Did the Reformation Alienate Supernaturalism?
Review: "Living in Wonder" by Rod Dreher
According to Dreher, Christian prayer is the primary way to recover a sense of God’s presence and experience enchantment in a secular age. He writes, “It turns out that attention—what we pay attention to, and how we attend—is the most important part of the mindset needed for re-enchantment. And prayer is the most important part... Continue Reading
God’s Servants for Our Good
Governments that help to establish and enforce general morality in society are doing God’s work to preserve peace and order even when those governments do not even acknowledge or recognize that they are doing so.
Throughout history, pagans have often figured out successful legal systems that reflect biblical values because, since God designed the world to work in a certain way, those kinds of systems just work best for the order and prosperity of a society. That’s the reality of common grace politics. The truth is that in matters of... Continue Reading
George Gillespie’s Case for An Ecclesiastical Government
An Analysis of Gillespie’s: Aaron’s Rod Blossoming
In the third book of Aaron’s Rod Blossoming, Gillespie argued that suspension from the Lord’s Supper and excommunication from the church are within the jurisdiction of the church—and specifically, under the authority of the elders. Gillespie asserted that suspension from the Sacrament is a step in the process of church discipline, and that one could be... Continue Reading
What Is Apologetics?
The whole content of the Bible is apologetic, for all Scripture is the speech of God, and throughout the Bible God speaks apologetically.
The apologist’s responsibility is to (1) set forth the biblical story rationally and persuasively, (2) answer the objections inquirers will raise against the truth of this story, and (3) challenge the worldview from which those objections come. In all aspects of our discussion we must keep in mind the antithesis between the two worldviews and... Continue Reading
Is Evangelicalism Really Protestant?
Modern evangelical culture is radically different from the Protestantism of the past.
Evangelicalism’s culture is not even contiguous with that of mainline Protestantism, much less classical Protestantism. It is very populist and dominated by charismatic pitchman type pastors. It tends to emphasize a therapeutic gospel over a strict ethic. In fact, any type of moral or behavioral code followed too seriously is likely to draw a caution for... Continue Reading
Universities, Hate Speech and Anti-Semitism
Western universities have a lot to answer for.
Countless examples of ugly anti-Semitism have been the norm at so many Western university campuses. And very few of those in charge have lifted a finger to bring this to an end and ensure that all students can safely go about getting the education they have paid for. In his new book, After the Pogrom:... Continue Reading
Contemporary Considerations
Adam Smith’s thought and influence continue to reach across time and space.
Smith is often unfairly and poorly represented because of partial readings and selective and hasty interpretations driving agenda-promoting claims. Unbridled, no-nonsense capitalism, for example, is often advanced in the discourse of political economy and imbued with the vested authority of the Smithian imprimatur. In promotion of such unbounded capitalism, the most egregious abuses of Smith... Continue Reading
A Daily Diet of Doctrine
Book Review—"Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology," by Kevin DeYoung
Daily Doctrine is not a groundbreaking work of systematic theology and is not intended to be. Rather, it is an introductory work that focuses on easing people into the subject. It introduces the discipline as a whole, describes the most important terms, and explains the key ideas. In that way, it provides a framework for... Continue Reading
Elisabeth Elliot, the Valiant
Book Review: Austen’s biography reveals a woman of courage and conviction who developed spiritually and theologically over time.
Elisabeth Elliot’s story reminds me of the importance of grappling with mystery and certainty, the realization that the more we know, the more we see there’s more to know. Here is a portrait of a valiant woman who knew her sins but, better yet, knew her Savior. When I finished Lucy Austen’s biography of Elisabeth... Continue Reading
Reading Is Fundamental
Let’s keep reading central in our homes and preserve the doorway through which our children will access God’s Word.
When life’s trials crash in, we want a well-worn pathway to lead our children to the comfort of the God’s Word. However, they have a formidable obstacle to overcome if they “hate” reading. So what should a parent do in a culture where screens entice our children away from books? It is time to take... Continue Reading
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