Calvin’s teaching has never been for shrinking violets, nor is John Calvin himself thought of as “soft.” He uses strong language about those who are enemies of the gospel (“pigs,” “dogs”). In discussing church discipline he notes the special responsibilities…
Just a few weeks ago, the Oculus Rift started shipping out its Kickstarter units. These virtual reality (VR) headsets have been anticipated for years, especially since Facebook bought the parent company in 2014. At the risk of using a tired…
One of my favorite aspects of teaching “Intro to Philosophy” is the chance to expose students to a sampling of, as Matthew Arnold once put it, “the best which has been thought and said.” This takes planning, of course —…
Effective Strategy? Biblical Mandate? Both! In 1980 a young Pastor, fresh from seminary, arriving at his first pastorate encountered some startling realities. Thinking he was informed as to the condition of the church, he soon learned just how uninformed he was.…
Like many eighteenth-century Reformed pastors, Jonathan Edwards was confident in his ability to discern God’s purposes in earthly events. For example, during a 1736 drought, he explained that God was chastising New Englanders for the “corruption in our hearts.” Similarly,…
The Westminster Assembly The assembly of divines that authored a famous confession of faith, catechisms, and much more, met in Westminster, now a suburb of London, in the middle of a bloody civil war that tore apart, England and Wales,…
The Westminster Assembly The assembly of divines that authored a famous confession of faith, catechisms, and much more, met in Westminster, now a suburb of London, in the middle of a bloody civil war that tore apart, England and Wales,…
“Pray for the dead bird on the sidewalk!”The six-year-old’s words rushed through the church prayer meeting leaving an uneasy silence behind. Our pastor had invited requests, and one little boy–the newly-attending grandson of a church member–was endearingly eager. But his…
Throughout my twenty-plus years of following Jesus Christ and serving in His church, I have repeatedly seen pastors disqualify themselves for ministry. The moral failures of such ministers have led to confusion, pain, and even a crisis of faith for…
Contrary to much of modern thinking, there is truth and there is error. And just as it is vital to find the one–without truth there can be no salvation–so it is requisite to shun the other–for error in vital matters…
