused she searched for wisdom. What may have been surprising was that the podcast generated many hits. To me this indicated that there are others who are... Continue Reading
The Radicalization of the Church
Mainline churches have jettisoned the historic theological view that the Church is to speak to the world, not vice versa
The problems that confront orthodox Christians cry out for the establishment of a new and viable Christian culture. At the heart of this establishment is a need for Christians to acknowledge and profess that they are not like everyone else, to stand up for their unique identity, an identity that distinguishes and sets them apart... Continue Reading
The Folly of Suppressing Prayer
Graduation, free speech, and the prayer
The U.S. lesson to take away from Roy Costner IV’s protest through prayer: Don’t try to suppress the religious beliefs of most Americans. Protecting minority religious rights is essential. Not giving government preference to one denomination over another is a central part of the Bill of Rights. But attempts to suppress expression of religious beliefs... Continue Reading
Homeschooling Growing Seven Times Faster Than Public School Enrollment
As homeschooling has become increasingly popular, common myths that have long been associated with the practice of homeschooling have been debunked
As dissatisfaction with the U.S. public school system grows, apparently so has the appeal of homeschooling. Educational researchers, in fact, are expecting a surge in the number of students educated at home by their parents over the next ten years, as more parents reject public schools. A recent report in Education News states that, since... Continue Reading
Parenting Is 99% Insanity and 100% Jesus
Many times parenting looks very little like Shepherding a Child’s Heart and very much like a mid-80′s sitcom
Does God use my efforts? Of course. But is the salvation of my children ultimately dependent on my efforts? Thankfully not. I do the sowing, he does the saving. My sowing may feel like insanity most of the time, but that’s okay. He uses the weak to shame the strong. He uses the foolish to... Continue Reading
A Neglected Grace
A new book on family worship by Jason Helopoulos
I love the title: A Neglected Grace. Instead of hammering us with the heavy hand of ought, Jason holds out family worship as an example of divine kindness. Yes, we need motivation for the discipline of family worship, but the best, longest-lasting motivation comes not by feeling terrible for what we could be doing better,... Continue Reading
Gospel Reformation Network Hosting Pre-Assembly Conference at PCA GA
Hope for unity in the PCA through the gospel
In my humble opinion (but one informed by over three decades of ministry in the PCA), our denomination is riddled with anger, pride, jealousy, competition, factions, with not a few “celebrity pastors” who drive the engines of party strife in our midst. We are in the condition of the Corinthian church, as set forth in... Continue Reading
At the 2013 OPC General Assembly: Reports of Committees
The OPC General Assembly is meeting at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California
The 73rd OPC General Assembly authorized the Committee on Christian Education to develop a Psalter-Hymnal. Its mandate is to include musical settings of all 150 Psalms, in their entirety, with as much accuracy and as little archaic language and confusing syntax as possible, for use in churches. In 2012 the United Reformed Churches of North... Continue Reading
Deadly, Dull and Boring
Some vital tips on how to communicate through preaching.
Clarity. Being comprehensible without being condescending. Being simple without being simplistic. As Einstein put it, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler”. I want to challenge you to work harder at preaching more clearly. I want to push you to prepare in a way that combines your heartfelt passion with hardheaded... Continue Reading