The British Monarch as Defender of the Faith

https://firstthings.com/no-faith-worth-defending/

Trueman continues to baffle me. I once appreciated this man and considered him to be rather insightful - even when I disagreed with him. But something has changed and now he's teamed up with the Colson people and Grove City College, and has become seriously engaged in the Culture War.

The man who in 2010 wrote Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative, seems to no longer exist.

Cracks in the Sproul Empire

https://ministrywatch.com/st-andrews-chapel-salaries-well-above-median-salary-in-the-region

This report matters because these are 'respected' ministries and leaders and yet their conduct (as reported in the article) raises eyebrows. I think it is glimpse behind the veil. I think this kind of corruption is far from being an anomaly. There are abuses of power on many levels, corruption, and rank greed. The numbers involved aren't on the level of a Wall Street scandal that makes the national news but for individuals these are serious salaries that pay for a very nice lifestyle and the people in these institutions and bureaucracies are not going to just give them up and go away quietly.

The Sweet Taste of Vomit

https://petehurst.com/wealth-is-not-the-problem/

I was sorry to see (but not terribly surprised) the confused publishers of The Aquila Report endorsed this article by republishing it.

Hurst is a former PCA pastor who still speaks in PCA/OPC circles. He retired from the ministry and decided to get into real estate and get rich. He justifies this by means of Kuyperian argument. He is unapologetic in his celebration of wealth and the 'good life'.

Unreal and Heinous Hypocrisy: A PCA Pseudo-Scandal

https://theaquilareport.com/its-been-five-years-and-the-time-is-right-an-earnest-appeal-to-the-authors-of-2020s-heinous-killings-statement-at-byfaith/

Generally speaking I have appreciated Tom Hervey's commentaries that have appeared at The Aquila Report - I even bought his book of essays on Amazon. I'm sorry to say this was an exception. He excoriates those in the PCA that in 2020 condemned the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd and these same Presbyterians even described them as heinous.

Presbyterian Fantasies and Delusions

https://theaquilareport.com/presbyterians-mia-missing-in-actions/

I must say it again - Larry Ball never disappoints. He is consistent in his production of doctrinal error, ethical filth, and the celebration of worldliness.

This article can best be described as glorying in one's shame. He would celebrate Presbyterianism's supposedly august role in shaping the American Empire but like all afflicted with the soul-destroying disease of idolatry (in this case nationalism) he is utterly blind to the evils he in fact celebrates.

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.

Reflecting on Sproul

https://kuyperian.com/episode-101-r-c-sproul-and-his-legacy/

I recently stumbled across this podcast. Brito is known to me through his CREC connections and I noticed Federal Vision sat like an ignored elephant in the room during his interview with Pickowicz.

An Ugly Christian Life

https://www.beautifulchristianlife.com/blog/3-things-a-christian-should-consider-before-serving-in-the-military

Fesko begs many questions in this piece. From his adoption of the culture's language of 'service' to the tacitly endorsed feminism in speaking of a military career, he simply assumes in good Kuyperian fashion that the military is a viable option for the Christian.

The Symbolism of Miller Chapel

https://religionnews.com/2022/01/27/princeton-theological-seminary-renames-chapel-titled-after-slaveholder/

It is commonly voiced within the circles of American Confessional Presbyterianism that Old Princeton ended when they carried BB Warfield out of Miller Chapel.

Demographic Changes in Northern Ireland

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62980394

https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-unionist-nightmare-in-ulster.html

This represents a rather noteworthy change in the demographics of Northern Ireland – and at a particularly interesting time. Sinn Fein now holds power which in some respects is the outward expression of this now verified demographic reality.

Inbox: The Enlightenment, Westminster and Romans 13, and the Question of Civil Disobedience

This deals with a series of questions regarding where to read about some of the Christian interaction with The Enlightenment especially in terms of political and social ideology and ethics. Additionally there is the question of the Westminster Confession's view of Romans 13 and why I believe it to be in error – and are there any pre-Reformation instances that would support my view?

