There are moments of discovery and experimental success that are so unexpected and profound they nullify everything before them and restructure everything that follows. For years, everyone knew people couldn’t fly. Birds could fly, but they had wings. People didn’t have wings. Then, in a little place in North Carolina, the Wright brothers got anContinue reading “Rethinking Everything”
Category Archives: theology
The Most Broken Commandment
John Newton — of “Amazing Grace” fame — once shrewdly wrote to a correspondent that a misunderstanding of the law of God lies at the root of most mistakes in the Christian life. Many of the spiritual masters have agreed with him. That explains why as much as 30–40 percent of the Reformed catechisms areContinue reading “The Most Broken Commandment”
The Spittin’ Image
You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness. (Exodus 20:4) We may not fashion our own golden calves today, but the second commandment’s prohibition of “carved images” remains surprisingly relevant to how we approach God in our daily lives and in our weekly corporate worship. Very little time passed between IsraelContinue reading “The Spittin’ Image”
Jesus Is Not There, Exactly
One of the clearest differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants is their belief about the Lord’s Supper. In Roman Catholicism, Jesus is present, but this time He is present differently than He was two-thousand years ago. In the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, He is “re-sacrificed” in an unbloody manner. This “re-sacrifice”Continue reading “Jesus Is Not There, Exactly”
The Reality of God
“The reality of God lays lightly on the American church.”— David Wells “Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the LORD’s glory has shone upon you. Though darkness covers the earth and gloom the nations, the LORD will shine upon you; God’s glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light and kings toContinue reading “The Reality of God”
Higher Math
And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers;Continue reading “Higher Math”
Making God Smile
No one can run fast enough, jump high enough, sing good enough, or drop money enough into the collection bag to impress God. This is because every ability we have and everything we own, comes from Him. However, there is a portion of Scripture that runs contrary to the thought that God can’t be impressedContinue reading “Making God Smile”
The Tyranny of Merit
What happens when you build a society on the idea that if you work hard enough you will be successful? I mean it sounds a good idea, doesn’t it? It seems to indicate that everyone has an opportunity to rise to the top. It does away with the old aristocracy with its inherited status andContinue reading “The Tyranny of Merit”
Does God change?
Is God immutable? Dr. Gordon Isaac Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever. It might help you to think of a wheel turning. In the axle driving that wheel there’s a mathematical point right at the center, and that point does not move. It remains constant. It remains still. Immutable,Continue reading “Does God change?”
Is Shame Always a Bad Thing?
Shame is the proper response to sin. Those who feel no shame at sin have no hope for redemption, for without shame there can be no confession and repentance, no receiving of God’s grace and empowerment. Now, once your sin is forgiven by God, that’s something else entirely. Once He has taken away your guilt,Continue reading “Is Shame Always a Bad Thing?”
