Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Benevolent manipulators & the surprise meeting

November 4, 2025 by westportexperiment

This was a really helpful article on manipulative ministers. In particular, certain things stood out to me. First, there is such a thing as “benevolent manipulators,” as there is such a thing as true and sincere believers who manipulate. Anyone can manipulate, whether periodically and minimally, or habitually and intractably. Not all who manipulate are befanged, salivating monsters; they can be your sweet grandmother or your devoted, soft-spoken pastor. But a cigar is a cigar.

Some signs of the benevolent manipulator include: “They will subtly question your loyalty. They will be suspicious of anyone who leaves the ‘group.’ They will often undermine anyone who might pose a threat to their influence. They will try to convince you that any concerns or actions not aligned with their agenda stem from personal weakness. And so on.”

Continue Reading »

Posted in Abuse, Manipulation, Pastoral Theology | Leave a Comment »

The ineffable generation of the Son

November 4, 2025 by westportexperiment

The following comes from the pen of Thomas Boston. Though nestled away in country parishes, this man was an eminent theologian indeed. Here he demonstrates his command of Nicene orthodoxy:

“And as to the nature of this generation, our blessed Lord himself doth in some measure explain it to us, so far as we arc capable to apprehend this great mystery, when he tells us, John. v. 26. ‘As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.’ So that to beget the Son, is to give to the Son to have life in himself, as the Father hath life in himself; which doth necessarily import a communication [sharing] of the same individual essence. For to have life in himself was an essential attribute of God; i.e. to have life independently, of and from himself; and to be the source and fountain of life to all the creatures, is a perfection proper to God, inseparable from his nature, yea, the very same with his essence. And therefore the Father cannot give it, unless he give the essence itself: and he cannot give the essence by way of alienation, for then he himself would cease to be God; nor by way of participation, seeing the divine nature is one, and cannot be divided. Therefore it must be by way of communication [sharing]. So that the generation of the Son is that eternal action of the Father, whereby he did communicate to the Son the same individual essence which he himself hath, that the Son might have it equal with himself. But as to the manner of this generation, or communication of the divine essence of the Son, it is altogether ineffable and inconceivable to us. It is simply impossible for poor weak worms, such as we are, to understand or explain wherein it consists. It is not natural, but supernatural, and wholly divine, and therefore incomprehensible by us. Yea, it is incomprehensible even by the angels themselves, who far exceed men in intellectual abilities. We may justly hereunto apply what we have, Isa. liii. 8. ‘ Who shall declare his generation?’ This whole mystery is incomprehensible by us: We ought humbly and reverently to adore what we cannot comprehend. There is a coummunication of the whole essence or Godhead from the Father to the Son, in receiving whereof the Son doth no more lessen or diminish the majesty or Godhead of the Father, than the light of one candle doth the light of another from which it is taken. Whereupon the council of Nice said well, that Christ is God of God, light of light, very God of very God, not proceeding but begotten. Hence it is clear, that he had a being before he was born of a virgin, yea from eternity; and that he is the true God, and the most high God, equal with the Father, Phil. ii. 6. John i.1.; for no being can be eternal but God.”

Posted in Dogmatic Theology, Historical Theology, Theology Proper | Leave a Comment »

Presbyterians on the Jews, Zionism vis-a-vis Dispensationalism, etc.

November 1, 2025 by westportexperiment

A friend shared this very helpful article about a year ago that explores the actual contours of how Scottish Presbyterians dealt with Jewish questions, the emergence of the nation-state of Israel, and the very problematic other-rail of Dispensationalism in modern evangelicalism. It is very regrettable in the current context that there isn’t much nuance in how our Reformed fathers approached Jewish questions vis-a-vis the errors of J.N. Darby and his ilk. Abstract here:

Continue Reading »

Posted in Church of Scotland, Free Church of Scotland, Israel; Calling of & Mission to the Jews, Political Theory & Theology, Race, Kinism, "Race Realism", Thomas Chalmers | 1 Comment »

RPM: Preaching again at Iglesia Buenas Nuevas

October 28, 2025 by westportexperiment

Note, if you are hearing an English translation voice-over and wish to hear the bilingual original, you will need to click on settings at the lower right of the screen and change “Audio Track” from “English (US)” to “Spanish (US) original.”

Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts | Leave a Comment »

“Of the Assembling of the Congregation, and their Behaviour in the Publick Worship of God”

October 28, 2025 by westportexperiment

WHEN the congregation is to meet for publick worship, the people (having before prepared their hearts thereunto) ought all to come and join therein; not absenting themselves from the publick ordinance through negligence, or upon pretence of private meetings.

Let all enter the assembly, not irreverently, but in a grave and seemly manner, taking their seats or places without adoration, or bowing themselves towards one place or other.

The congregation being assembled, the minister, after solemn calling on them to the worshipping of the great name of God, is to begin with prayer.

“In all reverence and humility acknowledging the incomprehensible greatness and majesty of the Lord, (in whose presence they do then in a special manner appear,) and their own vileness and unworthiness to approach so near him, with their utter inability of themselves to so great a work; and humbly beseeching him for pardon, assistance, and acceptance, in the whole service then to be performed; and for a blessing on that particular portion of his word then to be read: And all in the name and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The publick worship being begun, the people are wholly to attend upon it, forbearing to read any thing, except what the minister is then reading or citing; and abstaining much more from all private whisperings, conferences, salutations, or doing reverence to any person present, or coming in; as also from all gazing, sleeping, and other indecent behaviour, which may disturb the minister or people, or hinder themselves or others in the service of God.

If any, through necessity, be hindered from being present at the beginning, they ought not, when they come into the congregation, to betake themselves to their private devotions, but reverently to compose themselves to join with the assembly in that ordinance of God which is then in hand.

Read the rest of the Directory for the Public Worship of God (1645)

Posted in Church of Scotland, Westminster Assembly & Standards, Worship, True & False | Leave a Comment »

Demonic Nephilim, hold the hybrid?

October 28, 2025 by westportexperiment

Who were the Nephilim of Genesis 6? I have long defaulted to the traditional Protestant interpretation, that they were the product of the lawless blending of the Sethite line with the heathen. Given the analogy of faith, Matthew 22:30 appears to close that door for us rather firmly. The angels “neither marry nor are given in marriage.” And the thought of a mongrel tertium quid between humans and demons just opens a theological Pandora’s box in my mind.

Yet, I am open at least to a variant option. Meredith Kline advanced a unique interpretation of Genesis 6 and the “sons of God.” In the article appended below, Kline argues that these “sons of God” who married the “daughters of men” were princes of the earth (following Psalm 82), and/or heroic, quasi-legendary figures. Maybe even degenerate Sethites drunk on power and glory? In any case, if Kline is on to something, what if these “sons of God” made a Faustian bargain with demonic powers in order to advance their intellectual and physical prowess for even greater domination and glory? Then genetic alteration happens (or a kind of reversal of post-fall physical decline?) along the lines of the Gadarene demoniac, etc. Then these demonically ‘souped-up’ heroes procreate with reckless abandon. And thus you get the Nephilim-giants with demonic sexual influence—something that has been increasingly entertained within evangelicalism in more recent years, such as with Michael Heiser—yet without recourse to the problematic man-demon hybrid theory. 

And as always, standard caveats! I am hardly a “Klinian.”

Click to access Divine-Kingship-and-Genesis-6_1-4.pdf

Posted in Anthropology, Biblical Interpretation, Gender & Sexuality, Spiritual Warfare; the Occult, WPE Editor | Leave a Comment »

High places and Halloween

October 26, 2025 by westportexperiment

The following post was written by my friend, Rev. Jerrold Lewis, of the Free Reformed Churches.

* * * *

“They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good…” (Hosea 4:13).

What was found in the Qumran caves was nothing new to Israel. In Hosea’s day, heart religion had long become a relic. Over generations, the fire of first love had all but gone out. Historically, slipping happens in stages. Typically, the first generation is passionate, the second grows complacent, and the third rebels. It’s a story as old as time. When the heart of religious man turns from the living God, it will fill that heart with other things. Oh, how each generation needs a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit! By the time we meet Israel in Hosea, the covenant people are in the third stage, rebellion.

