Predestination (Uh Oh!)

Without a doubt, predestination is one of the most argued about doctrine. This is partially due to the fact that predestination seems to challenge a key concept that most people deem necessary for moral responsibility, namely the principle of alternate possibilities (PAP). The PAP, which states that one must have alternate possibilities in order forContinue reading “Predestination (Uh Oh!)”

Universal Atonement & The Sin of Unbelief

In a recent blog I posted I summarized Oliver Crisp’s recent argument that there is significant room within some key reformed confessions for one to hold on to a doctrine of atonement that excludes limited atonement and is open to universal atonement. I.e. that Christ died no just for the sins of the elect, butContinue reading “Universal Atonement & The Sin of Unbelief”

Creating Wiggle Room for Calvinists (Deviant Calvinism Book Review)

The anti-Calvinist blogs will never stop spinning the same message – Calvinism as a system is cruel, it creates a monster God, its fatalistic, and it is pessimistic (just to name a few “characteristics” of Calvinism). Roger Olson, a proponent of anti-Calvinism (who sort of reminds me of hard-nosed pro-Calvinist fundamentalists) has said that IfContinue reading “Creating Wiggle Room for Calvinists (Deviant Calvinism Book Review)”

Limited Atonement vs. “Unlimited” Atonement

Most people tend to think that if one is reformed one is required to hold to the doctrine of limited atonement, the doctrine which says that the cope of Christ’s atoning work is accomplished on behalf of and applied only to the elect. In a recent article on “hypothetical universalism” (hear unlimited or universal atonement,Continue reading “Limited Atonement vs. “Unlimited” Atonement”

New Books from Baker

I remember the days of “book fairs” at elementary schools. A few weeks before the fair we would get a catalog of all the books we could order. There were Goosebumps, Clifford, Bernstein Bears, and Animorphs books galore. Now that I have grown up I am still getting those catalogs, except now adays its publishersContinue reading “New Books from Baker”

Contemplate God’s Fatherly Love

John Calvin on why we ought to study and then contemplate on God’s nature as our Father: We ought in the very order of things [in creation] diligently to contemplate God’s fatherly love… [for as] a foreseeing and diligent father of the family he shows us his wonderful goodness toward us… To conclude once forContinue reading “Contemplate God’s Fatherly Love”

Recommended books on Christ and Culture

If you are looking for some books on the interaction between Christianity and Culture here are some I definitely recommend. D.A. Carson – Known more for his exegetical prowess than his cultural engagement, but in recent years he has entered the arena of “Christ and Culture”. Carson, D. A. Christ and Culture Revisited. Eerdmans, 2008.Continue reading “Recommended books on Christ and Culture”

Doesn’t Predestination Make God Unloving?

The following is a part of an email exchange with a real student. He asks the question everybody is thinking of when we think about predestination…. —————————————————- Here is the Question: Hey Chris, Here’s a question for you. I have heard it said that predestination is like a man falling in love with his bride-to-beContinue reading “Doesn’t Predestination Make God Unloving?”

Book Review: The Theology of the Heidelberg Catechism by Lyle D. Bierma

The churches I have been a part of my whole life were not confessional by any stretch of the word; neither did they ever use a catechism. Most people in those churches probably didn’t even know what “catechism” meant. My first exposure to the word was in college. I picked up a Roman Catholic CatechismContinue reading “Book Review: The Theology of the Heidelberg Catechism by Lyle D. Bierma”

Mushy Brains, Dry Brains

It sounds like the title of story book for hungry little zombie children. Don’t worry though its not, I haven’t broken the ground on the genre just yet. Mushy Brains, Dry Brains, is actually how I feel after reading certain books. The other day I was talking to a friend who teaches at Eternity BibleContinue reading “Mushy Brains, Dry Brains”