Education Resources

I have added content to the Education page at my website. Many education links categorized according to the following:

Free Resources
Seminary and lay level education resources made available without cost.

Online/Distance Learning
Links to paid courses and professional degree opportunities available through online and distance education programs that may be completed or mostly completed from home.

Homeschool, Children and Youth
Teaching materials and curriculum for the homeschool, Sunday school, and family devotionals.

Reformed Seminaries and Colleges
Reformed and Reformed Baptist "brick and mortar" graduate and under-graduate institutions.

Also there are links to articles concerning methods and philosophy of education, encouragements and tips for educators and those seeking to be educated. I hope this resource proves useful.

Update for some older posts

I need to update a couple of older posts I made on this here blog.

The first is this post where I cried a bit about not having a Reformed Baptist fellowship within driving distance of where I live. Well I have, by God's grace, since discovered one, a mere 30 minute drive, and have been attending now for a few weeks. It is exciting to me and an answer to many prayers. I thank God for his abundant grace.

The second is somewhat of a retraction. In this post about abortion I commented that "There is never warrant for abortion". Well, in my feeble mind at the time I could not conceive of one. But I would say upon further reflection that in cases where there is no possibility that the child can survive and the life and health of the mother is threatened, such as in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, then an induced abortion would be an unavoidable necessity.

Beliefs ~ Canons of Dort

Beliefs ~ Canons of Dort

I have completed the presentation of the Canons of Dort at my website. Included are several useful links to articles, commentaries, books and videos about the Canons and the doctrines of grace. Check it out.

I'm still around

You may be wondering why I haven't blogged in a while. Well it's a combination of laziness, lack of time, and really not having anything much to say. I know most people use their blogs as they are meant to be used- as a public diary of sorts. I'm not sure that my day to day musings and thoughts are worth sharing as a whole, and, frankly, I'm not sure most of the blog posts I read are worth reading.

At any rate, I have a couple of interesting links for you.

The first is a blog by an old internet friend of mine, goes by the handle
Graceshaker. The Holy Wild

He doesn't like categories like "Reformed" and "Calvinist" and "Baptist" and so-forth, which is OK because he doesn't really fit into any of them. Some of his beliefs I strongly disagree with. Nevertheless, Graceshaker has a strong belief in God's absolute sovereignty and man's depravity, and the gospel of grace. His blog is more like what a blog was meant to be (as I described above), and is really some of the most interesting reading around.

Next is an exciting (to me) new internet resource, Puritan Picks.

It is a DVD lending library business similar to Netflix, without all the wickedness. They not only have documentary and educational videos, but lots of clean entertainment DVDs as well.

Lastly, I may as well introduce my new website, A Confessional Baptist.

I had hope to have more content there by now, but, for the same reasons I haven't updated my blog in a good while, I don't. What is available is a presentation of the gospel, the 1689 LBCF, the Baptist Catechism (Keach's), Cambridge Declaration, Daily Scripture readings, memorization, a couple of devotional and news feeds, and a link to my Cafe Press store.

The next thing I will have ready on the website will be the Canons of Dort, and it will be up soon. After that, i will tackle a little original writing with articles about Reformed Baptist Distinctives and then I don't know. I hope you enjoy the site and find it's resources useful. Feel free to tell me what you think here or through the contact form at the website.

Give John Piper the benefit of the doubt

I just wanted to say this briefly, as a man who confesses the 1689 LBCF and Keache's Catechism and the Cambridge Declaration and believes that Calvin's threefold use of the law makes good biblical sense, that I am dismayed by John Piper's recent comments about and invitation to Doug Wilson of Federal Vision heresy fame. I believe (and hope) that in this case that John Piper is reading Wilson wrong and believes that Wilson has been misunderstood.

The problem is, as far as I know, that those who have seen a different gospel in Wilson's beliefs have not been rebuked by Wilson for mis-reading him but have been told that they are misreading Scripture, much in the same way Tom Wright has poo-pooed anyone who labels his heretical departure from the gospel for what it is. Of course, Wright goes farther and humbly explains that his detractors' main problem is that they have not read enough Wright and went to the wrong schools.

But I digress; as I have also read some of Dr. Piper's works and listened to many sermons by him, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt concerning his actions involving Wilson, because I have never heard another Pastor preach the gospel of justification by grace through faith with more clarity and conviction, and his Christ centeredness and commitment to the absolute sovereignty of God is compelling and commendable.

That being said, I do not consider John Piper to be a Reformed Baptist because he does not adhere to the theology of one of the historic Baptist confessions of faith or its modern equivalent, most likely because of his views of the law and gospel, which I believe lean toward New Covenant theology which is basically antinomian. He admits as much (not the antinomian part). I have that against him.

What dismays me more is some of the assaults I have read recently on John Piper from the Reformed Baptist blogosphere, which, ironically, accuse Piper of legalism and assault his character and ministry. Now there are many thoughtful and Christlike posts out there expressing concerns about Piper's comments and selection of Doug Wilson, such as the post by Pastor Keith Throop, but there are many that seem to harbor some hateful grudge against Piper that is definitely not compelling nor Christlike, that make a concerted effort to disparage Piper with half-truths and misinformation, quoting Piper out of context, etc. This is worthless drivel, and I would that these posters would repent or may hap lose interest in opining on the internet altogether.

I think John Piper is a man of God who has done much to advance the kingdom of God and glorify Christ and God, and deserves better than to be slandered with straw-man attacks against his character and ministry. He may forsake the gospel and make me eat my words, but I say he deserves the benefit of the doubt concerning this.

I have purposefully left out links to the posts that have irritated me concerning this, and would hope that readers would read and listen to Piper's sermons and books and judge him based on his own work and ministry. All of his sermons and books are available for free from the website Desiring God.

