Friday, February 06, 2009
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
October 2008 Reformation Voice
Thursday, August 14, 2008
A REVIEW OF RECOVERING THE REFORMED CONFESSION
A REVIEW OF RECOVERING THE REFORMED CONFESSION
Author; R. Scott Clark (2008, P&R)
Do not read this book unless you are willing to be challenged by what you think it means to be Reformed! I am serious. If you think you have it all together, then do not read this book. You will only be frustrated. HOWEVER, if you are willing to be challenged, then definitely read this book. I will state from the very beginning that this book is not going to be a light read. This book will take some deep thought and your undivided attention for it to do its job.
The first problem that
The next problem that
Judging by confessional Reformed piety, religious subjectivism (e.g., revivalism or pietism) is illegitimate because it seeks what is by definition an extraordinary providence of God, which is not promised in Scripture. This desire for the extraordinary tends not only to devalue the ordinary providence of God but also the expressed promises of God. He is most free to work all manner of wonderful things, e.g., instances of an intense sense of the divine presence, a surprising understanding of the application of Scripture to a given situation or some other blessing; but they cannot define the Christian life, and they are no proper standard by which to measure sanctification or Christian maturity. It is a significant mistake to make the religious experience envisioned by revivalists the organizing principle for Reformed piety. (p. 120)
Fortunately
In chapter 5, the value and use of our confessions and catechisms is discussed.
In chapter 6,
Chapter 7 is entitled "Recovering Reformed Worship." I imagine this chapter will generate some healthy debate. Dr. Clark's intention is clear from the outset of the chapter.
"The fact that many Reformed Christians alive today have never seen or participated in a worship service that Calvin, the Heidelberg Reformers, or the Westminster Divines would recognize does not bode well for the future of Reformed theology, piety, and practice. …I argue that an essential part of recovering the Reformed confession is to recover the Reformed principle and practice of worship" (p. 241)
What
As our churches realized in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, so too we must again realize that the Reformed theology, piety, and practice must be intentionally, conscientiously, patiently, and thoroughly taught to our congregations, to families, to children, to singles, to newcomers, and to those who have been Reformed for generations, or our theology, piety, and practice will be quickly lost and assimilated into the American mainstream religious admixture of pietism and fundamentalism. (p. 352)
In summary, this is not a book about recovering the Reformed doctrine of predestination or election. This is a book intended for the those who call themselves Reformed. It is a call to re-examine what it really means to be Reformed and whether we are really following the Reformed confession we claim to hold as standards. You may not agree with everything
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Review of Man Overboard
of Truth Trust, 2008.
Reviewed by Rev. Howard Sloan
I recently picked up this book as a resource for a series of messages on Jonah. I was delighted by what I found in this new edition of an old treasure. This book was first published in 1981 with Banner of Truth releasing a new edition this year. One change from the original is the use of the English Standard Version. At the beginning each chapter, Ferguson quotes the entire chapter of Jonah with which he is dealing.
An important thing to know is that this is not a commentary. This is more a series of related articles working through Jonah. Ferguson does not offer commentary on each verse. In fact each chapter of Jonah is treated in two or three chapters by Ferguson, each from a different perspective.
"Man Overboard!" is not overly technical. However, he does draw out some grammatical and linguistic themes that reappear through the prophet. What Ferguson does well is to make us see how the lessons and themes of Jonah bear on our modern life as individuals and as the church. Here is just one example:
“If there is a special danger for professing Christians
today, it must certainly be indifference to and
ignorance of the true nature of the human heart! How
easily outward behavior and established patterns
of belief can hide from us the true need we have for
a new heart which beats in time with the heart of
God! We should never be deceived into thinking
that outward conformity to group norms, professions
of conversion, or intellectual assent to orthodox
doctrines are the same thing as a true heart knowledge
of God.” (p. 87)
Overall, I think this is a great read and a valuable resource for anyone who is working through Jonah.
This review can also be found in the August 2008 Reformation Voice
AUGUST 2008 REFORMATION VOICE
Monday, June 02, 2008
June 2008 Reformation Voice
Saturday, May 31, 2008
HRA Conference
Here is a link to the audio from the conference.