Neil Anderson
I am somewhat familiar with Neil Anderson. A number of years ago I taught an adult Bible study that used Victory over the Darkness as one of its texts. I had a sufficient number of difficulties with…
Calvinism vs. Arminianism: A Worthwhile Debate
As far as Calvinism and Arminianism are concerned, I do think the issue is an important one. However, for the most part, I also think it is an in-house debate. That is, I believe that most Calvinists…
Preaching vs. Teaching
The distinction between preaching and teaching is not one that Scripture draws for us explicitly. It is also fair to say that they way modern denominations use these terms is not always consistent…
Is church membership necessary?
The teaching of Reformed theology has always been that not every member of the visible church is a member of the invisible church. As you stated, a lot of people are church members but don't belong…
Teaching Covenant
With the youngest kids, I just stick to a family metaphor: The relationship between parents and their children is a good parallel to God's covenant relationship with his people. Parents love their…
Marrying Unbelievers
The main call of ministers is to perform covenant marriages, that is, marriages between those who are part of the visible church. It is not to perform a service for the civil government. The Bible…
Ambiguous Scripture
On Interpretation There are several reasons that Scripture is misinterpreted, and not all of them have to do with how it was written. In some senses, God purposed for some Scripture to be…
Calvinist Hermeneutics
I suppose the answer depends on how you define "literal" and "figurative." I would say "literal," with the explanation that Calvinists often define the "literal" meaning as the "originally intended"…
Narrative Theology
"Narrative theology" is a fairly broad term, encompassing a variety of specific approaches to theology, interpretation and application. Most generally, it is that approach to theology that finds…
Redemptive-Historical Preaching
As a student of Edmund Clowney and Meredith Kline, I have long been impressed with the importance of a redemptive-historical understanding of Scripture. Geerhardus Vos's books are the best source for…
Theology Professor
There are, of course, many paths to teaching, especially in systematic theology. ST as a discipline really doesn't exist at secular universities and colleges. At Yale, there were courses called…
A Mystical Calling
Thanks for writing. Calling is a very difficult question in my mind. We protestants believe in sola Scriptura, but Scripture does not tell each individual what he is called to be or do. So there are…
Climbing the Corporate Ladder
The dangerous potential for a dulled love for Christ exists in every job. In fact, it might even be worse in the ministry. Richard Pratt has a saying, "If you make your living by your faith, you…
Meaning and Application
The meaning/application argument is developed pretty fully in Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. Here's a summary: To "apply" the Bible, in general terms, is to use the Bible to answer our questions…
Called to Ministry?
Thanks for writing. Calling is a very difficult question in my mind. We protestants believe in sola Scriptura, but Scripture does not tell each individual what he is called to be or do. So there are…
Ordination Disparity
Yes, this is a discouraging business. Central Florida Presbytery is a delight-- best one I've ever been in. We spend the mornings in worship, teaching, and prayer. Business in the afternoon is short.…
If I Could Change Seminary Education
If I were king and could wave my magical scepter, I would radically change the basic agenda of seminary. After 22 years of teaching in a seminary, I slowly began to realize something. We were not…
Christ Died For You
Well, the answer is yes and no, depending on the audience and/or depending on the antecedent of "our." If "our" means "those of me and my company" or "those of us believers," then it carries no…
New Testament Temple Worship
Actually it was Jordan who drew my attention to the "holy convocations." I think that from the time of Moses there was some kind of Sabbath meeting. I presume that such meetings were held locally in…
Systematic Theology Divisions?
The answer to this question is very dependent upon one's background. Commonly we see: (1) the Doctrine of the Word of God, (2) the Doctrine of God, (3) the Doctrine of Man, (4) the Doctrine of the…
Robert Rules the Church
Generally, constitutions and by-laws include documents that are useful to the normal function of the church (statements of faith, forms of government, rules of discipline, orders of worship, secular…
Why Study Theology?
Any interpretation of the Bible, any understanding of it at all, is theology. We can't even approach the Bible to read it without carrying with us certain theological assumptions (at the very least…