Monthly Archives: September 2005

Higher Education in America

Posted on September 30, 2005 by John Armstrong

The current issue of The Weekly Standard (October 3, 2005) has a marvelous article by James Piereson entitled "The Left University" (www.weeklystandard.com). It is must reading for serious Christian thinkers who care about the future of higher education in this … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | 1 Comment

Interpreting the Bible: The False Assumptions of Modernism

Posted on September 29, 2005 by John Armstrong

An excellent new book, Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament (Baker Academic, 2005), by Professor Peter Enns of Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), has begun to stir controversy in very conservative circles. This is particularly sad … Continue reading →

Posted in Hermeneutics | 20 Comments

The Soul of True Science

Posted on September 23, 2005 by John Armstrong

The methods of modern science rest upon an assurance that the world is both rational and contingent. Science advances by the observation of phenomena and through induction from the results of this observation. Nature is really real and scientists can … Continue reading →

Posted in Science | 1 Comment

A Godly Man Seeks Office

Posted on September 22, 2005 by John Armstrong

I do not make it a practice to "endorse" political candidates. I believe active Christian ministers, who serve the gospel as their primary calling, should speak faithfully and prophetically to all parties, all practices and all viewpoints, without aligning themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

Politics Does Not Change Culture

Posted on September 21, 2005 by John Armstrong

Perhaps the most eggregious error being made by conservative Christians, with regard to our present attempts to promote morality and Christian witness in the public sphere, is the false notion that politics can actually change culture. Make no mistake about … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | 3 Comments

Three Vital Qualities for Ministers

Posted on September 16, 2005 by John Armstrong

One of my dearest friends, a fellow minister of the gospel, regularly challenges both my mind and heart about gospel ministry. The two of us have walked together as brothers and best friends for nearly thirty years. In conversation yesterday, … Continue reading →

Posted in The Christian Minister/Ministry | 2 Comments

The Danger of Ministerial Ambition

Posted on September 15, 2005 by John Armstrong

I give a great deal of my personal time to ministers. I love ministers. I love the church even more. Because of these two great loves I sometimes have real conflicts. If forced to choose, and thankfully I am not … Continue reading →

Posted in The Christian Minister/Ministry | 1 Comment

Newbigin: A Modern Prophet?

Posted on September 14, 2005 by John Armstrong

In teaching my class on apologetics for evangelism at Wheaton this term I am daily afforded the joy of thinking about how to defend the faith in a Western, and increasingly postmodern, context. One figure in the twentieth century stands … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Leave a comment

A Day in Pittsburgh with Two Faithful Friends

Posted on September 12, 2005 by John Armstrong

I went to Pittsburgh today for a short visit with John Rodgers, the former president and dean at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, and Philip Houghton, the pastor of an Episcopal parish church in Bedford, Pennsylvania. John has … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | Leave a comment

Personal Reflections on Mainline Evangelical Churches

Posted on September 11, 2005 by John Armstrong

The Protestant "mainline" is a common description used to refer to churches in America that are in fellowship with the older, historic denominations rooted in early American history; e.g. Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Reformed, etc. These groups are … Continue reading →

Posted in Renewal | 2 Comments