The Danger of Answered Prayer: When Our Daily Bread Turns Into Stone
It was in a garden in Gethsemane that Jesus Christ offered one of the most desperate prayers in all of human history: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Mt. 26:39). Yet the Scriptures tell us that the cup did not pass. For millennia believers have offered prayers to God. While some requests are granted, others are denied or, in some cases, seemingly unanswered. It...
On Personal Liberty
The most basic right that persons possess is the right to personal liberty. This simply means that people are able to accomplish that which they will, without undue hindrance or obstacle. Yet through the course of history, persons through government have attempted to usurp this right. As a result, the United States of America has sought to protect it since her inception. And although America’s protection of this right is important, it...
Language Games in the Public Square
Ludwig Wittgenstein was arguably the most important philosopher of the twentieth century. He insisted that words could only be understood in the context of the activities in which they are used [1]. It is only then that their meaning and significance can be grasped. Despite some of the problems of Wittgensteinian thought, he does offer some useful insights. He regarded philosophy as a task for clarification that would prevent us from...
Diversity and the Sliding Ethical Scale
Essay by Tim Campbell Diversity has always existed in the Church. There have always been issues about which people have disagreed. However, the conventional use, understanding, and application of varied opinions has undergone a radical alteration in relation to ethical relevance. Historically, persons recognized a standard of evaluation. Yet in the present age, such a standard has been thrown to the wind. A Framework for Ethical...
Consumerism and the Church Today
Over the last several decades a consensus has emerged among the market-driven and seeker sensitive, that the “traditional” church is like a product now rendered obsolete by the passage of time and the onrush of innovation [1]. Traditional churches are stuck with too few choices and products – and the products are those they have always offered. Indeed, liturgical traditions have their most public products and choices prescribed for...
The Need for Theology in the Fight for Hope
In a world filled with grief and tragedy, the gospel promises hope for the hurting. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3 ESV) [1]. Yet many faithful Christians wrestle daily with the fact that this hope does not coincide with their reality. Regularly, faithful believers find themselves battling emotions of despair, anguish, and suffering. It seems as if the gospel they were called...
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