Tag: theology

  • The Chosen: A Reformed Defense of the Show

    The very popular TV series, The Chosen, tells the story of Jesus over the course of 7 seasons (currently on season 3). It has sharply divided Christians as to whether it is proper or not. Some point to the fact that the production company, Angel Studios, was founded in part by 2 Mormons as enough […]

  • Sovereign Grace

    As a Reformed Christian I believe we, as sinners, are saved by God’s sovereign grace. But what exactly does this term mean? God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He is the uncaused causer. God has always existed. He has no beginning and no end. Everything that happens in our vast universe is either caused by Him […]

  • How should we worship God? RPW vs NPW

    Background The RPW (regulative principle of worship) is deeply flawed and problematic. It holds that everything which is not explicitly commanded or practiced in Scripture is forbidden. I believe it is overly restrictive, and the way many employ it is legalistic. I favor the NPW (normative principle of worship) over the RPW. Anything which is […]

  • The Baptism Debate

    Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, other Reformed, and some Anglican all believe in either infant baptism or both infant baptism and baptismal regeneration. I submit, respectfully, that these believers are all wrong in their understanding of baptism. In this post, I will discuss the fundamental differences between the credobaptist and paedobaptism positions, and I’ll […]

  • The Christian fish symbol

    The fish was used in the Early Church to identify oneself as a Christian. Until the late 4th century Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire and punishable by death. So Christians had to be cautious and take protective measures to avoid detection by the authorities. The acrostic ICHTHUS (ΙΧΘϒΣ) identifies Jesus Christ as God’s […]

  • What Does It Mean to Be Reformed?

    In my years of being involved in Christian discussion and debate online (nearly 30 years), I’ve noticed that many Reformed Presbyterians seem to look down on us Reformed Baptists (aka Particular Baptists) and say we aren’t “Really Reformed” or we’re not “Truly Reformed”. I maintain that infant baptism is not the sine qua non of […]

  • Charles Finney: Agent of Satan

    Charles Finney popularized the altar call and decisional salvation (decision theology), which is making a decision for Christ by praying and asking Jesus into your heart. It’s synergistic Arminian soteriology. He also advocated for revivals. The true Gospel is one in which God regenerates a believer, through effectual calling, grants them repentance and faith in […]

  • Sexual Immorality & The Church

    According to an article in Relevant magazine, a Christian magazine, that has an analysis of a study done by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in December 2009 on sexual activity among those who identify as evangelical Christians, aged 18 to 29, in America, a staggering 80% admit to having sex before […]

  • Advice to a friend concerning mental health

    We are all sinners and subject to natural death, our bodies slowly break down as we age. Many are quite familiar with common physical ailments, yet our minds can also become broken. These are all effects of the Fall. Sadly there is a negative stigma against those suffering from mental illness. And many sufferers never […]

  • Imago Dei: Lost or Retained?

    Was the Imago Dei (Image of God) lost in the Fall of man, or was it retained, yet in a distorted or compromised sense? The phrase has its origins in Genesis 1:27, wherein “God created man in his own image…” I posit that the Image of God was lost in the Fall of man and […]