Another Post About Scandalous Elections
(Or, The Other Mystery of Election) The doctrine of election is a matter that raises more passionate controversy than, well, political elections. Plenty of people hate to ascribe particularity to God’s saving plan. Others simply hate the thought of it...
And Everyone Knew But Me…
Time to fulfill a New Year’s resolution… from last year: write more for Mere-O… I’ve rediscovered a lot of important Christian truths in the tenish years of my adult life. I’ll admit to not always being a paragon of humility...
One Book for College: A Thumping Good Novel
My reading suggestion follows Cate’s example in fleeing from a specific recommendation. And she gives very good advice. The assigned books are one of the big reasons you’re there. And, let’s face it, the professors try to make them a...
Variety of the Young Reformed — A Reply to D.G. Hart
D.G. Hart has given some feedback and pushback to Matt’s and my posts on Voluntarity and the Young Reformed. Dr. Hart is not one to back away from the rough and tumble of electronic controversy, so I am glad to...
Francis Chan on True Arrogance
Some stirring and convicting words from a former pastor of mine, in a Christianity Today interview: Here’s what I had to repent of: I had felt the need to soften a lot of Jesus’ statements, because in my arrogance I...
Voluntarity, Variety, and the Young Reformed
I want to offer something between an addendum and a counterpoint to Matt’s excellent guest post at Ben Simpson’s blog. He rightly describes how, in late modern society, membership in social institutions and social structures have become radically voluntary. Online...
Why You Go After Sloppy Thinking and Conspiracy Theories
One popular idea last week, after the release of Obama’s “long form” birth certificate, was that it would make no difference. The convinced are beyond evidence, the idea goes, and the hard-core advocates will never be dissuaded. While that was...
Dating Easter
Last Sunday was Easter. This year was a special year, in that the Eastern and Western churches celebrated it on the same date. Easter is a variable-date feast for both families of churches, but the range of possible dates under...
Samuel Rutherford on Remembering Christ’s Death
Well-beloved in the lord—You are not unacquainted with the day of our Communion. I entreat, therefore, the aid of your prayers for that great work, which is one of our feast days, wherein our well-beloved Jesus rejoiceth, and is merry...
Why Church History? – The Cloud of Witnesses and the Body of Christ
As you may know, I am trying to make a career out of church history and historical theology. It is a field not without honor, though it is often overshadowed by the other theological disciplines, as well as the more...