Machen’s God-Centered Vision
The structure of the modernism of Machen’s day is not too different from the postmodernisms of our day.
In some churches the triumph of modernism is complete. But it is still a menace at the door of all our churches and schools and agencies. One of our great protections will be the awareness of stories like Machen’s — the enemy he faced, the battle he fought, the weapons he used (and failed to... Continue Reading
Raw Honesty in Prayer
When we approach the throne of God, we should not desire him to do anything other than change our hearts.
We often forget that God knows what is in our hearts. He knows the desired vengeance, the anger, or any other festering emotion. When we come to the throne of God, we can be sincere, because of God’s knowledge of our heart, mind, and soul. He is the one we turn toward and before whom... Continue Reading
Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places? Are We Getting Better Enough?
Not only ourselves, but our works also, are justified by faith alone.
Could part of the disconnect be that we are still looking for evidence in our own works which can somehow stand the scrutiny of God’s holy law apart from the free grace of justification in Christ? – for he who has died is justified from sin (Rom 6:7)! So, are we looking for love in all the wrong places? ... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why Patience Matters for the Christian
Patience is a big deal – probably bigger than we think it is.
When we become impatient, we betray our inner assumption that we had the best thing planned. When our plans for our day (or our lives, for that matter) are interrupted and we have to go a different way, our level of patience shows how convinced we are in our own ability to make plans. When... Continue Reading
Is Total Depravity Biblical? What Does Total Depravity Mean?
From this deadness, all the Reformed doctrines of grace flow like rushing waters.
What does the Bible mean when it describes all of mankind as spiritually “dead”? A dead person is darkened in their understanding. A dead person is callous to the truth. A dead person is (of course) blind, unable to see God’s glory. And let’s be clear: a dead person won’t respond when spoken too, even... Continue Reading
Left to Their Own Devices
When our kids walk with the wise, they will become wise.
The book of Titus talks at length about the need for Christians to influence a younger generation in what is right and good. We are called to model saying “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:12). We live in a world that... Continue Reading
The “Cereal-Aisle” Syndrome
Historic confessions and creeds protect the Church from foolish "cereal aisle" autonomy.
Navigation out of the current hermeneutical chaos will come only by a functional trust in Scripture’s authority – studying in a manner that derives what Scripture is. God has spoken and done so without stuttering. He has given the Church, in the canon of Scripture, what we need “for life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).... Continue Reading
Why God Made Your Mouth
Grace will come out of our mouths only if grace is already living in our hearts (Matthew 12:34).
Gracious words straighten bent-over saints, strengthen tottering legs, bind up bruised arms, and grow each other into “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). “Give grace,” in other words, is a call to imitate the God whose words make worlds bloom into being (Psalm 8:3). Give life. See the image-bearer in... Continue Reading
What Does “Meaningless / Vanity / Futility” Mean in Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is written almost like a research paper, where the introduction introduces the problem and states the thesis.
The problem under consideration is: What do we have to gain from our toil under the sun?In other words, what do we get out of life? What will we have to show for it at the end? What reward will there be to make all the pain worth it? And the answer to the problem is:... Continue Reading
Approach Your Bible Desperately
I tell myself the Bible’s a feast, but it sure feels like finger food.
Have you ever ruined your appetite for an epic dinner by snacking all day? You wish you could work up an appetite, but it’s too late. The steak is on the table, and you’re not hungry. This is how we often treat God’s Word. Is it any wonder that nibbling long enough from the table of... Continue Reading