Turretin’s Treasure
Though Turretin's name is well-known in Reformed theology, his Institutes of Elenctic Theology is not well-read today.
As the title indicates, Turretin’s Institutes is an exercise in “elenctics.” As such, it engages some of the principal heads of controversy that lie between Reformed theology and its rivals (both ancient and modern) in order to refute error and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. The design of the Institutes explains the polemical edge... Continue Reading
Reformed Theology Elevates Human Freedom And God’s Decree (A Review of Divine Will And Human Choice by Richard Muller)
The neat modern categories of libertarianism, determinism, and compatibilism all mis-describe early modern Reformed thought according to Richard Muller.
The Reformers believed in genuine freedom of choice. Yet like their forebears, freedom for them meant that one can freely do according to nature and according to potency. A human cannot fly (nature). And sometimes one person coerces another person to act (since this person has no potency to resist). Some criticize Reformed Theology... Continue Reading
Books I Have Read: God in the Rainforest
Above everything else, God in the Rainforest seeks to tell the story of the Waorani from their own standpoint.
Life in the rain forest is precarious and leaves little space for the development of permanent structures or enduring culture. As a result, the Waorani were entirely pragmatic in their response to outside influences. They adopted western dress and the use of firearms for hunting incredibly quickly – much to the frustration of the anthropologists... Continue Reading
The Future of Everything
The Future of Everything will help deepen your understanding and answer some questions as it overviews the Bible's teachings on the afterlife and end-times.
Boekestein sets out to explain to everyday Christians what theologians refer to as “eschatology”–the study of the end-times as taught in Scripture. That’s an area that can be complicated and is often obscure to us, but the author succeeds in making all the main lines plain. Pastor Boekestein has a gift for clear, accessible writing... Continue Reading
A City upon a Hill: Nationalism, Religion, and the Making of an American Myth
Many Americans would instantly recognize that line and regard it as a vital description of the American character.
One problem with this nationalistic reading of the text is that no single source can be demonstrated to define the American character, American identity, or America’s place in the world. Contra Tocqueville, Perry Miller, and more recently George McKenna, the Puritans did not give birth to any essential American disposition. Neither did any other intellectual source,... Continue Reading
Review: “Gay on God’s Campus”
Mobilizing for LGBT Equality at Christian Colleges and Universities
He considers activist efforts to change campus policy, campus climate, and hearts and minds. He concludes that effective activist movements on these campuses are often those that repurpose the language in a school’s theology such that it supports LGBT causes, or at least generates dialogue. In an unforgettable example, Coley describes a student group called... Continue Reading
The Eight Deadly Sins of Political Conservatism
Given that my primary allegiance is to Christ and his church, my commitments to political parties, platforms, and leaders should always be tentative.
Thus, since I land on the right side of the American political spectrum, it is especially helpful to beware the dangers found on the right. That’s why I enjoyed re-reading The Revenge of Conscience, by University of Texas (Austin) philosopher J. Budziszewski, in which the author exposes the “sins” of various political ideologies on the Left... Continue Reading
The Dying Thoughts of a Godly Man
May Baxter’s dying thoughts be my dying thoughts, and the thoughts of all Christians in all times.
When Solomon wrote that it’s better to go into the house of mourning than mirth—that funerals really are better than frat parties—he meant it as a reminder to number our days so we could appreciate how valuable life is. Meditating on death does not need to be a sorrowful endeavor. C.S. Lewis wrote, “There is a... Continue Reading
Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them
Though her book is tragic, it is also inspiring.
Broken Pieces is first a mother’s memoir as Carr recounts her efforts on behalf of her son. She goes to great lengths—any length, really—to attempt to find him help and healing. She aptly describes the agony of not only the one who is ill, but of those who love him and care for him. She... Continue Reading
Girl, Follow Jesus
Hollis’s message this time around is, “All that really matters is how bad you want those dreams and what you’re willing to do to make them happen.”
In her latest book, Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals, Hollis has gained momentum. She wants you to believe in yourself, to take great pride in your hard work and accomplishments, and to do so without shame and with gusto. She wants you to go hard and unapologetically after your... Continue Reading
