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Tale of Two Calvins 10 July, 2009

Posted by Benjamin P. Glaser in Anniversary, Barthianism, Biblical Hermenuetics, Books, Calvin 500, Controversy, Covenant Theology, Dr. C Matthew McMahon, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin, Liberation Theology, Limited Atonement, Paul Helm, PC (USA), Penal Substitution, Puritanism, Reformed Dogmatics, Richard Muller, Roger Nicole, T.F. Torrance, Westminster Confession.
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This is my obligatory Calvin 500th birthday post

The occasion of Calvin’s 500th Birthday has led to competing “celebrations” of Calvin’s life and work in Geneva over the last week. One led by WARC, WCC, and other “mainline” organizations that featured such speakers as  Clifton Kirkpatrick, former Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) (read some his thoughts on Calvin here ) and Setri Nyomi, Pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana (He is quoted as saying Calvin would have been for furthering Marxist ideals in society). The other is being backed by NAPARC and other more “conservative” Reformed and Presbyterian Groups (see their website here). So much so that they were required to “share” venues in Calvin’s adopted town. One celebrates the Calvin read through the eyes of Modern Liberalism and Neo-Orthodoxy (read here: Liberation Theology and Karl Barth) and the other allows the John Calvin of 16th-Century Geneva speak for himself (no bias here).  It makes one wonder if both sides are celebrating the same man or each have developed, to paraphrase Albert Schweitzer’s quip about the 19th-Century “Quest for the Historical Jesus”, a Calvin that looks, breathes, and thinks like a reincarnated version of themselves.

Blessings,

As an example here is a Calvin article on a doctrine John Calvin vigorously defended that the Neo-Orthodox and Liberationists would have to and do deal gymnastically with:

On Limited Atonement:

Dr. Roger Nicole Deftly and Carefully Turns Away the Thoughts of R.T. Kendall on Calvin’s Thoughts on the Extent of the Atonement.

For those unaware R.T. Kendall wrote one of the oft quoted books concerning the “Calvin vs. the Calvinists” discussion. In other words it is Kendall’s these that specifically the Westminster Divines (and their Confession of Faith) “bastardized” John Calvin and made him out to believe things he never believed. Dr. Nicole here takes apart Kendell’s thesis. (Also be sure to check out Paul Helm’s two books (Find them here and here) and Richard Muller’s book on the same subject here) that also show Kendall to be quite incorrect in his thoughts concerning Calvin and Westminster)

A Puritans Mind 5 March, 2008

Posted by Benjamin P. Glaser in A Puritans Mind, Dr. C Matthew McMahon, General.
11 comments

The long time readers of this blog will remember the public spat I had with Dr. C. Matthew McMahon way back in 2006. Well after a long discernment process I have accepted his counsel these later days and now tell you to feel free and use A Puritans Mind at your leisure.

Thank You

How I Was Banned Or How Dr. C. Matthew McMahon of A Puritans Mind Called Me an Apostate 19 October, 2006

Posted by Benjamin P. Glaser in Dr. C Matthew McMahon, General, PC (USA).
23 comments

I recently starting posting on the Message Board of www.apuritansmind.com. That was until Dr. C. Matthew McMahon banned me from the Message Board for being a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Calling it an apostate denomination that by my affiliation with it I was not welcome on his message board. Calling my actions apostate were not enough so he said I was not a Christian. Here is the e-mail exchange between myself and Dr. C. Matthew McMahon:

CMM: Benjamin,
Not sure how this slipped by – The Puritanboard is governed by the RPCGA Presbytery and Christ Covenant RPC.Our denomination has stated that the PCUSA is an apostate denomination.Are you part of the PCUSA? Or is the PC(USA) somehow different?
Let me know ASAP.
CMM

Benjamin: I am a member of the PC(USA) and am therefore somehow apostate.

CMM: I’m not sure how that slipped by. If you want to renounce the PCUSA and thier ungodly practices, including thier statement which denies the deity of Christ, I’d be happy to reinstate you and welcome you into the Kingdom. If you persist in upholding, by vow, your position with them, it would be impossible for you to remain in thier ranks in good conscicne and still be a Christian.

Your position is…..? Yes, leaving them immediately, or No, I’m staying with them?

CMM

Benjamin: 1) Those of us who do consider the PC(USA) as apostate-myself included-are working from the inside to reform our once true denomination. I cannot by leaving the PC(USA) in good conscience abandon to the apostate leaders of the PC(USA) members of this church. Only from that route can anyone really move to save parishioners from the serpants that currently parade in the leadership of our denomination. I have and will continue to repudiate the decisions of the GA of the PC(USA) and ensure there reversal.

2)While the PC(USA) has done things which make the leadership apostate they have not-as of yet-denied the divinity of Christ. When that happens I will abandon my membership but until that time I will stay and try to fight off the will of Satan that has infused itself in the hearts of the leaders of the PC(USA).

3) I will not repudiate
my membership in the PC(USA) to ensure my place on a message board. I also deny your accusation of my not being of the elect or of not being Christian because of my membership in an earthly body. Christ’s kingdom is not of this earth therefore my membership does not belong to any earthbound organization but it belongs in the heavenly kingdom.

This was the e-mail I received after the last one was sent to Dr. McMahon.

You have been banned for the following reason:
No reason was specified.

Date the ban will be lifted: Never

I received an e-mail letting me know that I have been banned from the board for “an unspecified offense”. It may not need to be said but I have removed A Puritans Mind from the right bar section of this blog. I would also suggest that you do not use any of Dr. McMahon’s services. His hostility to me over posting on a message board notwithstanding I believe him to be himself quite enamored with his own mind and therefore will allow his Puritan mind to continue unfettered from the presence of this Apostate.

Christian Worship 25 February, 2006

Posted by Benjamin P. Glaser in 1st Corinthians, Dr. C Matthew McMahon, Worship.
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I have been doing a lot of studying this week on music and its place in worship. I found this article online and though I may not agree 100% with the author’s conclusions I found it to be quite helpful.

http://www.apuritansmind.com/PuritanWorship/
McMahonGodFaddishNostalgic.htm

Here are a couple quotes that I personally believe to be spot on.

“First, it is to be orderly. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” In the immense madness that characterized the Corinthian church and its chaotic worship, the Apostle took great lengths to order their worship. God is a God of order, not frenzy. Screaming up and down the church isles, rolling in the aisle, dancing around the sanctuary is not orderly. Nothing the church does in a worship service should distract other worshippers from worshipping God…”

“God alone determines how sinners approach Him. As a matter of fact, God determines how human beings or angelic beings approach Him as well. As Christians, we must continue to use God’s judgments, commandments and statutes as a rule and line to be drawn against anything which does not have a plain and divine appointment for worship.”

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