A personal favourite of mine.

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/737236

Not specifically related to Reformed theology, but a good read and important for our understanding of scriptural transmission.

Gavin describes his journey as "Deconstructing some things, but coming back to the core and finding it stronger and more durable than I ever anticipated"

What caused Gavin's doubts:

• General angst: "What if I'm wrong?"
• Disillusionment with popular Evangelicalism and some of its leaders
• The issues of creation and evolution

What renewed Gavin's confidence:

• The integrity and historicity of the gospels
• Cosmological, design and moral arguments for God
• The compelling person of Jesus Christ
• The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus
• The personal experience of God's faithful guidance

"If you in that place will trust and keep pushing forward toward the light and put your trust in God, he will meet you there... I don't know how to explain that. I just have experienced it"

cross-posted from: https://exploding-heads.com/post/171542

Counterpoint: Decline in religion doesn’t bode well for the republic

This might not seem like a crisis, but the American Founders would have disagreed. These men saw that self-government depended on morality and virtue, which, in turn, depended on religion. As George Washington stated in his Farewell Address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indisputable supports.”

The idea is often endorsed that the gospels are mythical or legendary traditions which developed many years and miles from the stories they report. Or that the four gospels are only a few among many other gospels that were rejected for no good reason. This video gives a starting place for showing these views are not compatible with the evidence. The four gospels stand far apart from their peers by an exceptional and verifiable inclusion of specialised knowledge that was local and contemporary to the reported events.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1, ESV

"The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"

Romans 3:21-24, ESV

"Salvation is not a reward for the righteous. It's a gift for the guilty."

Have you come across "Ready to Harvest" on youtube? I really appreciate Joshua's commitmement to expressing a neutral point of view and I find his overviews of various denominations and groups are tremendously helpful.

As I perform and observe much of the music we see in church these days, I find much of it inspires things like comfort. "Good and Gracious King", "Good Good Father", "Reckless Love", "Waymaker", and the like. But I think on some of the hymns I remember singing when I was younger, and I remember songs like "Because He Lives", "Be Strong in the Lord", "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?", "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", and "Holy Holy Holy". These songs inspire strength when I listen to them. Is there any modern service music like this?