Readers of Reformation 21 will know that the Church of Scotland has been having heated debates over the legitimacy of homosexuality for some time. What you might not know is that a steady stream of courageous ministers are taking a stand and choosing now to leave as the Cof S courts seem to have...

One of the challenges that faces the preacher is the extent to which he concedes his ignorance or agnosticism over the meaning of a particular verse while in the pulpit. No preacher wants to lose the authoritative `Thus saith the Lord!' dimension of proclamation; but nor should he give the...

The debate over the book on the mission of the church by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert over at the Gospel Coalition and beyond is fascinating, both for its content and because it is likely a premonition of battles to come. I have not yet read the book but the debate has pushed it to the top of my...

I learned many things while at the Proclamation Trust last week but two stand out as particularly important. First, there is nothing like talking to Paul Levy about Welsh mysticism, putting it to the sword and seeing his agony of soul as he watches, in his own words, his `theology turning into dust...

A week in the UK with the pastors at the Proclamation Trust and a return to the US indicates it is business as usual for the influential evangelical organisations in both places. Over there, Levy and I were the token Presbyterians, surrounded by William Taylor and the Anglicans on the one side and...

A strange weekend. Arrived in the UK Saturday and stayed with Paul Levy which was positively Dostoevskian. I had been convinced by various emails sent to Reformation 21 that Levy was, in fact, a pseudonymous clown I had myself invented for the blog, though I was always suspicious of the man's...

Yesterday , I reflected on the forgotten insight of Luther: not his development of the theology of the cross but rather his development of the idea of the theologian of the cross. Behind this idea, however, lies an even more profound and revolutionary idea: that of the God of the cross. The final...

One of the things that is so striking about the current revival of interest in Reformation theology, broadly conceived, is the absence of perhaps the most glorious contribution of Martin Luther to theological discourse: the notion of the theologian of the cross. At a meeting of the Saxon Chapter of...

"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?" "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." "The dog did nothing in the night-time." "That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes. Silver Blaze , Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sometimes it is the dogs that do not...

Watching clips from the Steve Jobs memorial at the Apple HQ, I was struck once again by how we have imputed messianic significance to him. For sure, he made my long distance running around the suburbs of Philadelphia less tedious by allowing me to carry the Stones, Zeppelin and Dire Straits...

Fans of the late, great Frankie Howerd will remember his catchphrase, honed while playing various Roman slaves with names like `Lurkio' drawn almost straight from Plautine comedies: `Nay, nay, thrice nay!' Well, as John Muether, the OPC Historian, has just brought to my attention, the OPC actually...

As the flurry of activity and opinions surrounding the life and legacy of Steve Jobs starts to die down, one paragraph stands out for me as a profound analysis of his impact and contribution. Not from a Christian source, but from the Jewish author, Howard Jacobson, writing for the English...

I have been asked why I seem so critical of parachurch organizations, when I work for one myself. Good question. The following thoughts seem apposite. First, there are different kinds of parachurch organizations. Seminaries, conferences, theological and ethical co-belligerent societies etc. "...

In a shameless knock-off of the Pyromaniacs' practice of providing a weekly dose of Spurgeon, here we start a new feature: Presbyterian Profundity, featuring quotations from a bunch of old, dead guys who lived, to quote Spinal Tap on Stonehenge, hundreds of years before the beginning of history...

I do not typically go to this source for pastorally useful definitions, but my recent post led to me do a little bit of research to see if there are any good definitions of pornography out there. The Catechism of the Catholic Church actually has about as good a statement as any I have come across:...

Over at the Gospel Coalition, the Rev. Thabiti Anyabwile has a post on definitions . His argument is a thoughtful one and he calls for the abandonment of talk of `celebrity' and 'rock star' pastors because, as he rightly points out, defining these terms is hard. He also sees me as one of the main...

Last week, I posted a note on Ref21 concerning the importance of guarding the teaching office in the church. As a result of that, I was asked what the implications of such might be for those often called 'ruling elders' in Presbyterianism, men who are called to leadership roles within the church...

I note with sadness Levy's crack about the English rugby team. What can I say? As this picture reveals, his Welsh patriotism is barely skin deep. In the aftermath of the Glorious Year of 2003, his allegiance seems to have been somewhat east of Offa's Dyke, as this picture shows: It is surely also...

One of the things I find most helpful in Presbyterianism is the clear distinction it makes between members and office bearers. To be a member of a Presbyterian church, one need only confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in one's heart that God raised him from the dead (Rom. 10). In...

I received today what I think is called in Mafia circles `an offer I can't refuse': come clean about Rodney or face exposure. It is good to know where the priorities are these days. To be honest, I had completely forgotten that the Ref21 sidebar did not actually give the identity of the bloggers...

Simonetta has put the winning entries in the book competition blog here . The originals are kept in the Academic Affairs Art Gallery in Machen Hall at Westminster. Again, thanks to the kids for sending me such great pictures and commentary. I enjoyed receiving them and hope that you enjoy the...

I must apologise. As has been pointed out to me by Phil Johnson over at Pyromaniacs and a number of transatlantic correspondents, the Theology-Trinity-Church-trumping "yob aesthetic" that is proving so powerful as a "reformed" "gospel-centred" and "confessional" force over here is actually playing...

Please pray for the pastors and congregation of High Hilton Church in Aberdeen. The press release they have issued provides all the information. Two things come to mind: Belgic Confession 27 contains the following words: "This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until...

I just received two great pictures of Athanasius from Julia Strassner, aged 8 and Lydia Joy Aloisi, aged 9, and her brother, Micah, aged 6. Fantastic way to start the week, getting such super mail/post. Congratulations, ladies and gentleman, you are the winners of the two remaining Athanasius books...