Post in Thread “Evaluating the Thought of Cornelius Van Til with Keith Mathison and James Anderson”
Keith Mathison argues thusly: Van Til believed that classical apologetics (CA) compromises Reformed theology (RT).
Mathison’s argument doesn’t seem very persuasive to me. Mathison’s use of “compromising” in the first instance pertains to Van Til’s belief that theologians compromise the truth of RT by employing CA. In other words, Van Til believed that CA was inconsistent with the theology it is intended to defend (when employed by Reformed theologians). In that sense, CA “compromises” (i.e.,... Continue Reading
An Example of Why We Must Emphasize That Unnatural Lusts Disqualify for Office: A Reading in Missouri Presbytery’s 2020 Report on Allegations Against Greg Johnson
The constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) prohibits the ordination of men who experience unnatural lusts, prudence also recommending against it.
Those and many other things in our theory and practice of church government follow from an inference, and in many cases one that is much less clear and logically necessary than the inference that it is imprudent in the extreme to ordain men given to unnatural lust, or that the church may act on such... Continue Reading
To Commune or Not Commune: A Few Thoughts on Paedocommunion
Who may come to the Lord’s Table?
The table of the Lord has a cherished place in the church because it bears his name — it’s the Lord’s Table. As King and Head of the Church he determines who may come and in what manner they may come. In a way that is fitting to the nature and received benefits of the... Continue Reading
Praise: The Doxology’s Descant
Let’s join the centuries of Christians in praising God for Who He is with our doxologies of praise!
From time to time we enjoy either singing or hearing a hymn with a descant. The descant is a melody or counterpoint sung above the simple melody, usually by sopranos. As the descant rises distinctively above the simple melody, so praise rises above simple thanksgiving. The Scriptures abound with plaudits of praise to God.... Continue Reading
Before You Cancel Those Holiday Plans
Consider the importance of family over political allegiances.
If you react in the short term by canceling your holiday plans because of who your relatives voted for, that reaction probably won’t send the message that you hope it will. The message will most likely come across as arrogant, dismissive, closed-minded, disrespectful, or all of the above. Increasingly, you might find yourself in... Continue Reading
How to Teach Your Children Excellence
Children should pursue excellence in beauty, such as the way they hang a portrait.
People will pay high prices for those that do excellent work. This is difficult to find. David was so gifted and so full of character, that it appears his temporary residence with Saul quickly moved to full-time. Eventually, Saul asked David’s father for permission for David to stay at the palace. David was too gifted... Continue Reading
George Bailey Is the Protestant Elite We Need
He changed the entire future trajectory of Bedford Falls for the better.
George Bailey didn’t want to run the Building and Loan. He wanted to go to college. He wanted to travel the world. He wanted to have a honeymoon. In every case, he could have folded and pursued his own dreams. But he didn’t. George Bailey saw a need and stepped into the gap. He chose... Continue Reading
The Serpent That Deceived Eve Deceives Women Today
The Serpent continues to use the same tools to deceive us that we can be like God.
The nature of this current deception involves the serpent seducing women to take God’s prerogative and decide the life or death of their child in vivo by abortion. This is accomplished by convincing her that the nature of her pregnancy is not two persons but just about her body alone. The living entity she carries,... Continue Reading
Woke History on the Left and Right
We should wrestle with the past, but ultimately our allegiance is with Christ our King.
Humans are not mere victims of the flow of history, but responsible actors. Made in the image of God, humans are not only central to the story but uniquely valuable. We are also deeply fallen, often operating from selfish, racist, or other sinful motives. We need not think of America or Americans as either flawless... Continue Reading
A Surprising Generational Rift in the Christian Reformed Church
In their denominations and elsewhere in the church, some progressive Baby Boomers have been caught by surprise at younger people not sharing their cultural values. But should they have been surprised at this generational rift in the church? Looking at how different generations have been formed morally, socially, and culturally may help address this question.
Throughout church history, comments like these (made at the most recent CRC synod meeting) would be seen as ordinary and unremarkable. In this case, though, there was indeed something striking about them. For the two speakers mentioned were not among the wizened heads at the denominational meeting: they were both relatively young pastors. In the... Continue Reading