At the point that this edition of Beacon Lights arrives in the homes of our subscribers, most young people in the Protestant Reformed Churches will have been sitting under the catechism instruction of their pastor or elders for more than a month. If our readers are honest, that observation probably comes with a (quiet) sigh […]

For most readers, the title of this editorial probably rings a bell. If it sounds familiar to you, that’s because it is a prominent phrase in one of the documents that most Protestant Reformed churches read on a regular basis. That document is the form for public confession of faith, which lists three questions that […]

In a time of controversy, the church of Jesus Christ often becomes immersed in something we call polemics. This might be a new word for some readers, so it’s worth defining and explaining in some detail before we discuss how it fits into the Christian life. A polemic is a strong verbal or written attack […]

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14   It’s not entirely a stretch to say that the Reformation began on a college campus in a debate over current events. Perhaps it […]

Among the various courses I was privileged to take during my college years, my favorite was a course called “Principles of Development.” As its name implies, this course explained the molecular processes that direct the development of living organisms starting from a single-cell embryo all the way to a fully formed, newborn animal. Though certainly […]

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul presents a striking and countercultural perspective on the single life (see especially 1 Corinthians 7). In contrast to the Greek and Roman cultures of his day that viewed unmarried life as a societal dead end, Paul taught the church that this state is a […]

This editorial marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Beacon Lights. As noted in the Issue at Hand prior to this article, there has been a significant turnover in the magazine staff over the past few months. A new editor and two new contributing writer correspondents have taken up their roles […]

All the Scriptures witness with one accord of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, the wonder of God. Sometimes even when we least expect it, the Word of God points us to the infinite significance of this wonder. That is the case in the first chapter of the epistle to the Romans, vss. 3 and 4 […]

“Use your time wisely.” Has a parent or teacher ever said that to you? If so, they are correct in their instruction. But what exactly does it mean to manage your time? And why does it even matter if we use our time wisely or not? Donald Whitney doesn’t include time management in his Spiritual […]

Not every church that calls itself a church is worthy of the name. What is the church? According to the Belgic Confession, the church is “a holy congregation of true Christian believers, all expecting their salvation in Jesus Christ, being washed by His blood, sanctified and sealed by the Holy Ghost” (art. 27). But drive […]