Bible Secrets Revealed: A Response to the New History Channel Series (Part 2)
Three misrepresentations in the latest episode of the new series on the Bible
These three misrepresentations combine to serve a larger narrative, namely that Jews/Christians have no real claim on the Holy Land because the Exodus is a myth, and, more than that, the violence in the modern day Holy Land is due to the violent and aggressive teachings of the Bible. And glaringly absent in all of... Continue Reading
Why Do Pastors Get a Housing Allowance?
It would be unreasonable to tax parsonages as income, and it would be showing favoritism to limit the housing allowance to only parsonages
I think the housing allowance exemption for pastors is a good idea and should be maintained (but obviously I have a dog in this fight). The less the government regulates the inner workings of churches the better. If it is allowed to stand, the ruling that invalidated the housing allowance exemption for pastors will have... Continue Reading
How Do You Handle Betrayal?
We can take risks and truly love people because we are loved by the only One that matters
Jesus knew he was going to be betrayed in the worst kind of way. But he also knew it was part of the Father’s plan. He recognizes this in the Word of God (John 17:12) regarding his suffering. But in his suffering, he did not take measures to protect himself from the pain of betrayal.... Continue Reading
Is Hobby Lobby “Forcing Religion” Onto Employees? Hardly
This case is not about a woman’s “right” to purchase contraceptives and abortifacient drugs. This case is about who will be forced to pay for them.
Somehow the reporting on this story is upside down. Contrary to what you may have read, the employees of Hobby Lobby are not being denied or coerced in any way. Hobby Lobby, however, is. The federal government is trying to coerce the owners of Hobby Lobby into violating their most deeply held religious beliefs. To... Continue Reading
The Interpretation of History
The problems with N.T. Wright's view of redemptive history
However, I would deny that God appointed Abraham himself or Israel itself as the solution of the problem. Instead, Abraham and Israel functioned as the carrier of the Messiah, who was always intended from the beginning (dated from Genesis 3:15, humanly speaking; from eternity, from God’s perspective) to be the solution to the problem of Adam and Eve’s Fall. This does not result... Continue Reading
The Apostolic Gospel Imperative, the Extent of the Atonement, and Evangelism
Christian preaching should be biblical, Christ-centered, applicatory, urgent, and churchly or ecclesial
If the apostolic kerygma is any indication, gospel proclamation should involve, not plaintive pleading, but a powerful command to repent, believe, and be united with Christ and his church. The fact that so much evangelism today is lackluster, if not impotent, may have something to do with the fact that it is so different from... Continue Reading
His Love Endures Forever
An eternal view of God's work in our lives leads to thankfulness.
The testimonies of God’s faithfulness over time showed me that an eternal view fosters thankfulness. God’s love is enduring even when I am frightened by change or discouraged by the crisis of the moment. This year, our church’s 40th anniversary celebration aptly coincided with the Thanksgiving season. We listened to the testimonial of Peggy,... Continue Reading
The House That Steven Built
A Charlotte megachurch pastor’s megamansion raises eyebrows and critical questions
Furtick’s house will be more than 8,500 square feet of heated space, with nearly that many more feet of porches, pavilions, and garages. It has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The station needed a helicopter because the house sits on a 19-acre lot surrounded by gated communities and similarly sized mansions, posted with no trespassing... Continue Reading
Spiritual Journey of a Missionary to Africa
Strange things, like at the end of 2013, the biggest happenings in the spiritual universe are the New Atheism and Roman Catholicism
There has been something called the Seeker movement. Near as I can tell, this is the church version of Walt Disney’s High School Musical, often with in-house rock bands, interpretive dancers, and comedy teams. You’ll hear them say things like, “We’re the church for the unchurched.” I wonder if they realize what a Catch-22 phrase... Continue Reading
An Illustration of Repentance at Work in the Lives of Believers
Illustrating the nature of repentance as a saving grace
We all recognize that that first act of repentance is only the beginning. We recognize that sins must be mortified. We recognize that there is the problem of indwelling sin in the life of the believer. But I suspect that we don’t often attach repentance to these things. In part, this may be because we... Continue Reading