A Hidden Source of Boaz’s Compassion
Ultimately the Lord put the compassion for Ruth in the heart of Boaz. Yet did He use another means in the background of Boaz as well?
Do you see someone in your congregation that abounds in mercy toward others, far surpassing the efforts of most? You may not be just witnessing someone who is super obedient or exceptionally gifted. For ask a few questions about his or her past. Behind the scenes may be quite a story of how the Lord put... Continue Reading
No, I’m Not a Feminist or an Egalitarian
Feminist doesn't mean "a woman I disagree with and wish she'd stop talking."
I’m not a feminist. I’m not an egalitarian. What I am is tired of the name-calling and the attempts to silence me and others like me. No doubt those who need to hear these words the most are the least likely to listen. But I hope that those who are tempted to believe the lies... Continue Reading
Guard the Heart
Though our hearts have been cleansed and made new, we still battle against sin.
We still live in a sin-stained world where temptations abound, where the presence of sin lingers within us, where the evil one still prowls, and where the world hates God. All of these forces influence us. Though the war for our heart has been won, skirmishes still remain. We live the rest of our lives... Continue Reading
Confused by All the Attacks on the Bible? Here Are Three Categories to Help You
Just about any sort of objection can fall into one of these three areas.
One helpful way to address this problem is to learn how to separate these varied objections into distinct categories. This simple step allows us to organize our thinking. This helps us get a clearer picture of what particular opponent we are dealing with. So, here are the three categories of Bible objections. Indeed, I might... Continue Reading
Does Suffering Mean There’s No God?
Suffering is a feature of this life because the human race has turned away from its Creator.
People who receive Jesus and the reconciliation he offers, can see suffering very differently. First they can see by the example of Jesus that God is able to bring good out of even the greatest pain (even when they don’t understand how that can be). Second they can look forward to a future that is... Continue Reading
12 Ideas You Must Embrace to Affirm Theistic Evolution
Did God not act directly or specially to create Adam and Eve?
Theistic evolution implies is that there are actually twelve details in Genesis 1-3 that simply didn’t happen. If you hold to this doctrine (in the most common form in which it is held today), you would say that these ideas are true. The Accuracy of Genesis 1-3 Theistic evolution is a viewpoint that God created... Continue Reading
A Court, Clay, and the Cross: Examining the Problem of Evil
The God who spoke all things into being is not utterly remote from our self-inflicted suffering and pain.
Before we shake our fist at God, we must first consider God the Son incarnate, Jesus the Messiah, crucified for us, murdered for us, for our sins, and raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25). It is unthinkable that a Christian, after he has turned his eyes to the cross, would turn away to shake his... Continue Reading
Raising Covenant Children without Presumption or Skepticism
Should we expect our covenant children to have conversion experiences?
It seems schizophrenic to pray at a child’s baptism that they would never know a day without Christ and then expect children raised in the church to have a conversion story. Questions like: What was your life like before you had faith in Christ? How is your life different today? are hard ones to answer... Continue Reading
Now That You Are Behind in Your Bible Reading Program…
Some encouragement and perhaps a plan that may refresh instead of burden you.
One of the struggles I have always had with reading programs is the guilty feeling that comes when inevitably a reading is missed. Usually the first few times I try to make it up, but then get distracted from enjoying the reading because I “have to” get caught up. As my own personal reading rhythm is... Continue Reading
American Christianity: Ideas on How We Got Here
I believe that in our day we have the most biblically illiterate people of any generation since before the Reformation.
What is common to me is that what people understand is what they learn at church, and they go to that church for entirely the wrong reasons. When asked “How do you know you’ll get into Heaven?”, at least 70% of Christians would say “Because I’m a good person!”. If you do not see the problem... Continue Reading