Overall, I believe that the book, like many other titles from Poythress, is deceptively simple. There’s much richness there for readers who slow down. But for those who don’t, the size of the book shouldn’t be intimidating. Accessibility has always been a hallmark of his theology (along with that of John Frame), and that’s the... Continue Reading

The flesh might seem beautifully sufficient to itself while it strives by its own power, or ascends by its own zeal, or is assisted by the favor of men toward honors and wealth. However, it’s nevertheless certain that all these things will come to nothing and that we will accomplish nothing by our talents or... Continue Reading

Most of the YRR/New Calvinist leadership and constituency is actually Baptist. Only one of the three churches, Redeemer Presbyterian, studied by Vermurlen is even formally Reformed. One, Driscoll’s, which arguably most closely reflected the character and genius of the YRR/New Calvinist movement, no longer exists. The other is John Piper’s Bethlehem Baptist Church… The YRR/New... Continue Reading

Should we define ourselves in terms of our sexual desires, be those desires gay or straight? Or should we define ourselves using some other register or point of reference? For Christians, of course, our identity is not to be rooted primarily in our feelings or desires, be they sexual or otherwise. Our identity is to... Continue Reading

The fact of the matter is that the fundamental premise of our government’s pandemic response strategy, summarized by the phrase “Stop the Spread,” runs contrary to basic epidemiological theory, which “indicates that lockdowns do not reduce the total number of cases in the long run and have never in history led to the eradication of... Continue Reading

Churches in Philadelphia never closed during the epidemic. Given the nature of the disease, it wouldn’t have made a difference either way. If government officials had ordered them closed, there’s good reason to believe that devout Philadelphians would have defied or resisted such orders. Do not read this book before eating, or in the midst of a... Continue Reading

Meet the Puritans invites modern readers—laymen and scholars alike—into the world of the Puritans. The work covers preachers from England, Scotland, Holland, and America, as it takes readers back to the peoples, places, and events of the Puritan era. The format of the book is simple, providing snapshots of the Puritans. Its breadth is comprehensive, covering... Continue Reading

Our savior is tender. He is compassionate. He is gentle and lowly. We need not have this image in our head of a stiff-necked Christ who is waiting for us to mess up. He is not trigger-happy to show his hanger. No, he is trigger-happy to show his children mercy, compassion, and undeserving grace.  ... Continue Reading

If the contentment goes and the giving of thanks goes, we are not loving God as we should, and proper desire has become coveting against God. There is proper desire, and there is proper rejection of the results of a fallen, abnormal world; but when I can no longer say thank you in the midst... Continue Reading

What do this rather different trio of Rieff, Taylor and Macintyre have in common? I think it is fair to say that Trueman treats them as sources of the reimagining of the human self. The three thinkers do not concur, and certainly have not collaborated,   But their approaches overlap, each providing materials which can provide elements of... Continue Reading