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
Forming a Great Commandment Culture
The “Shema” reveals important connections between biblical religion, worship, and culture.
…notice that the central command of this statement addresses a heart orientation, what I have elsewhere characterized as worldview. In other words, according to the Shema, biblical religion consists of both right theology and right worldview—explicitly believing right things about God and then having the heart rightly oriented toward God. In the context of... Continue Reading
How the Sacraments Act as Contracts
God has graciously given us baptism and Communion to give us greater confidence in his promises.
But in the sacraments God also gives us the promise of forgiveness in a form we can see, touch, and even taste. The water, bread, and wine are added as confirmations of the reality of the promise. All our senses are thus engaged so that our frail faith might be nurtured. Jesus describes the wine... Continue Reading
The Parable of the Good Shepherd
God promises to send one true Shepherd, a new David, who will care for the people forever.
Through this beautiful word picture, Jesus reveals that He alone is the door of salvation and the Good Shepherd who, as God enfleshed, tends His flock by dying to deliver it. He knows His own. He loves them. And those who are truly His—given to Him by the Father—know His voice and find security in... Continue Reading