Preaching for the Broken
The church is the cosmic stage for the drama of redemption! The import of this for the cluster of churches around Ephesus in Paul's day could not have been greater.
Every one of Paul’s letters is an exposition of the Gospel, but an exposition in light of the particular circumstances of the church to which it was addressed. So, as he begins to expound the Gospel to the group of churches around which this letter was probably circulated, he explodes with praise for what the... Continue Reading
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
This parable hits right at our hearts, at the twin issues of self-congratulation and envy.
This parable gives us a vision for God’s generous grace toward us and toward others. Life is found when we fix our eyes not horizontally on what others have but vertically on the generosity of the whole-earth landowner, King Jesus, who calls us friends and who gives wisely and generously. Imaginary gardens with real... Continue Reading
Adulting, and Fifth Commandment Rule of Thumb
For both parent and child, the pursuit of maturity requires prayerful attention to one’s own duties and the other party’s honor.
As a young teenager, I knew my parents were my superiors. It was my duty to respect and obey them. Over time, God patiently taught me how to do that, even when I didn’t particularly like what I was being asked to do. When I started college, things got a bit more complicated. A... Continue Reading
Ministering in Disgraceful Underhanded Ways
The SBC and other large Christian organizations are conforming to Identity world views.
If we live our lives in the center of God’s will for us then we will also not compromise with those who compromise His truth. We will not tolerate their lies about God’s truth as they try to minster in disgraceful, underhanded ways as they practice cunning, tampering with God’s Word for their own ends.... Continue Reading
The Collapse of the Secularization Hypothesis
As societies have grown more modern, they have not become less religious.
Scholars are not only casting doubt on the secularization hypothesis as it applies to global cultures; they are also finding that secularism itself, where it does occur, is not the extinction of religion. Casting Doubt on an Assumed Trajectory It has long been assumed that the rise of modernity will be accompanied by the... Continue Reading
Humiliation & Exaltation: Christ’s Death
How could this be victory?
In moments of despair we might cry: “The whole WORLD is against me!” This overdramatization was no exaggeration for our Lord. Within one week, the Jews of the nations went from crying out for His Coronation (Mark 11:9) to demanding that a slayer be given them rather than the Savior (Matthew 27). They hated Him.... Continue Reading
Is Jesus the Angel of the Lord?
Scripture is much clearer on this matter than we sometimes think.
As Christians, we must confess that God has always been triune. The Son did not come into being at Matthew 1. He always existed in the form of God (Phil 2:6). And this ontological reality means that we must read Scripture (the Old Testament) as Christians to see the one God act according to his... Continue Reading
The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy and the Spirit of Schleiermacher
Beware of compromised apologetics.
Any time we find an attempt to recast our doctrine or practice in order to make us more attractive to the culture, it may be the spirit of Schleiermacher haunting us. In the early twentieth century that came in the form of anti-supernaturalism. But the spirit of Schleiermacher can haunt the halls and pulpits of... Continue Reading
What, Are You ESV Only?
Not all rhetorical arguments are respectable, and I think the question, “Are you KJV-only?” serves as a fine example of an intellectually irresponsible inquiry.
I have experimented with my retort, “Are you ESV-only?” only a couple times, and realized that it carries very little rhetorical force because there has never been a Ruckmanite movement in the ESV camp. There probably never will be, by the way, since the ESV has been marketed to academic-minded Christians. Introduction “What, are... Continue Reading
A Closer Look At The “Abandonment Clause” In 1 Corinthians 7:15
Abandonment in certain clearly defined cases has the effect of dissolving the bond of marriage, but it must be understood as defined by Scripture.
When Jesus said there is only one lawful ground for divorce, Paul wasn’t suggesting otherwise. What he was saying is that in certain clearly defined cases “abandonment” has the effect of dissolving the bond of marriage, bringing with it the liberty for the innocent party to remarry. But what Paul meant by “abandonment” and what... Continue Reading