Blog - Page 191 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Basic Christianity: The Right Approach

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:19-05:00May 27th, 2009|Categories: Biblical Theology|

Yesterday, I referred to the fiftieth anniversary edition of John R. Stott's classic book, Basic Christianity. Today I return to this incredibly useful book to comment on Stott's opening chapter where he lays our what he calls: "The Right Approach."

Stott says that the first four words of the Bible are more than an introduction to the creation story or the book of Genesis. "They supply the key which opens our understanding to the Bible as a whole" (11). What these four words tell us, all interpretive issues regarding Genesis aside, is that the religion of the Bible is the religion in which God takes the initiative. Again, Stott has the ability to cut away so much that is less than central to the faith to get at what really, truly matters. Here is how he puts it:

You can never take God by surprise. You can never anticipate him. He always makes the first move. He is always […]

Basic Christianity: A True Classic

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:19-05:00May 26th, 2009|Categories: Biblical Theology|

No modern author has given the church a greater written treasure, at least regarding what is essential to Christianity and real faith, than John R. Stott. I have written about John R. Stott in several previous blogs over the last four years or so. I love to encourage a new generation of readers to discover the importance of his work for evangelism, apologetics and solid biblical theology. Stott's small book, Basic Christianity (first published in 1958) was recently released in a fiftieth anniversary edition, thus making it a true classic now available in a new format and special edition. I use this particular book to teach young believers. I also use it to guide those who have never had a "basic" introduction to the central truths of Christian faith, even if they've been in the church for decades. This is a book that both Catholic and evangelical readers can profit from precisely because Stott addresses the "fundamental claims of Christianity" not the polemical issues that still […]

A "Holy Day" In America

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:20-05:00May 25th, 2009|Categories: America and Americanism|

Today is truly one of America's national "holy days." I am not saying this either as a form of judgment or of complete approval. It simple is what it is, a day to remember our national experience and the incredible sacrifice of our own to protect and defend this nation. I am grateful for the day myself. The tomb of the unknown soldier, seen at the left, still moves me very deeply every time I visit this site. I have friends who gave their lives for me and this nation. I respect and honor their sacrifice.

But I believe we who are Christians first and foremost ought to understand that this celebration is intimately connected to civil religion, a form of national religious expression that has nothing to do with the kingdom of God, at least not directly. It certainly has nothing to do with the Church and her mission to make disciples.

Church and State […]

A Weekend for Family

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:20-05:00May 24th, 2009|Categories: Personal|

God gave me a unique and Christ-centered family heritage. My dad has been gone for twenty-three years in June and my mom passed away in November of 2007. I have one brother, almost four years older than me. He likes to remind me that he is also four years smarter. I don't tend to argue.

Like most siblings we had our share of rivalry growing up but we generally got along well, with me tagging along a great deal with the older boys. Since we were always four years apart our teachers were always comparing us in some ways. (Tom would finish elementary school, junior high school, or high school, and then I would come along, etc.) This did not create a problem but it did generate a few laughs along the way. Thomas William Armstrong (1945) was born at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where our father was an army officer serving as a dentist during World War […]

Catherine of Genoa: Discovering the Love of God

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:20-05:00May 23rd, 2009|Categories: Spirituality|

Catherine of Genoa (1447–1510), named after Catherine of Siena, was born into an illustrious family named Guelph. Two from her father’s family were popes. Her father was the viceroy of Naples, and a cousin was a member of the College of Cardinals. In 1463 she was married to Giuliano Adorno, a wealthy and very worldly individual, with whom she had almost nothing in common. (Those who praise “arranged marriage” with sentimentality, or an embrace of patriarchy, should take note!) Some ten years after marriage Catherine was converted to a contemplative life. In the same year her husband lost his fortune. With their remaining income they sought simple quarters among the poor of Genoa. Giuliano underwent what appears to be a genuine conversion and became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. They both worked among the poor and the ill. In 1479 they left to live in the hospital and give their time in service to the sick and dying. A year later Giuliano […]

The Great American Religious Switch

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:20-05:00May 22nd, 2009|Categories: The Church|

We are a nation that “switches” a lot of personal choices. A recent Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life says we change, or switch, our religious preferences often as well. Indeed, the AP says “we are a nation of drifters.” About half of Americans switch faith affiliation at least once during their lives.

