The Attitude of Apologetics
The word apologetics derives from the Greek word apologia, which means “to give an answer” or “to make a defense.”
God calls us to be ready to make a defense for the hope that is in us, but notice that He calls us to do it with gentleness and respect. Apologetics isn’t just for some Christians, it is for all Christians. We all must know what we believe, why we believe it, how to live... Continue Reading
The Essential Van Til — The Pastor and Systematic Theology
Van Til in all his writing always has an eye towards the church and her ministry.
At first blush it may sound like that Van Til is prioritizing systematic theology over the Bible. There is nothing further from the truth. What Van Til is eschewing is the practice of myopic and atomistic handling of Scripture in the ministry. We might say that Van Til is saying that systematic theology properly done... Continue Reading
Don’t Just Tweet Your Proverbs: Lessons from Solomon
King Solomon was the wisest man in the Old Testament. Yet, he had the most precipitous moral freefall of all the kings.
Solomon had spiritual riches, not to mention physical ones. He was immensely blessed by God. There are few men who are such illustrations of blessing like Solomon. Among the greatest of his blessings was the gift of wisdom to rule the people of Israel. God gave him this when He appeared to him at Gibeon.... Continue Reading
Blessed Are the Meek
Contrary to what many may think, meekness is not weakness
“The point is that meekness is not native to our fallen state. So, in our justification, the meekness of Christ is credited to us by faith alone, and in our sanctification, the Holy Spirit is conforming us into the image of Christ, which includes His meekness.” It is not uncommon for commentators and Bible... Continue Reading
Why I Need My Friends to Judge Me
If the people around me never judge me or call my actions to account, do they really love me?
“I am a sinner. I’m a redeemed sinner with a new heart, but I’m still a sinner. This sin is not my friend; it’s my greatest enemy. What’s so insidious about my sin is that so much of it is obvious to the people around me, but I’m completely oblivious to it.” The other... Continue Reading
Should I Feel God’s Presence in My Life?
“Surely God was in this place and I knew it not.”
I preached, and I went through the sacrament, and it was awful. It was terrible. I just felt a total absence of God, as if I’d been utterly and completely abandoned by Him. My preaching was dead, and it seemed as if I were talking to myself. When I pronounced the benediction and went to... Continue Reading
How To Identify Your Pet Sin
If you want your soul to be at peace, you need to make war against your pet sin.
There are some sins you have little trouble rejecting. They hold little sway over your soul. But the sin that always poses a deep and difficult temptation, the one that so often overwhelms you, this is probably your pet sin. This is probably a sin you have fostered instead of destroyed. What sin has the... Continue Reading
Why Did God Allow the Fall?
Scripture doesn’t tell us directly why God permitted sin to enter the world. But it does provide us with materials from which we can construct a consistent and reasonable explanation.
In reality, every worldview raises some questions its advocates can’t answer, so the mere existence of an unanswered (even unanswerable) question doesn’t necessarily count against a worldview. It may simply imply a lack of information, which, in the context of a Christian worldview, would mean a lack of divine revelation on that particular point. ... Continue Reading
What Is a Worldview?
A worldview is an overall view of the world; a philosophical view that provides an all-encompassing perspective on what exists and matters to us.
What is a worldview? As the word itself suggests, a worldview is an overall view of the world. It’s not a physical view of the world, but rather a philosophical view, an all-encompassing perspective on everything that exists and matters to us. A person’s worldview represents his most fundamental beliefs and assumptions about the universe he... Continue Reading
Does Abstinence Teaching Really Promote Purity?
True love rightly orders its affections. But please don't put that on a ring.
Often, abstinence teaching within the church gives a false promise that is still focused on a man-centered gratification that really has nothing to do with our purity. It goes something like this: If you maintain your virginity until marriage, you will be blessed with wonderful sex and a happily ever after relationship. Purity is treated... Continue Reading