Finally, what of civil disobedience? Is it ever appropriate?

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.

The Pastor as Upper Middle Class Professional

https://www.opc.org/feature.html?feature_id=504

According to the guidelines provided by the OPC, the pastor is to be 'free from worldly care and employment'. And yet what this translates into is that the pastor should make a salary commensurate with that of an upper middle class professional.

In Defense of Anonymity – In Christian Cyberspace and Beyond

There are calls on both sides of the Atlantic to eliminate Internet anonymity. The arguments are made on the basis of social discourse, the preservation of democracy, legal concerns and questions of security. Once again the Establishment is indicating that the Internet project has gotten away from them and has spiraled dangerously out of control.

The Cruelty of Theonomy and its Counterfeit Zion

A response to a garden variety sermon called 'The Cruelty of Piety'

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=624181330317

https://huffduffer.com/jonesay/497939

or click here to play from my Google sites page

N.B. - The Sermonaudio link seems to be dead and so I've provided a substitute.

Though I am convinced the New Testament stands in diametrical opposition to Theonomy I cannot but help and have a certain affinity with some of its advocates. I share in their anti-Establishment attitude and frustrations with regard to the Reformed mainstream. I too have no love for the OPC or PCA and have been at times angered by their bureaucracies and frankly with the deceit of some of their officers. At one time I was on a course to be ordained in one of these denominations and yet today, I wouldn't even consider attending one of their congregations.

That said, apart from a conflict with bureaucracy and institutionalism I have no commonality with Theonomists and their wayward and even twisted interpretations of Scripture.

John Owen and Oliver Cromwell's Irish Campaign of 1649

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/how-cromwell-s-irish-terror-made-a-bloodthirsty-preacher-teach-tolerance-1.3317531

This article encouraged me. Having embraced Calvinism in the mid-1990's I followed paths that led me to the Puritans and as someone inclined toward Congregationalism I had a special affinity for figures like the theologian John Owen.

Paisley and the May Government

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44932312

This story is probably most interesting to me because it involves Ian Paisley Jr., son of the more famous Paisley who died in 2014. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) founded by Paisley Sr. in 1971 is currently in a coalition with Theresa May's Tories and while I've always followed British politics to some extent, I have as of late been paying a little closer attention.

https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-dup-and-ulsters-christian-witness.html

Paisley's movement has followers in the United States and there are longtime bonds between Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church and American Fundamentalist circles, particularly the Anti- Billy Graham factions centred on Bob Jones University.

Reflections on a Russian Conference Report

https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2017/russian-conference-st-petersburg/

In some ways this was a rather disappointing read.

I can only say that I've experienced a great deal of disappointment in the writings and opinions of Roberts. I think he has a poor grasp of the issues he addresses as well as the tradition he purports to represent. And while he and others seek to protect the Russian Reformed community from errors they are in fact doing damage themselves. They misrepresent Historical Theology, the nature of doctrine and the teaching of Scripture.

The DUP and Ulster's Christian Witness

http://www.lastampa.it/2017/06/12/vaticaninsider/eng/comment/theresa-may-risks-inflaming-irelands-religious-tensions-AF1zL5IwnBhxTiBpmz5B5N/pagina.html

With Theresa May's failed bid to secure a sold Parliamentary majority in the recent Snap election, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland has been the subject of a great deal of media attention. They are her 'ace in the hole', her means to retain power and avoid resignation and further elections in the near future.

Russian State Persecution, Western Money and the Heritage Foundation

There are a growing number of reports regarding Russian state harassment of Evangelical groups. They're being bullied about property, registration and in some cases fund raising. The state is making it clear that they're not particularly welcome and they're being watched.

These actions are starting to garner attention from Evangelical leaders and ministries. Of course this also dovetails nicely with the US Establishment's propaganda campaign directed at Moscow and the march to war.