The Agonizing Ordeal of Eugene Peterson — You Might Be Next
Those who have fled for security to the house of evasion must know that the structure has crumbled. It always does.
Consider these lessons from Eugene Peterson’s ordeal. First, there is nowhere to hide. Every pastor, every Christian leader, every author — even every believer — will have to answer the question. The question cannot simply be about same-sex marriage. The question is about whether or not the believer is willing to declare and defend God’s... Continue Reading
Rethinking Christian Calling
You don’t need a divine calling to confirm the decisions in your life.
The Christian life is one where we are called to be holy. As Paul wrote: “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7). It is the daily struggle of every Christian to live in a manner worthy of that calling. Why unnecessarily press upon people the need to seek a divine... Continue Reading
Christ, the Content of the Law
Not only was Christ the giver of the Law, but also the very content and substance that the Moral Law of God imaged and pictured
We must never think of the Old Testament People of God as a carnal people, hoping in temporal promises, and only reaching Christ in spite of the Old Covenant. We must instead put ourselves in the shoes of the faithful saints of old by attending to the actual words of Scripture. Held out before them was the... Continue Reading
The Suffering and the Glory of Psalm 22
We wonder how our loving heavenly Father can stand idly by when we are in such distress.
Yet, even in this extreme distress, David never loses faith or falls into complete hopelessness. His anguish leads him to prayer, and the first words of the prayer are “My God.” Even in his suffering and wondering about the ways of God, he does not let go of his knowledge that God is his God.... Continue Reading
Discovering Christ in the Psalms
Every systematic and biblical-theological truth of Scripture is found, in seed form, in the Psalms.
It should not surprise us that the New Testament writers cite the Psalms more than any other book of the Old Testament. Neither should it surprise us that, in each citation, Jesus and the Apostles teach us that the Psalms are Messianic in nature. In so doing, they teach us the principles that we must... Continue Reading
Children of Divorce
Ultimately, in light of God’s design for marriage, young people need more than a lesson in commitment; they need the message of Christ’s commitment.
There’s no talking about the Gospel without sin, and there’s no meaningful discussion about marriage without mention of divorce. As sons and daughters of Adam, we’re all children of divorce. We’ve all gone astray. We’ve all played the harlot. But the very existence of marriage tells us there’s a greater wedding – and a greater... Continue Reading
What Augustine’s ‘Confessions’ Taught Me About Parenting
May his wisdom lead us to the feet of Christ as we seek to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
As I read Augustine’s Confessions this week, I felt a similar conviction. The great theologian pulled a “grandpa trick,” critiquing my parenting through storytelling. As he wrote about his own parents’ successes and failures, I knew he was graciously warning me against their errors. My soul smarted as I realized my own shortcomings, but Augustine’s wounds are faithful and his counsel sound.... Continue Reading
How Many of the Ten Commandments Do Americans Think They’ve Broken This Month?
People may admit they sin, but just a little—one-out-of-ten-commandments-this-month little.
Regardless—one or none—this view of self is far removed from the understanding of sin expressed in James 2:10. Let’s quote the Good News Translation, as it seems suitable for the “Good answer, good answer” sensibility of the show: “Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all.” (James 2:10 GNT) Furthermore, this view of... Continue Reading
The Radical Difference between Believers and Unbelievers
While it’s true that we’re both made in the image of God, and we live in the same world, in everything that truly matters in life—our hope, our trust, our passions, our convictions—believers and unbelievers share nothing in common.
There is nothing more incompatible and mutually exclusive than light and darkness. Where there is the one there is not the other. So how could we expect there to be any fellowship between light and darkness? To think that the children of light might partner together and have spiritual or ministerial fellowship with the children... Continue Reading
Theological Primer: Limited Atonement
The point of the doctrine is not to limit the mercy of God, but to make clear that Jesus did not die in the place of every sinner on the earth, but for his particular people.
Christ does not come to us merely saying, “I’ve done my part. I laid down my life for everyone because I have saving love for everyone in the whole world. Now, if you would only believe and come to me I can save you.” Instead, he says to us, I was pierced for your transgressions.... Continue Reading