What this blog is about

" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. " Colossians 3:16

This blog is dedicated to . . .
stirring up discussion on various topics which relate to the Church's responsibility to keep the Reformation Spirit as a present, on-going reality in all areas of life and belief. The 16th century ushered in the Protestant Reformation wherein the ultimate authority of Christ through the Scriptures was recovered and with it, Justification by Faith Alone. Some say that this was also a rediscovery of Christ and, surely, there is truth in that claim, but it all began as the Holy Spirit illumined the minds of certain men who were enabled to see certain things in the Scriptures and to sound the Watchman's call for the Church to come into alignment with what the Scriptures clearly taught all along. Certainly, ignorance and illiteracy played a large part in keeping the "Dark Ages" dark, but the darkness was also thickened and prolonged by an unwillingness to judge all things against the standard of the Word of God and hold fast that which was good. This also grieved the Holy Spirit, which quenched His sweet illuminating work. Today, we don't have the same excuse of illiteracy, but I wonder how much of the struggle of the American Church is really due to not bringing all things under the scrutiny of Christ through His Word and Spirit.
ReformingReformed?
The Protestant Reformation was not designed to be an historical event, but, rather, a call to a way of life. Hence, one of the cries of the Reformation was Sempre Reformanda (always reforming). The Reformers knew that in order for the Church to reach full maturity she would have to maintain a posture of continually weighing all things by the standard of the Scriptures (honestly interpreted) while pursuing the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They knew too, and demonstrated for us, that maintaining this posture would incur sharp criticism and even persecution. Reformation is not for the "spineless." Sadly, generally speaking, this posture has not been maintained. With various pressures, the Church has become domesticated rather than a bondslave, wildly in love with Christ Who bought us with His own blood. There are examples and ramifications in our life as a universal presence of the Kingdom of God, in our local expressions of that Kingdom, and in our family and individual lives. We will discuss some of these and hopefully, at least, get some of these issues on the table of discussion.
DeformedReformed!
When most people hear the word "Reformed", what do they think of? Most people I have heard comment on this, have mentioned things like: doctrine police, passionless, rationalists, cold, ingrown, superior, prideful, all-talk-and-no-stuff, and like comments. Those are just from people who have some idea (good or bad) of what "Reformation Theology" is. The first impressions of people who have never before heard of "Reformation Theolgy" are more comical than critical. Sadly, and I say this as an insider, we have earned the criticism! For far too long, to be Reformed has been synonymous (in popular opinion) with Deformed. Ouch! The Reformed voice has been muted by misrepresentations. Our arguments have been defanged by the general lack of charity. "Purer Theology" has been polluted by pride and intellectualism (which we know is different from intelligence). But those criticisms do not even belong in the same sentence with the names of such men as: John Owen, John Calvin, John Knox, John Bunyan, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Piper (notice a lot of John's?), among others. What has happened? Truthfully, these examples which disprove the popular idea are far too few and far between! There is no heart like a heart set aflame with the glory and promise of Reformation Theology! It has been well-said that the worst enemy of true religion is not irreligion, but false-religion. So, I add, the best advocate and defense for true religion is true religion- incarnational, Biblical, impassioned, articulate, responsive!
ReclaimingREFORMED
With that said, the purpose of this blog is not to blast anyone or even to overly indulge in self-criticism. Instead, we will discuss issues and suggest a way forward which, having learned from the past generations, progresses to more fully "take captive" every thought which sets itself up against the true knowledge of Christ. We want to reclaim, not re-invent, what it is to be Reformed- God-addicted, Covenantal, Bible-soaked, Charitable, pioneering, Spirit-Empowered, Gospel-tapped! I will also place personal meditations on Scripture and the glory of being a Christian on this blog. I welcome your ideas, comments, and even criticisms (graciously offered)! Please do come back and visit often. We'll look at such topics as: the Sufficiency of Scripture, the Sacraments, Spiritual Gifts, Community, Preaching, Worship, Evangelism, and others. All criticism will be received with grace and prayer. All are encouraged to comment, even if you severely disagree with my views! If you have ideas of other areas of life and ministry which we should consider together, I invite those ideas as well.

God bless you!
Daniel