Running Commentary
Bloggers at Work
Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 1:25PM (from David Vandervelde)
I came across this fun little “Calvin Quiz” over at Calvin500.com. I did guess at one or two of them, but I guess I guessed right (as evidenced by my badge below!).
To jump directly to the Calvin quiz, go here. See how you do!
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 2:46PM (from Kevin DeYoung)
For over ten years now the RCA, through the historic and misguided Formula of Agreement, has been in "full communion" with the ELCA, the PC(USA), and the UCC. There have been enough unbiblical goings-on in any of these denominations to sound the alarm, but the recent action by the ELCA is the latest and possibly the most egregious. Meeting last week in Minneapolis, the Lutherans voted to allow non-celibate homosexual clergy and the blessing of same-sex relationships in the church. The RCA, through the Formula of Agreement, is in "full communion" with the ELCA. Should we be?
According to the Agreement, the term "full communion" is understood to specifically mean that the four churches, among other things, "recognize each other as churches in which the gospel is rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered according to the Word of God." No doubt, some of you reading this blog think...Read more.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 10:44AM (from Steve Mathonnet-Vander Well)
The RCA has decreased in membership every year since the Nixon administration, or maybe it was Carter. This shrinkage is the source of great consternation. Typically it is taken as evidence that as a denomination we are asleep, irrelevant and unfaithful. Probably.
But maybe there are other factors at play in our shrinkage. Three things come to my mind...Read more.
Friday, August 7, 2009 at 10:11AM (from Tim Ten Clay)
I don't know what the future of the Church Herald Blogs are, but I thought we needed something new to chat about. I'm cross posting this with my personal blog which, I'm sure, none of you read :-)
One of the best things about the Reformed tradition, in my opinion, is the fact that, throughout the ages, it has placed a heavy emphasis on educated pastors. This emphasis has become less and less important over the past several decades, yet the normative preparation for a minister in the Reformed Church in America still requires a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, and this - to at least a certain degree - helps prevent (at least to some degree) churches from putting idiots in the pulpit...Read more.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 10:15PM (from David Vandervelde)
I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church, and I harbour no animosity toward that fine denomination or any of its local churches. That being said, I find it troubling that our General Secretary--the General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America--has chosen to make his home church a CRC church. It creates some dissonance within my mind and spirit. Now I admit that I am not privy to some of the personal reasons the General Secretary may have or...Read more.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 12:07PM (from Steve Mathonnet-Vander Well)
I've noticed blogging here has dropped off significantly since the General Synod decision to end the Church Herald. Like everyone else I am curious to see how and when this "orderly cessation" takes place. In the meantime, it casts a bit of a pall over the these blogs. I have had several thoughts I considered blogging about, but given the future of the Church Herald, it felt somehow inappropriate, like I would be dancing on a fresh grave.
Right before General Synod, I was contacted by Terry DeYoung, managing editor of the Church Herald, to offer my take and evaluation on these blogs...Read more.
Friday, July 17, 2009 at 1:00PM (from Leighton Seys)
House of Prayer: Part IV June 25, 2009
“These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my alter; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isa 56:7)
Our father which art in heaven, I come before you with praise and prayers this day. We are your people and so I come before you because of who you are, and what you have done for us. Lord I seek to make true what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah and what Jesus longed to be true, that your house will be a house a prayer.
Lord help me to start with myself, right where I am...Read more.
Monday, July 13, 2009 at 4:35PM (Reader Response post from Marjorie Dragt)
We are very sad to read that the Church Herald is being discontinued. My husband, Rev. Herman H. Dragt is a retired RCA minister, but there are no Reformed Churches near our present residence. Therefore, our only contact with the RCA for the last 19 years has been through the Herald. We have been happy to pay...Read more.
Monday, July 13, 2009 at 11:14AM (from Kevin DeYoung)
Whatever lasting impact John Calvin has had on the church of Jesus Christ, and on the whole world for that matter, is owing to his commitment to understanding and explaining the word of God. From sermons to lectures to letters to tracts to treatises to confessions to catechisms to books, his adult life was consumed with one thing: the word of God–the word as a summons to obedience, the word as a blueprint for reform, the word as the foundation for all truth...Read more.
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 1:00PM (from Leighton Seys)
House of Prayer: Part III - June 18, 2009
Jesus said, “My house will be called a house of prayer.” (Luke 19:46)
Over the past two weeks I have talked about ideas of re-visioning the way we pray to become a “house of prayer.” I have talked a bit about how we pray and what prevents us from praying or becoming a people of prayer. This week I want to spend more time reflecting on the who are we praying for.
Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all in authority.” (I Tim 2:1-2a)
Well, that doesn't really narrow it down very much...Read more.