The Real Reason God Judges Evil
God’s holiness is such that sin either must be forgiven or avenged; it can’t be left alone because sin defaces, deforms, and destroys.
God’s dazzling beauty and loveliness can’t allow sin to coexist with him; doing such would compromise his holiness, his very being. Isaiah 6 is rightly famous, and it casts more light on our theme. Yahweh sits transcendently and magnificently as the King in his temple. The seraphim stand around the Lord with their six wings. They... Continue Reading
Leading Together: Elder Teaming Together to Shepherd the Flock
An excerpt from “The Elder-Led Church: How an Eldership Team Shepherds a Healthy Flock” by Murray Capill
Team leadership of a church has some utterly unique dynamics. In this chapter, we will explore how a group of elders leads the church together. We will think about how the team operates, consider the relationship between the elders and the pastor or pastors, and observe the distinct differences between a shepherd- leader model and... Continue Reading
Local Evangelism and Global Mission: Maintaining Focus on the Ends of the Earth
Let us not deprive our churches of a rich opportunity to be encouraged by and become a part of the work God is doing to the ends of the earth.
From the earliest days, local churches have demonstrated concern for the establishment and edification of God’s kingdom beyond their immediate proximity. The Ephesians and Colossians were renowned for their love for all the saints (Eph 1:15; Col 1:4); the Philippians’ koinonia in the gospel was praised and celebrated by Paul (Php 1:5); the generosity of... Continue Reading
Apple’s ‘Crushing’ of the Good and Beautiful Is Step One in Demanding Our Compliance
Those who insist on progress decoupled from human mediation destroy all that is good, true, and beautiful.
Younger people in particular seem to have no understanding of the reality of conflict or war and the complex calculus that needs to be done when making moral judgments about competing cultural traditions. Yet the ruling-class elites insist this is the new way and that any rebellion against it is some form of phobia, a literal... Continue Reading
Don’t Regret Your Past—Redeem It
When you are tempted to regret your past, remember these truths and testimonies from Scripture and redeem your past.
Everything that happens in life is under God’s sovereign rule and will have eternal ramifications. Whether it is sickness, suffering, or seemingly pointless pursuits, recognize that God has brought you through it all to mold and shape you into the person you are today and the person you are becoming. Christians are promised that all... Continue Reading
Pastors: Be Unapologetic Apologists
Review: ‘The pastor as apologist’ by Dayton Hartman and Michael McEwan
The book’s weight rests on the rational and liturgical moves a pastor should make in commending the Christian faith: for example, sound arguments for the existence of God, solid historical evidence for the resurrection, apologetic training, and a winsome Easter service. These are nonnegotiables, of course. But in my experience, unbelievers are more often won... Continue Reading
Adam Poisoned Me
Like Gesner, we will suffer the effects of Adam’s poison for the rest of our lives – but it will no longer define us forever.
For a long time Genser didn’t suspect that her poisoning came from the sculpture of Adam. And we too don’t suspect that our sin comes built-in. We blame society, education, our up-bringing. We believe the myth that – to quote a recent statement from the Pope – people are “fundamentally good”. And because of that... Continue Reading
Our Love Might Be Blind, but Jesus’ Love Is Not
Jesus now looks on us like the groom of Song of Songs looks at his bride, perfect in every way.
On the spiritual level, we should rejoice in the fact that Jesus sees us as perfect in God’s sight despite our flaws. Yes, we see our own flaws and we feel our sins and limitations and history so deeply. God is also aware of our sin; after all, He sent Jesus to die for us... Continue Reading
God’s Name on You (Numbers 6:22–27)
God has given you his name. He owns you; he bought you; you represent him.
Christian, you represent God in the world. You bear God’s name. Don’t bear it in vain. Bring him honor in how you live. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). The good news of the gospel is... Continue Reading
Women and the “Most Diabolical Lie”
As women, we are to bring life into every corner of our homes and work for its flourishing.
