A Scottish View on Scottish Independence
Should Scotland remain in the United Kingdom or become an independent nation?
Although the majority of Americans have way too romantic ideas of Scotland and its current spiritual state, there are still godly and faithful ministers, Christians, and churches throughout Scotland. Yes, they are a tiny proportion of the population, but they are a praying people who continue to plead for revival and reformation. It’s been... Continue Reading
The Average Joe
In our race, many average Joes will persevere to the end, but we will be anything but average in glory
“If we were shown the obstacles that we will encounter before hand, many of us would probably just give up. One thing we do know is that we have to train. Disciples require discipline, and Christians need to exercise their faith over and over as we run with endurance the race set before us. And... Continue Reading
A Bucket List or a Longing for Eternity?
I do not know exactly what life in the new heavens and new earth will be like, but I believe that the new creation will be better than this current creation, not worse. It will be more, not less.
I think this dull vision of heaven makes us all, even Christians, think that we need to suck all the joy and excitement we can out of this life before we “kick the bucket.” Well, I have a different perspective: I have no plans to kick the bucket. I intend to pass from life into... Continue Reading
Are Differences in the Gospels Evidence of an “Imperfect” Bible?
A response to the series by Peter Enns’ entitled, “Aha moments: biblical scholars tell their stories.”
The problem with entering seminary students (such as myself years ago) is not that they’re faced with an imperfect Bible but that their expectations at the outset are often inadequately informed. Just because the Bible involves translation and testimonies doesn’t make it imperfect! The Bible is “imperfect” only when measured by the unwarranted expectation that... Continue Reading
You Are Not Forgotten
The church has its own POWs—those who are missing or imprisoned by life in a fallen world, those who spend long periods of time captive to illnesses both mental and physical.
The church is great in a crisis. We are great with sudden heart attacks, emergency surgeries, car wrecks, funerals. We are great with flowers and meals and child care for people’s moments of chaos and desperation. This is good. But we are not always so great with the messy, unsolvable, lengthy trials of those who... Continue Reading
The Church and Violence Against Women
Male violence against women is a real problem in our culture, one the church must address.
An abusive man is not an over-enthusiastic complementarian. He is not a complementarian at all. He is rejecting male headship because he rejecting his role as provider and protector. As the culture grows more violent, more consumerist, more sexualized and more misogynistic, the answer is not a church more attenuated to the ambient culture, whether... Continue Reading
Dozens of Christians ‘including women and children’ are arrested in Saudi Arabia
Islamist police in Saudi Arabia have stormed a Christian prayer meeting and arrested its entire congregation
Nina Shea, director of the Washington-based Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, told FoxNews.com: “Saudi Arabia is continuing the religious cleansing that has always been its official policy. It is the only nation state in the world with the official policy of banning all churches.” Islamist police in Saudi Arabia have stormed a Christian... Continue Reading
Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday?
When Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, things changed.
Christ, the second Adam, “finished” (John 19:30) the work that the first Adam failed to do (Rom. 5:12-19). Because of that pivotal event, the church determined that for Christians under the new covenant, the day of worship and celebration of the Lord’s grace in Jesus Christ was to be the first day of the week,... Continue Reading
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Church
Behind the scenes, former church members said, Driscoll could be abusive and controlling
For years the edgy, blue-jeaned, hipster preacher used charisma and combativeness to barrel through turmoil, once bragging that he’d mow down all who questioned his vision: “There is a pile of dead bodies behind the Mars Hill bus, and by God’s grace, it’ll be a mountain by the time we’re done,” he once said in... Continue Reading
On Nude Celebrities, Virtual Voyeurs, and Willing Victims
As Christians, we must refuse to participate in further victimizing those who are victims of sin.
The young man who looks at pornography is enjoying someone else’s victimization. Whether the woman on the screen was raped into porn or whether she is a fully-willing participant, she is a victim of evil, controlling forces. And the young man who looks at her on the screen is joyfully participating in her victimization. He... Continue Reading