Nothing in this report surprises anyone who has been a Christian in America for long. Brand names—Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, etc.—mean less and less. But the reasons for swapping do vary according to the survey. If one grows up Roman Catholic they are more likely to leave their church because they stopped believing its teaching. Many Protestants change churches too, but less because of teaching and more because of changed circumstances in one’s life. I have long felt this was the case, based purely on anecdote, so this evidence served to confirm my sense of things.

What did surprise me was the reason those […]

The Institutes of the Christian Religion

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:21-05:00May 21st, 2009|Categories: Reformed Christianity|

Yesterday I referred to Anthony N. S. Lane's new primer, A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes (Baker, 2009). I highly recommend this helpful small book.

It dawns on me that it might be helpful to comment on Calvin's aims in writing this famous theological treatise. The Institutes appeared in several different editions, over the course of several decades. Each edition included changes and additions by the author. Each edition tells something of Calvin's growing awareness of what he was writing for on the title page. In those days title pages were long and gave you the back thesis of the author. (How publishing has changed over the years!)

In the 1536 edition Calvin wrote:

Embracing almost the whole sum of piety and whatever is necessary to know in the doctrine of salvation: A work most worthy to be read by all persons zealous for piety.

Calvin is saying that what he wrote […]

A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:21-05:00May 20th, 2009|Categories: Reformed Christianity|

I would guess that 9 in 10 people I meet have no real idea what the term "Calvinism" actually means. Most have never read John Calvin. Most have only met a few very conservative Calvinists who promote things like TULIP and various scholastic readings of the great reformer. (And quite a few of these are mean, separatistic and critical of almost every other expression of the Christian faith) While the TULIP does have clear historical connection with the post-Calvin developments at the Synod of Dort in Holland (and thus the conclusions of the Synod are preserved in Reformed churches down to the present time as one of the three forms of confessional unity) Dort is clearly not the whole story. When TULIP becomes the strong focus then Calvinism becomes a lot like looking at a lovely person by staring at one, not so complete and not so clear, "photo-shopped" picture. And this picture is neither accurate nor helpful.

The real Calvin is flawed. But […]

More Encouragement on the Progress of David Stopke

By John Armstrong|2009-05-19T05:00:00-05:00May 19th, 2009|Categories: Personal|

My friend David Stopke continues to improve. He was flown by helicopter last Tuesday, May 12, from Las Vegas to Denver. His son, David, Jr., was also aboard the chopper. This decision to transport David indicates that he was strong enough to handle the move. The desire was to remove him from the use of the respirator and to allow him to breath again on his own. Denver has a facility that is better able to handle this issue and to work with his recovery. He arrived in good shape and a specialist is now treating him. On Saturday, May 16, he was put in a wheelchair for the first time. On Sunday, May 17, they began to take him off the ventilator, for five minutes on the first attempt. He did very well. Progress is incremental and obviously very slow. The prognosis is that he could be in Denver for three to four months before he can go home to Lake Havasu City (AZ).

Please pray for David, his wife Eva, and for their three sons and […]

The President's Honorary Degree at Notre Dame: The "Real" Issue

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:21-05:00May 18th, 2009|Categories: Abortion|

President Obama gave the commencement address at Notre Dame this past weekend, following weeks of protest and disagreement from within the Catholic Church and beyond. Pro-life advocates were unhappy and pro-choice advocates saw this occasion as a step in the right direction.

Now that the occasion has come and gone there are several things worthy of comment concerning what the "real" issues were in this instance.

1. The real issue here was not “academic freedom.” It never was the issue even though the press spun it this way. Notre Dame is totally free to invite the president of the United States to deliver such a commencement address on such an occasion. This was never the real debate.

2. The granting of an doctoral degree, which is given as an honor if it means anything at all, was always the real issue here. The U. S. Catholic Bishops issued a statement in 2004 which said Catholic institutions […]