Probably the most wicked lie of all is that children stand in the way of a woman’s purpose and self-satisfaction. There is no doubt that our culture holds children in derision, for they are literally sacrificed through abortion in the name of self-advancement. Children bear the brunt of “progressive ideas” that disrupt the pattern that... Continue Reading
And So It Begins. What Was Predicted on Assisted Dying Has Come to Pass
Despite all the current rhetoric from those who support assisted dying and the terms on which they want to bring it in, history tells us that is not where it will stay.
If you want to see how liberalism is wrecking everything, this is it writ large. Don’t think I mean “liberal” like America uses it. I mean hyper-individualist liberalism. Neoliberals, driven by nothing but economic output, salivate over this stuff. Matthew Parris said quite bluntly, it is time we realised economically useless lives should end and... Continue Reading
What Should We Think about Paedocommunion?
Only at the point when a covenant child attains maturity and can demonstrate repentance and faith may the church admit him or her to the Table.
If the child of at least one believer is, by birthright and by calling, a disciple of Christ, then that child is entitled to receive baptism (see Mark 10:13–16; Acts 2:39; 1 Cor. 7:14). Baptism summons this child to look in faith to Christ as Savior and Lord. Christ has appointed the Supper, on the other... Continue Reading
5 Things You Should Know about Heaven
The ultimate hope is not the destruction of creation but its full renewal and restoration.
Although the Bible is clear that the souls of believers go to be with Christ in heaven when they die, there are also texts that say Christians have already been seated with God “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). Since believers who have not died are presently on the earth, this must... Continue Reading
Women in Church History: Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672) America’s First Published Poet
Anne’s writing shows evidence of a hungering, yearning faith that’s well acquainted with struggle, yet looks beyond itself for its strength.
Anne’s biblically saturated mind is ubiquitous in her writing, as is her longing for her children’s salvation and maturity in Christ. As Anne appeared to deal with frequent illness, seeking God’s face in suffering is a constant refrain in the letter and in many of her poems. It’s not that Anne assumes every sickness or affliction... Continue Reading
Solzhenitsyn at Harvard: A Graduation Speech to Remember
Soviet dissident Nobel Prize winner had prophetic words for America.
Solzhenitsyn pointed to the lack of great statesmen as evidence of cultural collapse. While there were, he said, courageous individuals worthy of respect, consider how differently greatness was defined in the past. One rightly wonders what Solzhenitsyn would think about who is called “hero” and what is called “historic” today. A few years ago, for... Continue Reading
A Sidelight on a Recent Controversy in the Presbyterian Church in America: The Church’s Independence Asserted
The church’s spiritual independence means that she is to be aloof not merely from leftwing causes, but also from being a direct subservient entity of the political right.
There may be considerable overlap between the American political right and the Christian church in moral values, especially in matters like abortion, sexual morality, euthanasia, and the like. But at the end of the day we serve Christ, not any party or social movement; for such things are temporal and of human origin, and therefore... Continue Reading
Honorable Conduct in the “Negative World”
Crenshaw has decided that America in 2024 is analogous to Jericho in redemptive history and worse than first-century Rome.
Perhaps Crenshaw thinks Biden’s America is more of a “negative world” than Nero’s Rome and that the New Testament’s normative expectations of Christian behavior therefore do not apply. Or perhaps he thinks New Testament ethical teaching represents a kind of slave morality in our current political moment. If so, QED. The conclusion of Crenshaw’s article is,... Continue Reading
Joachim Neander, a Score and Ten Years
His life shows that even when the Christian wanders, the grace of forgiveness leading to renewal of purpose can lead to beneficial ministry.
Neander refused to adopt the order of the Reformed Church and he would not subscribe to the Heidelberg Catechism. He was censured by the Presbyterium (similar to a presbytery) in October, 1676, and added to the charges concerning his church ministry were accusations regarding his operation of the school. At the school he had developed... Continue Reading
God Sets the Terms and Conditions
God gives us what Christians have long referred to as “means of grace.”
By giving us these means, God shows that we really do have the privilege of relating to him, but he also shows that we cannot relate to him in whatever ways we may want or we may deem suitable. While we can genuinely be friends with God, he is the one who sets the terms... Continue Reading
What Do You Love More? The Law of God and Second Commandment Violations
Any earthly image we could ever make fails to convey the reality of who Christ was, is, and will forever be.
