Posts by Carl Trueman

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Blog 94: 3.2.22 - 3.2.27

Carl Trueman
May 14, 2009
Calvin continues his discussion of faith by addressing the issue of fear, talking his cue from Paul's reference in Phil. 2.12 to `fear and trembling.' Fear can, of course, be a very bad thing, antithetical to the kind of assurance which lies at the heart of a robust Christian faith. Such is servile...

Blog 93: 3.2.16 - 3.2.21

Carl Trueman
May 13, 2009
In these paragraphs, Calvin continues his discussion of faith when, having distinguished the true from the false, he addresses the manner in which the believing individual experiences the world. What is particularly significant here is the way in which Calvin moves seamlessly from theological...

Blog 92: 3.2.11 - 3.2.15

Carl Trueman
May 12, 2009
In these paragraphs, Calvin continues to address the many complexities that surround the relationship between true faith and its counterfeits. Both pastoral experience and accounts given in scripture lead Calvin to believe that there is such a thing as false faith, and that this can, at least for a...

Blog 91: 3.2.7 - 3. 2.10

Carl Trueman
May 11, 2009
In this section, Calvin defines true faith over against false alternatives. It is, he says, `a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.' A...

Guinness on Schaeffer

Carl Trueman
May 8, 2009
Justin has a short interview with Os Guinness on his blog . Interesting stuff, though, at the risk of sending yet more `Angry of Tonbridge Wells' bloggers reaching for their keyboards, pitchforks and flaming torches, I still don't get the outrage surrounding Frank Schaeffer's book on his dad: a...

Guinness on Schaeffer

Carl Trueman
May 8, 2009
Justin has a short interview with Os Guinness on his blog . Interesting stuff, though, at the risk of sending yet more `Angry of Tonbridge Wells' bloggers reaching for their keyboards, pitchforks and flaming torches, I still don't get the outrage surrounding Frank Schaeffer's book on his dad: a...

Westminster: Free Audio Archives

Carl Trueman
May 7, 2009
Westminster Theological Seminary (PA) is making its audio archives available for free. You just need to sign up here to access lectures, sermons and talks given by the Faculty of Westminster during its eighty year history.

Westminster: Free Audio Archives

Carl Trueman
May 7, 2009
Westminster Theological Seminary (PA) is making its audio archives available for free. You just need to sign up here to access lectures, sermons and talks given by the Faculty of Westminster during its eighty year history.

The Joy of Presbyterianism

Carl Trueman
May 6, 2009
I was asked at a presbytery ordination interview why I was seeking ordination as a seminary professor, the OPC having a category of Teacher that recognises such a post as a church office. My initial answer -- by which I still stand -- is that it makes me theologically accountable to high standards...

The Joy of Presbyterianism

Carl Trueman
May 6, 2009
I was asked at a presbytery ordination interview why I was seeking ordination as a seminary professor, the OPC having a category of Teacher that recognises such a post as a church office. My initial answer -- by which I still stand -- is that it makes me theologically accountable to high standards...

Orwell unconvincing?

Carl Trueman
May 5, 2009
A Scottish reader sent me this link yesterday in the wake of my exchange with PR. I am sure Phil will be flattered by the comparison with Eliot; and, as a lifelong fan and admirer of Orwell's prose, politics, and prophetic pessimism, I am not worthy (and, as an aside, for Eliot to think him a...

Orwell unconvincing?

Carl Trueman
May 5, 2009
A Scottish reader sent me this link yesterday in the wake of my exchange with PR. I am sure Phil will be flattered by the comparison with Eliot; and, as a lifelong fan and admirer of Orwell's prose, politics, and prophetic pessimism, I am not worthy (and, as an aside, for Eliot to think him a...

Concluding Unhelpful Postscript

Carl Trueman
May 4, 2009
I am grateful to my friend, Phil, for his vigorous response to my earlier posts on the C of S. I hope this response will clarify some matters. First, I concede that the death or doctrinal collapse of the mainlines is in no one's best interest. We sectarians all shelter somewhat under their wings in...

