It is routine to hear the heartfelt sentiment of a dear dying Christian say, “Don’t weep when I die. Rejoice, for I shall be with Christ”? With the same affection, it is normal to hear family members of a deceased Christian say, “He didn’t want us to grieve. We want to joyfully remember the life... Continue Reading

In light of its overwhelming thematic and conceptual unity, in light of the Reformation reading of Romans 1:18–3:20, it is difficult to see how or why any confessional Protestant could or would read this section differently but in 1978 a professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary (PA), Norman Shepherd, in the midst of what... Continue Reading

If we would be faithful to our Lord we will prayerfully consider when, how and for what end we enter into controversies. Defending the truth is a necessary thing in a fallen world. When the people of God are threatened by error, the ministers of the Gospel have a responsibility to warn and instruct them.... Continue Reading

But while it’s unmistakable that the Spirit is the sovereign agent of sanctification, that fact in no way contradicts the reality that He effects this transformation through the use of means which the believer must appropriate. God has ordained that the Spirit accomplish this glorious work through means. So when Scripture commands us to work out our... Continue Reading

The father’s pledge at Generations of Light (a site run by Lisa Wilson, whose husband, Randy, came up with the purity ball concept) refers to the father as “high priest in the home.” It places the responsibility for the daughter’s actions on her father. The problem with this idea is twofold. First, no one person can take... Continue Reading

The Lord doesn’t require His daughters to braid bread and arrange flowers. For women who want to, those things are gifts. And while we should have skillful hands and strong arms (Prov. 31), what God does require is that we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). That is a teaching... Continue Reading

The problem with this view is at the heart of it basic human pride. These Christians don’t want to live the quiet and peaceable life, but want to puff up their Christianity into something that it is not. They yearn for greatness, and success on a human level instead of being content with being in... Continue Reading

Through the Apostle Paul, God gave fathers the primary responsibility for disciplining their children (Eph. 6:4), but in connection with this he also warned them about the danger of provoking their children to anger. If you want to exasperate your children in this area of life, here’s a quick list of how to do it:... Continue Reading

Lauri Sessions Stepp, author of Unhooked, has written a fascinating book on the problem with marriage in the 21-century. And one of the most discerning observations Strauss has made upon speaking with many now-singles, is that the partner who splits and runs often places blame on “the marriage”. The marriage was not connected. The marriage... Continue Reading

There are no pedestals. No boys’ clubs. No making a name for yourself. But there is a lot of giving and loving and serving. There is a lot of Jesus and very little of you. There is a lot of dying to yourself so that others might live. And this girl who never had any intentions... Continue Reading