To attempt to capture the essence of the immortal, divine Christ in a mere physical image is to engage in the most extreme folly. Jesus was not like other men. He is the God-man! In Him, all of the fullness of God dwells in human form. To make an image of Him is to create... Continue Reading
Working Hard For and in the Lord
A Right Understanding of Why Men are to Labor Well in a Day of Evil
The real reason why men need to be in church is the same reason why all of us do. Our actions and attitudes about the calling of God to us in the work that we do, and understanding more deeply the glory of a life lived not for yourself, or for this present evil world,... Continue Reading
An Attractive Pen Portrait of David Livingstone
Livingstone’s Christian lifestyle could not be denied and made a strong positive impression on Stanley.
Stanley summarized his high estimation of the Doctor by stating in his book How I Found Livingstone: “My friendly reader, … God grant that if ever you take to traveling in Africa, you will get as noble and true a man for your companion as David Livingstone! For four months and four days I lived... Continue Reading
How God Uses Routine to Shape Us
Time is a particularly effective tool that God uses to teach us this wisdom.
The beauty of every Sunday stems from two thousand years of church history. It is a testimony to the faithfulness of God, the glory of His Son, and our eternal security in Him. As we embrace God’s design through repetition on a Sunday, we learn to fear Him. Every Lord’s Day, we worship in spirit... Continue Reading
Untouchable
John answers our sin with the advocacy of Christ.
Satan, the accuser, may prosecute our sin before the judgment seat of God, and we may cower because we know he is right. We have sinned. We do sin. But our risen Lord Jesus intercedes for us to say that our debt is real and ongoing, but He paid that debt in full. “It is... Continue Reading
God Designed You for Peace
True peace is available. It’s available because we serve a loving God.
As you consider the ways you search for peace in your life, remember that true peace is greater, deeper, and better than merely a quiet moment or two. Peace is the gift of God given to his children when they are brought back into right relationship with him and can, once again, live in his... Continue Reading
Wellbeing in the Wilderness (Numbers 6:22-27)
It may not feel like it, but we can experience God’s blessing even in the wilderness.
Can God change your circumstances? Sure. But you can experience the blessing of Numbers 6 even in the wilderness. You can know that God is providing for you and protecting you, that he is favorable toward you. You can experience a deep sense of wellbeing even in a wheelchair or wherever you are, because you are... Continue Reading
Don’t Wish Your Life Away
We must be careful that while we are looking forward to tomorrow, we don’t miss out on today.
Saying we want to enjoy today is great in theory, but it’s difficult when we see the struggles that ‘today’ brings. That’s when our eyes begin looking toward another day. Continually, we must recognize that even the struggles of today are being used by God to sanctify us and purify our faith through the fiery... Continue Reading
Missing the PAT (Point-After-Touchdown) on Sabbath Observance
Butker might have done well to consider the connection between ordered, Christ-centeredness and the Sabbath – which is, arguably, among the foremost ordering institutions in the Scripture.
Bishop Barron has produced a short, superb message entitled, “Loss of a Sabbath Consciousness.” In it, he notes the loss since about the 1960s of “a more religious rhythm” to American life, even in secular society – a trend, by the way, to which the National Football League has been a heavy, perhaps the heaviest,... Continue Reading
The Local Church Is Critical for Your Faith
Every Christian is called to have a spiritual home.
I believe a pastor needs to move on from the local church you served, so staying at our old church was not an option. But I came to realize that going to a variety of churches was not enough. You need to have your own church. You need to be part of a body of... Continue Reading
The Uniquely Christian Justification for Loving LGBT People
Though we might vigorously oppose false ideas, we should be kind to the people who hold them.
The shifting tide of culture is all it would take to change which groups people love. Christians, though, are not only justified in their love towards all people, but that justification will never change because it’s based on God’s eternal truth. There’s an important point I begin with when I teach on homosexuality and... Continue Reading