Is the Bible the Word of God?
The books of the Bible have been subjected to the keenest scrutiny and the most rigorous examination by modern scholars.
First, we must recognize that the biblical books have internal qualities that demonstrate that they are from God. Just as natural revelation (the created world) has characteristics that show God is the author of nature (Ps. 19; Rom. 1:20), so we should expect special revelation (Scripture) to have such characteristics that show God is its... Continue Reading
Loving Discipleship Avoids Condescension
We all know from experience that it’s not very helpful to be told to just wait because life’s about to get so much harder. And yet it’s so tempting to respond this way.
In the church, we encourage discipleship. We believe it is one of God’s primary ways of helping us to grow in sanctification and unity. I’ve been thinking about this as I experience this type of well-intended head-patting that occurs on both sides of my life – receiving it from older folks, and doling out to... Continue Reading
Very Superstitious
The rejection of the Christian religion has offered liberation, not from the bonds of superstition but from the burdens of evidence and rationality.
Along with this, there are scientific theories that now require very little evidence in order for them to be discussed. One recent theory postulates that the origin of life follows as an inevitable consequence of the “laws of nature” and “should be as unsurprising as rocks rolling downhill.” No theory on origins can be devoid of philosophical... Continue Reading
The Addiction To Self-Righteousness
There are few human emotions or experiences as powerful and even addicting as self-righteousness.
Christians ought to denounce fascism, racism (as traditionally defined), bigotry, and claims of racial superiority (e.g., White supremacy). They are gross sins against God and his image bearers (other humans). They should also denounce class warfare, dialectical materialism, pragmatism, mobs, and vigilante violence (e.g., Antifa). Christians, however, are not entitled to self-righteousness. We should also... Continue Reading
Do We Trust the Bible to Tell Us Truthfully What God Commands?
We are constantly told that we must abandon the clear teachings of the Bible in order to get “on the right side of history.”
In the end, the church will either declare the truth of God’s Word or it will find a way to run away from it. It ultimately comes down to trust. Do we trust the Bible to tell us truthfully what God desires and commands about our sexuality? If so, we know where we stand and... Continue Reading
4 Things That Might Hinder You from Embracing Definite Atonement
There are four things that put people off the doctrine of atonement:
The final reason people are put off by definite atonement is they feel it becomes a deterrent to evangelism and mission—if Christ didn’t die for everyone, then how can they go and evangelize and preach the gospel indiscriminately to everyone?…. but if we accurately define definite atonement, give it it’s proper terminology, see it as... Continue Reading
Sabbath Keeping as “Social Justice”
The blessings flowing from following the Fourth Commandment.
Larger Catechism question 121, which asks, “Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?” The lengthy answer includes “. . . to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion. . . .” Focusing on redemption, the second... Continue Reading
The New Perspective On Paul: Who Is Jesus?
We are confronted with the Jesus constructed by N.T. Wright and those like him (as opposed to) the Jesus we receive from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
N. T. Wright, an advocate of the NPP, would say, “Jesus’ actions make sense within his Jewish context, and within the socio-cultural world of Galilee in particular…” Now, there is a sense in which the cultural context of a passage can be hermeneutically helpful. However, that is not what Wright is saying. Who is... Continue Reading
Is There a God?
The cosmos, my existence, and my ability to reason all depend on the fact that life did not and could not come from nothing, but requires a reasonable and reasoning origin.
This God must be the biblical God, for two reasons. The first is that only such a God adequately grounds the physical coherence of the cosmos as we know it. Second, His existence is the only coherent basis, whether acknowledged or otherwise, for rational thought and communication. Consequently, the nonbeliever of necessity must draw on,... Continue Reading
I Get to Tell You About the Trinity
I'm looking at my kids. I love my kids. Leaning in to explain, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
I spoke to them about how the Trinity has existed forever and ever. Our God was eternally happy–even before he created people! Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father all loved, glorified, and enjoyed one another even before time. Unapologetically overwhelming them, I explained that this is more than I can understand, but where my... Continue Reading