Answering Critics Of Christian Race Realism: Charles Johnson
On July 8, 2024, Charles Johnson replied to my first two articles on race realism. It seemed good to offer a written response here. I thank Mr. Johnson for his engagement on this important issue, and recognize his effort to answer with clarity, order, and logic, and to make Scripture the final rule in all matters of faith and life. I believe all who write on this topic or any other should desire the same.
Natural Communities
Michael Hunter‘ essay, defining and defending the concept of natural communities.
Challenges Of Defining And Relating Natural Communities
This post is part three of Michael Hunter‘ series, defining and defending the concept of natural communities.
Types Of Natural Communities
This post is part two of Michael Hunter‘ series, defining and defending the concept of natural communities.
New Bible Translation: The Anti-woke Version
A “special” announcement from our friends at textandtranslation.org : Sick and tired of wokeness? Most Christians are and we are therefore thrilled to announce a truly unprecedented project.
Natural vs. Non-natural Communities
In this series of posts, Michael Hunter, defines and defends the concept of natural communities. Part one differentiates natural and non-natural communities.
The Judicial Laws of Moses and General Equity
To them also, as a body politic, he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any other now, further than the general equity thereof may require.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 19.4)
This has been a section of the Westminster Confession which has met with differing interpretations, especially in more recent decades. In particular, it has become central to the question of whether “theonomy” is within the boundaries of the Westminster standards. It also was a point of contention when in 2001 the 68th General Assembly of the OPC declared that “the use of women in military combat is both contrary to nature and inconsistent with the Word of God.”1 A protest to this action objected to this declaration in part because it argued “largely from Old Testament narrative and civil law,” citing 19.4 of the Westminster Confession as a reason why this biblical support was “highly dubious.”2 In my own experience, talking to people and reading books on the Westminster Confession, there is a bit of confusion as to the meaning of this paragraph about the judicial laws.
Wisdom And Authority: A Response to Brad Littlejohn
In a recent article, “What’s So Bad about ‘Worldview’?”, Dr. Brad Littlejohn, president of the Davenant Institute, speaks seriously about some serious issues in Christian thought. He discusses the weakness of the term “worldview” and offers as a replacement the term “wisdom,” which he defines as “the soul’s attunement to the order of reality.”
Mark Jones on Justification and Sanctification: An Archive (Updated October 2019)
This is an index and introduction to Mark Jones’ posts on justification, sanctification, good works, merit, and future judgment. These posts address aspects of these doctrines in light of current controversies, past wisdom, and our Reformed confessional standards.
Zealous For Good Works: What Are Good Works (part 1)?
Before we go further in the study of good works, it is important that we define exactly what we are talking about when we are talking about good works. First, let’s be clear what we don’t mean...
Zealous For Good Works
This post is the first in a series designed to encourage good works by providing excerpts from Reformed preaching and writing. But, before we get started, I think it is important to ask why this even matters... This post seeks to provide some biblical reasons we as Christians should we make a study of good works.
The Lamb's High Feast: Good Reasons For Weekly Communion
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from visitors is, “Why does your church celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday?” There are several reasons for our practice and I organize them under three categories: Biblical/Exegetical, Theological/Practical, and Historical.
Since I serve in a Reformed congregation, visitors sometimes assume that we celebrate the Lord’s Supper 3, 4, 6, or 12 times a year. Some are genuinely puzzled that we would embrace a practice that is at odds with the practice of other local Reformed churches. I remind them that John Calvin advocated the “at least once a week” position.
Sanctified by Grace
Sanctification is our 'working out' what God Himself has 'worked in,' which includes not just the doing or working for His good pleasure, but even our willingness or desire to do so in the first place!
The Unio Mystica is our Great Salvation
This is a reminder that everything needed for salvation is literally in Christ alone. To all those living and walking by faith, the Triune God has proven his faithfulness to you. So let us sing with our hearts, all glory be to Christ!
John Calvin on Obedience to the Law
"It is our wisdom by which we are formed and instructed to complete uprightness. It is our discipline which does not permit us to abandon ourselves in more wicked license." - John Calvin
Reformed Tradition(s) on the Eucharist
It is true that the Reformed disposition to covenant theology makes the depiction of the sacrament less neat and tidy. However, it would be a mistake to presume a Zwinglian position that has historically become more and more popular.
Mary And The Church
Since the Reformation, Protestants have looked with concern at the Mariology of the Roman Catholic Church. When a church makes doctrines concerning Mary essential to salvation there should be quizzical looks. And yet, in the rush to deny the Marian dogmas many Protestants can feel an uncomfortable tingle down their spine when they hear "Greetings Mary, God's favored one." Why is that?
Perhaps I can ask the question more practically. Why do people shudder at the sharing—common during Advent—of the depiction of Eve and Mary embraced while Mary's foot crushes a serpent? Or if I can ask even more directly, have Protestant overreacted to Roman doctrine and dismissed the true Biblical witness concerning the Virgin? Unveiled, why is it that some take issue with Mary crushing the head of the serpent?
The Baptisms of Jesus & John
In conclusion, the gospels themselves present a uniformed baptism of Jesus and John. There is no articulated distinction between the two.
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We need not reinvent Christianity or carve out ever-smaller enclaves to prove our faithfulness. We do not need to imitate the liberal order’s obsession with identity and control. We can return to nature, heritage, tradition, fathers, and our faith. Sectarian comfort is a false security for a people who have forgotten how to receive life from God’s hand. It will take Christian courage in an age of liberals and sects to grow deeper roots and provide a more secure and fruitful future.
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