Robert Reymond's Systematic Theology

Robert Reymond's "A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith," has been called the new standard for Reformed Systematic Theologies. While I have never read any other Systematic Theology, Reformed or otherwise, Reymond seems to cover all the bases. He starts with the doctrine of Scripture itself, moves on to the Nature of God and the Nature of man, he then addresses the Theology of Salvation, then character and structure of the Church. He ends with Escatology (theology of last things). Within each of these "Parts" he addresses common heresies (past and present) and critics non-heretical stances where needed.
His most powerful "Part" was probably the second. In the Second, "God and Man," he acclaims the importance of a Presuppositional worldview. He also clearly sets forth the doctrine of God as Trinity, and the nature of fallen Man, originally made in God's image. If anyone was to read one part of the book this is the part I would recommend(Though for the most part it was all fantastic).
There were an few areas of disagreement worth mentioning. While he didn't linger on it long, Reymond took a jab at Reconstuctionists. This he did while rightly asserting that the Church should not have the power of the Sword, nor should Christians advocate a "theocracy." I suspect he was defining "theocracy" as "rule by the Church," because the scripture references he gave would only support that position. They could not be construed to deny God's law's rule over the State.
Also, while showing beautifully the doctrine of Christ's Kingdom as, "already, not yet," in eschatology, he did not come to the natural (and Scripture) conclusion of Postmillenialism.
The rest of my disagreements were even less minor. (Though I did address one of them several months ago in "Are the Attributes of God Communicable/Incommunicable?") Over all I found Reymond's book to be an excellent first Systematic Theology to read. Not only was I able to "get" some complex doctrines, when it came crucial theology it was RIGHT ON and POWERFUL! If you are considering reading or purchasing a Systematic Theology, whether you are Reformed or not, I highly recommend Robert Reymond's.

Here are a two of Scripture's most presuppositional statements. Gen. 22:16a "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD." Ex. 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

"Law and Liberty" Book review

Law and Liberty is a concise book by R.J. Rushdoony, on the impossibility of Law without Liberty and vise versa. Indeed it smashes some of the most commonly accepted conceptions of Liberty vs. Liberty today. He condemns all attempts at lawless liberty, and shows that any anti-nomian is automatically a legalist. In fact any philosophy which attempts to do such will end in anarchy.

Rushdoony addresses these errors in humanistic philosophy, in education, politic of pornography, civil government, and more. In fact this book covers more than the subjects of law and liberty. It is a brief book on the issue of presuppositional apologetics, for it shows forth the complete invalidity of any worldview but the Christian one.
With many short, to-the-point chapters, this book offers no excuses to slow easy readers. In other words... READ IT!

Idols for Destruction (Book review)

Idols for Destruction (by Herbert Schlossberg) is a book which step by step shows the reader the modern Idolatries of America and the bankruptcy thereof. There are six Idols which are addressed in six sections, Idols of History, Idols of Humanity, Idols of Mammon, Idols of Nature, Idols of Power, and Idols of Religion. Of the six sections Idols of History was by far the hardest to understand. Man comprehension soared in comparison once I was past it. Idols of Humanity reveals the true inequality of Egalitarianism and shows how redistributionary policies are rooted in ressentiment. It also puts the blame where it lies for unemployment and poverty. Idols of Mammon is almost an extension of Idols of Humanity, uncovering the redistributionary purposes of inflation and the devastating results thereof. Idols of Nature are archenemys of Historicism. Because of this it was the second hardest section for me to digest. But it did help that when the section began it gave some clear definitions of both terms. Historicism is the philosophy that we understand the world only in terms of the past, in other words History is the "Whole Show." Idols of Nature are treated the same way, only with History replaced with Nature. Yet Nature is shown to have no more credibility (in terms of being a complete worldview) than History.
The section "Idols of Power" is a section which attacks the State as the determiner of morality or a god who brings us salvation.
Last addressed was Idols of Religion. These Idols present themselves in "conservatives" who merely fight to maintain morality or values. The are also presented when men cling to religious forms as almost a rabbit's foot, that will bring good luck.
After these six Idols were addressed by Schlossberg, he presents the Christian worldview and it's victory over such Idolatry.