Living in an Anti-Christian World

Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology 2024

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“Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations…” — Revelation 2:25-26

A shift has taken place in recent years that Christians need to understand: we find ourselves suddenly living not merely in a world that is indifferent to the gospel but one that is distinctively anti-Christian. Observers have noted that since the Supreme Court’s affirmation of gay marriage, Christian beliefs are often regarded in the West as immoral and dangerous. This situation is nothing new to the church, of course. But it does call Christians to consider our need for courage and conviction while living in a culture that finds us socially unacceptable. Jesus wrote his letters to the churches of Revelation in an even more hostile culture, promising to bless those who remained steadfast. The 2024 PCRT will consider these themes, seeking to make Christians aware and fortify our churches to bear witness in a hostile age.

We are delighted to be joined by one old friend and one new friend. Peter Jones is no stranger to our members, having spoken previously at the PCRT. He is one of the foremost theologians addressing contemporary trends facing the church today. Having long served as the director of TruthXchange, Peter has also written several informative books, including Christian Truths/Pagan Lies. Dr. Aaron Renn, a senior fellow at American Reformer, joins us for the first time. His 2022 article, “The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism,” has spurred massive discussion among Christians and provided clarity to the church’s challenge today.  

We are excited to return to University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, as well as Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. We look forward to another year of rich theology amid God-centered doxology and to seeing you again this year or – if this is your first time – getting to know you during this rewarding weekend of Christian enrichment.  

Schedule

Pre-conference: Christ and Culture

Friday
8:00 a.m. Registration and coffee
9:15 a.m. For I Know the Plans, Richard Phillips
9:45 a.m. Biblical Models of Cultural Engagement, Richard Phillips
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Recommitting to the Biblical Church Mission, Richard Phillips
Noon: Lunch (at local restaurants)
2:00 p.m. Living Well in a Culture under Judgment, Richard Phillips
3:00 p.m. Question & Answer Session
3:45 p.m. End of Pre-Conference

Conference: Living in an Anti-Christian World

Friday
6:00 p.m. Conference Registration
7:00 p.m. Opening of the 2024 PCRT
First Address: Serving the King of Kings, Rick Phillips

Saturday
7:30 a.m. Late Registration
8:30 a.m. Second Address: The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism, Aaron Renn
10:00 a.m. Third Address: Strengthening Evangelicalism as a Counterculture, Aaron Renn
11:00 a.m. Question & Answer Session (All Speakers)
12:00 p.m. Lunch (at local restaurants)
2:00 p.m. Fourth Address: Living in a Marxist Culture, Peter Jones
3:15–4:30 p.m. Workshops

The Lion’s Mouth and the Apologetic Moment, Bruce Baugus (MI)
Submission to the Civil Magistrate in a Hostile Culture, T. David Gordon
The New Liberalism: Machen in the 21st Century, Pierce Taylor Hibbs (PA)
Is Reformed Worship Eurocentric?  Richard Phillips

4:30 p.m. Dinner (at local restaurants)
7:00 p.m. Fifth Address: Christian Witness in a Marxist Culture, Peter Jones

Sunday 
Sixth Address: Such Good Lives, Richard Phillips
8:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. PCRT worships with University Reformed Church, East Lansing
10:30 a.m. PCRT worships with Proclamation Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr

Speaker Biographies

	Bruce Baugus teaches and writes on systematic theology, moral theology, and apologetics and directs the ThM program at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He also serves on the Global Coordination Team and frequently teaches at Puritan Reformed’s global campuses. Dr. Baugus has a Ph.D. in philosophical theology from Calvin Theological Seminary and served on the faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, for fourteen years before joining Puritan Reformed. He is a teaching elder in the PCA, previously serving as a pastor, and currently serves on various Great Lakes Presbytery and General Assembly committees. Bruce is the author of The Historical Roots of Reformed Moral Theology, the editor of China’s Reforming Churches, and has contributed numerous chapters, articles, and papers.
	T. David Gordon is a retired author living in Grove City, PA. He was previously professor of Religion and Greek at Grove City College, teaching courses in Religion, Greek, Humanities, and Media Ecology. Prior to that, he taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and was pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashua, NH. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. Dr. Gordon has contributed to a number of books and study Bibles and has published scholarly and popular reviews and articles in journals and periodicals such as The Westminster Theological Journal, Journal for the Evangelical Theological Society,  Modern Reformation, and The Ordained Servant.  He is the author of a number of books, including Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers and Choose Better: Five Biblical Models for Making Ethical Decisions (2024).
	Pierce Taylor Hibbs (MAR, ThM Westminster Theological Seminary) serves as senior writer and communication specialist at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is the award-winning author of about 20 books, including Theological English (2019 ECPA Finalist), Struck Down but Not Destroyed (2020 Illumination Book Awards), The Book of Giving (2021 Illumination Book Awards), and The Great Lie (2022 Illumination Book Awards). His latest work, Insider Outsider, focuses on apologetics and Christ-likeness (The Christ-Light). He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three kids.
	Peter Jones is associate pastor at New Life Presbyterian Church (Escondido, CA), director of truthXchange, and scholar in residence at Westminster Seminary, CA. Born in Liverpool, England, he attended the University of Wales, Gordon Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Peter has taught at La Faculté Libre de Théologie Réformée d’Aix-en-Provence and Westminster Seminary California. In 2003, Dr. Jones left seminary education to start the ministry now known as truthXchange. Since then, he has worked full-time, speaking and writing about what has now become the “spiritual but not religious” movement that has so heavily influenced the upcoming generations. He is the author of several books, including The Other Worldview: Exposing Christianity's Greatest Threat and Whose Rainbow: God's Gift of Sexuality: A Divine Calling. Peter and his wife Rebecca have seven children and numerous grandchildren.
	Richard Phillips is the senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. He is the author of numerous books and frequently speaks at conferences on the Bible and Reformed theology. He is the chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology and co-editor of the Reformed Expository Commentary series (P&R). An adjunct professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he serves on the board of trustees, Rick also serves on the board of directors of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He and his wife Sharon have five children and live in Greenville. Rick is an avid University of Michigan sports follower and enjoys reading historical fiction.
	Aaron Renn is a writer and consultant in Indianapolis who is a co-founder and senior fellow at American Reformer. He had a first career in management and technology consulting, advising major corporations as a partner at Accenture. His second career was in urban policy as a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Today, he focuses on helping conservatives and the American church rise to the challenge of finding success in the 21st century. His work has appeared in several leading global publications, including The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and others. He is frequently cited in publications around the world.

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