Trusting in the Lord During Seasons of Waiting
“My God will hear me” (Micah 7:7). Five small words — but they teach several crucial lessons.
Remember this the next time you think you are too busy or burdened to ask God for help, or direction, or protection. Pray while you’re studying for or taking a test, making a sales presentation, apologizing to your spouse, or explaining the gospel to your children. God hears your prayers! “My God will hear... Continue Reading
The Simplicity of the Christian Faith
If there were a recipe for Christian salvation, it would read, “No other ingredients needed but Christ.”
Christ’s fullness is given to us. Fellowship with Christ means fullness in Christ. The Christian, by Christ’s Spirit, is united to Christ in fellowship, and in Him we have everything. We are filled. We lack nothing. The Christian faith is quite simple. For many Christians, it seems too simple to sum up our faith... Continue Reading
Fighting Fear with Fear
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
Scripture reveals that humans are creatures created to fear. But like every other part of our spiritual constitution, we twist the design into perversion. God’s design is for you to live in the joyful fear of the Lord as the only escape from the terrifying fear of man. So let’s dive in. In part 1,... Continue Reading
Stephen Hawking, the End of the World, and the Bible
Among the many potential causes of the end of life on Earth noted by Hawking were such things as an asteroid strike and the emergence and eventual takeover by Artificial Intelligence.
Does Scripture give us a hint as to whether the world will end, and if so, how? Yes, it does. Of course, as you already know, it doesn’t tell us what everyone really wants to know, namely, when will it end? That is a mystery that God has chosen to keep hidden within his own heart. But... Continue Reading
On Pastoral Failings and the Fallout
In recent months, we’ve seen a number of Christian leaders acknowledging their complicity in immoral or unethical behavior.
Scripture gives us example after example of men who finished poorly. David’s adultery left his family in shambles. Solomon’s appetites turned his heart to idols. Asa fell prey to a prideful spirit that kept him from relying on the Lord when he grew ill. Hezekiah’s pride left the kingdom vulnerable. Moses’ moment of faithlessness kept... Continue Reading
Our Planned Parenthood
Marriage and family would be planned and those plans would come to fruition. Or else!
From late in my high school days, my plan was always to have five children. We would have a boy, a girl, a boy, a girl and a boy. Each child would come two to three years apart. We would start our family three years after we were married. Not only that, I would be... Continue Reading
Roseanne, Gender Bending, And The War Against Nature (2)
The theology of nature as distinct from the theology of grace is either unknown to or rejected by most American evangelicals.
The loss of this distinction makes it more difficult for us to understand Paul on his own terms, in his setting. Further, it removes from us an important way to think about Scripture more broadly, about ourselves as image bearers (theological anthropology), about our eschatology, and about life in the here and now. In part... Continue Reading
Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
False teachers creep into the church not because they look like false teachers but because they look like angels.
False teachers are not always argumentative or divisive; often they are some of the nicest people we know. They usually creep in not with scowls on their faces but with big smiles. They don’t normally creep into churches and teach obvious heresies and falsehoods; they usually subtly question the truth and teach partial truths, and... Continue Reading
“Your Desire Shall Be For Your Husband”
We should not assume that all women want power over their husbands.
A common interpretation of the passage suggests that a woman will desire control over her husband, but her husband will resist that control and respond in even more dominating ways of his own. John Piper says this. “When sin has the upper hand in woman, she will desire to overpower or subdue or exploit man.... Continue Reading
Does God Like Me?
We know that God does love us, but does He like us?
I am not just barely tolerated by God, but accepted in the beloved. He loves ME, and, yes, if I may say so, he likes me. And so let’s all put aside our doubts and our fears and run this race together, shall we? Let’s quit trying to lift ourselves up by tearing one another... Continue Reading