Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
What we have seen over the past several weeks is a dynamic interplay between four realities: worldview, theology, culture, and cultus. Worldview and theology affect… Read More »Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
theology
Religion = Worldview + Theology
Everyone has an implicit worldview—a fundamental orientation of the heart expressed in assumptions about reality, and most people have an explicit theology—conscious beliefs expressed in… Read More »Religion = Worldview + Theology
What is the Nature of Religion? Theology
Broadly speaking, theology is how we intentionally answer the questions James Sire provided (see last week’s post) that form the assumptions at the core of… Read More »What is the Nature of Religion? Theology
Merry Christmas, Heretics, One and All
Security companies enjoy a kind of odd gratitude for criminals. After all, without the threat of crime, security companies would have little in the way… Read More »Merry Christmas, Heretics, One and All
May a Baptist (or any other Protestant) sing Catholic hymns?
A critic recently approached me about our hymnal and rebuked us for (among other things) including hymns written by Catholics in our hymnal. It is… Read More »May a Baptist (or any other Protestant) sing Catholic hymns?
Love for Christ & Scripture-Regulated Worship 6: Love for Christ and New Testament Authority
This is the sixth post in this series (Part 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5). The whole of the first five parts could be summarized… Read More »Love for Christ & Scripture-Regulated Worship 6: Love for Christ and New Testament Authority
Food Pharisees?
Kevin T. Bauder There’s a lot of talk about gluttony out there. I mean a lot. Billy Graham wrote a Q&A about it. Joe McKeever… Read More »Food Pharisees?
Does Baptism Wash Away Sins?
Kevin T. Bauder The Texas morning was already warm and getting warmer. A friend had stopped by just to say hello, and I asked him… Read More »Does Baptism Wash Away Sins?
Freedom of the Will?
Kevin T. Bauder Imagine a man who has, somewhere deep within his cranium, a pair of dice. Every time he has to make a decision,… Read More »Freedom of the Will?
Mandate?
Kevin T. Bauder Genesis 1:28 is sometimes called the cultural mandate: “And God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and… Read More »Mandate?
Liberalism Is Alive and Well
Jeff Straub As I sat and listened to the talk, I could well have been in the early years of the twentieth century listening to… Read More »Liberalism Is Alive and Well
Baptismal Regeneration in Acts 2:38
Kevin T. Bauder Some professing Christians believe that baptism is a sufficient condition of the forgiveness of sins. Others believe that baptism, while not a… Read More »Baptismal Regeneration in Acts 2:38
The Christ We Need
Kevin T. Bauder Our understanding of Christ connects directly to the gospel. Gospel means good news. The goodness of the good news stands out only… Read More »The Christ We Need
Why a Baptist Can Be Thankful for the Protestant Reformation
Jeff Straub This year marks the 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 theses. Last week I reflected on a recent trip I made to Germany and… Read More »Why a Baptist Can Be Thankful for the Protestant Reformation
Fate or Providence?
Jon Pratt One of our local sportswriters described Sergio Garcia’s recent victory at the Masters golf tournament as a triumph of fate. Similar attributions to… Read More »Fate or Providence?
On the relationship of faith and works
I still confess the doctrine of justification by faith alone. The Scriptures teach repeatedly that no man is or can be saved by his works. This matter… Read More »On the relationship of faith and works
De Trinitate
Over the past year or so I have been asked repeatedly to express an opinion about the current Trinitarian debates. I have hesitated to speak… Read More »De Trinitate
Horatius Bonar on Trendiness in Religion
Every pastor and Christian leader feels a certain pressure to be relevant. We do not want Christianity to slip away into an oblivion. We do… Read More »Horatius Bonar on Trendiness in Religion
Justification and the Gospel
First Things, founded in 1990 by the late Richard John Neuhaus, has become the flagship neo-conservative journal of opinion. Its mission has been to argue… Read More »Justification and the Gospel
Limited Atonement: Evaluating the Argument
I want to discuss Limited Atonement (Definite Atonement, Particular Redemption—I choose to use the traditional terminology). At the moment, I am not concerned with the… Read More »Limited Atonement: Evaluating the Argument