The Scandal of Singleness
Sometimes others know us better than we know ourselves. Though the world sees through a darkened lens, occasionally it observes something in Christians worth considering. Recently, a New York Times has done just that in exploring the bias in evangelicalism against hiring unmarried pastors [1]. Erik Eckholm recounts the case of one experienced pastor unable to find work after searching since 2009. According to Eckholm, most evangelical...
Reclaiming the Supper: A Reappraisal of the Memorialist View
Eating is an important aspect within the life of the Christian Church. In the Book of Acts, it is recorded that Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship of believers, to prayer, and to the breaking of bread (2:42). Church history also records Christians participating in Agape (love) feasts, which served as communal or fellowship meals that accompanied the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Even today,...
Who Are We Really Defending?
Reading Richard Dawkins’ The Blind Watchmaker at the age of 18 left quite an impact on me. It was repulsive to read a book that blasphemed God on every page. Yet because his atheistic beliefs were (and are still) so prominent, I believed it important to understand his arguments. And as a result, I began studying Scripture more diligently in order to combat his false teachings. The radical teachings of Richard Dawkins are not entirely...
Why Are We So Worried About Church Growth?
In my last article I attempted to answer the following question, “Whose responsibility is church growth?” I answered this question by concluding that this responsibility lies ultimately with God rather than men. I then made several suggestions as to how we might return to this perspective. Still this general discussion gives rise to many other questions, perhaps the most pronounced being, “Why are we so worried about church growth...
Rethinking Persecution
Christianity speaks to the entire range of human experience. It not only provides the content of our views of God, but it also guides our moral decision-making. It offers an account of a well-ordered family, a well-ordered church, and a well-ordered life. Ultimately, it speaks to the transformation of all creation by God. Our faith demands that we not only affirm these truths, but that we herald them to the world. The Scriptures refer...
All Together Now: A Theology and Strategy for Race Relations
Racism is a dirty word. Billy Graham referred to it as a “deadly poison” [1], Jefferson Edwards, Jr. a “cancer” [2]. Despite a difficult history, efforts have been made in recent decades to correct yesterday’s wrongs. Some of these have been cultural, others political, and still others social. These notwithstanding, Christians should know what the Scriptures state about race relations. Though the whole testimony of Scripture speaks to...
Recent Comments