Thanks to Dan and GR for posting this gem from Machen.
Filed under: Confessional Presbyterianism, Recovering the Reformed Confession | Tagged: biblicism, Confessionalism, J. Gresham Machen, Old Life, Old School | 7 Comments »
Thanks to Dan and GR for posting this gem from Machen.
Filed under: Confessional Presbyterianism, Recovering the Reformed Confession | Tagged: biblicism, Confessionalism, J. Gresham Machen, Old Life, Old School | 7 Comments »
Over the last year or so there seems to have been a concerted effort to discredit any sort of “two-kingdoms” (or two-spheres) approach to Reformed ethics and this despite the long-history and pedigree in Reformed theology of distinguishing between the kingdom of God and the civil or common realm. Read more »
Filed under: Christ and culture, Two kingdoms | Tagged: Christ and culture, christian education, neo-Kuyperians, transformationalism, Two kingdoms | 40 Comments »
Judging from the sorts of comments and criticisms I read it seems clear that a good number of people who are writing or commenting on the “two-kingoms” (or the two spheres) ethic don’t really understand it. I’ve posted resource lists in the past but here is an expanded list of resources: Read more »
Filed under: Two kingdoms | Tagged: c civil kingdom, kingdom of God, sacred and secular, Two kingdoms, two spheres | 1 Comment »
Today is St Augustine’s birthday (354 AD). In that connection I should mention the upcoming publication of Simonetta Carr’s biography of Augustine for children. Few figures in Western history are as important as Augustine. He is one of the early church fathers to whom the Reformers rightly looked as an inspiration for their theology and piety in many respects but he is more than that. He is an old and dear friend. Simonetta Carr has produced a clear, readable introduction to the life and work of this great Christian and our old friend.
Filed under: Ancient Church, church history | Tagged: Augustine, Simonetta Carr | 6 Comments »
Kyle Scheele has posted a section from his catechism, A Firm Foundation, on the judgment that applies well to the question of trying to distinguish, as some try to do, between an “initial” justification sola gratia, sola fide, and a final justification which is determined, at least in part, by “Spirit-wrought,” intrinsic or inherent sanctity or righteousness. Read more »
Filed under: Caspar Olevianus, Covenant, Justification, Pastoral Ministry | Tagged: covenant, justification, and pastoral ministry, final justification, initial justification | 1 Comment »
Donald A. Luidens is a sociology prof at Hope College and he’s written a provocative and interesting essay in Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought (which I think is descended from the old Reformed Journal) in which he argues that loss of confessional orientation is one of the reasons for the decline (and impending fall) of the RCA. He says that the death knell is sounding for the CRC. Read more »
Filed under: Recovering the Reformed Confession, contemporary evangelicalism, mainline Christianity, mainline presbyterianism | Tagged: Confessionalism, mainline Christianity, RCA, Recovering the Reformed Confession | 11 Comments »
Critics of the two-kingdoms ethic should consider this story from Salon.com. Julie Hirschfeld Davis reports that Roman bishops and archbishops have been influential in lobbying for a social-democrat version of “health care reform.” Read more »
Filed under: Reformed Ethics, Two kingdoms | Tagged: health care reform, theocracy, theonomy, Two kingdoms | 39 Comments »
One of the themes I’ve pursued here is the churchlessness of the evangelical movement. I’ve challenged those “evangelicals” who say that they believe the Reformed faith to stop being Nicodemites. When other folk see for themselves what is happening and they begin to reconsider their relationship to broad evangelicalism it can create a crisis. One of the questions I’ve received more than once is this one, “When should I leave my congregation?” Read more »
Filed under: Church Life, Reforming Evangelicalism | Tagged: I Get Questions, true church, vows | 34 Comments »
What is the true church? Is it even possible to talk about a “true church” in a time when people don’t even have a conception of a visible church. Mike Horton has a new piece on this at the WHI blog.
Filed under: contemporary evangelicalism, ecclesiology | Tagged: evangelicalism, marks of the true church, Michael Horton | Leave a Comment »
Recently Mike Pohlman at the Gospel Coalition posted a link to a WSJ piece on fundamentalism including reference to the “King James Only” movement. Here are some thoughts on how we should think about Bible translations.
Heidelcast Episode 6: What About Bible Translations?
You can contact the Heidelcast directly at heidelcast@gmail.com at you can leave questions via voicemail for broadcast at 760 278 1563.
