The inhabitants of Jerusalem cried out, “Crucify Him!” Pilate, the governor of Judea, declared himself innocent of the man’s blood; soldiers struck Him on the head with a reed, and spat on Him. They pressed upon His head a crown of thorns. Oh, how the Gentiles raged against this man, and the peoples of Israel, they plotted with ill intent. Yet, the treacherous deeds of the rulers and commoners against the Lord and His Anointed were met with no success.... Read more
“You preach a different gospel.” “Is that so? Well, your group of Christians isn’t a part of the one true Church.” “Please, both of you, calm down. You’re all going to Hell!” Do these words sound at all familiar? If you have observed nearly any theological discussion on the internet in a comments section or in a social media group—particularly ones that include individuals from different Christian traditions—you will have no doubt stumbled upon something similar to the exchange above.... Read more
In my previous article, I made the assertion that those who reside outside the borders of the Church will similarly be found beyond the reach of salvation when their time on earth has come to an end. It is a bold statement, and many might even react quickly in disagreement with these words. But the truth contained within them—the idea that the Church is the Ark of Noah in terms of salvation—comes down to the not-so-simple matter of what is... Read more
The worst fate that you could possibly conceive of isn’t found solely along the fringes of one’s imagination. It is undeniably real. The nightmare that is hell is a difficult truth to contend with, certainly, but it is a reality that has been made plain to us by the words of Holy Scripture. At the end of days, many, including murderers, idolaters, liars, the sexually immoral, and the faithless will all be cast into the “lake that burns with fire... Read more
While we clearly see the life and passive obedience of Christ foreshadowed in the story of the binding of Isaac (see my previous post here), the narrative’s astounding significance does not stop at its connection to Jesus’ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. For those living today who have come to believe in Israel’s Messiah, we Christians find something truly worth immolating in Genesis 22. In the words that follow, I will describe two ways in which Abraham’s submission to... Read more
Is it possible for someone to facilitate ecumenical dialogue without involving the participation of more than one Christian tradition? Such a thought certainly seems contrary to the pursuits of Christian unity, doesn’t it? I think in one sense it is, but taken in another, perhaps this variety of dialogue could actually contribute to the aims of the greater ecumenical project. Unilateral Dialogue In December of 2022, I ran with this concept, and organized a panel discussion event called, “Baptists in... Read more
In a previous article, I once examined a particularly horrifying prophecy that was proclaimed by the prophet Ezekiel in the fifth chapter of the book that bears his name. It is a promise that can be described as perhaps the most nightmare-inducing vow ever made by the LORD to His chosen people, and because of its intensity, I am convinced that it merits further reflection. Let’s take a look at that passage once again to see what other eternal truths... Read more
Can you imagine a more unsettling command? That one would be directed, by God, to give up their beloved son to be offered as a ritual sacrifice. Or worse yet, that a father would be the one to perform the sacrificial ceremony, to slaughter and set ablaze his own flesh and blood. Although brutal, such a command does not exist solely in the realm of hypothetical fiction, but actually represents history; this seemingly bleak directive was given to the father... Read more
I believe that after ten events and three years, The Church in Dialogue has already begun to accumulate the raw materials for an interesting story. And should these materials ever be ordered in such a way so as to tell an entertaining yarn, it would be a tale propelled not simply by conflict and resolution, but largely by questions. Before an event series like this could even be brought to the drawing board, certain questions had to be explored. Some... Read more
In “A Tale of Two He-Goats Pt. 1,” I provided the beginning of a homily that sought to unpack the relevance of Leviticus 16:7-10 for today’s orthodox Christian. With the words that follow, I will conclude that project by describing exactly what the goat ritual of chapter sixteen teaches us about ourselves, as well as our Lord, Jesus Christ. For those of you who missed part one, be sure to go back and read that post. There you will find... Read more
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