But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 1 Peter 3: 14-16
Apologetic Report - The Gordian Knot
Monday, 15 August 2016 10:27
I'LL FIGHT FOR YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WILL YOU? A Pastor's Plea to Christian Parents
Written by Chris Gordon
This little write-up comes from the heart as a passionate plea to parents in the shared concern for our children. It’s been hard to pastor in a conservative church today, but not for the reasons that you might think. It’s not that we are constantly being attacked from the outside for our music, c...
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The Gordian Knot
Wednesday, 04 November 2015 04:14
HOW ARMINIAN HAS THE SANCTIFICATION DEBATE BECOME?
Written by Chris Gordon
One of the great problems in any current controversy is overreaction to a perceived problem. If someone feels that one doctrine is being overemphasized, the way to correct the problem must be to balance things out by emphasizing another doctrine. At times, this is certainly necessary and expected...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Saturday, 31 October 2015 02:40
WHAT IS THIS TWO-KINGDOMS DEBATE REALLY ALL ABOUT?
Written by Chris Gordon
A while back Carl Trueman posted an article with a fair concern of the transformationalist ideals. Trueman writes, Surely it is time to become realistic. It is time to drop the cultural elitism that poses as significant Christian transformation of culture but only really panders to nothing mor...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Monday, 19 October 2015 03:54
The Gospel of the Synagogue Versus the Gospel of the Son of God
Written by Chris Gordon
Years ago I remember hearing an old wise elder say to me that if my sermon could be accepted in a Jewish synagogue then it is not a distinctively Christian sermon. I’ve thought a lot about that over the years. What makes Christian sermons distinctively Christian? What damage could be done in the li...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Friday, 09 October 2015 03:33
YWAM IS COMING TO LYNDEN TO MAKE JESUS FAMOUS by Mark Stromberg
Written by Chris Gordon
The following is a guest post by Pastor Mark Stromberg of the Lynden United Reformed Church. Since YWAM has established itself in Lynden, this article may help people think through some of the problems with the movement. YWAM—My Story Apart from the Northwest County fair, one of the large...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
In light of the current debates surrounding the doctrine of sanctification, we should be careful to stay close to the language of our confessions. With that in mind, Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 114 asks the following: 114. Q. But can those converted to God keep these commandments...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Monday, 28 September 2015 10:42
WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE IN THIS SANCTIFICATION DEBATE?
Written by Chris Gordon
I have been following, again, the current internet debates over sanctification. It's troubling. Have we really not figured this out yet? Did the Reformation not make things clear for us? While it's not unhealthy to have brotherly discourse over these matters, I woke up this morning and read the f...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
The Pretender in the Pulpit In his excellent book, “The Courage to be Protestant”, David Wells opens chapter two with a startling account of an Easter worship service. Wells writes, “It’s Easter morning 2006. And there lurking in the shadows, is a figure rarely seen in church. It’s Superman. Yes,...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Saturday, 27 June 2015 03:14
WHAT THE GAY MARRIAGE MOVEMENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GOD'S RAINBOW
Written by Chris Gordon
What The Gay Marriage Movement Should Know About God’s Rainbow This last Friday is already designated as one of the most historic victories in our nation’s history as a divided Supreme Court on Friday ruled that same-sex couples can now marry nationwide. This landmark opinion, as it’s being descr...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Wednesday, 20 May 2015 05:07
CALVIN to KNOX on CEREMONIES: MODERATE YOUR RIGOR!
Written by Chris Gordon
What a great reminder from Calvin's letters to John Knox that we should moderate our rigor with regard to worship principles and ceremonies. First Letter of 1555: "Certainly no one I think who is possessed of sound judgment, will deny that lighted tapers, and crucifixes, and other trumpery...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Tuesday, 23 December 2014 04:45
WHAT CAN THE CHURCH LEARN FROM THE FOOD NETWORK?
