J. Budziszewski: A Time To Talk Back
J. Budziszewski is a government professor and a nationally known Christian social conservative
“Among his recent books: How to Stay Christian in College, On the Meaning of Sex, Commentary on Thomas Aquinas’s Treatise on Law. I interviewed Budziszewski in Austin about his critique of the Darwinist theory that underlies many academic ideologies.” J. Budziszewski is a government professor—with an emphasis in political philosophy and ethics—at The University... Continue Reading
Why Gay Marriage is Good (and Bad) for the Church
We’ve been through societal transformations before, and we’re sure to go through them again
“The arrival of same-sex marriage is just the next train stop on a journey that began with the proliferation of birth control in the 1950′s and 1960′s. When pleasure and reproduction were divorced from a holistic understanding of sex, the idea that sexual expression and childrearing should be reserved for the committed relationship of a... Continue Reading
Some Thoughts on Limited Atonement and Polemics
It is always important before attacking an opponent’s position to ascertain what is being defended
“What then is limited atonement? To be brief, it is part of the historical acrostic known within Calvinistic circles as TULIP. It is necessary to remember this since by itself, limited atonement makes little to no sense once separated from the other pieces.” It is always important before attacking an opponent’s position to ascertain... Continue Reading
The Best Things About the Boring Parts of the Bible
Here’s my top ten list of the best things about the boring parts of the Bible
“In Numbers 1 we find the record of the generation who rebelled and refused to believe that God was giving them the land of Canaan and therefore died in the desert. In Numbers 26 we read the census record of the second generation as they prepared to enter into their inheritance and abundant life of... Continue Reading
The Image of Jesus in the Book of Revelation
The book of Revelation uses vivid imagery to convey who Jesus is and what He has done
“The message of the book of Revelation is that no matter how successful the kingdom of sin and of Satan may be, the victory will belong to God’s chosen Messiah. God laughs at every attempt to overthrow His kingdom (Ps. 2:4) because He knows what the outcome of the story is going to be. At... Continue Reading
Are All Christians Hypocrites? Yes, Maybe, and No
Are Christians, in general, hypocrites for so often critiquing the behavior of others, while failing to live up to their own standards?
In one sense, it absolutely matters if Christians are hypocrites. We should be striving to better follow Christ and have our actions reflect Him. That is a given. But in another sense, the issue of hypocrisy often becomes a surrogate for a much different claim—the Christian moral standard is wrong. The revelations about Josh... Continue Reading
Is Contentment a Lost Art?
Contentment is the inward, quiet spirit that joyfully submits to God’s providence.
The secret to contentment is not in a change of circumstances but a change of heart. As Christians, we have had a change of heart; and this why and how we can both be commanded to be content and Paul can model contentment. Far from being something from the old-world of Christianity, contentment is to... Continue Reading
The Persuasive Language of Bible Critics
Truth Matters gives an explanation of the current attacks on Scripture (by professors and authors such as Bart Ehrman) and a reasonable, biblical answer to these attacks.
We live in an age when about the only belief you’ll be frowned upon for having is one that doesn’t allow for complete diversity, in which everyone’s chosen ways lead to ultimate truth. Their truth. …[Today,] tolerance swallows up truth. So when your professor injects his or her brand of skeptical sarcasm into the discussion,... Continue Reading
Islamic State’s Atrocities Against Women: It’s Getting Worse
A United Nations team of sex crime investigators has been working in and around Islamic State war zones since 2009.
Young girls kidnapped from their beds. Yazidi women and girls sold into sex trafficking. Rumors of female Muslim teens being used as suicide bombers. It is hard to imagine that Islamic extremists could make things more difficult for women and girls in war-stricken areas, but they are. A United Nations team of sex crime investigators... Continue Reading
The Complexity of Pastoral Care
Pastoral ministry takes a keen knowledge of the personalities, life-situations and struggles of congregants
Different people respond better to different motivations. Some congregants respond better to warnings, a firm-but-loving exhortation and gentle rebuke; others respond better to promises, encouragement and indirect admonition. All of this is bound up in personality type, spiritual condition and background. A combination of those factors tends to shape the way in which particular congregants... Continue Reading