How would you answer the question, "What does it mean to be Reformed?" Perhaps you would say it is to believe in predestination, where we are chosen by God alone, apart from anything we have done. Maybe you would say it is holding the emphasis on God's sovereignty. You might even say it is to... Continue Reading →
God does not change, and His promises do not change. When God said to Abraham, “I will be a God to you and to your children,” He was not making a temporary arrangement, but establishing a covenant promise that extends to all who belong to Abraham by faith. Because we are united to Christ—the true... Continue Reading →
Today we will be wresting with the concept of Gods knowledge, namely the question of how does God know? Does God learn, or does His knowledge come from within Himself? The two major concepts that deal with this issue are; Molinism and Reformed Theology. This is not meant to be an exhaustive composition but rather... Continue Reading →
God's love is often seen in His clarity. Yet, as we are wont to do, we sometimes attempt to add to that clarity in our effort to “feel God more.” Recently, many Christians observed Ash Wednesday—a day of prayer and fasting marked by ashes placed upon the forehead. For some, it serves as a reminder... Continue Reading →
The Law of God, unfortunately, is not as clear in many Christian circles as it ought to be. Some wield it as a cudgel, measuring the sanctification of others against their own standards and striking where they perceive deficiency. Others, appealing to the grace of the cross, assume that because Christ has earned our merit,... Continue Reading →
When inviting friends to our humble OPC church, some have expressed concern about the lack of a children’s church. They wonder whether their children will be able to sit through the sermon, or worry that they might be a distraction—to themselves or to the rest of the congregation. While children’s church is often offered as... Continue Reading →
Sometime last year, my father-in-law was visiting us from out of state. On the drive home from the airport, our conversation turned to the upcoming Lord’s Day service. Knowing that our previous church practiced a members-only approach to Communion, he expressed some concern about whether he would be able to partake at our current church.... Continue Reading →
As Protestants, we get accused of many things, but one of the most common accusations is that we all just interpret the Bible to be whatever we want. Statements like "Protestants are their own pope and just get to choose and pick whatever they want to believe; that's why there are over 600 Protestant denominations."... Continue Reading →
Every time I go to a new restaurant, they seem to have some kind of rewards club to join. “Just give us your phone number for perks!” the screen—or an eager staffer—insists, while I mentally calculate whether I really want to hand my number to yet another corporation. "What’s in it for me?" is the... Continue Reading →
I was recently invited by a friend to a baptism service at his Baptist church, where his child was to be baptized. As a friend—and, admittedly, the token Presbyterian in the room—I was glad to attend. After the service, conversation naturally turned toward the subject of baptism itself. I was struck by how often Baptists... Continue Reading →
