Reclaiming the Spirit
Jesus stated the following concerning the Holy Spirit: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever… [T]he Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (Jn. 14:16, 26). Jesus’ words notwithstanding, many of us know little about the Holy Spirit. If Baptists talk about Him at all, it is...
Why the Book Is Almost Always Better Than the Movie
Originality is not a virtue often found in Hollywood. This claim is counter-intuitive, of course. Yearly we are ushered into a cinematic world of 3-D creatures, romances with unlikely characters, and thrillers with unexpected killers. The annual profits are staggering when one considers the billions invested in production and earned in ticket sales. Surely the film industry is a place where we can encounter cultural and aesthetic...
From Eden to Eden
A man created from dust, and a woman created from that same man’s rib: surely we’re more intelligent than to actually believe in this, right? Prior to the nineteenth century, rarely did Christians deny the historicity of this Genesis account. However, it has become quite common to do so in modern Christianity, as many professing believers doubt this seemingly unbelievable account of creation. Some have done so for literary reasons,...
Divine Grace and Human Responsibility in Bernard of Clairvaux
Philip Schaff described Bernard of Clairvaux as the “the model monk of the Middle Ages, the most imposing figure of his time, and one of the best men of all the Christian centuries” [1]. Yet many know very little of this important saint. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was born into a wealthy family in northern France. Throughout his life, he was a monk, mystic, and theologian. Within a few centuries, he was the most oft-quoted...
Propriety, Not Antiquity
At the Christian college where I earned my Bachelor’s degree there is a dress code for all regular classes and chapel. For men, this entails a shirt and tie, with dress slacks; for women, a knee-length skirt with a modest blouse or a knee-length dress. Upon arrival, freshmen often question the reasons for a dress code, considering it either stodgy or arbitrarily constricting. However, if one takes the time to honestly inquire about...
Making Men: Discipleship on Purpose
It is no secret: I have a son. He is four years old, and his name is Isaac Thor Johnston. I am proud of him, and I love him. But most importantly, I am responsible for him. When I look at him, I see a host of possibilities and adventures that he will experience in his lifetime. He will grow in wisdom and stature. And depending on my faithfulness in discipling him, he will grow in favor with God and man. This is a task that many men...
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