Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware: The Calvinists’ False Dichotomy

Calvinists Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware edited a book in which prominent Calvinists contributed chapters on the various difficulties that plague their Calvinism. The book is titled Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace.1 Schreiner and Ware wrote the preface and introduction. In the introduction, they write, “…we are convinced that the … Continue reading Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware: The Calvinists’ False Dichotomy →

Acts 18:10 : Pastor Josh Howerton’s Confusion Concerning Predestination / PART 2

In PART 1 of this paper, I provided the reasons why Josh Howerton's Calvinist interpretation of Acts 18:10 could not be the meaning of this text. It could not be referring to the Calvinist definition of predestination, which was Howerton's explanation of this verse. Here, I want to provide what I believe is the correct … Continue reading Acts 18:10 : Pastor Josh Howerton’s Confusion Concerning Predestination / PART 2 →

Acts 18:10: Pastor Josh Howerton’s Confusion Concerning Predestination / PART 1

Introduction In his June 30, 2025, "Soteriology 101" podcast, Leighton Flowers critiqued a sermon by Josh Howerton, the senior pastor of Lakepointe Church in Rockwall, TX. The podcast is titled, "Acts 18:10 is NOT teaching Calvinism." To establish the context for my remarks below, I encourage you to take time to listen to Leighton's podcast … Continue reading Acts 18:10: Pastor Josh Howerton’s Confusion Concerning Predestination / PART 1 →

A Theological Response to G. K. Beale’s Article: “An Exegetical and Theological Consideration of the Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart in Exodus 4-14 and Romans 9”

By Stephen Marcy, March 2008 / Revised March 2010, Oct. 2022 Beale’s Method and Purpose We need to state up front that Beale is a Calvinist,[1] and we also need to be clear that Calvinists believe in universal divine causal determinism.[2] I have demonstrated this as a fact in many places on this website, and here … Continue reading A Theological Response to G. K. Beale’s Article: “An Exegetical and Theological Consideration of the Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart in Exodus 4-14 and Romans 9” →

According to His Own Criteria, Is Erwin Lutzer’s Calvinist Soteriology Heretical?

Introduction Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago, emphatically states the following. “There are many doctrines over which we can be charitable and simply say that we do not have to agree. But the Gospel is one that we need to agree on.” [1] He also states that “the Gospel … Continue reading According to His Own Criteria, Is Erwin Lutzer’s Calvinist Soteriology Heretical? →

William Lane Craig’s Sound Evangelical Hermeneutical Principle

In his Defenders Series 3 Podcasts on the Doctrine of Man, Dr. William Lane Craig deals with the subject of the freedom of the will.[1] In three of these podcasts he compares the Calvinist and Catholic views and then provides what he believes is a more biblically accurate view through an exposition of Romans 9 … Continue reading William Lane Craig’s Sound Evangelical Hermeneutical Principle →

Christian Reflections on the Present Turmoil in America

Please listen to this timeless message by Billy Graham on racism and the gospel of Jesus Christ. This sermon, titled “God and the Color of Man’s Skin,” was preached in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1965 during a time of racial unrest and the civil rights movement in the United States. In this sermon, Billy preaches with clarity … Continue reading Christian Reflections on the Present Turmoil in America →

Ryken v. Ryken: Calvinist Inconsistency in Light of Billy Graham’s Gospel

Dr. Philip Ryken, former senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, is now president of Wheaton College. He believes that Calvinism is the biblical gospel and longs for it to be the pervasive soteriology in the evangelical church. He writes, “We long for the evangelical church to rediscover a theology of grace. Reformed … Continue reading Ryken v. Ryken: Calvinist Inconsistency in Light of Billy Graham’s Gospel →

Open Letter to Dr. Richard Land, President of Southern Evangelical Seminary

This letter was written on October 25, 2018 after last year's NCCA conference. October 25, 2018 Dr. Richard Land, President Southern Evangelical Seminary 15015 Lancaster Highway Charlotte, NC 28227 Dear Dr. Land, I want to thank you and SES for providing yet another informative and stimulating apologetics conference this year. I especially appreciated the … Continue reading Open Letter to Dr. Richard Land, President of Southern Evangelical Seminary →

An Open Letter to the Speakers and Attenders of the 2019 National Conference on Christian Apologetics (NCCA)

Revised in 2024 and 2025 The theme for the 2019 National Conference on Christian Apologetics (NCCA) was “Why Truth Still Matters.” The informational mailing read, “From gender and sexuality, to the existence of God, to the Bible, to the very existence of truth itself, reality is being questioned at its very core. In order … Continue reading An Open Letter to the Speakers and Attenders of the 2019 National Conference on Christian Apologetics (NCCA) →