Reformed, Again!

As a follow-up from the previous post (”Do Not Be Deceived…”), here is a very interesting story coming out of the ELCA convention from a few weeks back, also posted at the Word Alone website. The entire article is linked after the quote below.

Isn’t it ironic that at about the same time Ethiopian Pastor Francis Stephanos was being kicked out of the convention center, a social statement backer used that Biblical story against the opponents of the statement, proffering that the Ethiopian eunuch may never have experienced Jesus’ grace and love if Philip had reacted the way we, who oppose ordaining partnered gays, supposedly would have. ~ WordAlone Network President Jaynan Clark

Word Alone Article: Isn’t It Ironic?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:35, ESV)

I have to admit, reading Ms. Clark’s article, that I was very excited by the fervor for God’s Word that was demonstrated by the Ethiopian visitors to the ELCA assembly who surrounded the convention building with prayer, caring that those voting members within the ELCA gathering might uphold God’s Word with their decisions. It seems obvious that the Holy Spirit’s work through Philip those many centuries ago is still producing fruit.

Minneapolis Steeple after tornado; 2009 ELCA church-wide assembly

The title of the post comes to us from a verse from Holy Scripture (Galatians 6:7), and it reflects both the sermon from Westminster OPC from last week, brought to us by seminarian Jeremiah Montgomery, as well as the sentiments of Jaynan L. Clark, president of the Word Alone network, an organization for biblical reform within the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Reading her article about the voting results at the most recent ELCA church-wide assembly has been a real eye-opener for a number of reasons.

Before continuing with any further thoughts on this, the reader is first referred to Ms. Clark’s very passionate article on the Word Alone site:

Article: God will not be mocked—especially when steeples fall

In case the reader is unaware, the ELCA has been dealing for years to find a correct “response” to the homosexual movement in the culture. Many have advocated a biblical approach, but others have inserted the language of “inclusion”, “love”, and “equality and justice” into the debate, arguing for things that clearly defy scripture (see scripture references later on in the post). Of Ms. Clark’s many powerful observations on the ELCA church-wide assembly, this one stands out:

In the name of inclusion I’ve never felt so excluded. In the name of love, I’ve never felt so despised. In the name of equality and justice, I’ve never felt so discounted and marginalized.

But with the following paragraph, I was truly awestruck. Again, from Ms. Clark’s article:

For years we have prayed for clarity. We have it. According to National Public Radio, the tornado came out of nowhere. On the other side of the street from the Minneapolis Convention Center, the cross on top of Central Lutheran was bent toward the ground and tents and tables were turned over.

I had to read that a few times. Tornado? Yes, this was very real. There really was a pretty interesting tornado in Minneapolis as Ms. Clark reports. Checking Google for “Minneapolis tornado”, I found a few very interesting hits, including this weather report, which is definitely worth a read:

Article: An F0 rating for the Minneapolis tornado

Of particular interest in that account is the note about how straight the line of the tornado was and how it lifted near the Convention Center where the church-wide assembly was being held. And from Ms. Clark’s account it lifted after first taking out the steeple of the Lutheran church across the street as well as some tents and parts of the convention center roof. The picture posted here (at the top of this post) from John Piper’s blog is itself probably worth more than one thousand words. Before I get on with more of my own thoughts, it would be helpful to read both of Dr. Piper’s recent posts on this phenomenon:

Article: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Article: Clarifying the Tornado

My wife and I are thinking through a series of articles (probably to be first posted here) about discerning “signposts”, events that occur (as all events in life ultimately do) at the sovereign hand of the Almighty God, events that are important road markers to be heeded, that help to point the way and to help to show God’s will in one’s life. As always, in all things, the Holy Scripture is our ultimate, infallible revelation of God’s will, but as God is all sovereign, there are probably many things going on in our lives that we should not ignore.

John Piper sees this tornado in Minneapolis as a clear sign from God, and like his own personal sign of dealing with cancer a few years earlier, the message is clear (from Piper’s second-mentioned post above, Clarifying the Tornado):

• Turn from every approval of sin in your life.
• Turn from the justification and promotion of any behaviors in your life that lead to destruction.
• Reaffirm the great biblical heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture.
• Turn back from your inveterate bent to distort the grace of God into sensuality.
• Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform you and all other sinners.

