In You’ve got Mail, Tom Hanks’s character says that all of life’s questions can be answered by reference to The Godfather. Not quite, but close. For instance, just ask yourself why in a supposedly Christian nation things are so decidedly unchristian. There is a scene in The Godfather: Part III which provides an answer. (more…) Read more
There’s a view of God’s sovereignty that can leave us with nothing to do. Since God provides for all our needs, it seems as if there is little to do but wait for him to act and accept everything that comes. But such a view smacks more of fatalism than providence. We’ve all encountered this view, and probably have believed it in one way or another ourselves. (more…) Read more
“What child is this?” asks the famous nineteenth century Christmas carol. It’s a question posed since Christ first entered human history two thousand years ago and a question that sometimes provokes vitriolic and sometimes violent answers. We’ve seen it in recent public tiffs about Nativity displays and, far more seriously, in threats against Christians in the Middle East. A glance to the distant past provides useful and sobering perspective. Few people exemplify and clarify the fight for the true meaning... Read more
Jesus, the door Jesus, the road Jesus, the guide Jesus, the goal Jesus, the beginning Jesus, the end Jesus, maker of all worlds Jesus, babe in Mary’s womb Jesus, physician of my soul Jesus, healer of my body Jesus, the word of God Jesus, the wisdom of God Jesus, the face of God Jesus, the son of God Jesus, the son of man Jesus, waves beneath his feet Jesus, winds at his command Jesus, angels arrayed in fear Jesus, children... Read more
Many are the authors who have assembled lists of various undeniable truths and irrefutable laws. I’m less sure about these ones, but here’s my list of things — some discovered through ample trial and much error — that I’m pretty certain are true: If your Christianity doesn’t leave a mark, you’re doing it wrong. Even the Body of Christ has an armpit or two. If you don’t discipline yourself, others will. If you don’t learn from history, you’re like most... Read more
The lack of unity among Christians is lamentable. But the divisions are oftentimes real and over genuine differences of interpretation and understanding. These cannot be papered over or wished away. But neither can we simply stay isolated, one from the other. It seems there are three ways to approach ecumenism: the nice approach, the eschatological approach, and the co-belligerency approach. 1. The nice approach The first is to look at the differences between ourselves and dismiss them, even the big... Read more
If you follow the conversations and events of our day, it’s clear that our contemporary culture values agreeableness over truth. Christians have fallen for this as well because the greatest Christian virtue is love, and love is patient, kind, etc. In other words, love comes off as pretty agreeable. It’s not going to interrupt. It’s not going to correct and chastise. It’s definitely not going to judge. It’s going to calm the mood and make nice. I think that is... Read more
There is a strain of Christianity that promises material blessing as a sign of God’s favor: cars, homes, bank accounts, etc. Given the economic downturn over the last few years, this strain should strain all credibility. Did God decide to withhold 30 to 40 percent of his favor across whole neighborhoods as their housing values plummeted? (more…) Read more
Getting your theology from pop lyrics is usually a poor idea, but there are wonderful exceptions. Take Terry Taylor’s 1998 solo album, John Wayne. Known better for raucous numbers like “Hide the Beer, the Pastor’s Here” and “Darn Floor, Big Bite,” Taylor has also written many quiet and meditative songs over the years. (more…) Read more
One of Jesus’ many well-known parables is the parable of the sower, which imagines a man with a bag of seed, casting the kernels this way and that. The seed, which represents the gospel, lands on different types of soil, which represent human hearts, human lives. We often think of this parable as speaking primarily about evangelism. The sower is the evangelist, spreading the Word. But that’s only the most basic dimension. (more…) Read more
Joel J. Miller
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