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
Principles Of Spiritual Self-Defense
“Having been to a church where works-based theology was an issue, how do we keep people aware that this is still a thing today?”
We have been dealing with what we now know as the self-named Federal Vision theology for a long time now. When we consider that the same set of questions has arisen regularly since the early 16th century, we realize that we have always had this problem with us and it shall likely always plague us.... Continue Reading
Do You Suffer from ‘Bible Anorexia’?
God calls his Word bread, milk and honey.
Christians can have Bible anorexia. I attended a women’s Bible study that had a workbook with quite a bit of homework in it. We would do the homework and then meet together to talk about it. One friend told me she was frustrated with the study. My friend replied, “I like coming to Bible study,... Continue Reading
The Wonderful, Amazing Blessings of the Fear of the Lord
I had been afraid of punishment. But Jesus took my punishment on the cross. So I no longer had to fear God’s punishment for my sins
Does this mean I feel free to sin? That I can do whatever I wish and there won’t be any consequences? No. A healthy fear of God grows from coming to know God is infinitely, unimaginably, gloriously holy. Sin is the opposite of God’s holiness. One of God’s plans for his children, in conforming us... Continue Reading
Four Reasons to Sing When Your Soul is Troubled
When we don’t know how to help someone who is in distress, sometimes fewer words and perhaps singing is the right answer
We must prepare for trials. And theology is one way that we can do it. That’s why we should sing the deepest and richest of songs–so that we can respond the best when trials come. Theology can’t be learned on the fly, we must prepare for trials so that when they come we know how... Continue Reading
The Antidote to Our Political Addiction
In short, the Bible tells us to submit to the governing authorities, but not to look to them first to solve our problems.
We should regard government as no more and no less important than the other institutions in our society—even when it’s a society that needs changing. When the Israelites were living in pagan Babylon, God told them to engage in all the institutions of societal life—commerce and community, marriage and family, and yes, even government, as... Continue Reading
How The Gospel Rescues You From Doubt
Ever since Adam and Eve doubted and embraced the lie, God has worked to deliver humanity from this doubt.
If you doubt God’s goodness—if you wonder if God cares, or hears, or loves—you need to trust in Jesus. You need to set before your mind his life, his love, his sacrifice, his reign, and his promised return. You need to see in Jesus that God loves and cares for you. You need to see... Continue Reading