Christian Visits a Church in America-Land
John Bunyan demonstrates a sanctifying use of imagination in his classic The Pilgrim’s Progress. I’ve often wondered how Bunyan’s character Christian would respond if he visited a modern seeker-driven church. This story takes place later in Christian’s pilgrimage, after being matured by many dangers, toils, and snares.
I hope this story helps people recognize the problems inherent in these approaches to ministry. The danger posed by Mr. Smiley (and teachers like him) is not his exuberant positive attitude, but rather his mishandling of God’s Word. He represents methods which misapply Scripture to affirm and empower people in their pursuit of worldly lusts.... Continue Reading
Why is the Sabbath a Part of God’s Law?
The reasons behind why the 4th Commandment is a forgotten treasure in the kingdom.
The 4th Commandment is not just for Christians. It is what we call a Creation Ordinance, just like the positive call to marriage between one man and one woman. That means that the Sabbath was a part of God’s good work before the entrance of sin into the world. Honoring the day of rest was... Continue Reading
Talking Back to God
How His Promises Provoke Our Prayers
Prayer, by human persons to the living and personal God, is far more than transactional. It is relational, and often incremental, with measured, humble boldness. God leads us, like Moses, into prayer. We make our requests. He answers in time. We learn more of him, which leads us to ask to see more of him. ... Continue Reading
Grammar Guerrilla: Grammar Is For Everyone
There is nothing inherently ableist, racist, or classist about grammar.
Grammar is not racist, ableist, classist or any other —ist. Anyone can learn grammar. Everyone should learn good grammar. If you struggle with grammar, writing, or learning please do not let the virtue-signalling Rhiannon Giles’ of the world convince you that you cannot or should not learn. This tweet, which was published by Rhiannon Giles, who... Continue Reading
My Doctoral Defense did not go as Planned
As the sun was coming up and shining into the post-delivery room, my wife and I realized we were on the same page about the defense. We wanted it done.
As I plodded through doctoral studies, these realities about fatherhood sank into my bones. My wife and my children needed my sacrifice, my presence, and even my absence. But most importantly, they needed something – someone – far greater than me. They needed a sacrifice, a presence, and a provision that I could not provide.... Continue Reading
Jesus in Ezekiel
Ezekiel’s vision is a vision of Jesus.
I’ve been reading through Ezekiel recently, with Robert Jenson’s commentary as a guide. The commentary is idiosyncratic and moves from flashes of brilliance to Jenson’s seeming admission that he doesn’t know what’s going on chapter by chapter. I haven’t been able to shake Jenson’s surprising conclusions about chapter one from my mind, though. In... Continue Reading
Held by Tender Hands
From one bruised reed to another, you need not fear the touch of Jesus.
Bring your bruises to Jesus. He will not break you off and caste you aside. That little bit of flame that remains, the small glow that just burns in desperate defiance of the approaching night, he will not snuff it out. The breath he breaths on you is to fan that smouldering wick into flame... Continue Reading
State’s Highest Court Takes on School that Tried to Force Teacher to Lie
The lies that were involved were the school’s demand that the teacher use pronouns for a student that conflicted with the student’s sex.
Vlaming was fired for “avoiding the use of personal pronouns” regarding one student, and sued after he was dismissed in a ruling from the Circuit Court for the County of King William. Essentially the school dismissed him for refusing to adopt the politically correct practice of letting students decide what gender they are, and then... Continue Reading
Do You Ever Wonder Whether You’re a Christian at All?
Have you ever had one of those moments where you’ve read how the Bible describes the habits, character, or disposition of a Christian and wondered, “Am I even a Christian?”
Neither our assurance as believers nor God’s love for us hinges on our ability to live out certain Christian principles; rather, both depend on what Christ has achieved for us on the cross. Even so, the Bible teaches us to look for evidences of our salvation in the present. If we truly are the Father’s... Continue Reading
Christ is An Unconquerable Savior
If you are saved, you are unconquerably saved.
Nobody gets out of here alive. Even the Christian must die. But dying isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you. Dying after you die is the worst thing that can happen to you. But for those who are united to Christ by faith – we have unconquerable, eternal life. Because Jesus is God we... Continue Reading
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