Presbyterianism's Rejection of the Sufficiency of Scripture

https://reformedforum.org/podcasts/ctc848/

I literally laughed out loud when I reached the 47:00 minute mark of this podcast - an exercise in the torture that is Presbyterian polity. We have committees to exercise oversight of committees.

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.

Scott Brown Still Peddling Vision Forum's Dominionist Filth

https://mailchi.mp/churchandfamilylife/freedom-is-not-free-but-these-books-are-on-sale-1339937?e=176146d50d

When it comes to ethics, the ministry of Scott Brown rests on a foundation of sand – a denial of Scriptural Sufficiency. When Brown and company talk about finances, patriotism, history, ethics, and certainly their concepts of manhood and the like, the Scriptures play little part in their thinking.

The Family Life Network and the Further Degeneration of Evangelical Radio

Recently I've had the opportunity at work to listen to the radio during the noon hour, something that has largely eluded me for the past year. The Family Life Network (FLN) based in Bath NY continues to expand its listening area and unfortunately this includes the region of Pennsylvania where I live. A typically Evangelical organisation, its theology is light and is mostly geared toward therapy and entertainment-based 'ministries' complimented with copious amounts of trite and terrible Christian pop music.

Usually the only thing I bother with is their news show. And yet having listened very little over the past year (I only occasionally listen to their teaching programmes and I cannot stomach the music), I was struck by how much the organisation has shifted to the Right.

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.

Leaden Ecclesiology that Denies the Sufficiency of Scripture

https://www.ironsharpensironradio.com/podcast/march-1-2021-show-with-dr-robert-e-brunansky-on-ecclesiology-the-missing-doctrine-in-evangelicalism/

Longtime readers will know that I've discussed Chris Arnzen's Iron Sharpens Iron in the past and will know that I'm something less than a fan of him, his work, or his associates.*

The Accommodationist Triad and Evangelical Women

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/purity-culture-evangelical-church-harms-women/618438/

This was a disappointing read to say the least, all the more when one considers this woman is an Evangelical (whatever that means anymore) and has even been placed into a position of semi-leadership within the Church – how else should one understand the contrived extra-Scriptural office of Worship Leader?

Her Atlantic article is a case of The Accommodationist Triad (see below) at work. In this case, feminism and psychology are being applied and leading to theological liberalism and ultimately the abandonment of Christian ethics. And don't think divorce isn't in the cards for this woman. A Biblical case to the contrary would carry very little weight with her.

The OPC's Polluted Horizons

https://www.opc.org/nh.html?issue_id=288

I was more than a little disturbed when perusing the January 2021 New Horizons, the magazine of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. As I have explained in the past as a former member of that faction I used to pick a copy every month from the back table of the auditorium and over the years I still keep tabs on the OPC and some of the people I used to know within its ranks.

How Should We Then Live Part 6: The Scientific Age (I)

This was a complicated episode with fairly weighty ideas being thrown out at a fast clip. I struggled to take notes without pausing. As such this episode and probably the next will also require two parts in order for me to review and respond to the material. Additionally in this episode I wish to interact on a slightly more involved level with some of the arguments assumptions made by Schaeffer. These are really important issues, especially today and these touch on some very basic and fundamental questions about the nature of knowledge that I think are critical when considering the nature of Biblical authority. I think Schaeffer and his followers have missed the mark on this latter albeit critical point.

Lausanne and the Evangelical Undermining of Sola Scriptura: Watering Down the Word

http://evangelicalfocus.com/magazine/4929/Bezalel_and_Oholiab_Artists_and_craftsmen

This article is not unique. In fact there are dozens just like it produced on a daily basis. I've repeatedly addressed these issues in my writings and yet since there are so few who seem willing or able to provide the necessary critique I feel compelled to keep doing so, hoping that someone will stumble upon it, or that this time it will 'click' with someone.

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.

AFR: Blind Guides of the American Evangelical Movement

A couple of weeks ago I was driving about an hour south of where I live and picked up American Family Radio (AFR). As bad as the Family Life Network is, I must say AFR is perhaps worse, or at least more overtly political. Every time I've tuned in, its airwaves propagate Scriptural error and bad politics rooted in the network's bad theology.  

American Style Evangelicalism in France

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=XOHbYDfxmew

Expressing the spirit of the modern, these congregations are hip, entertaining and impressive. Putting on high budget productions and appealing to contemporary values and norms, the American Church Growth model is flourishing in Europe.

Dallas (DTS) Continues its Fall into Worldliness

https://www.christianpost.com/sponsored/4-trends-in-full-time-vocational-christian-ministry.html

Founded during the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy, Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) was once a school associated with Fundamentalism, however it abandoned that course long ago. Retaining something of its Dispensational theology, the school now represents mainstream Evangelicalism and the Dominionist Theology that undergirds it.

The Vocational Fog

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/not-all-vocational-pursuits-are-equal/

Though I disagree with the foundational premise of the article I am appreciative of the fact that the author is at least willing to admit that all jobs are not equal and that some occupations in fact contribute little to the Kingdom of Christ... even to the Dominionist view of the Kingdom advocated by The Gospel Coalition.

Suicide and Therapy: Sufficiency Denied and Disparaged

https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastors-arent-substitutes-for-therapists-suicide-survivor-apostle-bryan-meadows-says-224852/

This article came up as a suggested read in light of a 'pastor', one Andrew Stoecklein's suicide. I don't know anything about him, I can only go by what I see and read and to be honest it's not something I'm interested in giving more than a few minutes to.

In one sense I am hardly surprised that such 'Church' leaders are collapsing into scandal and now suicide. And yet who ever heard of such a thing? While the congregation is grieved I'm sure, what a startling thing to realise they were being led by someone so unqualified, so apparently divorced from New Testament Christianity! But so it is with modern Evangelicalism. Its rotten fruit is plain for all to see. Evangelicalism is built on a false foundation. Seeking friendship with the world, they've lost their way and they no longer know what the solutions are. They don't even know what questions to ask.

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.

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?