10 Aug 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Some of our friends are arguing about Capitalism and Marxism, so I thought we would do what we usually do-- turn to the archives! What did the stuffy dead guys say about this? That's a big task, though (and one that we have been doing piece by piece over time), and so, true to form, I'll here focus on Calvin....
Read more → 31 Jul 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Pastor Tim Keller has posted a follow-up to the ideas and concepts that Mark Jones highlighted a few days ago concerning Christ's cry of abandon from the cross. There's a lot that could be said, but so far it's simply worth nothing that it is a very good conversation that opens up lots of avenues for further...
Read more → 29 Jul 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Dr. Hutchinson's recent post on Augustine reminded me about a point of Calvin's eschatology that I wanted to explore. Agreeing with Augustine, Calvin argues that there will come a time when Christ's mediation will come to an end, and the godman will deliver the kingdom over to the Trinity (considered...
Read more → 15 Jun 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Mark Jones wrote a fun essay last week explaining why he doesn't like the name "Calvinism." I agree with all of the substantive points and have made many of them myself. I also liked the playful jab at the name of this site. Good ol' Mark. Still, I want to give a word or two in defense of using the expression...
Read more → 08 Jun 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Around the year 1548, Peter Martyr Vermigli published the following quote from John Chrysostom, said to be from a letter to Caesarius the monk: For as [in the eucharist] before the bread is consecrated, we call it bread, but when the grace of God by the Spirit has consecrated it, it is no longer called...
Read more → 17 May 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) Like many of you, I have allowed myself...
Read more → 07 May 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
Though it triggers some Presbyterians to say so out loud, John Calvin was not a Sabbatarian. He did have a strict Sunday practice (and thus he most likely did not go lawn bowling on that day...), but this was always explained as a matter of human and not divine law. In fact, Calvin argues that the early...
Read more → 05 Apr 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth 
From time to time, the Protestant Reformers, especially the Calvinists, found it necessary to clearly distinguish the ways in which the two natures of Christ operate in His work of redemption, even explaining which aspects of the work were properly carried out by Christ's divine nature, which were carried...
Read more → 03 Apr 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth
The question of whether Protestants should regard Roman Catholic churches as "true churches" is very important to all ecumenical endeavors. Usually in reaction to those hardened Protestants who simply say that Rome is apostate and thus "no church at all," the ecumenically-minded Protestants, who usually...
Read more → 28 Mar 2017
Posted by Steven Wedgeworth
As we have noted in the past, Calvin allowed for the suppression of heretics for political reasons, but he did not believe that the faith could be coerced. One reason that it can not be coerced is that, for Calvin, worship must be offered willing. A worship give out of fear or force is of no value. Calvin...
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