For there to be a successful turnaround in confronting these two external threats [Islamic extremism and a revival of hostility with Russia], however, there must also be a rebirth of national sentiment and local attachments. So far, the foundationless ideology of rights has wiped away the emotions that would be needed if people are to... Continue Reading

I suspect that some people will take this post to mean that I don’t care about obeying God. The term “antinomian” (lawless)  will probably get thrown around. Will I seek to be holy and pursue the Lord in the coming year? Of course! I love Jesus and want to be more like him. But if... Continue Reading

Not to be too simplistic, but it seems like most churches tend to be either focused on being grounded in doctrine or else on growing numerically. One kind of church is concerned with truth, tradition and theology. The other kind of church is concerned with growth, community engagement and relevance. So, which kind of church is... Continue Reading

In a culture that has done all it can to expunge moral virtue from the aspirations of human life, why are we surprised that we are shouting, “Black lives matter?” When human persons are not expected to be in communion with God and others, why are we surprised that the reverence due to the human... Continue Reading

Newsweek’s cover story is exactly what happens when a writer fueled by open antipathy to evangelical Christianity tries to throw every argument he can think of against the Bible and its authority. To put the matter plainly, no honest historian would recognize the portrait of Christian history presented in this essay as accurate and no... Continue Reading

Pastors are teaching their people how to approach and understand their Bibles by whatever the steady, weekly preaching diet is in their church.  When we commit ourselves to preach through books of the Bible and to understand and deal with all its content, we are teaching our people to do the same on their own.  I am not at all... Continue Reading

The sin complex gives a deeper understanding of sin than one that focuses on specific actions. These actions—whether sexual immorality, greed, gluttony, or any other—provide necessary information and need to be addressed. But the fundamental problem of sin is not our discrete acts of disobedience. It is our entire stance toward God.   When most... Continue Reading

One question that has long plagued Christians about the nature of Jesus’ saving work is that which concerns the meaning of the phrase, “He descended into hell”–as found in the Apostle’s Creed. Are we to understand this phrase to mean that the Scriptures teaches us that Jesus actually descended into hell after his death to proclaim... Continue Reading

Recovery of a rich concept of non-sexual friendship might well be helpful in current debates over identity.  For example, what does it mean to say that one is a gay Christian?  If it means that one feels no sexual attraction to somebody of the opposite sex and finds it easier to make deep, lasting relationships... Continue Reading

Our calling is to serve Christ and others, not our own interests.  One could recognize he has certain gifts and talents, then use them solely for his own benefit and promotion.  Humbly recognizing that our calling and its accompanying gifts come from the Lord is crucial in giving God the glory in our lives.  Guiness... Continue Reading