Seen & Heard Archive
After Outrage, What? From Outrage to Outreach by Scott Oliphint
Recent effects of despotic decisions by the Supreme Court have properly produced outrage. But outrage can subside, and it can become all too easy for us to slide back to our everyday routines. In the midst of our outrage, then, it might be worth pondering the question, "After outrage, what?" The abortion issue rightly focuses on the senseless death of the baby. If we zoom out from that focus, however, we'll notice someone else in the picture as well. Taking a wider view of the situation can give the church an effective, gospel-driven, way to address this tragedy.
SCOTUS: Too Much and Too Little by Rosaria Butterfield
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court issued the majority opinion in Obergefell et. al. v. Hodges, which consolidated four cases addressing the constitutionality of state bans on same-sex marriage. Led by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, the majority found state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Piggybacking off of the 14th amendment, the Supreme Court made sexual orientation a protected category, analogous to race, using cosmological language about the greater good that comes to all when homosexual sexual relationships are allowed to flourish under the invention of a new kind of marriage. Gay marriage is now the law of the land. This public policy change to the definition of marriage commands a redefinition of personhood.
Historicity of Adam: Read and Listen at Place for Truth
Place for Truth provides thoughtful yet accessible articles ranging over biblical theology, systematic theology, church history, and practical theology emphasizing the continual need for the church to maintain the gains of the Protestant Reformation. Our hope is that you have been stopping by Place for Truth and benefitting from the truths being shared. Here's a small sample of what you will find this week.
reformation21 on the church
reformation21 is an online magazine created to serve, edify, and educate Christians by presenting an authoritative Reformed perspective, while embracing various confessional positions, on a variety of relevant historic matters, current issues, and thoughtful positions that inform, inspire, and challenge Christians to think and grow biblically. This is a small sample of the types of articles you will find at reformation21. If you're not already a subscriber consider signing up today.
Proclaiming the Unifying Hope in Christ
True unity requires common identity. For Christians, that one unifying factor that binds is the body of Christ, the Church.
And while the future of the Church has and continues to divide believers, Paul points to the one hope that unites. Jesus Christ is going to come back. There will be a resurrection of the body. Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for all who know Him so as to spend eternity with Him.
Pentecost and the Work of the Spirit Today
Have you ever wondered what happened on Pentecost? What are the implications of what took place on Pentecost for the church today? What expectations ought Christians to have for the work of the Holy Spirit in their own lives and the lives of others? Christians today continue to be divided, sometimes deeply, over the answers to these questions.
The Christward Collective Highlights
The Christward Collective is an attempt to help introduce the reader to various aspects of theology, together with the experiential benefits that ought to flow from them. Whether systematic, biblical, exegetical, historical, or pastoral theology, we seek to help further equip believers for growth in their relationship with Christ and other believers. We hope you enjoy these highlights from ChristwardCollective.org.
Join as a Friend of the Alliance
Alliance Friends are committed and faithful partners in proclaiming the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Together we share the mission to uphold God's inerrant Word and its doctrines. Friends enable the Alliance to proclaim biblical doctrine in order to foster a Reformed awakening in the church.
Persuasion of the Mind – Enflaming of the Heart
Alliance members like you look to the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology for sound doctrine preached! Maybe you are fortunate to be in a church with confessional doctrine, but you see the need for others to have access to the same fruit-bearing teaching.
PCRT brings sound doctrine preached to thousands faithfully.
But it's larger than just PCRT; farther than just Philadelphia!
Alliance members sponsor events throughout the year, bringing proclamatory, expository teaching to more people across the continent.
Should We Equate Homosexual and Heterosexual Sin?
None of us want to provoke a needless offense or erect avoidable barriers when it comes to our gospel outreach to gays. At the same time, our duty to God requires us to be biblically accurate and to avoid giving false encouragement. Are there some ways in which homosexual and heterosexual sin are not the same? How does scripture categorize these sins? reformation21.org contributor Rick Phillips discusses these issues in his article Should We Equate Homosexual and Heterosexual Sin?