Now I emphasize that last point, because the hope for all sinners is uniquely found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (which I remind my readers as I myself have been wonderfully reminded recently that “the Gospel is good news, not good advice”; thank you jwm). The good news of Jesus Christ is forgiveness of sins, not because of our human merit, but because of God’s amazing grace, as poured out on the cross of Christ. As Paul says, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15, ESV)

The good news for all sinners, whatever sins may befall, is that in Christ there is found God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. And by the working of His Holy Spirit we are being turned away from sin, as evidence of God’s working a miracle in the hearts of all believers. The life of the truly repentant in Christ should therefore be marked by a turning from sin, not a full-throttle run toward it.  (For instance, in John 8:1-11, note what Jesus tells the adulterous woman after He forgives her of her sin in 8:11. Also, consider Galatians 5:16-24, especially v24.)

So what’s the problem with allowing some churches in the ELCA to ordain practicing homosexuals if they wish, or even to “marry” them at some point? Is that really a sin? Here are a few references from God’s Word…

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.  ~ Romans 1:26-32, ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. … Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ~ 1 Corinthians 9-11, 18-20, ESV

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. ~ 1 Timothy 1:8-11, ESV

The great danger of the ELCA’s decision is so well summed up by Albert Mohler in a brief “twitter” message recently posted at his site on Friday, August 20:

The ELCA votes to allow partnered homosexuals as ministers. Thus they lie to homosexuals about their sin. Pray.

Pray. Pray for those enslaved by homosexuality. Pray for the church or denomination that would work to condone such a sin (or any sin). Pray for the truth of God’s Word to break through such sinful disbelief and opposition to God’s Word as was on display in Minneapolis this past week. Pray that the sign of the tornado would not be lost on any of them, as Piper suggests. It certainly was not lost on Word Alone president Jaynan L. Clark.

And consider this further sign:  The vote to accept the proposed “social statement” on sexuality that is clearly so controversial required at least a two-thirds vote.  When the votes were counted, there were 676 for it, and 338 against it (a total of 1014 votes).  If you do the math, 676 is exactly 2/3 (66.6-and infinitely repeating).  Two votes less and you could not have rounded the percent up to be over 2/3.

Now there surely will be those of a theologically liberal mindset interpreting this vote as “God doing a new thing”, believing their unbiblical view of human sexuality to be justified by this outcome. However, I believe this incredibly narrow vote could indicate the removal of God’s mercies from the ELCA. For long years this result has been pursued by the most liberal elements of the denomination, regardless of the convictions of many more conservative members in the pew. Now that this measure is “passed”, I am afraid the ELCA will go the way of the Episcopalian church in America.  As the apostle Paul writes, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)

UPDATE: On Monday, August 24, more helpful articles and links were added for the reader’s further consideration:

Article: Wearing the Disguise of Faithfulness, Albert Mohler

Online Radio: Lutherans and Homosexual Clergy: A Problem Long in the Making (Albert Mohler Program)

Article: Church changes signage after controversial vote on homosexualilty, Charleston, WV, Daily Mail

Transcript: Address to ELCA Churchwide Assembly, August 22, 2009, Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, LCMS

Statement: Re: Certain Actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, LCMS

Article: To change or not to change, that was the question, Jaynan L. Clark, WordAlone

Discord can become concord when Christian individuals and Christian church bodies are faithful to the Holy Scriptures, which reveal the Gospel of God’s grace, forgiveness, and salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ~Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Conclusion of original Sunday, August 23 post continues here…
For our own personal “signposts” and what incidents transpired to bring us (my wife and I) away from the ELCA and toward the OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) starting over a year ago, check back for the upcoming “Signpost” series, hopefully soon, right here, at Reformed! Again.

In the meantime, have a listen to Jeremiah Montgomery’s Galatians sermon series (click here, then scroll down to the third grouping of links under “Sermon Series”). Think about your own signposts. Regularly read God’s Word in the Holy Scripture, the Bible, and be in daily prayer. Consider what God is speaking to your heart from His Word and what He is showing you in His sovereign actions over your life circumstances.

Would you like to leave a comment or share a personal “signpost” story? Comments are not currently open on this site, but you may email Eric with any thoughts or comments. Just be sure to provide a sentence indicating that you would like your email considered for inclusion at this site as a comment or related post. We reserve editorial rights on content to be posted at Reformed! Again. Thanks!

July 10^th would be the 500^th birthday of the great reformation theologian, John Calvin. Of this event, a recent email from Ligonier Ministries states:

July 10, 2009, is the 500th birthday of the great reformer, John Calvin. This would be a momentous occasion even if Christianity were not in dire need of a new reformation. But we are in desperate need of reformation, and the doctrines of grace are as vital to the church today as they were in Calvin’s own day.

I believe that everyone who embraces Reformed theology needs to stand up and issue a clarion call for renewed commitment to the doctrines that John Calvin believed, taught, and lived out so magnificently.

