Why Ecclesiology Is Important for Christians
We only know how to worship this great and mysterious God insofar as he reveals that we should worship him.
What was happening at Sinai was that God from his heavenly throne room was touching down to earth: the mountain was the place where heaven and earth met. There, Moses was revealed a heavenly blueprint for the tabernacle which was a terrestrial facsimile intended to prefigure the celestial authentic. That tabernacle was according to the... Continue Reading
Jesus, Please Redirect Our Attention While We Are on the Way
Jesus was going to Capernaum, but ultimately, He was going to the cross. Everywhere in between was just “on the way.”
Like those disciples, we are still on the way, and we are still arguing in many cases about that which does not relate to the true nature of the kingdom. And if that is so, then surely we also need a redirection from Jesus. We need a new posture as we continue to go forward... Continue Reading
…The One For Whom Christ Died
Debates related to liberty of conscience in the fellowship of believers have long plagued the church.
When you look at the person in the seat next to you at church—or online while viewing a worship service—do you see one who for whom Christ died; or, do you see one who is either living up to or failing in your personal expectations? If we have discovered anything about Christians during this... Continue Reading
Why “Let Go and Let God” Is a Bad Idea
It’s called Keswick theology, and it’s one of the most significant strands of second-blessing theology.
Keswick theology is pervasive because countless people have propagated it in so many ways, especially in sermons and devotional writings. It is appealing because Christians struggle with sin and want to be victorious in that struggle now. Keswick theology offers a quick fix, and its shortcut to instant victory appeals to genuine longings for holiness.... Continue Reading
He was Wounded for Our Transgressions
A man-centered gospel produces mostly religious Christians who have no idea why Jesus really went to the cross.
If we were to take a poll of “average” pew sitters to see who could define the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ I think the results would be very discouraging. If we were to go by what is usually preached in the vast majority of “evangelical” churches Sunday after Sunday then we will see... Continue Reading
Sanctification: Singing Praise to God
Are we drifting further and further away from true Beauty?
Singing becomes a (super)natural expression of enjoyment from the heart, which is beautiful and true. And as we grow in conformity to Christ, who himself loved to sing Psalms, we will find ourselves sanctified in our singing. Singing, specifically Christians singing praise to God, will be an activity that echoes on into the everlasting... Continue Reading
Apostolic Authority & Online Learning
Let us use every legitimate means available to us in sufficiently raising up the next generation of his church.
Is there not sufficient evidence in the Scriptures that the Apostles saw the legitimacy of theological instruction from a distance? And is it not clear that they believed their apostolic authority was communicated even through epistolary form? It is not very hard for us to make the leap from first century letters, then, to twenty-first... Continue Reading
What Is Christian Persecution?
When we intentionally live according to the way of Christ, we can count on meeting opposition from those who hate Christ.
Christian persecution can include a wide variety of responses to believers—from scorn, hatred, and ridicule to physical violence, imprisonment, and death. But for such opposition, no matter how mild or severe, to be regarded as persecution in the biblical sense, it must be provoked by the believer’s devotion to Jesus Christ and His righteousness. ... Continue Reading
Resting in a Timeless, Unchanging God
Are we displaying this hope to the world?
How do we, as God’s people, react to such uncertainty? In the midst of fear and frustration, how can we exhibit to the world people who are fundamentally different? How can we draw comfort when everything around us seems to be changing? Perhaps we need to be reminded that our hope is in a God... Continue Reading
Lessons from a Pandemic: Science Is Limited
We must be careful to avoid a post-Enlightenment implicit trust in human reason and understanding to solve all problems.
At the end of the day, science is simply really, really, educated guesswork, and sometimes we just don’t have enough information, the information changes, or we draw the wrong conclusions. I’m obviously very thankful for science, I’m thankful for medical advancements that improve quality of life, I’m thankful for technology. However, what our current... Continue Reading