Reformed Baptist? Me Too!

Pastor Keith Throop is one of my long time favorites of the "Christian Blogosphere" and internet who, like myself, takes exception to those who would claim exclusive use of the descriptor "Reformed". At least excluding Baptists.

Unlike myself he writes his prose with charitable even-handedness and level-headedness which is too often lacking in the many "poison pens" on the Internet.

His most recent post on why he calls himself a Reformed Baptist in response to former Reformed Baptist R. Scott Clark's repeated assertions that such phrase is a misnomer is no exception, in which Pastor Throop lists three reasons why he believes that Baptists can have a legitimate and historically accurate use of the term.

Here is an excerpt from his post:

Second, Clark's comments seem to assume the idea that there is a monolithic historical understanding of the meaning the English word reformed. But this is simply not true. There are broader and more narrow senses in which the word may be used, and not all of these require the specific understanding to which he apparently wishes to restrict usage of the term. In addition, I see know [sic]reason why a modifier cannot be attached to the word that in effect alters and qualifies its meaning so as to rule out the kind of misunderstanding that Clark is apparently concerned about. One such modifier – as I have already noted – is the term baptist, which immediately communicates a distinctive use of the word reformed.

Read the whole post here: Why I Call Myself a Reformed Baptist

It may be a coinkidink, but the two voices that I hear loudest (Dr.s R. Scott Clark and Matthew McMahon) in objecting to Baptists using the term "Reformed" as a descriptor are themselves former Baptists. I suppose this is usually the case, with former Dispensationalists being the most belligerent towards that system, Roman Catholics the most critical of that movement, etc.

I myself am a former Independent Fundamental Pauline Dispensational Scofield Reading Pre-Trib Rapturing Semi Pelagian'in King James Only Baptist (IFBSRPTRSPKJVOB) and frankly find my shortened self identifier much easier to say and abbreviate; Reformed Baptist, (RB). Nice ring to it too.

Dr.s Clark and McMahon are both very edifying brothers in most respects, by the way, and I with good conscience endorse them both to all y'all Reformed Baptists.

The Church and Politics

Often during my lunch break I will go out to my vehicle and listen to John Macarthur's Grace to You radio broadcast. The particular radio station I listen to this on seems to repeat a lot of series, and they will preview new series before airing them to check for too much Calvinism, and sometimes they won't air particular sermons they deem too Calvinistic.

Fortunately, they have a poor understanding of Calvinism so, for example, in a series by John Macarthur about the doctrines of grace, they balked at the sermons on limited atonement and irresistible grace at first, interrupting the series and airing two sermons from a previous series in their stead. They didn't seem to realize that Dr. Macarthur's excellent messages on total depravity, unconditional election and perseverance of the saints were completely incompatible with their own semi-pelagianism and once-saved-always-saved beliefs. They did finally air the two missing messages at a later date, to my surprise, perhaps they got some angry calls.

Anywho...

Usually I hear a message I've heard before as this has been a lunchtime tradition of mine for some years now, but today I heard a new one to me that just flies right in the face of so much of modern American Christian belief.

How many times do we hear of "America the Christian Nation", "America was founded on Christian principles" and the like. Prominent Christian leaders will equate an attack on the pledge of allegiance to an attack on Christianity, and pretend that our Democratic Republic system of government is God's favorite and that spreading Democracy militarily or by other means is a righteous cause of Christians.

Now, I believe that in this world of fallen people with sinful agendas, which is all of us, that the system of checks and balances with which our country was founded is the best form of government I can imagine. I believe in religious freedom and equality among men. I believe our American constitution has done a good job of ensuring our individual freedoms and I am thankful for and enjoy them. I believe that the United States exists because God ordained that this nation exist.

I also believe that God has ordained that every nation on earth exist, and that every leader, no matter how evil, is in their position of power because God put them there according to the council of his own will and for his own purpose. I believe these things because the bible clearly teaches them.

Moreover, spreading Democracy and pursuing regime changes and fighting social injustice and not paying your taxes are not Christian activities! Where is the biblical mandate for such pursuits? These things are not in themselves bad things (except for not paying your taxes), but tying them together with Christianity is a very bad thing.

Now, this is a dangerous belief to convey to your fellow Christians, and as many Christians have relatives or children in military service, it could get you a sock in the mouth. American Christians are convinced of American righteousness and superiority. And I am certainly no eloquent opiner, and so I remain quiet and cringe only slightly as I am berated with "evidences" of "righteous America".

I encourage you to read or listen to this message by John Macarthur expositing Romans 13 that really hits the nail on the head with exactly what I'm trying to say. Here are a few provocative quotes:

[Romans 13:1-7] The truth of the matter is, and you need to think about this - the truth of the matter is that our own nation was borne out of a violation of this biblical text. Now that may throw you for a loss, but that's the fact. Our nation was borne out of a violation of this text. In the name of Christian freedom.

It amazes me that you have a list of true believers, charlatans, frauds, false prophets - all jumbled together for the sake of "religious freedom" to do the political lobbying that people think is going to preserve the kingdom of God in America.

So Jesus came into a world dominated by slavery and by one man rule. The absolute antithesis of democracy, which we believe to be so dear. All the power of the state was in one man's hands.

He [Jesus] did not come with power and force to overthrow the Roman tyranny. He did not seek social change. He did not attempt to eliminate slavery. He did not come with political or economic issues at stake. They were not the concern of his life and Ministry. He did not come to bring new government, to bring democracy, to wave the flag of Judaism, even. His appeal was ever and always to the hearts of individual men and women. Not their political freedoms. Not their rights under government.

To read the whole meassage, click here.

To listen on GTY's pop-up audio player thingamajig, click here.

To download high quality audio, click here.