Three Rules for Engaging in Theological Polemics
Write to help others see the truth, gain assurance, and grow.
Although William Perkins wrote over 400 years ago, he offers us wisdom in an era that sustains polemics, controversy, and discernment blogging. By listening to this great divine, we can discern three contemporary rules for engaging in theological polemics. William Perkins (1558–1602) grew up in the aftermath of the Council of Trent, becoming a... Continue Reading
Why You Should Have That Difficult Conversation
We must take Christ's command in Matthew 18 seriously.
Those of us who don’t enjoy conflict come up with a bevy of rationalizations to avoid the difficult conversation we know deep down we ought to have. Maybe we’ll make it worse. We might hurt someone’s feelings. It might “change the relationship,” so to speak. Or we just don’t want someone to get angry with... Continue Reading
9 Reasons You May Be in a Spiritual Drought—and How to Find Refreshment
We are all in danger of drifting.
The truth of the gospel—the benefits of Christ’s substitutionary life and death on our behalf are received by faith alone—regularly poured into our minds and hearts, will guard us from deadening legalism and subsequent spiritual dryness. If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you know that spiritual passion, sight, and... Continue Reading
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones vs. Same Sex Attraction Identification: Truth Unchanged, Unchanging
What the Bible describes as “unnatural” some Christians today are carelessly identifying as “natural and instinctive” to them.
Were it not for sin the teaching of self-expression would be adequate. Were man perfect as God made him, all the impulses and instincts would be working in the right direction and serving the highest interests of man. . .It is forms of sin that have introduced a complexity into the life of man. The... Continue Reading
God’s Presence in The Midst of Our Weakness
The Bible is full of admissions of weakness – from the Psalms and the book of Job to Paul’s letters.
We all like strength. We want it for ourselves and for our heroes, and the advertising companies bank on this desire, bombarding us with products that will make us strong, tough, resilient, and victorious. But what if that strength eludes us? What if it seems completely out of reach? One of my favorite movies... Continue Reading
The Enduring Appeal of Antinomianism
Why a 17th-Century Theological Debate (Still) Matters Today
It’s easier to remain at a baby or immature stage of theological knowledge than to struggle through understanding the complexities of the doctrine of justification or to work through comprehending the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. But the problem with remaining at a baby stage in our knowledge on these points is that... Continue Reading
Trusting and Asking Our Father to Provide
As his adopted sons, we are to ask him for all our needs.
Psalm 104 celebrates the Lord’s marvelous provision. Yahweh’s trees, the cedars of Lebanon, are watered abundantly (v. 16). The Lord provides for a wide variety of creatures (from stork to rock badger; vv. 16–18). He makes the moon to shine at night and the sun in the day (v. 19). As part of God’s perfect,... Continue Reading
The Greatness of the Weight of Sin
Genuine self-knowledge plays a huge part in entering more fully into a true knowledge of God.
The fact Jesus saw fit to load the prayer he taught his followers with this dark reminder should not go unnoticed. Not only does it press home to those who truly pray this prayer how much the cross of Jesus really matters, it actually leads us into the breath-taking panoramic knowledge of the God to... Continue Reading
Faith as Sight
Faith is the way you see the visible world and the invisible world.
Jesus once said to his disciples, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matt 8:26). The disciples had put their trust in Jesus and made their new allegiances known, and now Jesus was calling them to grow in their confidence in him. As his disciples, we, too, are invited to hear the question and... Continue Reading
What do Mary and Martha Teach Us About Discipleship?
The stories in the Gospels are set in a culture that has, in many respects, a different outlook from ours and a different set of values, and the lessons are often implicit rather than explicit.
We can easily misinterpret what is being said; we can get locked into a tradition of interpretation which isn’t actually faithful to the text; and we can use the story to suit our own agenda. (I read a sermon last week on the Parable of the ‘Good’ Samaritan, and it turned out that the point... Continue Reading