Concluding Unhelpful Postscript

Carl Trueman
May 4, 2009
I am grateful to my friend, Phil, for his vigorous response to my earlier posts on the C of S. I hope this response will clarify some matters. First, I concede that the death or doctrinal collapse of the mainlines is in no one's best interest. We sectarians all shelter somewhat under their wings in...

A Petition

Carl Trueman
Apr 30, 2009
I've been asked to draw readers attention to an online petition re. the Church of Scotland. While I won't sign because of the (to me) arbitrary nature of the selection of homosexuality as the issue upon which to fight, given the history, problems and context of the C of S, the list and number of...

A Petition

Carl Trueman
Apr 30, 2009
I've been asked to draw readers attention to an online petition re. the Church of Scotland. While I won't sign because of the (to me) arbitrary nature of the selection of homosexuality as the issue upon which to fight, given the history, problems and context of the C of S, the list and number of...

Well, I've heard everything now......

Carl Trueman
Apr 23, 2009
The panoptical Emma Peel, my eyes and ears in my homeland, sent me this link . What can I say? I am ashamed of my home country and -- ahem -- what American celebrity culture has done to it. Mrs Peel, we're needed.

Well, I've heard everything now......

Carl Trueman
Apr 23, 2009
The panoptical Emma Peel, my eyes and ears in my homeland, sent me this link . What can I say? I am ashamed of my home country and -- ahem -- what American celebrity culture has done to it. Mrs Peel, we're needed.

It must be spring....

Carl Trueman
Apr 23, 2009
In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. But Miserable Middle Aged Gits, such as myself, turn their curmudgeonly, uncharitable thoughts to the Church of Scotland and her evangelical wing..... I appreciate Iain's post on the Queen's Cross church. I lived for a while...

It must be spring....

Carl Trueman
Apr 23, 2009
In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. But Miserable Middle Aged Gits, such as myself, turn their curmudgeonly, uncharitable thoughts to the Church of Scotland and her evangelical wing..... I appreciate Iain's post on the Queen's Cross church. I lived for a while...

The C of E: What Is It For?

Carl Trueman
Apr 14, 2009
The UK's Spectator (probably the best magazine in the world, if good writing is any criterion) leads this week with an article by Rod Liddle on the C of E. I don't think Liddle professes faith, but he always calls them as he sees them and, frankly, he nails the C of E in this piece. Oh, and his...

The C of E: What Is It For?

Carl Trueman
Apr 14, 2009
The UK's Spectator (probably the best magazine in the world, if good writing is any criterion) leads this week with an article by Rod Liddle on the C of E. I don't think Liddle professes faith, but he always calls them as he sees them and, frankly, he nails the C of E in this piece. Oh, and his...

The Religious Twitterati

Carl Trueman
Apr 13, 2009
Emma Peel has taken time off from fighting evil masterminds bent on world domination to bring this link to my attention here . I make no comment on whether this is good or bad. But Mrs Peel, we are clearly still very needed.

The Religious Twitterati

Carl Trueman
Apr 13, 2009
Emma Peel has taken time off from fighting evil masterminds bent on world domination to bring this link to my attention here . I make no comment on whether this is good or bad. But Mrs Peel, we are clearly still very needed.

In case you thought I was OTT.....

Carl Trueman
Apr 4, 2009
....check out the account of Jade Goody's funeral here . What is going on with this hypersentimental Diana-esque idolatry of mediocrity? Isn't North Korea a little more important as a news item?? And why am I sounding more reactionary than the Daily Mail these days???

In case you thought I was OTT.....

Carl Trueman
Apr 4, 2009
....check out the account of Jade Goody's funeral here . What is going on with this hypersentimental Diana-esque idolatry of mediocrity? Isn't North Korea a little more important as a news item?? And why am I sounding more reactionary than the Daily Mail these days???

