More Dispensationalist Confusion

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with yet another pastor by phone – once again of an Evangelical church about forty-five minutes away.

Charging Admission for Worship

It's one thing for Christian musicians to compose works that are informed or influenced by the faith and the ideas associated with it. But when such music is labeled 'Christian' then several important lines are blurred. It becomes a form of 'sacred' music in the minds of many and as such its performance can be associated with worship.

Christmas and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

There have been on again off again discussion for the past month or so over Christmas in Ukraine. And once again this has come up in the news cycle as a result of Putin's suggestion of temporary ceasefire for the Orthodox holiday.

Jubilee and Growing Nationalism in British Evangelical Circles

This only about eight weeks late but it doesn't really matter. As much as I might enjoy doing so I'm not running a news site or current events blog. If it were up to me I would publish a couple of articles a day along with other essays and what I'd really like to do – more doctrinal and Scriptural studies. But work and other obligations means that's not possible. And as this year is proving to be one of the most difficult I've had in almost a decade, there's less time than usual as I'm putting in extra hours in an attempt to make ends meet. And in terms of writing, I'm playing catch up.

More New Calvinist Nonsense from G3

https://g3min.org/on-baby-grands-and-expensive-hymnals/

This would have to be reckoned as a sequel to a previous post responding to G3 on the issue of pianos. Apparently this ministry website excels at missing the point.

Some of the Lameness of New Calvinism on Display

https://g3min.org/why-is-the-organ-relevant-for-major-league-baseball-and-irrelevant-for-local-churches/

One has to chuckle when one considers that the author of this G3 article considers himself to be a 'hardcore' or die-hard Calvinist – a real old school type.

And yet as the article makes clear his thinking is in fact terribly divorced from Church history and the historical theology surrounding the larger Calvinist movement and in particular its views on the issues of worship.

New Geneva or Anti-Geneva?

https://www.newgenevaacademy.com/master-of-divinity-in-worship-and-liturgy.html

 Stumbling across this reminded me of my days long ago in which I earnestly contended for what I thought of as True Calvinism or the True Reformed faith.

The Latin Mass and Catholic Traditionalists

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2021/07/16/pope-bans-latin-masses-from-parish-churches_f9ff66d0-9af2-4e31-ae59-4378f75f9379.html

The move by Francis was surprising but it also makes sense. The anti- Vatican II Traditionalist movement is growing within Catholicism – particularly in the West and it has allied itself with Right-wing political forces that seek to counter Francis on almost every front.

The Ethos of New Calvinism and Christmas

https://www.challies.com/visual-theology/a-visual-theology-advent-reading-calendar-for-your-family/

The celebration of Advent used to raise eyebrows in Evangelical circles.

The Judaizing and Anti-Covenantal Nature of so-called Sacred Architecture

http://www.breakpoint.org/2017/07/made-for-beauty-2/

This represents another sad instance of the Colson crowd's faulty understanding of the gospel. Their grasp of Scripture is defective and in this case... painfully on display.

People are being converted by architecture? Apparently the Word is not required! Apparently being inspired by stonework and having a rapturous experience is enough to lead someone to conversion?

Redeemer PCA: Men in Tights

This video is generating a lot of reaction within Reformed circles.... a lot of people are saying, wait a minute, what are we doing here? This is particularly problematic within the Confessional sphere. The bulk of their churches have abandoned their historic doctrines when it comes to liturgy and its Scriptural regulation. They're left scrambling in trying to come up with solid arguments against some of the abusive forms of modern innovative worship.

Asian Perspectives: South Korea's Generational Shift and the Life Ethic of China's Underground

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/05/south-korea-christians-election/525606/?utm_source=feed

This article was interesting if spiritually speaking a little disappointing. Christianity in South Korea is complex as its somewhat brief history. On the one hand it's good to see some questioning the 'conservative' political bent and the corruption inherent within the Mega-Church model and yet like so many reactions in American culture... the response can sometimes be just as bad.

Protestant Rosaries are Next

http://www.fln.org/news/features/detail/inside-out-celebrate-all-of-christmas/

How do you beat the post-Christmas blues? Recover the ancient tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Of course the author neglected to mention that they culminate in Epiphany. That might be a little too much for some Evangelicals.

But I don't know why? At this point they've embraced Advent and many have also embraced Lent. Why not embrace it all then?

Walls, Pulpits and Impoverished Hermeneutics

Nehemiah built walls to keep his enemies out. So don't be too quick in condemning Donald Trump for wanting to build one.

I heard this in a sermon on a recent Sunday. This is the state of the Evangelical pulpit. Actually the congregation I was attending would probably qualify as more of the Fundamentalist variety. Evangelicals would probably be more likely to talk about the vocation of Border Guard and how special they are in God's eyes for doing that holy task.

The Ordination of Women Priests and Diocesan Bishops in the Church of England

http://issuesetc.org/2015/07/23/3-the-impact-of-female-bishops-in-the-church-of-england-bishop-keith-ackerman-72315/

This audio segment is instructive because it demonstrates the mindset and epistemological posturing of Churches that have rejected Sola Scriptura and yet are trying to maintain historic traditions.

The Liturgical Calendar Entering the Low-Church

I may mock the so-called Holy Week and the empty traditions that go with it.

But seriously though, it's remarkable to note the change during the past twenty years. Colson's project has reaped a harvest indeed.