In our last article, we examined the Dichotomy of Control, refining it from a cold tool of resignation into a warm discipline of trust in Divine Providence. We established that the Christian life is not about detachment, but about entrusting the “sphere of results” to a Sovereign Father while fiercely attacking the “sphere of responsibility.” But… Continue reading The Four Stumps and the Three Trees: Cardinal vs. Theological Virtues
Author: Tony Arsenal
Topic 1, Question 1: Should the word “theology” be used in the Christian schools, and in how many ways can it be understood?
In the landscape of modern evangelicalism, and even within our own Reformed circles, there is a temptation to view technical language with suspicion. You have likely heard well-meaning brothers say, “I don’t need theology; I just need the Bible.” Perhaps you have heard the sentiment that “doctrine divides, but ministry unites.” There is a rugged… Continue reading Topic 1, Question 1: Should the word “theology” be used in the Christian schools, and in how many ways can it be understood?
The God-Man: On the Person of Christ the Mediator (WCF 8.1–8.4)
In Chapter 7, we discovered the glorious Covenant of Grace, God’s answer to the tragedy of the Fall. But a covenant requires a representative, and a broken relationship requires a bridge. Who is capable of spanning the infinite chasm between a holy God and sinful man? We now arrive at the very heart of the… Continue reading The God-Man: On the Person of Christ the Mediator (WCF 8.1–8.4)
But God Remembered Noah: Divine Faithfulness in the Flood (Gen. 8:1–22)
Loved ones, we ended the last chapter in silence. The fountains of the deep had burst, the windows of heaven had opened, and the world was buried under a chaotic, watery grave. For 150 days, the only life on earth was huddled inside a wooden box, drifting on a shoreless ocean. It is a picture… Continue reading But God Remembered Noah: Divine Faithfulness in the Flood (Gen. 8:1–22)
Providence and the Dichotomy of Control
We have now crossed the threshold. In our first module, Foundations, we established the “Why” and the “How” of Christian Stoicism. We excavated the history, justified the project theologically, and stress-tested the pagan worldview until it cracked. We concluded by watching the Apostle Paul on Mars Hill, giving us our marching orders to critical engagement. Now,… Continue reading Providence and the Dichotomy of Control
Series Introduction: Why We Need Turretin Today
If you walk into the study of a confessional Presbyterian pastor and look at the shelf behind his desk—the one reserved for the “heavy artillery”—you will almost certainly find a set of three large, green books published by P&R. They are daunting. They are dense. And for nearly three centuries, they were the standard by… Continue reading Series Introduction: Why We Need Turretin Today
A Pact of Life: On God’s Covenant with Man (WCF 7.1–7.6)
In the previous article, we faced the grim reality of the Fall. We saw humanity dead in sin, wholly defiled, and bound over to the wrath of God. If that were the end of the story, we would be without hope. But God, who is rich in mercy, did not leave us in that estate.… Continue reading A Pact of Life: On God’s Covenant with Man (WCF 7.1–7.6)
The Fountains of the Great Deep: A World Unmade by Water (Gen. 7:1–24)
Loved ones, for one hundred years, the sound of hammer on wood has echoed through a violent world. Noah, the “herald of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), has been building a massive vessel on dry land, a visible testament to his faith and a warning of things to come. Now, the construction is finished. The pitch… Continue reading The Fountains of the Great Deep: A World Unmade by Water (Gen. 7:1–24)
The Apostle on Mars Hill: Paul’s Critical Engagement with Stoic Thought
For the past several weeks, we have been engaged in a rigorous philosophical exercise. We have excavated the foundations of Stoicism, admired its ethical architecture, and stress-tested its worldview against the Christian doctrines of God, man, and the universe. We have argued that we should “plunder the Egyptians”—taking the gold of Stoic insight while leaving… Continue reading The Apostle on Mars Hill: Paul’s Critical Engagement with Stoic Thought
The Mid-Winter Mystery: A Chalcedonian Meditation
As a good Presbyterian who holds to the Regulative Principle of Worship, I am obligated to remind you that I have no religious reason to be writing this right now. The 25th of December is, ecclesiastically speaking, just another Thursday. We jokingly call it “Mid-Winter No Reason”—a time when the world inexplicably decides to decorate… Continue reading The Mid-Winter Mystery: A Chalcedonian Meditation