The emphasis in the quote above was added by Reformed, Again!, and we agree - there is great need of reformation in the church today! Thanks be to our Great God in heaven for providing us with such men as R.C. Sproul and so many others that clearly see the need to return to Biblical truth, and continue to do as Jude exhorts, to “…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3, ESV)

For more on John Calvin, Ligonier has an essay posted this month entitled “The Theologian“.

Elisabeth and I are visiting Philadelphia this weekend for the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. This year’s theme is “Right with God: The Doctrine of Justification”. Speakers featured this year are Ligon Duncan, Steven Lawson, Albert Mohler, Richard Phillips, and Philip Ryken. As time allows, we will be posting updates, notes, and pictures from the event. Needless to say, the event has been a great blessing, and we pray that God will use the messages from this conference to magnify His glory and work His will in the participants.

My wife was recently invited into a very interesting opportunity to provide a witness to her Christian beliefs. As a teacher at a small public school in the area where we live, some students had approached her to be in a documentary that they were making concerning different views on religious questions. As part of their preparation, the student documentarians distributed a sample questionnaire to those who would be interviewed.

The questions, compiled by a trio of high school seniors, are quite probing, and show a deep level of inquiry into some of life’s most pressing questions. I thought it might be interesting to ask: “How would you answer?” to anyone who might be reading this post. My wife has agreed to post her answers and comments in a future follow-up posting here at Reformed Again!.

The sample questions follow, taken directly off of the question sheet that the students compiled:

1. Are you religious? If not, that’s okay! Instead, talk about your personal beliefs/morals.
2. Explain your beliefs briefly (could be non-religious).  Tell us the “bones” of what you believe in.
3. Do you frequent a specific place of worship? If so, what’s it like? Do you enjoy being there? Do you go by yourself or with other people? Would you feel comfortable going to another place of worship? Are visitors welcome?
4. How impacting were role models (teachers, parents, etc.) and/or the media (books, television) to your beliefs?
5. Do you follow any religious text?
6. In your own words, why do you think people become religious?
7. To you, what’s the meaning of life/the ultimate goal/the reason why we’re here?
8. Do you believe in a divine figure? What’s s/he like? Does s/he interact with people?
9. Do you believe in predestination (everything we do is fixed) and/or free will?
10. Are we ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, or NEVER in control of our actions?
11. Is “sin” real? If so, what’s considered sinful? What are the punishments for leading a sinful life?
12. Is “evil” real? If so, were does it come from? How does it affect people?
13. Is there an afterlife? If so, what’s it like? Do all people go to the same, or a different place?
14. Do you believe people are ultimately good, ultimately evil, or dual-natured?
15. Do you believe humans are superior to other animals? Why? How are we alike/different?
16. Do you believe your way is the only way, the best way of thinking?
17. How important is religious tolerance to you? Religious profiling? Are they issues in today’s world?
18. Is it okay to disagree with someone spiritually? Hurt someone because of a religious disagreement? Wage war on an opposing religious group? (Consider the War in Israel.)
19. Do your beliefs make you happy? Are you satisfied with where you are now, spiritually?
20. What motivates you to live well? How does one live well?
21. Do you have a personal mantra (quote, song, verse, etc.) For example, “Treat others the way you want to be treated” or “Harm none”.

As Christians, we should be assured that each of these questions can be readily answered from God’s Word, the Bible.  However, it may be that these three students, and many others, surrounded by today’s popular naturalistic and post-modern philosophies, are not aware of the answers that the God of the Bible (and the God of all the universe) gives to humankind, through both general and specific means.

How would you respond?  We’ll follow up in the upcoming weeks with our responses.  Pray for my wife in answering these questions, and pray for those who listen to her answers. Pray for those around the world who so desperately need to hear the ultimate Truth, the Truth from God’s Holy Word.

…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…
(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

One of the core focuses here at Reformed, Again! is the defense of the historical Christian understanding of the inerrancy of the Holy Scripture, the Bible. Articles and writings from other internet resources which touch on this topic will often be noted here. One such recent article is available at Dr. Albert Mohler’s site.

During February 2009, there has been a focus on Charles Darwin and his theories of evolution and natural selection as this is the month of his 200^th birthday. In a recent article on Dr. Mohler’s blog, Mohler challenges the common thinking today that Biblical Christianity and evolution can somehow be reconciled. He concludes, “Evolution presents a direct challenge to the entire story-line of the Bible. Efforts to resolve this challenge generally involve a misunderstanding of biblical Christianity, a misunderstanding of evolution, or a misunderstanding of both.” Read the entire article at his blog.

There is also a worthwhile radio broadcast from Dr. Mohler on this topic. Listen here.

