The logic is simple: if a Christian sought to reform or purify the church to the standards found only in the Scriptures, a sense of tranquility often accompanied the movement, knowing the Lord would protect His church and ensure such purification prevailed. Yet, using the same understanding, if their movement faced opposition or failure, this... Continue Reading

The inclusivist rejects what each worldview says about itself and claims they are compatible against all the evidence every religion has declared about itself. If the inclusivist is correct, then every religion is wrong. That isn’t so inclusive, then, is it?   Christians claim that the only way to restore our relationship with God is... Continue Reading

God permits his people to eat animals and demands they sacrifice animals, so we have the right to kill and eat them. But we must still treat them with dignity, knowing that God created them and cares for them. To use the milk of the mother to cook her baby appears to be contemptuous of life and the special... Continue Reading

In the 1970s and 80s especially a new challenge to the traditional understanding arose in the form of free-will theism, or open theism. These folks argue that God does not know the future exhaustively, that he may have mistaken knowledge, and that he in fact grows in knowledge. I penned an introductory piece on this... Continue Reading

Quite possibly, it is losing its usefulness as a word to describe people who cherish the Bible, prioritize on the gospel, embrace the new birth, and work for spiritual renewal and social good—as evangelicals historically have done. If so, this I know: the evangel itself—the joyful announcement about Jesus—will never outlive its usefulness.    “What’s in a name?” asked... Continue Reading

So what can we conclude about the infamous dropout numbers? The rates of dropout and return are far less bleak and more complex than we’ve been led to believe. The claim that 90 percent of kids drop out after high school clearly needs to be left behind.   Debunking the Dropout Myth “So tell me,”... Continue Reading

Christians seeking to be faithful to the Scriptures want to show kindness and compassion to these individuals but are also bound to respect the law. It is true that many undocumented immigrants have chosen to come to the U.S. illegally under very difficult circumstances, fleeing serious economic hardship or even persecution. However, except for those... Continue Reading

Americans of all stripes need to seriously reassess their relationship with the country’s major institutions in light of how poorly so many of them are performing and the caliber of the people leading them.   William Lind’s 4th Generation War concept is rooted in the decline of the legitimacy of the state. He writes: At... Continue Reading

Negative World has its drawbacks, but it is at least clarifying. In a world where even the most basic Christian moral stances won’t get much traction in public debate, perhaps there is an opportunity to stop trying to persuade outsiders and get our own house in order.   In a thought-provoking recent column at his... Continue Reading

My father abandoned me before I was born, being a bad father is something I’m deeply afraid of. Before my son was born, I was anxious that since my father didn’t love me, perhaps I also wouldn’t love my son. But to my joy, I adore my son, by the grace of God. I would... Continue Reading