Discerning in Doctrine But Not Discerning in Character
There is a connection between maturity and discernment.
Press on in spiritual discernment—to be deliberate in separating truth from error and right from wrong. There is never a time to relax your guard when it comes to this critical discipline. I believe that discernment matters. I believe that spiritual discernment is a necessary mark of spiritual maturity while a lack of spiritual... Continue Reading
GRACE Report and Tenth Presbyterian Church
GRACE suggests that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper may be withheld from the penitent as a form of ongoing consequences for past sins.
If GRACE operated according to biblical precepts, they would not be as quick and confident to meddle with the peace and administrative functions of the church, or make inquiries that can become the occasion for the vulnerable and unlearned to violate the Ninth Commandment. I found the GRACE report to be an abomination. It... Continue Reading
Why Are They Sad? The Loneliest Time of Year
As sure as fall gave way to winter, winter will give way to spring. Though we weep now, the Lord will in His time wipe away all our tears.
We followers of Christ are not exempt from sorrow, grief, sadness, and heaviness. Jesus himself wept. He wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and wept at the death of his beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He was distraught at the loneliness he would endure on the cross. The thought of the suffering he would bear brought... Continue Reading
The Three Most Important Words in Prayer
The three most important words in prayer are not words to be rushed or mumbled, but relished and declared.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13–14). The glory of God himself is at stake in our prayers (even our seemingly small or insignificant prayers), and God will not... Continue Reading
2 Marks of Righteous Anger: Ephesians 4:26
There is a time to be angry. When that time comes, we must make sure that we control our tongue, control our bodies, and direct our anger at problems rather than people.
It’s not enough to have our anger motivated by the right reasons. Our anger must also be expressed in a godly way, or our anger will quickly downgrade to sinful wrath. Righteous anger is self-controlled anger. Although we may have a good reason to be angry—Christ was blasphemed, a fellow image bearer was mistreated, false... Continue Reading
Israel and the Future
Preterism and Romans 9–11.
In the time somewhat near the return of Christ, we should expect a dramatic and widespread conversion of Jews the world over. This will be the very means of God bringing to pass what he promised in his ancient covenants to Israel. Nothing in Romans 9–11 points to a fulfillment of such promises by the... Continue Reading
Immunizing Students from Bad Ideas
Passing on a Christian worldview to our kids requires more than just telling them the truth.
The subjects most easily deceived were told things like, “You know brushing your teeth is good for you, right? You’ve been taught this since you were little. Trust us.” When they subsequently heard arguments they never had before, this group felt sheltered and even deceived. The least vulnerable group were those who had not only... Continue Reading
“You Can’t Use the Bible to Prove the Bible” . . . and Other Stupid Statements
Using the Bible to prove the Bible, in this context, is not just a theological assertion but a necessary historical method.
Consider this: when someone asserts, “You can’t use the Bible to prove the Bible,” they may not realize they’re inadvertently drawing from a Christian perspective. What are they borrowing? The concept of a fundamental unity or single authorship within Scripture. To claim the Bible cannot validate itself implies an underlying assumption of its inspired nature.... Continue Reading
Is Sunday Still the First Day of the Week?
When you notice the shift on your electronic device away from Sunday as the first day of the week, resist going along.
We’re Christians. We follow King Jesus. We mark out one day a week—the first, not the last—to worship the risen Lord. We sing of his goodness and grace and trust his promise to return and blast away death forever. Sunday is his day. And he comes first. Maybe you’ve noticed it too. On various... Continue Reading
Pandering to Sacred Cows
The danger of seeking the righteousness of man.
As Christians, we need to learn to identify cultural idols when we see them, and unequivocally refuse to bend the knee. We must refuse the temptation to use them as occasions to polish our reputations or to appear respectable in the eyes of our families and peers. Instead, we should remember that Babylon is a... Continue Reading
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