Karl Barth in searchable form

Carl Trueman
Apr 2, 2009
Logos Bible Software has made the 14 volumes of the Torrance-Bromiley edition of Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics available in digitised form. You can find it via their website here . Anyone who wants to understand the pathway of theology from Scheleiermacher to the present has to come to grips with...

Karl Barth in searchable form

Carl Trueman
Apr 2, 2009
Logos Bible Software has made the 14 volumes of the Torrance-Bromiley edition of Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics available in digitised form. You can find it via their website here . Anyone who wants to understand the pathway of theology from Scheleiermacher to the present has to come to grips with...

At least Chuck's involved......

Carl Trueman
Mar 30, 2009
Former WTS Academic Affairs Avenger, Emma Peel, sent me this link on Friday, with the comment that it was `beyond parody.' Other than the fact that there is a link to Chuck Norris (and no link to Chuck can be all bad, can it??? I mean, he sparred with Bruce Lee, didn't he? And then he was Walker,...

At least Chuck's involved......

Carl Trueman
Mar 30, 2009
Former WTS Academic Affairs Avenger, Emma Peel, sent me this link on Friday, with the comment that it was `beyond parody.' Other than the fact that there is a link to Chuck Norris (and no link to Chuck can be all bad, can it??? I mean, he sparred with Bruce Lee, didn't he? And then he was Walker,...

Honouring Manny Ortiz

Carl Trueman
Mar 26, 2009
I had the great pleasure today of being present at the presentation of a Festschrift to my good friend and esteemed colleague, Manny Ortiz, a delight only matched by having lunch with him and his family, The book, Globalization and Its Effects on Urban Ministry is edited by his long-term colleague...

Honouring Manny Ortiz

Carl Trueman
Mar 26, 2009
I had the great pleasure today of being present at the presentation of a Festschrift to my good friend and esteemed colleague, Manny Ortiz, a delight only matched by having lunch with him and his family, The book, Globalization and Its Effects on Urban Ministry is edited by his long-term colleague...

The World Almost Righted

Carl Trueman
Mar 23, 2009
Well, Saturday saw some sanity return to the ranks of international rugby. The Calcutta Cup returns to its rightful owners; and the Irish slay the Red Dragon at the Millennium stadium. The theodicy question relative to the most glorious of sports seems somewhat less pressing today than it might...

The World Almost Righted

Carl Trueman
Mar 23, 2009
Well, Saturday saw some sanity return to the ranks of international rugby. The Calcutta Cup returns to its rightful owners; and the Irish slay the Red Dragon at the Millennium stadium. The theodicy question relative to the most glorious of sports seems somewhat less pressing today than it might...

Phillips, Dever, and the Calcutta Cup

Carl Trueman
Mar 20, 2009
A few thoughts: On Rick's ramblings on rugby: this is clearly a point where Proverbs 26:4 applies. So I waive my right to a surrejoinder. On Mr Dever, I hope Mark is purging his library of all the abominable theology produced by these people who practice what he can't abide. Should leave him with...

Phillips, Dever, and the Calcutta Cup

Carl Trueman
Mar 20, 2009
A few thoughts: On Rick's ramblings on rugby: this is clearly a point where Proverbs 26:4 applies. So I waive my right to a surrejoinder. On Mr Dever, I hope Mark is purging his library of all the abominable theology produced by these people who practice what he can't abide. Should leave him with...

Thanks

Carl Trueman
Mar 19, 2009
Thanks to Derek for reminding me of my birthday, a day spent with the present Mrs T, listening to David Bowie records from my youth. 'Changes' and 'Life on Mars' seem perennially relevant. To quote the Stones, `What a drag it is getting old.' Yet as I sat last night drinking a glass of Mad Elf and...

