The Reformed churches, it seems, always have some sort of debate raging. The current debate, though it has many other features, largely concerns the place of obedience (or “works”) in the Christian life. On one side, some are advocating that the believer’s works are somehow included in their justification, not as fruit, but as grounds.... Continue Reading

Honoring the nation’s war dead is discomfiting to many on the pacifist Religious Left. One Protestant theologian’s fairly thoughtful Memorial Day ode to fallen veterans this year hailed their “sacrificial living.” But Bruce Epperly, a United Church of Christ “process theologian” from liberal Lancaster Seminary, cautioned against “American exceptionalism” or “America first” ideologies in favor... Continue Reading

Worst of all, they are sent off into this world with the whole baby-boomer theology ringing in their ears. If you sample some of the commencement addresses being broadcast on C-Span these days, you see that many graduates are told to: Follow your passion, chart your own course, march to the beat of your own... Continue Reading

There is no righteousness that makes us right with God except for the righteousness of Christ. But for those who have been made right with God through faith alone, many of our righteous deeds are not only not filthy in God’s eyes, they are exceedingly sweet. I believe with all my heart that we can... Continue Reading

For some time the APR General Synod has been split roughly 40/30/30 into three recognizable groups. By my estimation, approximately 40 percent is self-consciously confessionally Reformed and Evangelical. Another 30 percent or so are more broadly Evangelical. These have a high view of Scripture but they are wary of too much doctrinal definition and they... Continue Reading

Here are edited excerpts of my interview with Jim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, and the author of Stronger (David C. Cook, 2010). Daly became the organization’s president in 2005 after 16 years with the ministry, succeeding founder James Dobson. The reputation of Focus on the Family seems to be changing.... Continue Reading

Perhaps the dominant theme of recent editorials in The Augusta Chronicle has been President Obama, Democrats and the economy. Virtually getting a free ride are two local major institutions: Augusta State University and the Georgia Health Sciences University. ASU is an officially secular (humanist) institution. Conservative biblical Christianity is anathema to the campus, as recently... Continue Reading

Large churches with monstrous budgets are big sticks, but size and dollars do not establish moral authority, and it is foolish to think they do. Evangelicals who stay in the PCUSA will remain stuck in the impotence of rage until they find a way to reestablish moral authority. The greatest philosophical problem of the past... Continue Reading

While the majority of Americans believe that the country’s morality is poor and lacking, the gap between those looking for the moral high ground and those who believe we are already morally good is closing. A Thursday Gallup poll shows the number of Americans who believe the overall state of moral values in the U.S.... Continue Reading

Why does the average American family have $16,000 in credit card debt? Why was the savings rate, up until very recently, less than 0%? Why are most people upside down on their car loans right now? Why is consumption and consumer activity dropping like a rock? Why are we obese? Why are heart disease and... Continue Reading