The Land of the Living
I’m not convinced the phrase “land of the living” means the same thing in Hebrew as we take it to mean in English.
Early on in the Torah we find “land” referring to all that God has made unless it is modified, for example, the “land of Egypt.” Later the “land” without reference is more likely to refer to Israel as originally given to the Hebrews by Yahweh, “The Land” as though it has capital letters. It’s almost... Continue Reading
The End of the World According to John the Baptist
In true Malachi-like fashion, the prophet preceded the awful fiery judgment of God.
While the ministry of John the Baptist may not seem like it is important eschatologically, it contributes much to our understanding and to world history. First, his coming begins the cataclysmic and seismic shift from the old world of Judaism to the new world of the Kingdom of God. His coming signaled the end of... Continue Reading
The Dysphoria of Modern Life is Its Obvious Weakness
The irony of postmodernism, a critical metaphysics which dwells on irony for sustenance, is that there is no there there.
The lie of postmodernism is in its very name—it is neither “post” nor “modern.” It is parasitic. Its unabashed success is primarily due to the wealth of its host. Western culture was fat. With a loss of faith amplified by war in the 20th century, science and politics had replaced religion and philosophy. Science, understood... Continue Reading
Encouragement and Caution for Culture Warriors
The fog of war makes it easy for allies to be treated as enemies.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to cultural engagement. Christians with a different political calculus, with various regional sensibilities, temperaments, or experiences, may choose different courses of action. Debate over the best course of action is good and necessary. But culture warriors and culture engagers alike must be careful not to criticize unfairly or demean brothers... Continue Reading
Want Abundant Life? It Only Grows on the Solid Rock—The Third Day of Creation
Jesus is the rock, and on this rock people will either stand and be saved, or stumble and be destroyed (Rom. 9:33).
Are you standing on the firm and dry ground, the rock of salvation Jesus Christ? Jesus rescues us from disobedience and death, to obedience and life—abundant life! When he made vintage wedding wine he made a lot of it! (John 2:6). When he fed the five thousand with loaves and fishes, there were twelve baskets of leftovers (John 6:13). “He satisfies the... Continue Reading
3 Ways God Saves You From Drowning—The Second Day of Creation
The Church today—God rescues us from suffocating.
The history of the church is one astonishing deliverance tale after another. At every moment she is threatened to be engulfed and drowned by the floods of persecution, internal explosion, anti-God philosophy, apathy, and materialism. Yet the Lord who said on Day Two, “Let there be a firmament-expanse between the waters to separate water from water,” continues... Continue Reading
Grief is Not the Enemy
Like love or joy or hope, grief is not less than an emotion, but it is also much more.
Grief is real. Grief is hard. Grief does not go away. But grief is not an enemy, for those who are in Christ. Death has no victory, for those who are in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55). “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning,” for those who are in Christ (Psalm... Continue Reading
Guard Your Steps
In order to be wise in our worship, it’s important for us to understand what it means to guard our steps when we go to church.
The Preacher reminds us how important it is to guard our steps as we approach God’s house. Let us not neglect drawing near to God and His people on the Lord’s Day, listening to the preaching of God’s word, worshiping Him with reverence and awe, and recognizing His holiness. Have you ever considered that... Continue Reading
The Visible and Invisible Church
Not everyone who seems to be a member of God’s church is actually a member of God’s church.
Not everyone in the visible church—those who go to church, take part in the worship, even preach from the pulpit—is a Christian. According to Jesus, there are many people in the church who believe they are Christians and are quite wrong. We should examine ourselves, as the Apostle Paul says, to see whether we are in... Continue Reading
3 Ways Men Can Love Their Wives in Real Life
God holds men accountable for the spiritual welfare of their wives.
Husbands, care for your wives. Cherish her as your own body (Eph. 5:28). She is not merely your partner. She is your other half, your own flesh and bone. You don’t abuse your body; you build up, protect, and nourish it. Likewise, cherish and care for your wife. “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be... Continue Reading
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