Thanks

Carl Trueman
Mar 19, 2009
Thanks to Derek for reminding me of my birthday, a day spent with the present Mrs T, listening to David Bowie records from my youth. 'Changes' and 'Life on Mars' seem perennially relevant. To quote the Stones, `What a drag it is getting old.' Yet as I sat last night drinking a glass of Mad Elf and...

Truly generous or genuinely tasteful?

Carl Trueman
Mar 9, 2009
David Dunbar, President of Biblical Seminary, has produced a helpful, concise and gracious statement on the nature of generous orthodoxy and its relationship to his own institution. You can find it here . The statement, and the concept with which it deals, raise a number of questions in my mind but...

Truly generous or genuinely tasteful?

Carl Trueman
Mar 9, 2009
David Dunbar, President of Biblical Seminary, has produced a helpful, concise and gracious statement on the nature of generous orthodoxy and its relationship to his own institution. You can find it here . The statement, and the concept with which it deals, raise a number of questions in my mind but...

Milking It For All It's Worth

Carl Trueman
Feb 23, 2009
Here's a link to another review of Milk which, unlike that which I cited on a blog yesterday from the Gospel and Culture Project, begs the truly interesting questions of how and why Sean Penn decided to portray Milk the way he did etc. -- the obvious questions, one would have thought, for a...

Milking It For All It's Worth

Carl Trueman
Feb 23, 2009
Here's a link to another review of Milk which, unlike that which I cited on a blog yesterday from the Gospel and Culture Project, begs the truly interesting questions of how and why Sean Penn decided to portray Milk the way he did etc. -- the obvious questions, one would have thought, for a...

Is Milk Really That Good For You?

Carl Trueman
Feb 22, 2009
Some weeks ago, I penned a piece on Ref21, arguing that the trendy Christian infatuation with cultural interaction was problematic at a number of levels. Well, a review of the film, Milk over at the Gospel and Culture project is good evidence of a number of my points. You can find it here . The...

Is Milk Really That Good For You?

Carl Trueman
Feb 22, 2009
Some weeks ago, I penned a piece on Ref21, arguing that the trendy Christian infatuation with cultural interaction was problematic at a number of levels. Well, a review of the film, Milk over at the Gospel and Culture project is good evidence of a number of my points. You can find it here . The...

The Facebook Rebellion Grows -- at least among MMAGs

Carl Trueman
Feb 11, 2009
The Miserable Middle Aged Git Rebellion against virtual friendings, updates of the `I'm sitting at home updating my Facebook' level of stimulation, and all-round timewasting grows. Check out the following Newsweek article just brought to my attention by Allen Mickle here . And a revolution needs...

The Facebook Rebellion Grows -- at least among MMAGs

Carl Trueman
Feb 11, 2009
The Miserable Middle Aged Git Rebellion against virtual friendings, updates of the `I'm sitting at home updating my Facebook' level of stimulation, and all-round timewasting grows. Check out the following Newsweek article just brought to my attention by Allen Mickle here . And a revolution needs...

Alan Bennett Again

Carl Trueman
Feb 2, 2009
Readers interested in seeing the Alan Bennett sermon actually preached, with full-throttle Anglican intonation, will find a link here . I trust it will be a blessing to many.

Alan Bennett Again

Carl Trueman
Feb 2, 2009
Readers interested in seeing the Alan Bennett sermon actually preached, with full-throttle Anglican intonation, will find a link here . I trust it will be a blessing to many.

Princeton Professor on Homosexuality

Carl Trueman
Jan 26, 2009
While it's a few months old (and, who knows? God might have changed his mind in the interim if we follow the path of the professor. We wouldn't want to impose the passing values of November 2008 imperialistically on the biblical text now, would we?) but here's a link to an account of a talk on...

Princeton Professor on Homosexuality

Carl Trueman
Jan 26, 2009
While it's a few months old (and, who knows? God might have changed his mind in the interim if we follow the path of the professor. We wouldn't want to impose the passing values of November 2008 imperialistically on the biblical text now, would we?) but here's a link to an account of a talk on...