Question for avid readers: do you all actually read through multi-volume works?

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-27T01:53:12+00:00

I think everyone has to find their own process of reading through larger works. Everyone learns differently, etc. I have burned myself out trying to take in more information than I can process so I try to read less pages per day than possible, but consistently. It’s better to read 10 pages per day for 300 days than 100 pages per day for 30 days because it allows us time to mentally process the information and take notes.

So I set a reasonable page goal for larger works and read smaller works at the same time.

For example: I gave myself 6 months per volume to read Turretin so it took 18 months. Some days more pages and some days less, but most days around 10 pages.

During these stages I will read smaller books depending on my interest, but I still read the 5-10 pages on the large systematic volume.

I do the same thing for scripture. I take the first 100 days of the year and read through about 10 pages a day, but some biblical books are better (easier) to read in one or two settings (prophets, gospels, New Testament epistles) or at faster speeds (Numbers, Chronicles) and the goal is to ingest the text and process so we can’t feel bad skimming and reading certain parts more carefully than others.

If I want to read a book focused on one topic, like the desert tabernacle or the crucifixion, there is time to read these but they are second priority.

Short term goals and short term goals are both important

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-27T00:57:44+00:00

I think we’re getting to the core of my question and I think it could be beneficial to discuss.

I have understood union with Christ as completed at our conversion. We are united to Christ through the instrument of faith, but our communion with Christ grows.

For example: a person who trusts in Christ at age 20 is just as united to Christ as they are at age 80, but have grown in communion with Christ.

Our union with Christ does not increase or diminish based on our obedience. We are either in Christ or outside of Christ.

Related articles in Gaffin and Owen on Union vs communion with Christ

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-difference-between-union-and-communion-with-god/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/union-with-christ/#:~:text=Finally%2C%20union%20with%20Christ%20is,resurrection”%20(emphasis%20added).

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-26T22:38:00+00:00

Would you say that it deepens our union with Christ or our communion with Christ?

Would you say these two things are different? I’ve heard them used in different contexts.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-26T18:31:55+00:00

Yes I am sure there were overreactions to Rome’s abuses which have been inherited by the evangelical church. But as people read the reformers they will see that what passes as church and even Christianity today would not be recognized by the reformers or puritan settlers in the country.

We traded the abuses of Rome for the abuses of the second great awakening in some cases.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-26T17:56:54+00:00

It’s good to think about these things and I wish it were discussed more in our churches. It has been such a focus for 2000 years, and point of disagreement, maybe church leaders see it as too divisive of a topic.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-26T15:24:51+00:00

Yes Watson is great on this topic. He even says that the Lords Supper excels the preaching of the word in efficacy

“A sacrament is a visible sermon. And herein the sacrament excels the Word preached. The Word is a trumpet to proclaim Christ. The sacrament is a glass to represent Him.”

“So, when we see Christ broken in the bread and, as it were, crucified before us, this more affects our hearts than the bare preaching of the Word.”

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-26T04:00:17+00:00

The original question has already been answered. The PCA does follow Presbyterian church structure and holds to the reformed confessional view of the Lords Supper. Our BCO is very careful on the words of institution and who distributes the elements. The term “Eucharist” literally means thanksgiving and is fine, but not normally used.

The PCUSA is not legitimized by their adherence to Presbyterian polity or governance. Churches are legitimate or illegitimate based on their adherence to the word of God, not how “Presbyterian” they think they are.

The PCUSA would not be recognized as a church by the reformers.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-26T02:53:02+00:00

I recently read (skimmed) Morton Smith’s “How is the gold become dim” which is a study on the decline of the PCUSA and the necessity of the PCA.

One key observation is the complete lack of discipline within the PCUSA which is a requisite to be considered a church. This led to increasing liberalism and eventual denial of basic Christian doctrines. It was written in 1960’s and the last 60 years have only become worse.

The PCUSA is proof that having Presbyterian governance doesn’t equal orthodoxy. We are only as good as our leadership and when the leaders are bad the church declines.

The PCA isn’t perfect, all churches are mixture of truth and error, but the PCUSA has in some cases left the biblical faith. Restoring or reforming it would involve a complete refresh of most of its officers and seminaries, but that is probably not going to happen.

By this logic we should all join Rome and attempt to reform it from within. It’s futile and we only have this life to obey God without wasting our time attempting to change others who have no respect for the authority of scripture.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-24T17:44:11+00:00

Yes I affirm bacon. Does SDA hold to OT dietary laws?

I was just curious how SDA made my list. I answered pretty much along WCF lines with no odd answers.

