Posts by Gabriel Fluhrer

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Behold, Children Are...

Gabriel Fluhrer
Nov 17, 2020
Imagine the Brady Bunch, the hit TV show from the 70's, re-packed for today's viewers. Would the plot identify with the majority of younger couples? What about the majority of younger, evangelical Christian couples? When I've asked young Christian couples about children and when they expect to have...

What's Your Worldview?

Gabriel Fluhrer
Oct 26, 2014
James N. Anderson. What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions . Wheaton, IL: Crossway. 112pp. $10.99 To say that books on worldviews are something of a cottage industry in evangelical circles would immediately stand me in good stead for the "Understatement of the Year"...

What's Your Worldview?

Gabriel Fluhrer
Oct 26, 2014
James N. Anderson. What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions . Wheaton, IL: Crossway. 112pp. $10.99 To say that books on worldviews are something of a cottage industry in evangelical circles would immediately stand me in good stead for the "Understatement of the Year"...

Paul Helm Responds to Scott Oliphint

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jun 10, 2014
Paul Helm has responded to Scott Oliphint's recent article "Tolle Lege" at reformation21.

Peter Jones on Gender Issues

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jun 9, 2014
In his typically well-informed way, Peter Jones has once again demonstrated the importance of thinking Biblically about issues of gender and sexuality.

Oliphint Responds to Helm

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jun 5, 2014
Dr. Scott Oliphint responds on ref21 to Dr. Paul Helm.

Jennings and Garner Respond

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jun 4, 2014
The Jennings-Garner exchange continues this week. Click here to read the first part and here to read today's exchange.

Oliphint on iTunes

Gabriel Fluhrer
May 19, 2014
Looking for an outstanding introduction on how to defend your faith? Regular ref21 contributor Dr. Scott Oliphint's introductory apologetics lectures are now available on iTunes U. Also, be sure to stop by ref21 frequently, as Dr. Oliphint continues his series on apologetics right here. Enjoy!

Church Planting in Grand Rapids?!?

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 14, 2014
This coming Wednesday, April 16th, at 7pm Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church a "new, old church" will launch its first public gatherings in the heart of the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The church plant is beginning with its Wednesday evening gatherings--a time of teaching through the book of...

World REVision

Gabriel Fluhrer
Mar 26, 2014
Our friend Dr. Peter Jones of TruthXChange has written a timely and helpful piece on the World Vision debacle, which also touches on a number of other hot-button issues. Tolle Lege!

Welcome, Leon Brown!

Gabriel Fluhrer
Dec 16, 2013
We're excited to announce the latest addition to our blog team here at ref21, Rev. Leon Brown. He is a husband, father, pastor, and author. His recently published Words in Season: On Sharing the Hope that is Within Us . He received a B. A. degree in Communication Studies from the University of San...

Temple Cleansing: A Biblical-Theological Sketch

Gabriel Fluhrer
Nov 8, 2013
The cleansing of the temple by our Lord just prior to his passion and crucifixion is usually seen as a powerful indicator of his deity. While it is certainly that--and not less than that--the episode recorded in Matthew 21:12-13 (Mark 11:15, Luke 19:45, John 2:13) [1] invites further Biblical-...

New Alliance Website

Gabriel Fluhrer
Oct 31, 2013
No doubt, gentle reader, you have thought to yourself, "Where can I read more Reformed articles and find great Reformed resources on the web?" Well, the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is happy to answer that question with the launch of Place for Truth . Now, in addition to the Reformed musings...

Noel Weeks on Biblical Background

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jul 9, 2013
There is great confusion today about the role and possible influence of ancient Near Eastern texts on the Old Testament, particularly the opening chapters of Genesis. Last fall, Dr. Noel Weeks, expert historian and Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Sydney, did an outstanding...

William Evans and the Days of Creation

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jul 8, 2013
Prof. William Evans of Erskine College has taken on Al Mohler on the days of creation, among other things. Steve Hays at Triablogue has offered a thorough response here . HT: The Aquila Report

Start the Weekend with Derek Thomas

Gabriel Fluhrer
May 24, 2013
A fascinating and well-done interview with our own Derek Thomas . Enjoy!

The Alliance Has Moved!

Gabriel Fluhrer
May 17, 2013
After more than six decades at our historic, four-storied brownstone in Center City Philadelphia, the Alliance moved to nearby Lancaster, PA. While we miss the beauty of the craftsmanship at our old location, this move is an example of our commitment to good stewardship. Our new location is modern...

Logic

Gabriel Fluhrer
May 13, 2013
Vern Sheridan Poythress, Logic: A God-Centered Approach to the Foundation of Western Thought (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 730pp., $45.00 I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Crossway for their gracious provision of a review copy of this book. The term "polymath" seems to have arrived in...

