John Brug’s Critique of Gerhard Forde’s Doctrine of Sanctification

Last updated on: March 28, 2015 at 9:55 am By Jordan Cooper

This essay was presented at the North Atlantic District Conference of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1993. Brug presents a Lutheran doctrine of sanctification in contradistinction to the various views expressed in Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification. He demonstrates that Forde’s teaching in this book, which he calls the “Liberal Lutheran” position on sanctification, is at odds with Scripture and historic Lutheran teaching. The essay is worth looking at. Read here. Read more

A Helpful Chart on the Two Kingdoms

Last updated on: March 27, 2015 at 9:48 am By Jordan Cooper

Rev. Kyle Dillon, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America, made this very helpful chart explaining the differences between a Lutheran doctrine of the two kingdoms, an Escondido view of the two kingdoms, and a NeoCalvinist view of the state. He helpfully differentiates Luther’s perspective from that of theologians like Michael Horton, David VanDrunen etc. I think it’s apparent that the Escondido view has more in common with the American concept of the separation between church and state than... Read more

“Cultured Despisers Gonna Despise”: the Nature of Liberal “Evangelical” Theology Versus a Truly Biblical Theology

Last updated on: March 30, 2015 at 2:13 pm By nathanrinne

“The Holy Spirit is no skeptic…. a man must delight in assertions or he will be no Christian.” — Martin Luther to Erasmus Post by Nathan Rinne Recently, in an interesting First Thoughts piece on the current debates about Karl Barth, the name of Immanuel Kant was invoked. The author of the article, Philip Cary, stated that for Kant: “The intelligibility of the world lies not in the substance of things [i.e. “their formal being or essence”] but in the... Read more

The Grace of God Toward Fallen Man

Last updated on: March 25, 2015 at 10:24 am By Jordan Cooper

On today’s program, I was joined again by Rev. Lewis Polzin to continue discussing Henry Eyster Jacobs’ book A Summary of the Christian Faith. We discussed chapters nine and ten, on “the grace of God toward fallen men,” and “the preparation of redemption.” Here is the program Read more

Joel Biermann on Issues Etc.

Last updated on: March 20, 2015 at 2:20 pm By Jordan Cooper

Dr. Joel Biermann was recently interviewed on Issues etc. about his book A Case for Character. I was very excited to hear this news, as some previous guests have mischaracterized Dr. Biermann’s position regarding the two kinds of righteousness. Listen to the program here Read more

Christian Atheism and the PCUSA

Last updated on: March 18, 2015 at 3:37 pm By Jordan Cooper

On today’s program I discussed some of the recent decisions of the PCUSA, and the problems inherent in liberal theology. I then examined an article by John Schuck (which can be found here) who calls himself a “Christian atheist.” I discussed the absurdity of such a claim, and the incoherence of the non-theistic worldview. Here is the program. Read more

Peter Leithart’s Doctrine of Justification

Last updated on: March 18, 2015 at 1:11 pm By Jordan Cooper

I recently purchased a copy of The Federal Vision for kindle upon seeing a $3 price for those with Amazon Prime. I’ve followed the Federal Vision movement for quite some time, once as an Escondido influenced Reformed Christian viewing it as a heretical movement, and now as a Lutheran interested in the sacramental and catholicizing aspects of the movement. I’ve appreciate the writings of men like Rich Lusk, Peter Leithart, Douglas Wilson, and others immensely, while remaining in disagreement regarding... Read more

Republication and the Inadequacy of the Covenantal Framework

Last updated on: March 17, 2015 at 4:30 pm By Jordan Cooper

In traditional Federal theology, a distinction is made between a covenant of works and a covenant of grace. All Biblical covenants are read through the lens of this distinction. Typically, the relationship between God and man in the Garden of Eden is considered a covenant of works, wherein Adam merits life by his obedience (an idea I have critiqued here). There is then an overarching covenant of grace, extending through the promise given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15,... Read more

Announcing the 2015 Just and Sinner Conference

Last updated on: March 15, 2015 at 10:28 pm By Jordan Cooper

This upcoming Fall, we are hosting the first annual Just and Sinner conference! The conference takes place in October, from the 22-24 here at Faith Lutheran Church in Watseka, Illinois. You are also welcome to stay for our Reformation service on the 25. The theme of this year’s conference is the ordo salutis (the order of salvation), which is an often neglected topic in contemporary Lutheran theology. The conference will consist of six lectures from our three presenters, including: Introduction:... Read more

Fatal Words Christians Should Not Utter: John Updike and Christian Life & Witness

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 2:41 pm By nathanrinne

Post by Nathan Rinne In the days of Martin Luther, many persons thought that God was harsh, unforgiving, and cruel. I think it is safe to say that in our day many think that God is indulgent, conviction-less, and, as a result, boring. I could not help thinking that after I had read Gerald R. McDermott’s new piece on the Witherspoon Institute’s Public Discourse site “A Rather Antinomian Christianity”: John Updike’s Religion. I will admit to not being all that... Read more