As Christians turn to social media to decry the new abuse of the day, a sad development is happening. Both of the current responses in crying for social justice or redeeming the state, are having the same sad effect on the church. We are being swallowed up in these pursuitsContinue Reading
Augustine taught the two kingdoms approach. This view made it possible for profound Christian involvement and influence in secular society, while at the same time never giving in to the naïve assumption that any human culture or nation is – or can become – truly righteous or good. For onlyContinue Reading
Eugene Osterhaven called this “the most difficult and disputed” article in the confession. The desire to revise this article has existed in the Reformed churches in both the Netherlands and in the USA since the late 19th century, and revision has come in fits and starts. Further, there is noContinue Reading
As socio-religious phenomena, Theonomy and Christian Reconstruction are closely related. The individuals involved in the one are ordinarily involved in the other. However, theologically and religiously, they can be distinguished. Christian Reconstructionists exist in a variety of forms, and are ordinarily united in their belief that the Western world, andContinue Reading
According to Augustine, the distinction between the two cities — the city of God and the city of man — is grounded in the two loves: love of God and love of self. The former leads to genuine fellowship and a communion of mutual giving and receiving, while the latterContinue Reading
The question is not whether American Christians should seek legal and political redress using the avenues available to us. The Apostle Paul did that very thing in Acts 22:25–29. The question is how we seek political and legal redress. Paul appealed to Caesar, as was his civil right as a Roman citizenContinue Reading
Many biblical passages provoke controversial questions about Christian non-violence and co-operation with the sword-bearing state. Perhaps none presses the issue as sharply as Matt 5:38–42. When Jesus prescribes turning the other cheek, giving up the garment, and going the second mile as an alternative to the lex talionis—the eye-for-eye principleContinue Reading
AM liturgy :: Call to worship/ Call on God’s name for help by reading: Matthew 11:28-30 :: Song of Praise: Psalm 45:1,4-5 (p45B) (text here and tune here) :: Corporate confession of Faith: Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ,Continue Reading
Michael Horton writes: “When Jesus Christ arrived, He did not revive the Sinai theocracy as His contemporaries had hoped. Instead of driving out the Romans, He commanded love for our enemies. Gathering the new Israel — Jew and Gentile — around Himself, by His Spirit, through Word and sacrament, JesusContinue Reading
By Michael Horton According to a 2013 survey by LifeWay Research, one-third of Americans agree that “prayer and Bible study alone can overcome serious mental illness.” Nearly half (48 percent) of evangelicals agree. (1) Why on earth would Modern Reformation imagine that it had something important to say, from aContinue Reading