Kept for Jesus: A Review Essay
by Matthew McAffee [The following is an adaptation of a review recently published in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 58 (2015): 858-61] Kept for Jesus represents Sam Storms biblical-theological treatment of the Reformed doctrine of eternal security.[1] I appreciate his warm and approachable writing style, which produces a conversational tone for the book. In the introduction he outlines a two-fold...
We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry – Book Review
by Daniel A. Webster The average American Christian is quick to dismiss a book about idolatry on the grounds that worshipping graven figurines is not a modern church practice. However, when one considers that over one-third of the world’s population claims to be Hindu, Buddhist, or Catholic—all of which implement statues or icons in their worship—the topic seems strikingly pertinent. Even still, for many American pastors, the topic of...
Recovering the Art of Biblical Community
by Aaron Pierce Jesus wants His followers to live in loving community with one another. In John 15:12 He says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Yet this practice seems absent in evangelical churches today. It is no secret that many churches aren’t known as safe-havens from gossip and slander or peaceful business meetings. While broken people in a broken world will never perfectly love one...
Recognizing the God Who Is There, Despite our Best Efforts
by Andy Ball The Critical Posture How ironic is the contemporary mood: despite how technologically advanced and developed our society is, we are so untrustworthy about many beliefs. Even though we can be more certain than ever before about numerous things, we are cynics. Just consider the plethora of conspiracies that are so popular. If you’re not familiar with any, go check your Facebook wall. Someone will surely have posted in the...
Thomas Aquinas and the Role of Reason: An Epistemology of Faith
by Kevin L. Hester Epistemology is the philosophical study of how truth claims are justified. It answers the question how we know what is true. Since God is revealed to us as “truth,”[1] it must then have bearing upon our faith. But what is the nature of faith? Is faith only faith when there is no evidence? If faith depends upon evidence, is it still faith? The relationship between faith and reason is a foundational theological and...
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