Thoughts Concerning the Influence of the Anglican Tradition on Contemporary Reformed Liturgical Practice
Is there an influence of the Anglican Tradition on contemporary Reformed practice?
Many new church plants in the PCA have adopted a worship “style” that incorporates many of the elements from the Anglican Tradition in their liturgy. Even though they may still sing “praise choruses,” hymns and Psalms seem to be making a “come back,” even if they are set to modern sounding tunes performed on instruments... Continue Reading
“He Desires a Noble Task” The Erosion of the Evangelical Pastorate
"We have more seminaries and fewer students." -- D. Sweeting
After growing up in a diluted, trivializing youth ministry, the excitement of awakening to the life of mind in college makes lots of people want to stay forever (see the huge glut of underemployed Christianity-related PhDs, perhaps even worse than the secular glut.) The evangelical church has a problem. We’re going to run out of... Continue Reading
Penetrating the Darkness
For if Christianity is true, then it would mean that the knowledge of God isn’t discursive; it would be…inescapable knowledge.
It seems to me that if there’s actually truth out there, that if God is to be known, then this truth is going to have be able to break through two profound barriers. And what are they? 1) The barrier of man’s ignorance. 2) The barrier of man’s spiritual obstinacy.
Pleased to meet you. Hope you guessed my name
In a couple of years…maintaining biblical sexual ethics will be the equivalent in our culture of being a white supremacist
Indeed, I have to say that I have never been subject to such evident and oppressive neophiliac normaphobia in all my life. The sooner normaphobes are categorised as hate criminals, the better it will be for those of us who belong to the despised minority of the once but clearly no longer normal.
Friendship, Naturally….Or, Kuyper’s Napkin Ring
The church is supposedly a supernatural community. Why are we so often held captive to what we do naturally?
The church is often said to look just like the world in terms of morality, which is sad enough. I think it's even sadder though, when the church looks just like the world in lack of empathy --when we allow ourselves the luxury of selfishness with time and energy
Beware Your Delusions of Spiritual Grandeur
The tender ministry of grace grows in the soil of constant awareness of your need for grace.
Rather than humbly standing before the honest assessment of the Bible mirror, I looked into carnival mirrors. The problem with the carnival mirror is that it really does show you, but with distortion. You don't actually have a 20-inch neck and a 6-inch torso. Yes, it's you in that concave mirror, but it's not showing your actual appearance.
Americans are Confused About the Number of Protestants, Atheists, Mormons, and Muslims
People under age 35 are especially likely to overestimate the presence of atheists/agnostics and the religiously unaffiliated.
The average American estimates that 7% of the population is Muslim; the actual number is under 1%. The average American estimates that 7% of the population is Mormon; the actual number is about 2%.
The Narrative of Struggle and Political Power
Everyone wants someone in the family tree who was a coal miner, an immigrant, a maid, a bartender, a handyman, or janitor
How should we assess this ever-present narrative of struggle? Is it good for American politics? Good for Christians? Good for the soul? Or are there dangers? Let me offer one observation, two appreciations, and three concerns.
Young Evangelicals and Politics
Many young evangelicals don’t want to pay the cost of [losing] cultural cache
“America is not the new Jerusalem,” Strachan said. “But we need to vote.” And he challenged Christians: “You have to fundamentally redefine history,” noting, “We have the ultimate… life changing transformative message.”
There is no right to not be offended
Homosexual activists claim that much offense and harm comes from those who espouse opposition to their lifestyle.
"The right to free speech and the unrealistic expectation to never be offended cannot coexist," rightly observed Philip Sharp. It seems, however, that the "unrealistic expectation" cited by the retired U.S. Army Ranger and author is being viewed increasingly as a right.