Why We Sprinkle
We practice sprinkling because it is biblical and because it seems to pick up the Old Testament symbolism of ceremonial cleansing m
Use your concordance and you will see over 45 instances in which cleansing is done by sprinkling. This fact is clearly in view in Hebrews 9-10 where the author mentions sprinkling four times (9:13, 9:19, 9:21, and 10:22). So the “various baptisms” under consideration by the author of Hebrews evidently include ceremonial cleansings done by... Continue Reading
The Vines We Cling To
My reaction to losing these gifts, like Jonah's reaction, revealed that I did not love what God loved.
God has removed good gifts from my life over the past few months. These were gifts that had become disordered affections in my heart, idols that I loved and cherished more than God. Any of God’s good gifts can become idols to us: friendships, ministries, jobs, children, even our hopes and dreams. Where I... Continue Reading
Why Don’t Protestants Have a Pope?
Herman Bavinck gives six reasons Protestants reject the primacy of the Pope and the Catholic understanding of apostolic succession.
By definition Protestants do not make very good Catholics. (Or to be more precise, we are not goodRoman Catholics, though I’d like to think a robust Protestant is a small-c catholic in the best sense of the word.) However much Protestants and Catholics can work together on social issues, and however much we may share... Continue Reading
From the Bahá’í Faith to Porn to Alpha to Jesus
God has been faithful all during my winding journey to complete surrender.
So there in the bed that I shared with Aaron, I pleaded with God to save me. I already knew that I had to repent: of trying to be holy through a faith that promised perfection; of helping to sell online pornography; and ultimately, of relying on myself. As I prayed in repentance, the fog... Continue Reading
The Coddling of the American Mind
In the name of emotional well-being, college students are increasingly demanding protection from words and ideas they don’t like. Here’s why that’s disastrous for education—and mental health.
Thomas Jefferson, upon founding the University of Virginia, said: “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” We believe that this is... Continue Reading
Bernie Sanders’ Christian Encounter at Liberty
College students offer a winsome alternative to presidential candidate’s socialist message
By visiting Liberty, Sanders, a self-declared socialist polling ahead of Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, punctuated his differences with Clinton’s struggling campaign—Sanders engages tough audiences, while Clinton retreats. (Clinton’s campaign has grown infamous for staging friendly interactions with preselected voters and avoiding reporters’ questions.) Sanders’ message at Liberty stuck with his usual talking points, but offered... Continue Reading
The Creator and His Creatures
God made all things and continues to hold them together; he is the creator and sustainer of all things, all things belong to him and are obligated to him.
God as creator is a significant theological truth. Our Creator is not our peer, but he is Lord of the universe. Since we also are part of his creation, we must recognize our obligation to him. He has given us time, treasure and talents to be used joyfully as we serve him. Yet our joy... Continue Reading
Either/Or?
Describing women, especially non-Christian ones
To be sure, she is not a Christian. She needs Jesus as her saviour. But I suspect the reduction of non-Christian women to whores or lesbians says more about the psychology of the writer than it does about my mother. And maybe other mothers too? Over at his blog, Douglas Wilson has an interesting... Continue Reading
Diplomacy or D-Day?
I Peter 3:15 is not so much about being a confrontational apologist as it is about being a diplomatic ambassador.
So here’s my challenge to you: Make “Columbo” your game plan. Don’t swing for the fences in every conversation. Just get into the batter’s box with these two questions and see what the Holy Spirit does. If you want to move forward effectively in a hostile environment, you don’t have to be an expert. Just take... Continue Reading
Purpose-Driven Film
'Captive' breaks free from conventions
With the exception of opening with a Bible verse and ending with a hymn, the Christian references are subtle. Regular churchgoers will recognize small things, like Ashley’s meeting at Celebrate Recovery, a Bible-based 12-step ministry that many churches offer. This isn’t to suggest that the story should have gone fake, only that it could have... Continue Reading