The Truth About Thanksgiving

Here's a good, if trifle simplistic, overview:

Scotland Out is Bad for the Faith

Of course, this comes as no surprise, since the religion of the Scottish Nationalists, like Nationalists everywhere, is themselves. It's because of the weakening of the Reformed Faith that the Scots are even considering leaving the union.

As the author of the listed piece notes, Scotland needs more than a "No Thanks" vote, Scotland (and England) need a "Gospel Yes" vote.

3 Things to Remember when Praying for Scotland

The English Churchman

The English Churchman was recommended to me by a friend and Orange brother. They seem soundly Reformed. I'll let their introduction speak for them:

"The English Churchman  is a Christian newspaper which was established in the UK in 1843 and incorporated St James Chronicle of 1761. Hopefully that long record says more than would the usual bunch of flattering commendations from friends or boasts of ourselves. Like the Apostle Paul, we would rather glory in our infirmities in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ alone."

Additionally, they approach topics of the day with wit and wisdom:


 English Churchman is seeking to expand their subscription base to North America.  Hie thee hence to their archives for some examples of their excellent work.

Thank You, Christian White Men

A Refreshing Pangeric from Andrew Klavan:

Jesuit school cozies up to Abortion Broker

Seattle University, a Jesuit Catholic university, is being targeted over its relationship with Planned Parenthood.

The school, which was founded in 1891, is engaging in a relationship with Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion organizations in a way that is entirely inappropriate for a Catholic institution, says Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS).

From Here

Trick or Tract?

If you put a Gospel tract into someone's trick-or-treat pumpkin, would you be worried about the reaction?

In today's hyper-sensitive times, it's a prudent thought - but what a great way to spread the Good News? In a non-regulated poll at USA Today, over 47% of voters said they would be happy to discuss Salvation with trick-or-treat children, only 30% said they would throw the tract away with the stale candy. 18% said they would be "Offended", which considering the pagan embrace of Halloween culture, isn't as bad as it could be.

Undoubtably, Halloween's roots are rooted in pagan Samhain - but paganism is a factor in the placing of many of our Christian Holy Days - Christmas stands atop Saturnalia and Easter lies near the Spring Equinox. These proximate dates were selected by the Church as a way to distract and combat paganism, while spreading the Word and glorifying God.

So, I'm liking this idea. If I suffer the little children to knock upon my door next year, they'll get their customary candy, and something that will, if accepted, last them a whole lot longer - a message that never gets stale.

Reformation Sunday - A Bulwark Never Failing

To those "Anglicans" who question the effectiveness of the Reformation, or whether is was a good thing - today, as we read of alleged "Anglicans" abandoning the reformed Church of England for reprobate Rome, we are reminded that the winnowing of grain from stubble is an ongoing and perpetual process until Kingdom come.



Though I must extend some sympathy to my estranged Roman brethern, for at least they know what they believe and hold fast to it. Luther, however, has demolished the "Treasury of Merit" notion which still holds countless Roman Catholics in error.

"I believe that there is no concept within the Roman Catholic Church that is more basely repugnant to Protestants than the concept of the treasury of merit. A person who believes in justification by faith alone weeps at this notion. This is because Protestants also believe in a treasury of merit, one that is infinite and inexhaustible, but we believe that treasury is filled with the merit of the Son of God alone. The issue in the indulgences controversy is the sufficiency of Christ alone to redeem a person. According to Protestantism, justification happens on the basis of Christ’s merit credited to His people. For Rome, we are never finally saved until we have sufficient merit of our own."

—R. C. Sproul, Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism (Reformation Trust Publishing, 2012), 76.

Spiritually earnest people were told to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions. They were encouraged to acquire this “merit”, which was at the disposal of the church, by purchasing certificates of indulgence. This left them wondering if they had done or paid enough to appease God's righteous anger and escape his judgment. This was the context that prompted Luther’s desire to refocus the church on salvation by grace
through faith on account of Christ by imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. To those spiritually oppressed by indulgences and not given assurance of God’s grace, Luther proclaimed free grace to God’s true saints:

God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind, and life to none but the dead. He does not give saintliness to any but sinners, nor wisdom to any but fools. In short: He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace. Therefore no arrogant saint, or just or wise man can be material for God, neither can he do the work of God, but he remains confined within his own work and
makes of himself a fictitious, ostensible, false, and deceitful saint, that is, a hypocrite (Luther W.A. 1.183ff).