Student of theology, apologetics, and Christian affections. Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Wakefield, Michigan.
An interesting observation this morning. Libertarian-ish lawyer Ken White asks about handshakes, and stats and polling guy Nate Silver offers an answer that handshakes mean… Read More »Handshakes: More Like Holy Kisses Than Ever
In a couple of weeks, I’m scheduled to head down to Illinois to attend a pastors’ conference. There are several speakers at the conference that… Read More »Among Yourselves
These are not unprecedented days. That’s important to say, because unprecedented has become one of the most overused descriptors of the past year. To call… Read More »Unprecedented
Michael and Alicia Riley Early this week, Jerry Tetreau, longtime president and chancellor of International Baptist College in Chandler, Arizona, entered his eternal rest. I… Read More »In Memoriam: Jerry Tetreau
Some readers of this column had parents or grandparents who could recall the Depression. Unsurprisingly, living through that even left a mark on that generation.… Read More »Social Distancing and Love
Jeff Straub It came as no surprise last Friday when late in the day word came that the seminary’s Friends and Family Banquet, scheduled for… Read More »COVID-19 and the Christian
Michael Riley In Kevin Bauder’s excellent series on Christian suffering, he made an exegetical case for the salvation of those incapable of believing, especially infants.… Read More »Justification and Life for All Men
In recent weeks, I’ve been corresponding with a young man who has been wrestling deeply with Christianity’s hard questions. As I read him, he has… Read More »On the value of arguments in defense of Christianity
In 1763 Britain emerged from the Seven Years’ War as the world’s leading power. Ten years later George Macartney wrote of British rule as a… Read More »Give to the Max Day 2019
Hebrews 7:9–10 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of… Read More »On a Proof Text for Natural Headship
Not all languages have the same natural facility at expressing all ideas. Some of these restrictions are in vocabulary: a language might have a word… Read More »Translation and the Degradation of Language
Last week, I began a series on the relationship of conservative Christianity to the issues of the preservation and translation of the Bible. My goal… Read More »Conservatism and the Preservation of Scripture
At last week’s Knowing, Loving, Ministering Conference, Scott Aniol opened the floor for a brief discussion about the relationship between conservative Christianity and the use… Read More »Conservative Christianity and the Authorized Version: Introduction
Ponder a paradox with me. In Genesis 1, we learn that God creates humanity in his own image and likeness. Exactly what that means has… Read More »How Shall We Be Like God?
In this brief essay, I’m making several assumptions. The first is that baptism is rightly administered only to professing believers. I don’t intend to engage… Read More »Two brief arguments for the baptism of children
Jon Pratt In this sin-cursed world suffering is inevitable. Jesus said so: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul said so: “For… Read More »Helping Those Who Suffer
Michael Riley Central Seminary hosted its annual MacDonald Lectures last February. Dr. Paul Hartog of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary of Ankeny, Iowa,… Read More »Paul Against the Contextualizers
Paul commands us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We can (and do!) debate the identity of hymns and spiritual songs, but we know… Read More »A Resurrection Psalm
Michael Riley I have read with interest the recent exchange in this newsletter on the validity of two-category Christianity. Dr. Hauser argues that Paul’s letter… Read More »Carnal Christians: A Pastoral Perspective
The final words of Jesus before his Ascension give the Christian church its marching orders: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… Read More »Being a Disciple of Jesus