One of the exercises I have employed over the years in the study of history is the practice of trying to “take sides.” But this requires explanation because there is a sense in which such a practice is incoherent. All of us are shaped by our culture and upbringing in such a way and to …
Yeah, Uh Huh Faith
John Robbins says the following, in an ostensible defense of Protestant orthodoxy. Gordon Clark apparently closed the back door “through which much of this Neolegalism has entered the churches: the notions that saving faith is different from belief, and more than belief, and that it is ‘commitment’ as well” (The Current Justification Controversy, p. 74). …
Paleo Spear-Dane
In a recent letter to the editor of a far away newspaper, Nick Gier wrote, “Wilson claims that he is not a neo-Confederate, but . . .” Since we are dealing with refried charges, let me serve up a helping of refried answers to charges. Here is what I said about the charge of neo-Confederacy …
Judge Me, O God/Psalm 26
Without the confession of sin found in the previous psalm, this psalm taken by itself could be seen as arrogant or self-righteous. We always need the whole counsel of God. But in our day, we are far more likely to ignore the sentiments found here than we are to neglect the sentiments that urge us …
Smoke in a Gale
“The psalmist asked the God of Israel to rise up and scatter His enemies; whenever the Power of His right hand is pleased to do so, those enemies are driven before Him like smoke in a gale. The Church today is a stranger to victories because we refuse to sing anthems to the king of …
Federal Audio Stuff Available
A week or so ago I mentioned that the folks at St. Anne’s Public House had interviewed me together with Michael Horton on issues related to the Federal Vision. Well, the glad day when that interview can be made available has arrived, and so here it is. Of course, I was there when we recorded …
Surplus Praise
Great God of heaven, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise, and we ask You to receive our joy because we offer it up to You in the joy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are in the Advent season, and we ask You to prepare our hearts with the kind …
History as Wedding Preparation
We have come to the third Lord’s Day of Advent, and so we continue to prepare our hearts. This is not just a religious festival that we Christians observe. In all that we do in the presence of non-believers, we are making cosmic claims, and we believe them to be true. Put another way, the …
Feeding or Devouring
When we come to this Table in the demeanor of faith, we are not just nourishing ourselves. Rather, the entire Body is being nourished and built up to the extent that various parts of the Body are receiving this gift in true evangelical faith. Coming to the Lord’s Table rightly is not a way for …
A Cinder Block in the Goldfish Bowl
Some time this coming week I may be in the position of defending the relevance of scriptural authority in our contemporary culture wars. If this happens, it will be on a nationally syndicated radio show with a liberal host. I will let you all know time and place if and when the whole thing is …