I said that I was going to try to get caught up with Greenbaggins’ review of RINE, and here is the next payment on that particular debt. In his review of my tenth chapter, Lane says that my criticism of Warfield is based on a confusion of sacerdotalism and sacramentalism. “Sacerdotalism,” he says, “has to …
The Root of Contentment (1 Tim. 6:1-10)
INTRODUCTION: We have contrasted the difference between reformation and revolution. When we are confronted with great social evils, the revolutionary response is to attack the evils in such a way as to multiple the evils, and sorrows along with them. Reformation approaches the whole thing with a different heart and a different spirit. THE TEXT: …
Walk Like a Ninja
Greenbaggins continues to review my book “Reformed” Is Not Enough, and he does so here. He begins this post by asking where I have been hiding. I sent an email to Douglas Wilson asking if he is desirous of continuing the debate. I believe that since June 28th, which was the first post on the …
Liturgicide
For those who want to do it, one of the best devices for hiding from God is something called liturgy. I say this as one advocating liturgical reform in the Church, and as one who has taught repeatedly that liturgy is inescapable. But developed liturgy, researched liturgy, biblical liturgy, remains a snare. A certain kind …
Apropos of Nothing
In the tension-filled room full of systematic theologians and biblical theologians, it is perilously easy to juxtapose “timeless truths” to “story.” But this is not necessary, and this is another plea to all get along. It should go without saying that I affirm what the Reformed systematicians have distilled out behind their magisterial barn. And …
Men From James
The ancient church, like the modern church, was not without its tensions and differences. Those tensions existed even among the apostles, and how they were addressed gives us direction and guidance. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they …
False Brothers
In the Christian faith, particular events, schedules, persons and conversations matter. They matter because we are talking about God’s intervention in history. The gospel is not a detached and abstracted affair—a set of timeless truths in the heavenlies. Particularity matters a great deal. Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, …
Avoiding the Precipice
The law of the Lord is perfect, the psalmist says, converting the soul. For the one who receives the word of God in faith, the law teaches us to stay away from the precipice of sin, apostasy, and damnation. The law of God makes the simple wise. Hear then, this warning from the law. The …
How Many Trips to Jerusalem?
The apostle Paul now gives a detailed account of his trips to Jerusalem. This was not important in itself, but it had become important because of the false accusations that had been leveled at him. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal …
The Secret Pavilion/Psalm 31
The Thirty-first Psalm is notable in that Jesus quoted from it in His last words on the cross. He has been followed in this by many of His disciples, including Polycarp, Bernard, Huss, Luther, and Melancthon. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness …