What Should Protestants Know about the Early Church Fathers?
The early church fathers were not infallible; but after the prophets and Apostles, they were truly our fathers in the faith.
To this day, the Nicene and Chalcedonian Creeds are honored among Protestants as the gold standard of a right biblical interpretation of the tri-unity of God and the two natures (divine and human) of the incarnate Christ. Reading the fathers on the Trinity and the incarnation immerses us in the rich, formative period of church... Continue Reading
To Lead Quiet and Peaceful Lives
A Christian’s Prayer for Those in High Positions
We should pray that governing authorities, both local and federal, would not seek to thwart or suppress our faithful and public Christian witness. Opposing the witness of Christ’s church is foolish because opposing Christ’s church is opposing Christ himself (Acts 9:1–5). And that won’t end well. In 1 Timothy 2:1–2, Paul wants believers to... Continue Reading
How “Back in My Day…” Harms Our Witness in “…Such a Time as This”
Addressing cultural woes in a godly way is as difficult as it is necessary.
It is the beautiful, searing light of God’s holy law that will bring clarity and conviction, to us and to others. Lovingly, uncompromisingly spoken in language conversant with the times, that light shows the way to the life-giving grace of the Lord Jesus, the only Savior of people, cultures, and nations. There’s a lot... Continue Reading
3 Bible Verses That Teach Us 3 Things about Grace
Grace finds its root in the generosity of God who gives freely to us.
We are saved by His grace, and we are being transformed into the image of Jesus by His grace. There is, of course, much more to God’s grace, but at a minimum, these things are reason enough for praise. The Greek word for grace is charis. It means favor. Acceptance. Giving. Grace is free in... Continue Reading
The Infallible Test of Spiritual Integrity
True righteousness isn’t merely something we show, but also and especially something we hide.
Without confidence in one’s standing before God, the solitary silence can be downright terrifying. For there I am alone with my God and Lord and Judge. And how can the real me, which I try so hard to hide, feel anything but shame and terror before One who sees in secret? “The truth about a... Continue Reading
The Slaughter in Nigeria Continues
This past Christmas saw one of the worst attacks yet, the slaughter of 200 Christians.
It is frustrating that there is so little that can be done if the Nigerian government is determined on a policy of slowly eradicating the Christian populations of north and central Nigeria over the years with mass murder, destruction of churches, homes, crops, and demographic replacement with people from northern Muslim tribes. The persecution... Continue Reading
Faith and the Present Economy
A Trial of Allegiance
Our whole government, spurred on by many private actors, gives its efforts to material prosperity, and by this concern with prosperity above all else has conditioned the citizenry to have similar priorities. And that concern makes remorseless war upon the life of the Spirit. “You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13 When our... Continue Reading
Matching Actions and Words
We cannot attend pagan rituals in the name of love.
This is not “a fine line” to walk….don’t be deceived, and don’t be manipulated. By staying home, you will communicate that you mean what you say, and you say what you mean. That may not please your gay loved one, but it will please God. In the end, that is what matters. The American... Continue Reading
Ministerial Platforms, Self-Praise, and Self-Glory
John the Baptist understood that he was just meant to prepare the way and stay out of the way. He was merely a pointer and not the point.
Someone rightly said, “If all people see is you and your efforts to build a platform, then you are stealing the show.” The clamour for people’s attention in a minister should be of concern. With the rise of social media, the temptation is ever real. Where does one draw the line? On the one hand, it... Continue Reading
The Joy of Being Left Behind
Releasing children to follow Jesus.
Releasing our children to follow Jesus’s kingdom call is part of how we, as parents, hate our own lives and bear our own cross for Jesus’s sake. And part of what makes his call paradoxical is that this “hating” is not affectional hatred at all. In fact, it’s what love looks like. For as John... Continue Reading
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