For more on the defense of the Biblical view of creation, an excellent online resource is Answers in Genesis.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (ESV, Psalm 19:1-4a)

A new friend of mine has indirectly encouraged me to make some updates to this site. It has been many months since my initial trip to Together for the Gospel last April that sparked the opening of this site, and so much has transpired since then: a meeting with some fellow brothers in Christ also from Altoona who had also gone to T4G last April, attendance at a new church for my wife and I, our yearly Thanksgiving trip to Lancaster, PA, and a new administration in Washington D.C. (commentary on politics can be found at partner site Need to Know). There’s much to be said, so over the next few weeks, we’ll try to get some of those worthwhile stories posted on Reformed, Again!. We’ll also try to pull in other commentary from around the web on relevant topics and provide regular, weekly updates to the site.

However, for the moment, I would call the reader’s attention to new additions in the blogroll, the external site links, our partner sites listing, links to excellent sermons and sermon series, and more - all on the right panel of this site. Thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you. ~EMS

Following this short introduction are a series of photos from Eric’s recent trip to the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY, during the week of April 14-18, 2008. Monday, April 14, and Friday, April 18, were travel days, and the conference itself ran from Tuesday through Thursday. It was an excellent experience and a great testimony to the amazing work of God, bringing over 5500 people from around the world to hear solid biblical teaching and to be inspired to dedicate their ministries to the unadulterated preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

As you read down through the captions, there will be links provided for learning more about the conference speakers and also links to download and listen to the conference messages right on your computer.

Monday, April 14, 2008, around 2:30 PM: Welcome to West Virginia
This marks Eric’s first time driving in this state.

	That’s all well and good, but Eric’s little foreign car doesn’t necessarily like to go that fast…

Monday, April 14, 2008, around 6:45 PM: Welcome to Kentucky
This marks Eric’s first time ever visiting or driving in this state.

Monday, April 14, 2008, around 7:00 PM: Kentucky’s state tourism logo at a roadside rest stop and welcome center

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, around 1:30 AM: Early morning trip to Wal-Mart
When you need something, it is always good to find your nearest 24-hour Wal-Mart. This one was just 4 miles out of Louisville, across the Ohio River in Indiana (marking Eric’s first time driving in that state as well).

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, around 1:15 PM: Approaching Downtown Louisville
The taxes are done, Eric is rested, and it is time for the conference to begin.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, around 2:00 PM: The Kentucky Convention Center
After finally finding a place to park, the roof of this parking garage offered great views of Louisville and the Kentucky International Convention Center where T4G ‘08 was being held.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, around 2:00 PM: Looking across the Ohio River
Just a few blocks away from the convention center is the Ohio River. (Picture taken from roof of parking garage)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, around 9:50 PM: Louisville and Convention Center at night
After a great first evening of messages from Pastor Ligon Duncan (on Sound Doctrine - Essential to Faithful Pastoral Ministry; click to listen to the message) and Thabiti Anyabwile (on Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church; click to listen to the message), a return to the parking garage offered a great view of Louisville at night.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 7:10 AM: Oldest Ornamental Water Tower in the World
Unknown to Eric when he was taking this picture of what he thought was simply an interesting structure across from the Ramada Inn, this water tower is the oldest ornamental water tower in the world. Later research at Wikipedia (see article) would reveal this interesting fact.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 8:15 AM: Session 3 begins
Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and host of his own talk radio program, introduces John MacArthur, a long-time pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA, and a prolific author of books and bible study materials. (Al is standing toward the right, and John is sitting, near the left center.)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 8:15 AM: John MacArthur Speaks
Dr. John MacArthur begins his address on The Sinner Neither Able Nor Willing: The Doctrine of Absolute Inability. Click to listen to the message.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 9:20 AM: Break Time
Over 5500 pastors and other church leaders were in attendance at T4G ‘08. The facility for holding the sessions was a fairly large room.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 9:20 AM: A view toward the stage

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 10:20 AM: Session 4 begins
Ligon Duncan (standing, right) introduces Mark Dever (sitting, left), pastor of Capital Hill Baptist Church, before his talk on Improving the Gospel: Exercises in Unbiblical Theology. Click to listen to the message.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 2:20 PM: Lunchtime in Louisville
This pretty park is located along the short walk (a few blocks) between the Ohio River parking area and the Kentucky Convention Center.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 2:40 PM: Session 5 begins
C.J. Mahaney (standing, right), president and leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries, introduces R.C. Sproul (sitting, left), chairman and founder of Ligonier Ministries in Orlando, Florida (and host of the Christian radio teaching program Renewing Your Mind). R.C. spoke on The Curse Motif of the Atonement. Click to listen to the message.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, around 7:00 PM: Session 6 begins
Thanks to a reunion with some new Sovereign Grace friends first met on Tuesday night, Eric was able to get a much closer seat in front of the stage for the 6^th session. During this session, Al Mohler spoke on Why Do They Hate It So? The Doctrine of Substitution. Click to listen to the message.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, around 1:00 PM: Building in Louisville
After the final sessions on Thursday, it is time to return home, but not before a little sight-seeing around Louisville. The Thursday session included John Piper (of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota and the Desiring God ministry) speaking on How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice (click to listen to the message) and C.J. Mahaney speaking on Sustaining a Pastor’s Soul (click to listen to the message).

