Superficial holiness can never produce true happiness. True holiness always manifests itself in authentic happiness. Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed [happy] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”   In his book The Seven Deadly Virtues, Gerald... Continue Reading

Jesus’ obedience in the wilderness was a necessary part of His accomplishment of redemption (Romans 5:19). Whereas Adam and Israel disobeyed in their representative roles, Jesus obeyed as the last Adam and true Israel—the end-time Son of God and son of Abraham. By His obedience, Jesus struck a necessary blow to the evil one.  ... Continue Reading

The comfort of the good shepherd’s presence is all the more wonderful when we take seriously the reality of the darkness and the presence of evil. It is very important to be clear that David is not saying that the presence of the shepherd removes evil or eradicates darkness, as if being able to say... Continue Reading

Our question about the severity of the consequences and punishment in the garden may just reveal more about our understanding of the goodness and holiness of God than it does about our ability to judge appropriate consequences.   Even if you’re not a Christian, you know the story. A perfect garden. The first humans. Everything... Continue Reading

Negative and positive answers can both rest on the same principles. “No” immediately turns people away. With the positive answer you not only can preserve your ecclesiological commitments, but you also encourage and disciple the questioner.   One of the most helpful pieces of advice I received was from a Scottish Presbyterian minister who said:... Continue Reading

Whilst it is true that the rise of Islam has not caused the decline of Christianity—it is also true that Islam, in conjunction with their allies, the Green Progressives, will accelerate the death of Christian Britain, and will result in discrimination and persecution against real Christians.   The Bradford taxi driver was insistent—despite my sceptical... Continue Reading

The Bible isn’t merely the story of something God wanted, sin ruining it, Jesus fixing it, and believers eventually going to heaven. The larger arc is this. God desired to dwell with humanity in sacred space. He created image bearers to rule as priests. The image was corrupted. He redeemed and recreated a people. He... Continue Reading

The standards that shaped Paul for a ministry that transcended all cultures were the virtues of honor, submission, modesty, and moderation. Grounded in the headships that God had established, these were the virtues that had to be expressed through the norms of public propriety in the cultures where God placed him. These virtues would be... Continue Reading

Anxious rumination is a form of foresight untethered from trust. It is the soul’s attempt to rehearse loss in advance in hopes that suffering will somehow sting less when it comes. But listen to me: suffering imagined is not suffering redeemed. And as Lewis warned, imagined pain makes us suffer twice, but only one of... Continue Reading

Through Jesus’ parable and Mark’s illustrations, we are meant to sober up to the reality of affliction for the sake of Christ. We must never be content with an initial joy of the gospel. The true test comes when the waves of woe crash against us from those who seek to shipwreck our faith. Through... Continue Reading