We do not go looking to the experience of our desires to validate an identity. We go to Scripture. The fact of “naturally occurring” experiences or desires tells us nothing about the appropriateness of those occurrences or desires. “If it feels good, do it” is devastating as an ethic.    It is a cultural myth... Continue Reading

The cost of discipleship can be great, but Jesus told us that ahead of time. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). Jesus’s words are about allegiance. He... Continue Reading

Revelation prepares believers to walk with Christ through tribulation. Acknowledge that we live in the last days because Christ has accomplished redemption, and trust that the exalted Lamb is executing God’s decree and leading the church through its eschatological woes to reach the kingdom.   The book of Revelation says much concerning Christ’s coming, judgment... Continue Reading

A few days ago, over a million West African Methodists voted to leave the denomination. Jerry Kulah, a delegate from Liberia, spoke for many Methodists on the continent when he called the UMC’s decision to redefine sexuality “a serious drift away from the truth.” He added: “The church is now buying into culture. The Bible has not changed, but... Continue Reading

The rainbow is much more than an inspiration for fables, an idiom inducer, or a lovely item to sing about, it is a sign of God’s covenant with Noah. The simple rainbow that is sometimes seen spanning the sky on a rainy day is a reminder, a covenant sign. God’s bow in the clouds brings... Continue Reading

That which keeps the believer in the grace of God includes the intercession of Christ and the believer drawing near to God through the one Mediator, Christ Jesus. So, although believers could fall away apart from the means of divine intercession, believers won’t fall away due to God’s gracious decree that secures the conditional-means of perseverance.    Like... Continue Reading

Our cultural narrative is not so different from any other culture’s epic. They all tell a story about what is desirable for life and what identifies the ideal person. Every culture has some collective ideal of what you should want and what you should be. But all of them end up getting something essential wrong.... Continue Reading

The overture requiring the titles of elder and deacon to be restricted only to men who serve in that ordained office passed, but even if it had failed it would still remain impermissible to ordain women to the office of deacon, which is what this minister was arguing for. Others arguing against restricting the titles... Continue Reading

It’s well understood that institutional presences like seminaries and colleges need to be protected; reputation is everything. But sometimes truth is another thing and we do need to be careful to maintain some unblinking history. The stories of the OPC and PCA are not well ordered or manicured; they were rough cut. Their men were... Continue Reading

Because of our fellowship with the Triune God believers are also joined to each other (1 John 1:3). We “are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5). From Christ the head “the whole body” is “joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped” (Ephesians 4:16).  ... Continue Reading