September 23, 2017: Matthew 24:36 Is Proved Right Again
It is Harold Camping all over again. Once again someone has gained notoriety for predicting the return of Jesus.
The “left behind” theory misses completely the parallel with Noah. Jesus’ point is that the place one wants to be when the judgment comes is in the ark. One does not want to be “taken.” Read his words carefully. The flood waters came and “took” the unbelieving away. Two are working. One is “taken” and... Continue Reading
Hath God Truly Said, ‘Avoid Foolish Controversies’?
It turns out that lustily fighting for the truth isn’t what God asks of us.
“Warn [God’s people] before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” It’s the desire to... Continue Reading
Why Doesn’t God Just Talk To Me?
Rather than giving you a private experience God has given you his precious and abiding word that will never fail.
You see, the truth is that God has spoken to you. He has preserved his Word. It has been written down by multiple authors across generations communicating one over arching story, providing you with an external reference point to know what God has to say to you today. Why doesn’t God just talk to... Continue Reading
The rise of the fragile Christian: How ease is becoming a way of life
Jesus who created heaven and earth and conquered the grave lives in us, and His Gospel is still the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).
“While most Western Christians accept the idea of self-sacrifice, many seem ill-prepared for what the Gospel actually requires. Rather than the saints showing up for the work of ministry, we are witnessing the rise of an army of fragile Christians who would rather cling to privilege than carry their cross.” When life is hard,... Continue Reading
“The head of Christ is God”: ESS, Complementarianism, and the History of Interpretation
1 Corinthians 11:3 is a/the linchpin passage in the Eternal Subordination of the Son (ESS)-meets-Complementarianism argument.
Three premises are required for the ESS/Complementarian argument to succeed. “The head of Christ is God” must mean that the head of the Eternal Son of God, even prior to the incarnation, is God the Father. “Head” (kephale) must mean “authority over” or similar. There must be an intended analogy (or parallel) between the headship... Continue Reading
Four Reasons Why Every Christian Should Study Psalm 110
Study Psalm 110 to hear what the Lord says.
What do you cling to when your faith is challenged? Your friends, your church attendance, your family, your quiet time, your emotions or psychological health? A prayer that you prayed? These are times in our lives when we really want to know God’s will. Psalm 110 delivers again. Here we see the covenant of redemption,... Continue Reading
Every Dark Shadow
No one has ever really seen every dark shadow inside of us.
When we do take a head-spinning moment to recognize how deep and pitch black the pit of sin really is, not in other people, but in ourselves, we don’t have to despair. We don’t have to live in fear of being abandoned by our all-knowing God. He sees every dark shadow inside of us. Every... Continue Reading
Is Your Faith Working For You?
True faith is about how you live your life out of the overflow of your heart, much more so than it is about what you believe with your brain.
I love theology, doctrine, and academic study of the Bible. But the purpose of the Christian faith is transformation, not information. When you embrace a lifestyle of faith, God will transform you from who you are into someone entirely different (see Isaiah 55). Your faith should transform you from a thorn bush into a cypress... Continue Reading
Jury Duty and Judgment Day
One of the greatest days of my life was when I was summoned for jury duty
“The judge’s job was to ensure that the people were able to remain unbiased. Her questions were simple. Questions like: are you willing to consider giving someone a financial award based on pain and suffering? Is there any reason why you wouldn’t be able to be fair in your judgment in this case?” One... Continue Reading
5 Tasks Every Pastor Needs To Do Today (And Every Day)
Several principles rise to a high level of importance when considering the subject of pastoral ministry
True pastoring always begins with personal holiness. In 1 Timothy 4:16, Paul tells Timothy “Keep a close watch on yourself.” The word “watch” means “to be vigilant” or “to pay close attention.” A pastor needs to give careful attention to his own soul because he is called to be a holy man. Whole books... Continue Reading