As Reformed Christians, we confess that infants of believing parents (or of at least one believing parent) should be baptised. Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 74 asks, “Should infants, too, be baptised?” Answer: Yes. Infants as well as adults belong to God’s covenant and congregation.[1] Through Christ’s blood, the redemption fromContinue Reading
There is one huge difference between the altar call and the Reformed understanding of the sacraments. In the altar call, the qualification was “if you truly meant it”, which made the subjective state of the sinner the critical factor in whether or not one actually benefited from going forward. DidContinue Reading
There are many who are ignorant of the danger that they’ve placed themselves in by trying to make their heavenly pilgrimage apart from the local church. We face a far greater threat than a rattlesnake; we stand against the smooth-talking serpent of Genesis 3, one who “prowls around like aContinue Reading
By Simon Jooste The piety of God’s Old Testament people revolved around public worship, and in the context of covenant. Whether in the tabernacle, temple or in exile, the Jews drew their strength from the official and public ministry of the Word: the preaching, the sacraments and the sacrifices (see:Continue Reading
If we believe that “grace does not destroy nature but perfects it”, we must believe that God’s ordained means of worship are not designed to engage Christians in piecemeal fashion but holistically. Further, if our observance of the ordained means of worship leads us to spiritually separate man, body fromContinue Reading
By Rev. Dr Simon Jooste Just as God uses the churchly means of Word and sacraments to justify and sanctify sinners, he also uses all kinds of broader social means to uphold and sustain a common humanity. Like civil government, the institution of medicine is providentially used by God toContinue Reading
By Rev. Dr Simon Jooste The proclamation of the crucified Christ and the cost of Christian discipleship is folly to the world. This is because the world, particularly Western culture, naturally gravitates towards a theology of glory. Whether atheist or not, most forms of modern Western spirituality exalt human autonomyContinue Reading
By Rev. Dr Simon Jooste The Christian is not to be conformed to the world’s pattern of thinking (Romans 12:2). But it is particularly tempting to bow the knee to the pharmacological fruits for therapeutic narcissism and its pragmatic ethics, particularly when the billows of suffering roll in. Prozac canContinue Reading
If you are around a Reformed church long enough, you will probably hear the term means of grace. This refers to the divinely established ways we encounter and commune with God as we learn and experience His grace through Christ’s redemption. These include the ability to hear the Word asContinue Reading
By Rev. Dr Simon Jooste Christians suffer in this life. This is because they live in a fallen world, but also because of their cross-bearing identity with Jesus Christ. Depression is one way that believers hurt. The difficulty for Christians – who see humans as both body and soul –Continue Reading