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Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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Theologia

Reflections on the Importance of Predestination in the Christian Mindset

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt…

by Mark HorneJune 4, 1998
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Biblical Horizons

The Case Against Western Civilization, Part 5

Part 5: Laying New Foundations in a Dying World As I mentioned above, the history of Israel involved several centuries as a church-without-a-culture, and then several centuries as a culture-without-a-city. To be sure, there was an informal culture around the church of the Patriarchs, but the civilization of free farmers…

by James B. JordanJune 4, 1998
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Baptism

Why Do We Baptize?

In the Reformation Tradition we baptize both professing believers and their children. In the case of infants it is now commonly insisted that this is done because the children are already in covenant with God. Baptism is a sign and seal of a previously existing reality. Despite the popularity of…

by Mark HorneJune 3, 1998
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Eucharist

This Is What We Are:

Concerning Sex & the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the loaf of bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one loaf, we who are many…

by Mark HorneJune 3, 1998
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Baptism

Sacramental Efficacy

Protestant-Catholic debates about the sacraments have usually taken the form of debates about sacramental efficacy. Protestants claim that Catholics believe that sacraments work ex opere operato, virtually a magical view of the sacraments. A priest goes through the motions and says the mumbo-jumbo and — presto! — the sacraments confer…

by Peter LeithartJune 3, 1998
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Baptism

Baptism and the Church

In 27.2, the Westminster Confession says that because of the “spiritual relation” between sacraments and the things they represent, “the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.” Applied to baptism, this means that when the Bible says that we are baptized into Christ (Rom. 6), it…

by Peter LeithartMay 29, 1998

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Calendar

Living in Season

Sylvie Vanhoozer’s Art of Living In Season is a beautiful book. Vanhoozer’s meditations on the art of living are organized by the church calendar, and so guide the reader to live in ways appropriate to each season of the year – the “art of living in season” of her title.…

May 14, 2024
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EucharistLord's Supper

We Are God's Hospitality

The true God, the living God, is a hospitable God. He’s eternally hospitable. The life of God is infinitely faithful, infinitely joyful welcome. God is hospitality. God is hospitable because He’s Triune. As we confess every Sunday, we believe in one God who exists in three Persons. The Son isn’t…

March 19, 2024
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LeviticusFood

Table of Demons

Let’s stipulate some translations. The Hebrew sheretz = “swarmer”; remesh = “creeper”; chayyah = “beast.” In the original creation, swarmers are found only in the water (Gen 1:20-21), while creepers are on land (1:24-26). Only after the flood do swarmers swarm on earth (Gen 7:21 is the turning point). There…

March 12, 2024
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Theopolis News

Theopolis Appointment

We're pleased to announce that Jackson Waters has been added to the Theopolis team as interim Executive Editor of the Theopolis blog. Jack is currently a student at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he also serves as Youth Director at Christ the King Anglican Church (ACNA). A graduate…

September 19, 2023
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Uncategorized

Cautions About Conversion

Wisdom from my old friend and colleague, Rev. Rich Bledsoe, on conversion . People "meet" Jim Jordan, and have the bracing thrill of escaping the flatness of just living and being in the 21st century. They might take off to the thrilling different world of Eastern Orthodoxy. They experience the…

August 7, 2023
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AbortionAmerican Culture

Love the Little Children

First we slaughtered unborn babies in their mothers' wombs. Then we started killing babies born from "botched" abortions. Or born babies that didn't look quite perfect. Now we're butchering the bodies of children in an insane attempt to turn them into their opposites. And the UN is undermining age of…

April 19, 2023

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