For the Earth Shall Be Full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters Cover the Sea
In the truest sense, the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is the Christmas story
“We stand on the other side of the coming of the baby lain in Bethlehem’s manger. We stand on the other side of the birth of Jesus Christ. We look back to the birth of Christ, not forward. But we are still looking forward to the fullness of these promises, to the coming again of... Continue Reading
Erdmann Neumeister and His Pious Orthodoxy
Erdmann Neumeister (1671-1756) hated Pietism but his music was full of vigorous piety and lively devotion
“Born at Uechteritz, Germany, from a schoolmaster and organist, Neumeister studied theology and poetry at the University of Leipzig. One of the main subjects of discussion around that time was the recent visit of the popular lecturer August Hermann Francke and his subsequent expulsion from Saxony due to the disputes he generated.” Erdmann Neumeister... Continue Reading
Sin Thrives in the Dark
Do you want to know how to remain enslaved to a particular sin? Just keep hiding it.
“The glory in confession is in the mercy that flows to the one voicing it. Whoever confesses and forsakes his transgressions will obtain mercy! If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God eagerly forgives sin that is humbly confessed.” If... Continue Reading
Iowa Prisoners Sue To Get Their Pornography Back
Dozens of Iowa inmates have filed a lawsuit challenging a ban on pornography
“A lawsuit filed by 58 inmates at Fort Dodge Correctional Institution claims the new state regulations are unconstitutional. The suit calls for an end to the ban and for $25,000 to be awarded to each inmate.” Dozens of Iowa inmates have filed a lawsuit challenging a ban on pornography which has affected the state’s... Continue Reading
Pilgrims on the Road to the Classical View of God
Here I will briefly describe five major figures and their contribution to the classical view of God
Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 130–200) was a bishop who learned from Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John. In ‘Against Heresies’ he emphasizes the unity and transcendence of God. Using a metaphor, he explains God’s relationship to the world through his “two hands,” the Son and the Spirit. Have Christians always held the same... Continue Reading
The Most Important Tool for Observing the Structure of a Narrative Episode
How do you observe the structure of a scene? And how does that structure convey the author’s meaning?
“Observing the narrative’s plot structure in this way helps us to avoid placing too much weight on unimportant details. For example, in Mark 2, we ought not make much (either interpretation or application) of the fact that Jesus saw the friends’ faith and thereby forgave the paralytic’s sins (Mark 2:5).” I’ve spent a few weeks showing... Continue Reading
10 Things You Should Know about the Nicolaitans
The Montanists were most likely genuine believers in Jesus; the Nicolaitans were not
The name itself may be derived from two words which mean “victory” (nikos) and “people” (laos), thus the idea of their consumption or overpowering of the people. They were evidently licentious and antinomian and advocated an unhealthy compromise with pagan society and the idolatrous culture of Ephesus. Last week I wrote about the Montanists... Continue Reading
What If I Never Get Better?
How not to comfort suffering people
“Why do we offer whitewashed comfort anyway? I have done it, so I’m indicting myself as much as anyone. I wonder why it’s our go-to script when sorrow is at the door. Perhaps we want our friends to feel better immediately. Even if the comfort is temporary, we want them to move on and not... Continue Reading
Worship in Redemptive History
The ‘wars’ that have raged around ‘worship’ are anything but new
“Although it is undoubtedly true that God is glorified through his people ministering to one another when they gather, if the worship of God on earth is meant to mirror that of heaven, then there has to be an occasion for all eyes – both individually and corporately – to be directed towards God. The... Continue Reading
Quarter of Churchgoers Don’t Take Day of Rest
Females (26 percent) are more likely than males to say they don’t take a Sabbath rest (18 percent)
“Almost half of church attendees aren’t sure if one of the Ten Commandments still applies today,” said McConnell. “Perhaps the most important biblical teaching on the Sabbath came when Jesus said, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’ According to Genesis, God created everything in six days before resting on... Continue Reading