Thursday, April 17, 2008, around 1:25 PM: SBTS Chapel in Louisville
The chapel at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (where T4G speaker Al Mohler is president) in Louisville is surrounded by the beautiful foliage and grounds captured in this picture on this warm, spring day in northern Kentucky.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, around 1:25 PM: SBTS Motto on banner
The motto of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary reads: “For the truth, for the church, for the world, for the Glory of God”

Thursday, April 17, 2008, around 5:10 PM: Creation Museum
After some searching, Eric finally found the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky, just outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, around 5:45 PM: Creation Museum
The Creation Museum has a great gift shop and book store with excellent resources on science and the Bible, looking at everything in geology, biology, nature, and history with a view to the literal understanding and plain-sense reading of Genesis.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, around 5:45 PM: Creation Museum
At the Creation Museum, there are gardens and walkways and other outside recreations on the grounds.

Friday, April 18, 2008, around 3:10 PM: Returning to Pennsylvania
After a much-needed night of rest in Columbus, Ohio, Eric returns to Pennsylvania by way of I-70 in the southwest part of the state.

Thanks for spending time reading over this online journal of Eric’s Together for the Gospel trip. In the upcoming weeks, return to Reformed, Again! for more articles and discussions on topics of reformed theology and Christian life, including Eric’s “story” of how he got here, to Louisville, in the middle of April, amidst a decidedly different crowd of brothers and sisters in Christ than would be found in common Lutheran circles in the Pennsylvania synods of the ELCA. (That is an interesting story for another, later entry in this online journal.)

In the meantime, browse down through the first few entries of Reformed, Again! including an interview with R.C. Sproul and Ben Stein, as well as our Welcome entry.

This fascinating interview with R.C. Sproul and Ben Stein was posted at the Ligonier Website (see full post here). If you have a fast-enough internet connection, it is well worth the watch. Be sure to look into Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed soon or now available on DVD.

We will post more on this fascinating look at the current debate between intelligent design and evolution in later posts. (Please note that Reformed, Again! espouses a biblical creationist view, which is more specific in its convictions on origins than a merely intelligent design view. We respect the work of those in the intelligent design community and share a common concern over the censorship of all other ideas currently being perpetrated by many holding to a Darwinian or evolutionary view of origins.)

Welcome to Reformed, Again! Eric and Elisabeth are two married individuals living in Altoona, PA, born and raised as Lutherans, yet recognizing that the popular definition of “Lutheranism” according to today’s ELCA and true, classic Christianity (that Luther himself would espouse) are not necessarily the same things. It would seem that the once-reformed would need to be reformed, again.

We welcome all readers along for this journey of discourse as we look at classic writings, biblical doctrine, biblical implications, and current topics of importance, all relating to the need of today’s typical protestant churches to return to the reformed distinctives espoused by those such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. In our discussions, we count God’s Word, the Bible, as inerrant and as the only source of true, specific revelation from the Most High, Creator God of the universe.

We hold to the same affirmations and denials made available at the 2006 and 2008 Together for the Gospel conference, held in Louisville, Kentucky. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Despite denominational differences, the true church of Christ must hold to these things of first importance, and it is amazing to see certain Baptists, Presbyterians, independents, and others who hold to a solid, biblical world view agree on the very important matters of classic Christianity. These are truths which have not changed for 2000 years, which all too many “mainline” protestant churches are giving up on for a merely “social” gospel or for a slick “market-driven” approach to church building.

Similar to Luther, those of us in biblical Truth must stand against the tide of post-modernism, legalism, works-righteous salvation-ism, and other theological and philosophical ills of our current age, to defend “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (ESV, Jude 3). You are invited to read along as we tackle these issues, with a few of our closest friends hopefully contributing their own thoughts as well.

Until more is posted here, please enjoy the blogroll and links available in the column to the right. There is a great wealth of solid biblical teaching online from these trusted sources.

Please check back for more posts as our discussion continues…