Knowledge of God in Practice (part 2)
Theology is eminently practical, and at the same time, theological.
It’s a theological statement to say, “I love my wife,” but it is equally a theological statement to say, “I love God” because such statements arise from Scripture itself (Matthew 22:37-40; Ephesians 5). Sometimes we may not always see the direct connections between specific conviction statements (the procession of the Spirit) or specific practices (feeding... Continue Reading
Justification and Roman Catholicism
The history of Rome’s understanding of justification is itself variegated and in no way lends itself to an easy retelling.
There’s a story about an argument over justification by faith, held during the two-decade deliberation of the Council of Trent, where “the Bishop of La Cava wrenched the beard of the Cretan Bishop of Chironissa, who had commented that he was either a knave or a fool for sounding a bit like Martin Luther on... Continue Reading
After the Virus: The Deluge?
We need to practice what we preach with respect to loving our neighbor, even when our neighbour has become our enemy.
We also need to see beyond the myopia of the current crisis to its long-term consequences. What awaits us when the pestilence passes? What sort of world will we be living in? Will the lessons learned lead to the restoration of lost liberties or will we find that the freedoms we relinquished in this time... Continue Reading
Of Oceans, Thimbles, and Talking to Your Kids about Death
Few things are more comforting to a child than knowing that it’s ok to talk about their fears.
I realize that talking about death, like talking about sex, is not the easiest for most parents. That’s ok. Both have a huge impact on our lives and we are right to be reverently cautious when we speak of powerful and intimate things. But that doesn’t mean we should refrain from speaking about them openly... Continue Reading
Thinking Like Jesus
The world has never experienced such sound thinking as was manifested in the mind of Christ.
Sin prejudices us against the law of God for as long as we live, and we have to fight to overcome these basic distortions of the truth of God. But if we love God, not only with all of our hearts, our souls, and our strength, but also with our minds (Mark 12:30), we will... Continue Reading
“My Soul Refuses to Be Comforted”
A Song for Long Nights in Darkness
Something happens that shakes our confidence in what God has said, causing us to waver over what we’ve understood to be true about him or his character. This uncertainty produces anxiety and fear. In an effort to quell our anxiety, our mind becomes an incessant investigator, diligently searching for answers that will restore our confidence... Continue Reading
Does God Judge Nation-States Today?
We must be exceedingly careful about speaking for God, as he could be doing something entirely different than we think.
Maybe the place to begin is with a premise: if we believe the Christian teaching that God is just, all-wise, and the creator of all things, then it is His prerogative to judge human beings. The bracing claim that Christianity brings to us is that we are all sinners, that none of us have lived... Continue Reading
The World is Not my Parish
My job is to be faithful to the Lord Jesus in the place he has put me, with the gifts he has given me, to serve the people he’s given me to love.
Especially in these days of online services, there is a temptation for me to think the whole world is my audience! But no! my primary responsibility in a smaller sphere of relationships with people whom God has given me to love. We quote our heroes for inspiration. Or we sometimes mis-quote them, but nevertheless,... Continue Reading
Social Media: When a Distraction Starts to Feel Like an Obligation
When it comes to social media, the benefits rarely outweigh the costs.
Social media has a way of making us feel like we have more on our plate than we do, and it gives us next to nothing in return. It can also give us a false sense of accomplishment because we think we somehow have met our social media obligation. The problem is, in the end,... Continue Reading
When Your “Boundary Lines” Don’t Feel Pleasant
The Bible is clear that the blessing of the Lord’s goodness is not just seen in Heaven, but is our reality now.
We know our heavenly inheritance is beautiful beyond comprehension, but we are also able to fully rejoice in our earthly inheritance, as well! But for some of us, these days have been hard. Really hard. The boundary lines have reminded us just how difficult our lives are. Do you ever read Scripture and think:... Continue Reading