When was the first appearance of the strict regulative principle? And what does this tell us about certain deep affinities between certain streams of the Reformed faith and the streams of other communions? I have before charged that some of the pietists in the Reformed world are completely at odds with their own heritage. And …
Moses the Unreasonable
Our presence here at this table makes a claim on us. Because we are here, we must not become idolaters, as some of the Jews did in the wilderness. We must not eat and drink at another god’s table, and then rise up to play. The golden calf, however, was not called another god. Aaron …
God of Sabbaths
God of the Sabbath, God of our fathers, we pray to You in Jesus’ name. We have completed another week of labor, built on the foundation of Your everlasting gospel, embodied in our last Lord’s Day. We now look forward to another week, and we desire to build it upon the same foundation — the …
Auburn Avenue Hubbub (AAH) Cool Quote #5
“Now in particular I ask you to pray with me that as I baptize this child with water and receive him into the number of Christians, that God himself inwardly baptize him with his Spirit and hold him in the number of his elect.” John Oecolampadius Basel Service Book of 1526
Going to Memphis
A certain man was traveling to Memphis, and as he drove along the highway, he saw one of those big green road signs that said, “Memphis, 250 miles.” This was not unusual, but what was unusual was the cluster of cars, tents, and Winnebagos around the base of the sign. Curious, he decided to stop. …
God Gives the Increase
Growing Dominion, Part 5 The man who labors to build his house apart from the blessing of God labors in vain. The one who is under the blessing of God may succeed even though everyone else says it is a really bad idea. Although certain principles remain constant, the particular methods can flourish when God …
Justification By Saying the Right Thing About Justification
If I taste too many more delicious ironies, I think I will become a theological diabetic. The latest one is the way in which John Robbins has taken to denying justification by faith alone. Justification by faith alone is not accomplished by asserting justification by faith alone. Justification by faith alone occurs when a sinner …
The Hatred of God/Psalm 5
In this psalm, we find the psalmist crying out to God for deliverance, but also for more than deliverance. The desire is for God to vindicate His name and character as He destroys those who oppose His righteousness. “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, …
War Psalms
You have heard many times that our culture is disintegrating around us. You have seen for yourself that this is so. You have heard that all evangelical attempts at political lobbying are like putting a band-aid on cancer. What shall we then do? You know generally that the answer lies in reforming the worship of …
Covenantal Presence
The apostle tells us that all the Jews in the wilderness drank the same spiritual drink. They all drank from the same spiritual Rock that followed them, the Rock that was Christ. But with many, he says, God was not pleased. They were overthrown in the wilderness. In the same way, certain members of the …