Michael Kruger Reviews Rob Bell

Gabriel Fluhrer
May 7, 2013
New Testament scholar par excellence Dr. Michael Kruger reviews Rob Bell's latest book here . If the words "shooting fish in a barrel" come to mind, the reader would be correct! All kidding aside, Kruger is spot-on, careful, and, as always, required reading.

Pastors and Their Critics: Critics

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 4, 2013
In yesterday's action-packed episode , I presented some ways ministers might deal with criticism. Today, I want to look at those who bring criticism to pastors. If you've been in a church for any length of time, you know the pastor's critics. Sometimes they are many, other times just a few. The...

Pastors and Their Critics: Pastors

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 3, 2013
With due awareness of the liabilities, I would like to venture on to the delicate ice of how pastors should receive - and congregants give - criticism. The reason I feel emboldened to do so is that I have had, in my years as a minister, some very good critics and I pray that others would benefit...

Mortification of Spin talks Rosaria Butterfield's Book

Gabriel Fluhrer
Mar 20, 2013
Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt recently sat down to talk about Rosaria Butterfield's book The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, which details her conversion to Christ from lesbianism. This is a must-listen!

The Pope and John McClane

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 18, 2013
No, that's not the title of the latest po-mo book on reaching the unchurched. Rather, its intended to draw your attention to the new piece on ref21 by our friend Leonardo De Chirco on the Pope's last encyclical , as well as our resident film critic John Perrit's review of the latest in the Die Hard...

China's Churches

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 12, 2013
Make sure you don't miss Dr. Bruce Baugus's series on the church in China. It is an absolutely fascinating overview and history of the Lord's work in this great land. Check out the first part here and the latest post here .

Trueman Debate Video

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jan 16, 2013
Since Trueman's assent to stardom as Augustine redivivus , the requests for copies of the debate have almost crashed our server. Ok, so maybe that's a bit of an embellishment, but either way you can watch the debate here: Part 1: https://vimeo.com/57071226 Part 2: https://vimeo.com/57377467

Through the Westminster Confession Coming Monday!

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jan 12, 2013
This Monday, January 14, we will launch a weekly study of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Look for new entries on a weekly basis on each chapter of the Confession from contributors such as Joel Beeke, Richard Phillips, Jeffrey Jue, Philip Ryken, and Scott Oliphint. This series promises to be...

Mel Duncan Reviews The Hobbit

Gabriel Fluhrer
Dec 21, 2012
A few years ago, on a warm spring afternoon in Jackson, MS, I detected a note of surprise in the man's voice. He had just finished a PhD on Tolkien and was delighted by the questions of my dear friend and, at that time, elder, Mel Duncan on all things Tolkien. Mel has shared his Tolkien expertise...

"Not Enough Evidence!": Augustine versus Russell

Gabriel Fluhrer
Dec 11, 2012
Such was the (in)famous reply of atheistic British analytic philosopher Bertrand Russell when asked what he would say if, upon his death, he found out that God really existed. Our own Carl Trueman, eschewing the unbelief of Russell while evidencing the same British snobbery, will engage in a formal...

The New 'Dockers' Spokesman?

Gabriel Fluhrer
Nov 28, 2012
A friend stumbled across this Dockers ad from a few years ago and sent it on after reading Dr. Trueman's recent piece. Surely the good doctor will be horrified to learn that an American clothing company got the jump on him!

New Book on Calvin's Polish Connections

Gabriel Fluhrer
Nov 23, 2012
Our friend and fellow contributor, Dr. Dariusz Brycko alerted us to this very important work on Calvin. Dr. Brycko writes: "I have the privilege of volunteering as international secretary at the University of Warsaw's Committee on the Reformation in Poland and East-Central Europe, formed in 2008 by...

Brady Bunch-less?

Gabriel Fluhrer
Oct 22, 2012
Imagine the Brady Bunch, the hit TV show from the 70's, being re-packed for today's viewers. Would the plot identify with the majority of younger couples - or even Boomers? Not according to a recent article at the Weekly Standard (HT: Steve Hays at Triablogue ). The article's author, Jonathan Last...

Free Puritan Book

Gabriel Fluhrer
Oct 9, 2012
Now that I have your attention, there actually is a free Puritan book! Click here to download John Preston's The Fullness of Christ . The book is part of a new publishing venture, The New Puritan Press. Check it out!

Trueman Down Under

Gabriel Fluhrer
Aug 22, 2012
The recent issue of Ambassador magazine, of the Melbourne School of Theology, features our resident celebrity, Dr. Trueman. Nevertheless, he still has street cred: few celebrity pastors get the title "International Scholar."

Evans/VanDoodewaard Exchange on Creation

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jun 6, 2012
Interested readers may follow the continuing exchange between Drs. William Evans and William VanDoodewaard over at the Aquilla Report. Here is the link to Evans's response to Dr. VanDoodewaard's piece, which was originally posted here at reformation21. Here is Dr. VanDoodewaard's rejoinder to Dr...

Guest Post: Response to William Evans

Gabriel Fluhrer
Jun 4, 2012
Editors' Note: The following is a response to William Evans's recent reformation 21 article by Dr. William VanDoodewaard, who is associate professor of church history at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and an ordained minister in the ARP. William Evans's latest piece on the ARP Synod via his...

PCRT Podcast

Gabriel Fluhrer
May 1, 2012
Our friends at Christ the Center captured some of this year's PCRT with this interview . Enjoy!

Guest Blog: The MPAA - Catering to Our Inner Pharisee

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 30, 2012
Editors' Note: This post was written by John Perritt (M.Div; Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson), who is the Youth Pastor at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church in Ridgeland, MS. In addition to his pastor duties, he is currently working on biblical counseling certificates through Christian...

Last Call for Questions

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 19, 2012
First, thanks to all of our readers for the excellent questions submitted so far! There's still time to email more questions to r21@alliancenet.org Beginning next month, Dr. Oliphint will post article-length replies to your questions. Thank you again!

New Blogger at reformation21

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 18, 2012
The editors welcome Pastor Rob Ventura as our newest addition to the reformation21 blog team. He is the pastor of Grace Community Baptist Church in Cumberland, Rhode Island and co-author, along with fellow ref21 blogger Jeremy Walker, of A Portrait of Paul . Welcome Rob!

Call For Questions

Gabriel Fluhrer
Apr 2, 2012
We here at reformation21 pride ourselves on customer service (for examples, look no further than our (failed?) attempts at toning down Levy and posting doctored pics of Trueman). Pursuant to that end, we are calling for your questions for our resident apologetics expert Dr. Oliphint about...

VanDoodewaard on Witsius

Gabriel Fluhrer
Mar 9, 2012
Our friend Dr. William VanDoodewaard has posted this piece on Witsius on preaching law and gospel.

Obama and Embryo Adoption

Gabriel Fluhrer
Mar 5, 2012
I am a snowflake father. Those terms may be unfamiliar to many, if not most, people reading this. A "snowflake baby" is a child that was born because of embryo adoption. My wife and I completed our adoption through Snowflakes ( www.snowflakes.org ) in December of 2009 when our frozen adopted...

Follow the Texas Conference Live

Gabriel Fluhrer
Mar 2, 2012
Our good friend Rev. Andrew Moody will be live blogging the Texas Hill Country Bible conference here . Click to follow along as Derek Thomas, Steve Lawson, and Paul Jones unfold God's truth in Texas!

Richard Belcher, Jr. Replies to Collins's Reply

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 29, 2012
Editors' Note: Below is Dr. Richard Belcher, Jr.'s reply to Dr. C. John Collins's reply . We give Dr. Belcher the last word. I thank Dr. Collins for his response to my "review" of his book. My response will be limited to what I see as the main issues arising from the substance of his book. I...

C. John Collins Replies to Richard Belcher, Jr.

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 28, 2012
Editors' Note: Dr. C. John Collins has offered this response to Dr. Richard Belcher, Jr.'s article recently published on reformation21. Click here to read that article. C. JOHN COLLINS Reply to Richard Belcher, "Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? A review": Reformation21 article, February 2012 Let me...

A Question of Character (7)

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 28, 2012
In our final installment of this series, we will look at Paul's final qualification for us to think about when selecting elders. The Apostle's last instruction has to do not with what the church thinks of the man, but what those outside the church think of the man. Why would it be important for...

Steve Lawson on the Radio

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 24, 2012
Dr. Steve Lawson, one of our speakers for the first Texas Hill Country Bible Conference, will be speaking to KSLR in San Antonio about the conference this afternoon at 2:30 PM local time. Click here to listen!

A Question of Character (5)

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 21, 2012
After reading Dr. Trueman's and Pastor Walker's posts on this topic, the reader will permit me a fair amount of reticence to post on 1 Timothy 3:4-5. My colleagues' thoughts have been very convicting to my own rather green pastoral conscience, so I write with a good bit of trepidation! It is...

Dr. Richard Belcher on Historic Adam

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 20, 2012
Make sure you read Dr. Richard Belcher's excellent review of C. John Collins's Did Adam and Eve Really Exist!

The End of Infidelity

Gabriel Fluhrer
Feb 7, 2012
Last fall, Steve Hays of Triablogue, did an excellent article for ref21 refuting the collection of new atheist essays published under the title of The End of Christianity (ed. John Loftus). The book-length refutation of Loftus and company is now available in PDF here. Not only is it a wealth of...