If someone should find himself persuaded that there were, in fact, more human beings than just Adam and Eve at the beginning of humankind, then, in order to maintain good sense and a biblical mind, he should envision these humans as a single tribe. Adam would then be the chieftain of this tribe (produced before... Continue Reading

Theistic evolution purports to bring together the evolutionary consensus and a faithful doctrine of creation. That’s the whole appeal. And yet, I don’t see how the two are compatible, whether Adam really existed or not. Theistic evolution, generally defined, is the belief that natural processes sustained by God’s ordinary providence were the means by which... Continue Reading

The trial of Anders Behring Breivik represents one of the greatest tests of human justice in decades. Breivik stood in an Oslo courtroom this week and declared: “I admit to the actions, but not to the guilt.” The “actions,” of course, were the killing of 77 people on July 22, 2011. Eight were killed in... Continue Reading

From Mike Horton: “By far the question that has been taken up the most in the history of Reformed theology is whether the covenant that Israel made with God at Sinai is a re-publication or renewal of the covenant of works made with humanity in Adam.” Boom! There it is. Notes on the reading material... Continue Reading

One of the (many) depressing side effects of the church growth movement has been the construction of ugly church buildings all across America. In an attempt to make going to church less intimidating for unbelievers, building committees have tried to create something that, with a few refittings, could be a fast-food restaurant, box store, or... Continue Reading

Believers need the accountability found only within the local church. We need to hear sermons preached by flesh-and-blood preachers in the real-time experience of Christian worship. We need to confess the faith together through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We need to confess our sins and declare forgiveness by the blood of... Continue Reading

We must be careful how we define ministry readiness and spiritual maturity. There is a danger in thinking that the well-educated and well-trained seminary graduate is ministry ready or to mistake ministry knowledge, busyness, and skill with personal spiritual maturity. Maturity is a vertical thing that will have a wide variety of horizontal expressions. I... Continue Reading

From 1525 onwards, one must search hard for the language of universal priesthood in the writings of…Luther drops the ambiguously democratic rhetoric and start to talk more of church order and offices….This insufficiency of the gospel is surely why Paul, when writing to Timothy, does not simply tell him to preach the gospel……In other words,... Continue Reading

Bodies were the first place Adam and Eve directed their shame, and they hid themselves from one another and from God himself. How ironic that the capstone of God’s creation should become a portion of his work we so despise and want so desperately to reinvent. In a recent interview with Men’s Health, aging actress... Continue Reading

My point is that with this new freedom there can be the temptation to slack off all responsibilities, especially church responsibilities. Let the younger folk do the work and enjoy the freedom of not being tied down. And there is a legitimate freedom that comes with retirement As one becomes older and nears the last... Continue Reading