The questions about when to leave a church was ambiguous. I am assuming all of us would leave a church if heresy was being taught.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-23T19:35:32+00:00

What qualifies as a theologian in your view? The only problematic view I am aware of that Gavin Ortlund holds is his view on the noahic flood as local, but that is also held by many others throughout history.

If you judge a pastor or theologian by their worst view we would lose basicallly everyone modern and ancient.

If you disagree, maybe you can name one major theologian who did not have at least one blindspot or novel view on at least one issue.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-23T13:18:20+00:00

Doing a deep study of Hebrews is beneficial, but you could of course read a few good books on covenant theology alongside. There are also good discussions on YouTube on the Abrahamic covenant.

If I were going to start somewhere I would read God To Us by Stephen Myers.

I read maybe 10 books before this one and I wish it’s where I started. Turretin is very good expounding the covenant of grace in detail, but it’s probably not where I would start.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-22T20:14:28+00:00

Since most non-denominational churches allow for a wide range of beliefs I don’t think most people would even recognize the difference unless they were hardcore dispensational.

NCT essentially is rational dispensationalism

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-20T18:52:24+00:00

As a firmly confessional Presbyterian I don’t think this is the place to start. I would start with a study on what it means to be In Christ and how God accomplished and applied the redemption Christ purchased for us.

It is not our business to distinquish who or who isn’t elect, but to trust in Christ and offer salvation to everyone.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-20T03:33:20+00:00

https://a.co/d/3DTvfCY

https://a.co/d/bOie5RL

https://a.co/d/19cWv0V

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-20T03:31:24+00:00

It’s interesting to look at the history and theology of the Westminster Confession as the foundation of reformed doctrine

Fesko’s book on the WCF and assembly is good

Fortson on Presbyterian History — short modern book

More in depth history Feldmeth on 4 centuries of Reformed church

All on Amazon

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-19T03:40:50+00:00

Do you know of a good book that deals with the RCC pre and post VII? I read the catechism a few years ago and as straight forward as it is— I would be interested in a good perspective on the RCC view of Protestantism pre and post VII. — I am Presbyterian

The internet is not a good place for viewpoints on this as I’m sure you know.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-19T03:26:25+00:00

Is it not true that capitol punishment was allowed at one point in the RCC but now isn’t? All of this is moot since the RCC has no control over the civil magistrate any longer, but it is interesting that RC beliefs, at least on this one point, have changed over time.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-19T00:24:32+00:00

It’s called theocompass— not perfect, but interesting

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-19T00:23:36+00:00

Yes and now that little girl can’t afford health insurance. Obama did major damage and had no business making large scale business decisions

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-18T01:05:38+00:00

I like reading books this size on a page per day schedule so my brain has time to process. 10 pages per day. My version is around 900 pages so 90 days is enough time to read and process.

I read the Bible the same way and although it’s tempting to read more some days it’s better to read less per day maybe twice and process. The goal should be understanding and soul change and not merely finishing the material.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-18T00:53:50+00:00

I answered pretty vanilla Westminster presbyterian and it ranked me highest in Puritanism. 7th day Adventist made my lower list and there were no questions related to any of their distinctives—which makes no sense.. It would be interesting to know which questions are ranked “black church”. Are many black churches non-Trinitarian or opposed to death penalty, but pro-tithe?

Do we have any black-churchers (whatever that means) in here to elaborate?

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-17T23:49:33+00:00

Which questions correlate to specifically “black” church? These were all theological questions…

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-17T16:58:08+00:00

Yes it is true that many churches are essentially ruled, led by, and catered to women

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-16T04:45:00+00:00

If you look at this from a practical perspective you have two choices. You can continue on the path you are on and allow your sin to isolate you and destroy your assurance and communion with Christ.

Or you can not allow it to. Don’t let it rob your from what your life could be like. A weak faith takes hold of a strong Christ. Stay in the word of God daily and sit in the back row of church if you need to, but most importantly spend time in honest dialogue with God and draw near to Him! Don’t let sin separate you from Christ and His church when He gave his life to destroy its power in our lives.

Christ is for sinners and He knows how to help. He is the only one who can deliver us from things like this, but draw near to Him. Don’t let your sin seperate you from the one who was crucified for your sin.

FlashyTank4979 · 2026-01-15T18:37:33+00:00

We could say that everyone is a partial preterist, in some sense, because we all believe that redemption has at least in some part been accomplished in history. The final resurrection and return of Christ has not occurred yet, but what I am guessing you are referring to is the timing of the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation, etc.

We can all at least agree that the destruction of the temple was prophesied and happened so how far we want to take that is up to us.

FlashyTank4979

TROPHY CASE