Because, as J. Gresham Machen said so well, Christianity is not just — or chiefly — an ethical code, but rather “a way of life founded on a message.” Christianity is based on news. On something outside of us. On truth. And that’s theology. Since Christianity is a way of life founded on a message, you can’t uphold the […]
Archives for 2015
What is Wrong With Some of the Recent Teachings on the Authority of the Local Church?
There is a growing emphasis on church membership right now and “being under the authority of the local church.” This can seem laudable in many ways, but there is a very important emphasis which often seems to be missing when people talk about this. Without this emphasis, people will inevitably misunderstand. The missing emphasis is […]
Freedom in the New Testament
A great post over at The Institute for Faith Work and Economics by Art Lindsley. He begins: The predominant note of the New Testament is not political freedom but freedom in Christ from bondage to sin, the Law, Satan, the old man, and death. It is not that political freedom or freedom from slavery was unimportant, but […]
Can Christians Actually Change Society?
John Stott has one of the best answers to this, in my view. From his article Four Ways Christians Can Influence the World: If we are pessimists and think we are capable of doing nothing in human society today, I venture to say that we are theologically extremely unbalanced, if not actually heretical and harmful. It’s […]
Can You Insult Someone to the Glory of God?
Joe Rigney is a very provocative writer, and his book The Things of Earth is very good. But I cannot agree with part of his recent post at TGC called “Surprised by Scripture: Love and Spirit-Inspired Insults.” In this post, Rigney argues that we need to have a category for “the Spirit-inspired insult.” Referring to Paul’s words in Acts 13:9-10 to […]
Abortion as a Form of Discrimination: Why It Ought to be Unthinkable
This is a paper I wrote in seminary showing why abortion is wrong on the basis of reason, philosophy, science, the founding documents of our nation, and Scripture. I’ve been intending to post it for quite a while, along with most of my other papers, and with the Planned Parenthood revelations going on, right now […]
Preparing Your Teens for College
Most people are aware of Alex Chediak’s excellent book Thriving at College. What is often overlooked is his sequel to that book, Preparing Your Teens for College. Don’t let the title fool you. This book is not just for parents of teenagers. It is for all parents, because the solid principles he outlines actually make the book an excellent primer […]
Do All of God’s Blessings Really Come to Us on the Basis of the Infinite Merit of Christ?
In his excellent book The Gospel for Real Life, Jerry Bridges writes: We need to learn and remind ourselves every day that God’s favor — His blessings and answers to prayer — come to us not on the basis of our works, but on the basis of the infinite merit of Jesus Christ. Is this right? What about, […]
Why Plant Churches?
A fantastic and extremely helpful article by Tim Keller that everyone needs to read. Here’s the start: The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for 1) the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and 2) the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches […]
What is a Gospel-Centered, Missional Church?
A great article at the new For the Church Website. Here are a few excerpts: What is a gospel-centered, missional church? Simply put, a gospel-centered missional church is one that recognizes that: Authentic heart-transformation cannot happen apart from the gospel; AND Culture is not the enemy of the church; rather it is a broken treasure God […]