A while back I posted a question from Calvin, a Reformed dispensationalist fundamentalist, and Aimee, a Pentecostal, who have fallen in love and want to get married. Their question is too long to repost, but here are my thoughts on the question. Dear Calvin and Aimee, I’m tempted to start by saying your question has... Continue Reading

There has been a host of commentary and criticism of the proposed PCA Strategic Plan. Blogger Johannes Weslianus has a helpful recent summary and categorization of a number of comments, and the Aquila Report has been publishing various comments (including mine) as well. I’ve been wondering if/when the PCA’s Administrative Committee (AC) or Cooperative Ministry... Continue Reading

Someone recently said in my hearing that courage is confidence in the providence of God to engage in a dangerous mission. People with courage we call heroes. This past week I had the privilege of attending the funeral of a hero. He was a member of our church. He was twenty-two years old. He was... Continue Reading

“After 25 years in the battle, I am also appalled at the complacency in the evangelical church and the “colonizationist” mindset that is dominant in dealing with this all-important issue.” One of the most significant internal struggles of a movement occurred over a century and a half ago as the anti-slavery movement evolved from a... Continue Reading

I’d like to respond to the main argument presented in the post supporting the plan to require churches, ministers, and presbyteries to pay a fee in order to retain voting privileges at General Assembly. Last week, byFaith Online posted a Q&A with John Robertson (Business Administrator for the PCA’s Administrative Committee entitled, “Strategic Plan: AC... Continue Reading

It’s time Christianity in Scotland got out of its ‘encultured’ yogurt/jelly like status and instead had more of a specifically Christian taste. I have just spent a whole afternoon reading Assembly reports from the Free Church and the Church of Scotland. It many ways it was not edifying reading. The state of the Church in... Continue Reading

The church secretly harbors hopes that if it chucks enough stuff overboard that the radicals will fall in love with Christianity. Now, if you are a good enough salesman you can draw a crowd with that approach. But you can’t really build a congregation of those who worship God in Spirit and in truth. It... Continue Reading

We as presbyters need to be reminded that the solemn task given to the Presbytery is much more significant than that given to the senators in the confirmation hearings. In the May 11, 2010 issue of the Wall Street Journal, Neomi Rao, a law professor at George Mason School of Law, quotes a 1995 book... Continue Reading

Those who read the fine print learn that two ladles may have dipped into that pot. One is publicly touted as “aid and development,” while the less advertised dipper is called “advocacy,” a.k.a. politics. In the name of collaboration, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has joined one of the world’s largest “humanitarian, church-based bodies.” According to... Continue Reading

“I’d rather the church not pass anything at all than these emasculated options sent thus far. They simply don’t do much to help.” Suzanna: “Hey, girlfriend. S’up? I bet you’re looking forward to this year’s Family Reunion Gathering. I can’t wait to decorate some more flip-flops in one of those seminars. And, my, the overtures... Continue Reading