Arminius and Calvin: Partners in Reform
It does not take long to sense the palpable tension between Calvinism and Arminianism. A brief overview of seminaries, blogs, and ministerial organizations shows that countless people divide along the lines drawn by these two theologies. Followers of both Calvin and Arminius have applauded them as heroes of biblical orthodoxy—and rightfully so. Unfortunately, adherents of each school constantly construct straw-men of the other. Among...
Helping Henry: Ministering to Those With Same-Sex Attractions
Essay by Eddie Moody “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord...
What Is Directing Our Worship?
When asked to serve as the Music Minister at his church, Steven gladly accepted. He led the congregation in the great hymns from the church’s history—such as “All Creatures of Our God and King,” “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty,” and “Near the Cross.” An elderly gentleman, strictly accustomed to southern gospel music, approached Steven one morning: “These new songs are nice and all, but I really prefer...
Ancient Orthodoxy: The Importance of Chalcedon in Your Local Church
“What does Chalcedon have to do with me? In fact, what does Chalcedon even refer to in the first place?” These are often the first questions from church members and even pastors when confronted with the Chalcedonian Creed. And usually, our questions represent our neglect of church history. Whether it is the early ecumenical councils or the Protestant Reformation, we evangelicals cannot afford to lose such rich, biblical doctrines that...
Two Testaments, One Soul
Essay by Matthew McAffee What hath Greece to do with Israel? On many levels, modern critical scholarship would be comfortable with a negative response to such a question. They would argue that the Greek ideas of the first century have so influenced the writers of the New Testament that they no longer resemble their Hebrew predecessors theologically. We might say that they have simply moved on with the times. This trajectory poses...
What Is Worldliness?
“Don’t drink, don’t smoke; don’t cuss, don’t chew; don’t go with girls who do.” This humorous mantra is not so foreign to the ears of some conservative Christians. While its origin is unknown, it is often attributed to fundamentalist preachers of the mid-late twentieth century. The aim of this saying was to combat the problem of worldliness. Nearly everyone reared in a religious setting has encountered some mode of engagement with the...
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