Thanks to Young-Mi Cha for the artwork!
Filed under: Bible translation, heidelcast | 12 Comments »
Expostion of the Nine Points (pt 8)-Defining Grace and Faith
We reject the errors of those:
7. who teach that Spirit-wrought sanctity, human works, or cooperation with grace is any part either of the ground of our righteousness before God or any part of faith, that is, the “instrument by which we embrace Christ, our righteousness” (BC 22-24; HC 21, 60, 86);
8. who define faith, in the act of justification, as being anything more than “leaning and resting on the sole obedience of Christ crucified” or “a certain knowledge” of and “a hearty trust” in Christ and His obedience and death for the elect (BC 23; HC 21);
Filed under: Covenant, Justification, Pastoral Ministry, federal vision | Tagged: exposition of the nine points, faith, federal vision, grace, justification, URCNA | 9 Comments »
It’s not unusual for a president to be in the capital, but our very own President (of Westminster Seminary California) W. Robert Godfrey is to speak in Washington DC this week, November 12, 7:00 PM on the topic, “Does He Still Matter?” Calvin in the Capital is sponsored by Christ Reformed Church in DC. If you’re in the area you will want to hear Bob.
Filed under: Calvin500, Calvinism in the Culture, URCNA News, Westminster Seminary California | Tagged: Calvin in the Capital, Christ Reformed Church DC, W. Robert Godfrey, Westminster Seminary California | 6 Comments »
One of the things the HB tries to do is to offer answers to questions. I’ve set up a new email address to field questions to Heidelcast: heidelcast@gmail.com. I’ll hope to do that regularly.
You can now leave voicemail for the Heidelcast at (760) 278-1563. Leave a voicemail with a question and I may use your message in a future Heidelcast.
Filed under: I Get Questions, heidelcast | Tagged: heidelcast | Leave a Comment »
Ever wondered what the big story of the Bible is? What makes it all hang together? There is a thread that ties all of Scripture together. There is a biblical way of reading the Bible.
Filed under: hermeneutics | Tagged: biblical hermeneutics, biblical theology, understanding Scripture | 2 Comments »
There’s a piece today on Calvin in the NYT. If you get to Geneva, be sure to visit the Museum of the Reformation, not far from St Pierre. It’s a fair piece and gives a sense of the ambivalence of the on the part of the citizens of Geneva. They happily celebrated Rousseau’s 300th but they’re a little more reluctant to celebrate Calvin’s 500th. This summer there was a large public display in Le Parc des Bastions but apparently the city council didn’t want to spend money on Calvin. That’s fitting. The City Council is still busting Calvin’s chops 500 years later.
Filed under: John Calvin | Tagged: Calvin500, Calvinpalooza | 6 Comments »
Filed under: contemporary Christian music | Tagged: contemporary worship, liturgical dancing, stephen colbert | 25 Comments »
We only have the testimony of this fellow. We don’t have the testimony of the lesbian supervisor to whom he refers in this video but as I watched this I couldn’t help but think that there must have been a better way to handle this. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, his account is basically accurate and that she was flaunting her homosexuality, did he do the right thing by confronting her? Should he have taken her out for coffee to discuss it? At one point in the video (3:10) he seems to suggest that he didn’t want her to mention her homosexuality or her impending marriage around him because “I think that’s bad stuff, as I told her.” If he wanted to communicate the gospel to her, Instead of accusing her of sin (of which she is guilty) would he have done better to accuse himself? How should Christians conduct themselves in workplaces that become hostile to traditional and Christian mores?
Actual Related Posts Intentionally Generated by the Heidelblog:
Filed under: culture stuff | Tagged: evangelism, homosexuality, witness | 75 Comments »
At the White Horse Inn blog.
Filed under: Evangelicals and Catholics Together, White Horse Inn | Tagged: Evangelicals and Catholics Together, Is the Reformation Over?, Mary | 2 Comments »
One of the things that offends modernist sensibilities is the law in Deuteronomy 21 that requires the stoning of incorrigibly rebellious children. On the other side we face the theonomic call to reinstitute some version of this law in post-canonical civil law. John Fesko offers an alternative to both. The WSC chapel talks are free and online here and in iTunes.
Filed under: Westminster Seminary California | Tagged: Deut 21, John Fesko, judicial laws, stoning, Westminster Seminary California | 2 Comments »