The Stings of Death: An Article Not Just for Old People
Following are three areas–three stings–where you can reduce the sting from your family and church community.
However, in today’s world, there are practical, earthly matters that intensify the sting of death for those left behind. There are stings still related to death. Burying a loved one can be a complex and confusing matter that feels like an intrusion in one’s time of grieving. The good news is that there are several... Continue Reading
Is It Okay for a Woman To Write Theology And Be Read by Men?
Women teach some of the most wondrous theology in Scripture.
I get questions like this often. It is curious that most men are not called to the offices of ruling or teaching elder either, but we do not question whether we can learn from men. It further perplexes me because we have women “tradents,” who think through and pass down theology and tradition, throughout Scripture,... Continue Reading
The Slow Burn of Bitterness
A person who has truly experienced the mercy of God will be merciful.
As we welcome the Spirit’s work in our lives, we find the fires of bitterness are being replaced by the fruit of the Spirit—love replacing contempt, joy replacing irritability, peace replacing angry thoughts, patience replacing our tendency to be so easily offended. We find ourselves increasingly able to be kind instead of cold, appreciating the... Continue Reading
The Significance of Genesis 3:15
“The whole of Scripture is not packed into every scripture, but we may allowably expect every scripture to prepare and make room for the whole."
God is doing something in the history of Israel that has its genesis in a promise given in Eden. When Mary discovers that she is expecting a baby, Gabriel announces to her concerning her future son: “He will be great” (Luke 1:32), clearly picking up a phrase already made to both Abraham and David (Gen.... Continue Reading
Eternal Generation: A Confession of Historical Significance
One doctrine that has recently come in for questioning is the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son of God.
Over the years there has been discussion as to whether John Calvin affirmed the teaching and theologians fall out on either side on that question. Our concern here is with the substance of the doctrine and how it was briefly yet clearly affirmed in one of the most significant confessions of Protestant Christianity. Of course,... Continue Reading
Engaging With 1689 (3): Administration Or Intrusion?
There are several issues that separate the Baptists of all sorts from the Reformed theology, piety, and practice.
The Baptist traditions as a group confess a more realized New Testament eschatology in distinction from the Reformed who have a more semi-realized or inaugurated eschatology. One of the great questions that separates the Reformed and the Baptists is the role of Abraham in redemptive history. I had intended to move on to consider... Continue Reading
Three Important Differences Between Flattery and Encouragement
Flattery puffs up, but encouragement pumps up. The difference between them has everything to do with the quality of what’s inside both the speaker and the listener.
Some people avoid encouraging others verbally, in fear of sounding like they’re flatterers. Other people flatter, thinking they’re encouraging, then wonder why people around them are proud and self-centred when it comes time to return the favour. Those in need of encouragement resort to soliciting mere compliments, but it doesn’t seem to help their discouragement.... Continue Reading
The One Person Who Can’t be Themselves in Our Culture
In this age when everyone is allowed to be themselves to the fullest extent imaginable, there’s one person who constantly doesn’t get that opportunity: Jesus.
For the progressives, Jesus is only about love and acceptance, ironically enough given that they often do not accept His teachings on topics like morality, sexuality, hell and Jesus being the only way for salvation. For the fundamentalists, Jesus is exclusively focused on truth, even though they may ignore the truthfulness of His showing grace,... Continue Reading
The Missing Word in Our Modern Gospel
Tthe gospel is more than positive self-talk, and the gospel Jesus and the apostles preached was more than a warm, “don’t let anybody tell you you’re not special” bear hug.
If there is a one-sentence summary of Jesus’s preaching, Mark gives it at the beginning of his Gospel: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). ... Continue Reading
The Many Faces of Legalism
Some forms of legalism are more obvious than others, but there are at least five types of legalism to note
Christians must, in fact, do something to be sanctified. However, to make sanctification all about a list of good deeds and disciplines is to undermine the work of the Holy Spirit in a legalistic attempt at holiness. God’s love for me does not wax and wane based on my daily performance, the strength of my... Continue Reading