One of the most common objections I hear for why professing Christians don’t need to go to church and be part of the assembly is that there are bad churches. Frankly, this is one of the worst excuses I hear, and it is time to put it to rest. In my estimation, it is simply one of many excuses people use to justify why they don’t have to go to church. If you can reduce all of the world’s churches... Read more
I recognize much of what I am about to say will be controversial to many, even within my own theological “tribe.” I expect those who are not in Christ to vehemently disagree with all that I am about to say, but particularly on the basis of who their true master is. For Christians though, I would like to take this time to plead with you. I have watched much of the reaction surrounding Coronavirus over the past few months, with... Read more
There is a sort of sentimentality to the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” that tugs at the heartstrings of people. It is meant to elicit sweet thoughts at the notion that while something may not be intrinsically beautiful to you, it is to someone else. They might have a perception which you lack. Perhaps they see with greater clarity than you—and of the things which they see no beauty in, perhaps you see a beauty with... Read more
The Internet has made it profoundly easy for any with access to the web to build a platform. Not only has it enabled prominent, disqualified pastors to continue to have an audience, it has given many a young man aspiring to greatness a place to develop an audience. It has given people the ability to be seen as a pastor, though they lack the necessary qualifications, and in many cases, arrogantly presume they need not apply themselves to the rigor... Read more
Despite the tendency of most have to avoid thinking about their own mortality, perhaps this year is one where people en masse cannot circumvent facing their inevitable death. Much like the confines of a funeral home, the current global pandemic and the looming, global economic repercussions of widespread shutdowns are forcing people to dwell on these things, which I believe is fundamentally a good thing. The prospect of death forces us to ask the existential questions of what comes afterwards and... Read more
Every year, Christians embarking on a “Bible-in-a-year” reading program stumble upon and are confounded by Genesis 6:1-8 within the first few days of their plan. And with good reason, this passage is one of the most debated texts in Scripture. It contains the enigmatic story of the marriage between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men” and one of only two references to the mysterious “Nephilim.” Questions abound: Who are these sons of God? What did they do... Read more
Harvard Magazine recently published a piece by Erin O’Donnell titled The Risks of Homeschooling, wherein she focuses largely upon the apparent risks associated with those who choose to keep their children out of the public school system and homeschool instead. Ms. O’Donnell largely regurgitates the arguments of Elizabeth Bartholet, so she will bear the focus of my response here. The piece itself contains a corresponding illustration depicting a child locked inside a house with bars on the windows, staring longingly... Read more
I don’t consider myself to be an emotionally-driven man, nor does anyone who knows me personally. My wife has quipped that I can have the emotional equivalency of a rock, where my mom has oft retorted with the Vulcan greeting when she’s heard my thoughts on a particularly emotionally charged matter. In one sense this has proved to be an incredible asset, as I can brush off nearly anything that would cause many others to be rightfully upset. I get... Read more
One of the fundamental truths of the Scriptures is the reality that God is utterly sovereign in all things. Not only has God made everything for its own purpose, including the wicked for the day of evil (Pro. 16:4), but He has done so for His own glory (Rom. 9:16-24). There is no single molecule, or virus, outside of the orbit of God’s control. This logically means that all things which were, are, and will be, are totally governed by... Read more
At the risk of sounding indifferent, there is some point in the not so distant future when the world has to “return to normal” even though there won’t really be a “normal” to return to. In simplest way to express it, I am saying that people will need to return to work and conduct “life” as we know it. This has become a controversial statement for many reasons, notwithstanding the fact that many people, if not most, believe the best... Read more
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