Historical-Grammatical Interpretation and the Song of Songs
What is historical-grammatical interpretation, and how does this affect our approach to the Song?
How does this affect the way we read the Song of Songs? This is where HGI runs into a problem, because HGI recognizes the reality of figurative language, such as metaphor, simile, and symbolism. But HGI itself will not tell the reader when figurative language is being used. That has to be determined by markers... Continue Reading
Confessions, Oedipus Rex, and Dust in the Wind
Confessions give precise and clear expression to the nature of the protest which the Church makes against the beliefs and practices of the wider world.
The revival of interest in confessions over the last decade seems to have been preparing us for the times in which we now live. Those who are not protesting will not be distinctive and will vanish into the cultural fog. Those who have no confession robust enough to provide an ecclesiastical foundation for a protest... Continue Reading
I Can Do All Things
If we read Philippians 4:13 in isolation, apart from its context, it’s possible to see why so many take it as a declaration of personal empowerment.
Out of context, Philippians 4:13 is used as a blank-check promise for whatever is desired. But in context, it is a verse is about contentment. It’s not about your dreams coming true or your goals being met. Rather it’s about being joyful, satisfied, and steadfast even when life is hard and your circumstances seem impossible.... Continue Reading
Defective, Yet Delightful
Because of the gracious work of Christ, despite our former depravity, we can go through the veil, enter the Holy Place, and boldly approach the throne of grace.
While on earth, Jesus cured the physically diseased, healed the physically disabled, and straightened the physically deformed. He did so out of compassion for broken individuals, but he also did so to show his authority and power to save the depraved. Therefore, spiritually, Jesus takes defective men and women and does more than merely save them;... Continue Reading
Jesus on Homosexuality
If Jesus apparently did not address the issue of homosexuality, can we speak about it today?
Homosexual conduct cannot be defended on the basis of a supposed silence of Jesus Christ. And we must remember: silence is not golden, it is yellow. Christians need to speak out against it as a political movement, and reach out to those trapped in a homosexual lifestyle and offer them the grace of God. For... Continue Reading
What Baltimore Needs
The primary need Baltimore has is for the church.
Baltimore is hurting. Let’s pray for the wisdom of the governor, the mayor, the Justice Department, the police. But let’s pray also for Baltimore to see a preview of the future—of peace and righteousness and unity—in the only place we can see it in the now: the church. Our television screens glow with images... Continue Reading
Hating Science But Loving Murder
It is hard to fully comprehend how deluded our political and legal culture is over the issue of abortion.
I maintain that the cultural war over abortion cannot last forever. As science advances, as more moms (and politicians) see ultra-sound machines, and as the hypocrisy of the “women’s rights” movement continues to be exposed, something has to give. I really believe that future generations (if the Lord tarries) will look back on this era... Continue Reading
Why Not Gay Marriage?
Let’s think about what is at stake in the debate over gay marriage.
By recognizing gay unions as marriage, just like the husband-wife relationship we’ve always called marriage, the state is engaging in (or at least codifying) a massive re-engineering of our social life. It assumes the indistinguishability of gender in parenting, the relative unimportance of procreation in marriage, and the near infinite flexibility as to what sorts... Continue Reading
Signposts Along the Way
"It is the journey that matters, not the milestones," an acquaintance said.
Sunday Women just celebrated an anniversary, which caused me to look at the four-year stretch I travelled since the blog started. What did I experience along the way? God has loved and taught me and been a real present help in trouble. I sinned; I felt joy; I knew sorrow. I still have frustrations, but I am encouraged to... Continue Reading
In Defense of Marriage, the Rule of Law, and Ordered Liberty
Christians should pray for the nine justices of the Supreme Court today, aware of the magnitude of the issues before the Court.
The ruling by the panel of the Sixth Circuit set the stage for the arrival of the issue once again at the United States Supreme Court As Judge Sutton indicated in the opening section to his opinion, he fully expected the Supreme Court to rule in favor of same-sex marriage. In his opinion, he made... Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 582
- 583
- 584
- 585
- 586
- …
- 1250
- Next Page »