I was perusing (spelling?) my mail the other day, and came across an article by John Armstrong in a recent Viewpoint newsletter from Reformation and Revival ministries. Sadly, you do not often see an article about doctrinal and systematic theological revival as the solution to the problem of applying God's Word to our lives. As John said, we're endlessly trying to move the knowledge of God "from the head to the heart." Yet this is a tragic error. We cannot apply what we do not understand. And most Christians remain ignorant of doctrine that may help them in daily life. There's two main reasons for this: Christians in general do not read the Bible enough to retain what is contained within it, and there is a widespread belief that such knowledge is reserved for pastors and the like. Nothing could be further from the truth. Doctrinal purity and faithful practice absolutely depends on an active, engaged laity with the ability to teach themselves. Having read Knowing Scripture by R. C. Sproul over the break, then coming across John's article, it seems many leaders sense these problems, and are stepping up.
I once had a friend, a dear friend, who helped me with personal care needs in college. Reformed Presbyterian to the core. When I was a Reformed Presbyterian, I visited their church many times. We were close. I still consider his siblings my friends. (And siblings in the Lord.) Nevertheless, when I began to consider the claims of the Catholic Church to be the Church Christ founded, he took me out to breakfast. He implied--but never quite stated--that we would not be brothers, if I sought full communion with the Catholic Church. That came true; a couple years later, I called him on his birthday, as I'd done every year for close to ten of them. He didn't recognize my number, and it was the most strained, awkward phone call I have ever had. We haven't spoken since. We were close enough that I attended the rehearsal dinner for his wedding. His wife's uncle is a Catholic priest. I remember reading a blog post of theirs, that early in their relationship, she told him of the p
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