January 2008 Archives

Tim StaffordReview by Nate Shurden, Assistant to the Editorial Director... continue

Jonathan D. MoreReview by Derek Thomas, Editorial Director of reformation21... continue

David Kinnamen & Gabe LyonsReview by Les Newsom, Reformed University Fellowship Minister, University of Mississippi... continue

Martha Peace & John Crotts   Review by Shirley Windham, Women's Bible Teacher, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS ... continue

J. Mark BertrandReview by Nate Shurden, Assisant to the Editorial Director, reformation21... continue

Jeremy BegbieReview by William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA... continue

Thomas Purifoy and Jonathan Rogers, Ph.DReview by Greg Wilbur, Chief Muscian, Parish Presbyterian Church, Franklin, TN... continue

John StottReview by Derek Thomas, Editorial Director of reformation21... continue

If you're looking for something theologically deep, this is not it. Instead, what we have here is John Stott dreaming of what he desires the church to reflect. The occasion was the 150th anniversary of the dedication of one of... continue

For the last four years I have had the privilege of teaching church history at a Reformed confessional seminary. Our seminary curriculum is unique in that we require students enrolled in the Master of Divinity program to complete four church history courses. The courses are arranged chronologically beginning with the Ancient Church, followed by the Medieval Church, the Reformation, and the Church in the Modern Age. Some have argued that so many courses in church history are unnecessary for students training for ministry, and those precious and limited classroom hours should be devoted to more directly applicable disciplines. However, I am convinced that history is very applicable for helping us understand our own time and place. continue

On the issue of creeds, the evangelical world often seems absolutely divided into two broad camps: There are those who are so passionately committed to a particularly narrow view of scripture's sufficiency that they not only deny the need for creeds and confessions but regard them as actually wrong, an illegitimate attempt to supplement scripture or to narrow the Christian faith in doctrinal or cultural ways beyond the limits set by scripture itself. Then there are those whose view of creeds and confessions is so high that any other theological statement, and sometimes even the Bible itself, seems to be of secondary importance. Neither group, I believe, really does the creeds justice. continue

Confessions are doctrinal summaries of the Bible's teaching. They are written by the Church for the Church and the world. They are written for the world because churches with creeds and confessions are trying to be honest about themselves. These doctrinal statements announce that this is a church that has beliefs and is willing to list the most important ones for all to see. This is the very thing that cults and sects refuse to do. When they arrive at your door on Saturday mornings they discuss all things peripheral; their pamphlets hide what they believe and so do their websites. continue