Written by Chris Gordon
The other day I stumbled upon an article by Farsch Askari lamenting what has happened to the Food Network. The article is well-worth reading. In the article, Askari describes how the Food Network provided him a soothing release where he could escape from the stresses of daily life. Watching th...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Wednesday, 17 September 2014 04:31
DON'T BE A PASTOR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A PASTOR
Written by Chris Gordon
In his book, "A Continuous Harmony: Essays Cultural and Agricultural," Wendell Berry writes, Because of the obsession with short-term results that may be contained with the terms and demands of a single life, the interest of community is displaced by the interest of career. The c...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Thursday, 29 May 2014 01:37
ABOUNDING GRACE RADIO Now AIRING In the CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA--Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield
Written by Chris Gordon
Great News! We begin airing Abounding Grace Radio in the Central Valley of CA beginning next week, June 2 M-F at 4:00-4:30 on KRDU . Coverage extends from Ripon to Bakersfield! See coverage map. Visit their website at http://www.krdu1130.com/main.html or visit us...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Saturday, 17 August 2013 09:28
THE TWO-KINGDOMS NEO-CALVINISM CULTURE WAR (1)
Written by Chris Gordon
The following is my feeble attempt to wrestle through the 2k/neo-Calvinist controversy. This is written with sincere concern for the church and in love. Last week Carl Trueman interacted with D.G. Hart’s new book on Calvinism: A History, and posted an article with a fair concern of the trans...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Grumpy Old Men & The Reformed Tradition Where are all the young people going? Why do the visitors never seem to stick? Why have there been so many fights in our church history? Unfortunately, these are common questions in the Reformed tradition. In my years as a pastor, I have been shocked...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Thursday, 28 March 2013 04:02
Good Friday Meditation: THE POPE KILLS CHRIST by Martin Luther
Written by Chris Gordon
Luther on why the Pope continues to kill Christ, "We should learn here that no one should place his trust in men, even if he is in an estate ordained by God. But if we are not to believe nor put our trust in Annas and Caiaphas, how are we to believe or trust the devil, the pope in Rome, the m...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 08:45
THE PERILS OF SELF PROMOTION: 8 Mistakes of Seminarians Young Pastors
Written by Chris Gordon
THE PERILS OF SELF-PROMOTION: 8 Mistakes of Seminarians & Young Pastors Delivered to Westminster Seminary, CA- URCNA Students Text: Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate…So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Sam 15:2). The peril of self-promotion...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
We start airing Abounding Grace Radio in Phoenix this Saturday and Sunday 7:30 Am on . We're still airing in the Pacific Northwest on KARI 550 Monday-Friday, 8:30 am, 2:45 pm, and 8:45 pm. We are also airing Monday Oct. 8 five times per week at 1:30-2:00 PM on K-Praise 1210AM. We air rig...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Tuesday, 25 September 2012 09:06
The PROBLEM OF THEOLOGICAL NARCISSISM--STOP GIVING JASON STELLMAN ATTENTION, PLEASE!
Written by Chris Gordon
I realize that writing this post probably does the very thing that I am condemning, but I don't know how else to address the issue. This past Sunday, Jason Stellman, a former PCA Reformed minister, was received into the Roman Catholic communion. He has posted his story of journey to Rome on the Ca...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Tuesday, 18 September 2012 00:54
Westminster Seminary Chapel on Christian Ministry
Written by Chris Gordon
Here is a recent chapel speech I gave at Westminster Seminary CA on the Christian ministry (2 Cor 4). The Ministry of Righteousness
Authors: Chris Gordon...
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Saturday, 15 September 2012 15:48
Sabbath Meditation: Why You Should Go to Church
Written by Chris Gordon
Psalm 84 “How lovely is your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts.” The word tabernacle means dwelling place. The tabernacle was the place that God had chosen to come down and meet with his people in the wilderness. The God of heaven and earth had descended to meet with his people that they might call upon...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Saturday, 15 September 2012 02:28
ABOUNDING GRACE RADIO NEWS: AG RADIO GOES TO SAN DIEGO PHOENIX
Written by Chris Gordon
Great News! Abounding Grace Radio will now be airing in the San Diego, CA Area and Phoenix, AZ. Will have more info on times and dates soon. But we thank the Lord for the opportunity to reach thousands with the gospel and to help direct listeners to Reformed churches in their area. VISIT www...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Saturday, 15 September 2012 02:04
The NCCTK - NORTH COUNTY CHRIST THE KING SADDLEBACK RESOURCE PAGE
Written by Chris Gordon
Challenge: What two things don't belong together in this picture? I was going through some old pictures and found this. Since I have moved on from Lynden, I thought I would provide one final resource page for those who are still flirting with the Saddleback model of doing church. The follo...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
I have been absent from the blog world over the past year, especially since I accepted a call to be the preaching pastor of the Escondido URC. Now that I am set-up in Escondido, I plan to return to weekly blogging about church life, Christian culture, evangelical fads, and so on. You will notice th...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
Big changes coming for us as I accepted a call today to be the preaching pastor in the Escondido United Reformed Church. This is probably the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. My wife and I are leaving behind a wonderful church family in Lynden, but we are also greatly excited to mi...Read more
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The Gordian Knot
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