Gregory of Nazianzus and Why Knowing the Nature of the Holy Spirit Really Matters
Gregory of Nazianzus played a vital role in exploring the nature of the Spirit
“During this time, Gregory, like Augustine, was consecrated priest against his will and with the acclamation of the people. Unlike Augustine, he literally ran away – back to Pontus. He returned a few months later, and apologized to his congregation, who forgave him slowly. Later, he produced a letter to explain his desertion: he was... Continue Reading
Is It Possible for Christians to Idolize the Bible?
The question, “Is it possible for Christians to idolize the Bible?” is inaccurate, because it forces us to drive a false wedge between God and His voice
The Bible cannot be emphasized enough in our lives, in our small groups, in our churches, for it is how we hear the very voice of God speaking to us! To cultivate a day-to-day relationship with God incarnate, we must listen to his voice. How bizarre would it be to worry that you over-prioritized your... Continue Reading
When Life is Hard
Hard days are Divinely placed opportunities for us to learn and grow in our faith.
God is sovereign over all things. He controls every event, every circumstance, every irritation, every moment— even determining when a piece of hair falls from our head. So when hard days come, it’s not because God has stepped away and taken a break from his work of Providence. Rather, he has orchestrated the series of events... Continue Reading
Why You Desperately Need the Holy Spirit
I’d like to remind you of a simple truth that we all tend to neglect, that is that we must be dependent on the Holy Spirit for help in three major areas of life.
“For a man solemnly to undertake the interpretation of any portion of Scripture without invocation of God, to be taught and instructed by His Spirit, is a high provocation of Him; nor shall I expect the discovery of truth from anyone who thus proudly engages in a work so much above his ability.” When... Continue Reading
The Mystery of the Trinity
“No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illumined by the Splendor of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the One.”
When the fullness of God’s self-revelation in Scripture is not taken into account, heresy is the result. Those who emphasize the oneness of God to the neglect of what Scripture teaches regarding the deity of the three persons fall into errors such as Adoptionism, Modalism, and Arianism. Those who fail to grasp what it means... Continue Reading
Is Homosexual Practice No Worse Than Any Other Sin?
Christ’s universal coverage of sin through his death on the cross does not mean that all sins are equal in all respects but only that all sins are equal in one respect: They are all covered.
If I encountered a brother in the Lord going a bit overboard with money or material things; or beginning to have loose boundaries in interactions with persons that might be of sexual interest or beginning to have more struggles with sexual desire in his thought life; or complaining a bit much, I wouldn’t likely conclude... Continue Reading
The Power of De-Conversion Stories: How Jen Hatmaker is Trying to Change Minds About the Bible
Modern examples of those in the de-conversion business are well known: Bart Ehrman, Rob Bell, Peter Enns, and Jen Hatmaker.
In the end, there’s no doubt Hatmaker’s de-conversion story will be persuasive to our postmodern world. And I am sure some will adopt her newfound theology as a result. But, upon closer examination, it is rife with problems. While claiming to be non-judgmental, she declares the fruit of those who believe in traditional marriage as... Continue Reading
Decerebrated Frogs, the Straight Line and Cultural Accommodation
Recent exposés related to Rachael Dehollander, and other victims of sexual abuse, have served to prove how willing society--and, regrettably, even the church--has been to tolerate, cover and accommodate wickedness.
It is a travesty of the highest order when ministers publicly castigate fellow ministers for speaking out on such things as abortion, marriage, homosexuality and gender identity, while silently refusing to speak out on them. Appealing to kindness and ecclesiastical procedure–in attempts to censure vocal denunciation–is often nothing less than a smoke screen for fostering... Continue Reading
Richard Baxter On Initial And Final Justification Through Faith And Works
Baxter utterly and self-consciously rejected the Protestant doctrine of salvation sola gratia, sola fide.
For Richard Baxter the Reformation understanding of salvation was plainly inadequate. They rested too much upon faith as resting and receiving and they made “sincere obedience” to be necessary only as fruit and evidence of salvation. This was not enough. For Baxter, such an approach would never produce the desired outcome: more godliness, more obedience,... Continue Reading
Biblical Theology of Womanhood and Feminist Chaos
Womanhood in the biblical conceptual framework is a signpost pointing to the greater reality of the redeemed bride of Christ, the new Jerusalem of God.
Feminism is a woman-centered worldview that does not honor God because it champions woman’s autonomous self-definition. Eve tried that. It failed miserably. The grace-filled biblical story of redemption not only provides forgiveness for every woman who places her faith in Christ, it also puts womanhood at its center as the paradigm for what it means... Continue Reading