Monthly Archives: March 2009

The Great Debate: Psalms vs. Hymns

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 31, 2009

Before blogs existed, email did. (From the NTJ, Jan. 1997) From: Glenn Morangie To: T. Glen Livet Date: 9/3/96 9:28am Subject: Hymns Glen, The word here in Green Bay is that I am not impressed by arguments against exclusive psalmody. Mr. Mears gave one in Sunday School this week. Here are my reasons: 1) that… Read More→

Posted in Shock and Awe | 37 Comments

How Cultural Warriors Morphed into Culture Vultures

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 30, 2009

See the book review here.

Posted in Shameless Selves Promotion | Leave a comment

Still Crazy After All These Years

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 27, 2009

(From NTJ, 39 Alexander Hall, July 1998) While the principle is subject to abuse, we would affirm the idea that communities of faith, like individuals, are products of their age. For example, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, founded in 1936, came about immediately following what historian Robert Handy has described as the great religious depression in… Read More→

Posted in Miscellany | 6 Comments

What if Lutherans and Reformed Agreed on Sanctification?

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 26, 2009

Some Reformed will concede agreement with Lutherans on justification.  But they draw the line at sanctification.  Supposedly, the Lutheran doctrine of salvation is so justification-centric that Lutheranism neglects the other benefits of salvation. A piece by David P. Scaer, professor of systematic theology at Concordia, Ft. Wayne, suggests that Lutherans are closer to Reformed than… Read More→

Posted in Miscellany | 15 Comments

Speaking of Front Porch Republic

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 24, 2009

Caleb Stegall, a descendant of five generations of Covenanter preachers — so you know he must be good (and odd), tells about his experience with preparing a hog to go to the butcher.  Aside from being funny, it is a reminder to all of us would-be agrarians that the trade off between soul-killing office work… Read More→

Posted in Wendell Berry | 1 Comment

At Least One Alliance Knows Where It Stands on Baptism

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 23, 2009

That is a plausibly drawn conclusion after the kerfuffle created by Mark Dever’s post on “Things He Can and Cannot Live With.”   Like others to comment on this post, I admire Mark and count him a friend.  During a recent conference at Southern Baptist Seminary, where Mark is chairman of the board,  he and I enjoyed several pleasant… Read More→

Posted in Christian politics | 11 Comments

Give It Up

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 23, 2009

It, in this case, is evangelicalism. Rick Phillips, over at the Ref21 blog, comments on Michael Spencer’s (aka Internet Monk) piece on the collapse of evangelicalism. Phillips writes: . . . what many have been saying for years is true: American evangelicalism is for the most part non-Christian, if biblical definitions are used. Bible doctrine… Read More→

Posted in Wilderness Wanderings | 4 Comments

Timmerman is Our (Paleo-Calvinist) Homeboy

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 22, 2009

If any publications inspired the NTJ, it was (and is) the New Republic, First Things, and the Reformed Journal (not necessarily in that order). The latter has not been in print for over a decade, but it was a refreshing, provocative and often wrong-headed outlet for considerations of Reformed faith and practice.  The quotation below comes from… Read More→

Posted in Shock and Awe, Wilderness Wanderings | 7 Comments

Why John Calvin Was No Neo-Calvinist (and pass the Paxil)

By D. G. Hart | Published: March 21, 2009

Now our blockishness arises from the fact that our minds, stunned by the empty dazzlement of riches, power, and honors, become so deadened that they can see no farther. The heart also, occupied with avarice, ambition, and lust, is so weighed down that it cannot rise up higher. In fine, the whole soul, enmeshed in… Read More→

Posted in Piety without Exuberance | 5 Comments