An Open Letter to the Sexual Sufferer
There are no easy answers, but there are fruitful ways to go forward.
How do you ever come to terms with betrayal and violation at the hands of an evildoer? There are no easy answers or quick solutions. Other people—who genuinely care, who want to be helpful—often don’t really understand. Pain and woe bring a loneliness—“The heart knows its own bitterness” (Prov. 14:10). Even people who do understand... Continue Reading
Some Thoughts on Systematic Theology as Poor Relation, Part One
There is an interesting practical tendency in modern evangelical Protestantism to prioritize the doctrines of scripture and salvation over that of God.
In subsequent weeks, I want to offer some thoughts on the relationship of Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology. But in this first post I want to note briefly some aspects of the culture of contemporary Christian theology which shape the discussion. Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Paideia Center Conference in Orlando,... Continue Reading
The Law is Your Friend in Christ: A Warning to Flee from Antinomianism
We must seek to find all traces of antinomian tendencies within ourselves, as well as in those whom we consider near to our hearts.
Antinomianism manifests itself in two main ways within the church. First, it manifests itself in theological antinomianism, which in many cases denies the use of God’s moral law in the life of the Christian. The second manifestation is practical antinomianism. This is when professing believers dangerously live a “loose” Christian life by either circumventing their... Continue Reading
Sanctification is a Direction
We must have a vision for a long process (lifelong), with a glorious end (the last day), that is actually going somewhere (today).
Look at church history. Look at denominations. Look at local churches. Look at people groups. Look at families. Look at other people. Look at the people in the Bible. Each has a history and keeps making history because the challenges that sanctification faces do not end. As Martin Luther sang, “In much the best life... Continue Reading
Raising Future Husbands and Wives
As parents of future husbands and future wives, perhaps we should think less about training up gifted standouts and focus more on training up men and women who will be prepared to succeed where Tiger Woods fell short.
There’s a myth out there that is ruining marriages and probably reducing the number of marriages as well. It’s the myth that we can spend our childhood and adolescence putting our personal success before our need of personal character development and the needs of our future families. A selfless habit of mind will not suddenly... Continue Reading
Great Is the Lord, and Highly to Be Praised
We will speak well of our God forever.
Let us exalt, Him who is our God, and King. When we are finally brought into our Lord’s presence in eternity, we will then see and wonder at His magnitude and mercy and then we will bless, His name forever and ever. We will speak well of our God forever. We will praise and worship... Continue Reading
Are We Allowed to Use OT Figures as Moral Examples?
There’s freedom in the way we preach OT stories.
The NT writers use many OT figures precisely as types of Christ, anticipating his great work of redemption. But, here’s the point: it doesn’t have to be one or the other. OT stories/figures can function both as a type of Christ and as moral examples of what true faith can produce in the life of God’s people. ... Continue Reading
Don’t Let the Devil’s Perfection Be the Enemy of Bible-Reading Progress
Let us see reading the Bible as a good, something by which we can know Christ more and better.
The Lord speaks through his Word. And for some folks, structures like daily quiet times and Bible-reading plans can be immensely helpful. If they work for you, have at it. But my plea is to not place more store on those things than the Bible itself does. The Bible calls us to meditate on it... Continue Reading
How to Understand the End-Times Prophecies in Daniel
Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
We visit the ruins of the Roman Empire on vacation, but Christ’s kingdom is still spreading its empire to the ends of the earth. I remember the first time I heard some teaching on Daniel chapter nine and was just struck by the divine inspiration of Holy Scripture because you have all these amazing things prophesied... Continue Reading
The Slow and Steady Pace of Discipleship
The metaphor Paul chose for growing in Christ – it’s an athletic contest, not a magic show.
As much as we might long for something new and different, something more exciting and fresh, God is still vitally concerned that we make the everyday, run of the mill choices of faithfulness because we desire the same thing that He does – to more and more resemble His Son. Many of us, in an effort... Continue Reading