The visible church is the church in history as seen through fallible human eyes at any given point in time. The mention of the visible church here reminds us that we do not have an infallible certainty that every single person who is baptized with water will have a personal, saving union with Jesus. In... Continue Reading

So where do we stand as traditional orthodox Christians? Too many stories for and against are surrounding these matters to grant a helpful strategic clarity on the ground. However, this is how the culture war is going to be fought in most hearts and minds: with sound bites and narratives. Evangelicals must realize this and steel... Continue Reading

Still more pronounced, however, is the evident aversion among prominent progressives to living in a society with those who disagree with them about religion and reproduction. So great is their distaste for the diversity of views characteristic of a liberal democracy and so strong is their resolve to control the conduct of others that they... Continue Reading

This past week one of the best elders I ever served with went home to glory. I lost a dear friend. This has led me to reflect on what makes for a good elder. Of course, a good elder will fulfill the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. That is foundational. He must... Continue Reading

This is how the body of Christ operates. For every person that goes through suffering of one kind or another, there are others in the body there to walk along side you because they have been through the same thing. It is part of the comfort we have by being in Christ. We are not... Continue Reading

But there is a third category, and this is where I suspect most of us find ourselves. Even when we face antagonism or suffering as a result of our allegiance Christ—even when we are doing or saying the right thing—some of our hardship may come because of our own sin. In their commentary on the Westminster... Continue Reading

Crossing the border between Mexico and the United States without the proper permission certainly violates the law, and we must not ignore this fact. We are not encouraging parents to send their children to the United States. It is not only illegal, it is also dangerous, putting their children’s lives at risk. However, we need... Continue Reading

But children are unregenerate. They do not know God. There is a natural enmity in their hearts against him. Their boredom is not principally caused by their immaturity but because of their hearts of stone. This is to be combated by the loving lives of their parents, regular family devotions in which they become familiar... Continue Reading

In the 2000s, compassionate conservatism morphed into an acceptance of governmental centralism combined with a desire to make welfare more effective by working with rather than against religious bodies. Given early personnel and legislative decisions, plus Washington pressures to use power rather than relinquish it, plus the back-burnering of domestic policy after 9/11, the 1990s... Continue Reading

Light bulbs are coming on. And that will continue to happen. The question is about when we will feel the cumulative effect. How long will it take for the abortion industry to self-destruct? How many instances like this must happen? How many leaked truths and unmasked mishaps must occur before the confused populace is jostled... Continue Reading