Knowing War’s Origin: In God (5) Jehovah is a Man of war (Ex. 15:3). His right hand dashes in pieces the enemy (Ex. 15:6). Jehovah has sworn that He will have war with Amalek from generation to generation (Ex. 17:16). Jehovah bends His bow like an enemy, and stands with His right hand as an […]
Knowing War’s Origin: In God (4)
Knowing War’s Origin: In God (4) By way of introduction in this series, we have, first, sounded the bugle-call to battle. Second, we have proved the necessity of viewing the Christian life as one of warfare. Third, we have defined the holy war in which we are engaged. We proceed now to our first main […]
An Introduction: Our Holy War (3)
An Introduction: Our Holy War (3) We have acknowledged that we are called to warfare and that we must be conscious of this warfare. We have demonstrated this calling from Scripture, and therefore find it in our Psalter, Three Forms of Unity, and doctrinal terminology. By “war” in this series we are referring to our […]
An Introduction: Warfare – A Clear Scriptural Imperative (2)
An Introduction: Warfare – A Clear Scriptural Imperative (2) Unavoidable is the theme of, and even imperative, for warfare that runs throughout all of Scripture and therefore also our Psalter, our Three Forms of Unity, and the doctrinal terminology taught us in catechism class. If the Bible were a book I had never seen, and […]
An Introduction: Acknowledging Our Warfare (1)
An Introduction: Acknowledging Our Warfare (1) We are at war. Not a war that leaves our blood pooled on the soil underfoot and holes in our flesh—though it may and it did for the captain of our salvation one dark day on a hill outside of Jerusalem—but it is a war in which souls are […]
What It Means to Be Reformed (16—Conclusion) The Reformed Christian Life (3)
What It Means to Be Reformed (16—Conclusion) The Reformed Christian Life (3) 5. Church and world: dual citizenships Controversy about the Christian life becomes very sharp when we speak of living in both church and world. To be Reformed is to have a unique view of the Christian life, and that view includes a clear […]
What It Means to Be Reformed (15) The Reformed Christian Life (2)
What It Means to Be Reformed (15) The Reformed Christian Life (2) The Christian life is the fifth of the five “C”s we have used to summarize what it means to be Reformed. To be Reformed has to do with life as well as with faith, how we conduct ourselves in everyday affairs as well […]
What It Means to Be Reformed (14) The Reformed Christian Life (1)
What It Means to Be Reformed (14) The Reformed Christian Life (1) The Christian life: how vital! If being Reformed referred only to what a person believed, being Reformed would be hard enough. But being Reformed has to do with one’s whole life. That not only makes matters harder, it brings our discussion of “What […]
What It Means to Be Reformed (13) Reformed, yet “Always Reforming”?
What It Means to Be Reformed (13) Reformed, yet “Always Reforming”? If being “confessional” means holding the traditions, maintaining the old paths, and not removing the ancient landmarks, how can a Reformed church be “always reforming”? If being Reformed is embracing the confessions—both ancient and Reformational—what use is the motto “always reforming”? Can the church […]
What It Means to Be Reformed (12) Reformed Is Being “Confessional” (2)
What It Means to Be Reformed (12) Reformed Is Being “Confessional” (2) As we now pass the 90th anniversary of the Protestant Reformed Churches, I remind us that these editorials began as a call to be faithful to our name and our roots. I have been explaining that to be Reformed, a church must be […]