Yet, this rebellion was not easily spotted. They still brought their sacrifices to the altar. They still offered their tithes and observed the holy days. The priests still performed their duties, just like past generations. To the casual eye, things appeared status quo. Outwardly, at least, Israel’s calendar was full, their altars were hot, the priesthood was sacrificing.

Read the rest here.

Posted in Heathenism, Sabbatarianism & the Church Calendar, Spiritual Warfare; the Occult, Worship, True & False | Leave a Comment »

The golden chain

October 25, 2025 by westportexperiment

Posted in Holy Scripture, The Decrees & Federal Theology | Leave a Comment »

Chalmers on the parish missionary

October 21, 2025 by westportexperiment


“There should be the previous working of a Home Missionary among the families of the locality for which it is destined. . . . We set a parish missionary amongst them, who can give his whole time to the work, and who, by his unwearied ministrations among the sick, and the dying, and the ignorant, and the young, has created such a demand for Sabbath attendance, that his preaching-hall, which holds 300, is filled to an overflow; and we feel encouraged to build a church (to be set about immediately,) in the confident hope that many hundreds, who till now have been living in heathenism, will be reclaimed to the good old habits of their forefathers.”

“But wherever a new parochial economy is meant to be set up, it is in all cases most desirable that a moral preparation should go before the erection of the material apparatus. I do not know a more useful set of labourers than our local missionaries, who ply the families through the week, and congregate them at preaching stations, either on week-nights or on the Sabbath” (Chalmers, Works 18:228-29, 270).

Posted in Missiology, Parish Theory & Practice, Thomas Chalmers | Leave a Comment »

Binning on the hard way of sin

October 21, 2025 by westportexperiment

The way of the Lord on which the Christian walks “hath all the properties of a good way, none so pleasant and plain;—how sweet and pleasant sights all the way! It is an alley of delight,—the way of his commandments; it wants not accommodation in it to refresh the traveller. The most delightful company is here; the Father and the Son, who sought no other company from all eternity, but were abundantly satisfied and rejoiced in one another. This fellowship the Christian hath to solace himself with, and he is admitted to be partaker of that joy. There is nothing that doth disburden the soul so of care and anxiety, nothing doth rid a man of so many perplexities and troubles, as this way. But the way of sin in itself is most laborious, most difficult. It hath infinite by-ways that it leads a man into, and he must turn and return, and run in a circle all the day, all his time, to satisfy the infinite lusts and insatiable desires of sin. O how painful and laborious is it to fulfil the lusts of the flesh! How much service doth it impose! How serious attention! What perplexing cares and tormenting thoughts! How many sorrows and griefs are in every step of this way! Do you not perceive what drudges and slaves sin makes you,—how much labour you have to satisfy your lusts? And you are always to begin, as near that which you seek in the end of your years, as in the beginning. How thorny, how miry is the way of covetousness! Are you not always out of one thorn into another, and cut asunder, or pierced through with many sorrows? 1 Tim. vi. 10; Matt. xiii. 22. Is that a pleasant and easy way, I pray you, that makes all your sorrow and your travail grief, and suffers not your heart to take rest in the night? Eccl. ii. 22, 23. What pains of body! What plotting of mind! What labour and vexation of both must a sinner have as his constant attendance in this way! The way is intricate, deep, unpassable, that leads to that satisfaction you desire to your lusts. Your desires are impotent and impatient, the means to carry you on are weak and lame, nowise accommodated or fit for such a journey, and this puts you always, as it were, on the rack, tormented between the impatience of your lusts, and the impotency of means, and impossibility to fulfil them. Desires and disappointments, hopes and fears, divide your souls between them. Such is the way after the flesh, an endless labyrinth of woes and miseries, of pains and cares, ever while here.”

Hugh Binning, The Sinner’s Sanctuary

Posted in Church of Scotland, Covenanters, Experimental Religion & the Cure of Souls, Practice of Piety | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »