How Did Christ Descend?
On the one hand it sums up the full horror of what is stated almost in a matter-of-fact way in those lines; but on the other hand it provides us with the key to seeing all that the cross accomplished for God's people.
So, when Jesus was put to death on a cross that Friday morning, to all the Jews who were watching, he was seen as accursed. And it wasn’t just that there was chaos, confusion and disorder all around in the scene at Golgotha; but that smell of divine displeasure filled the air. It was a... Continue Reading
YOLO!
Perhaps “YOLO” should be a call to the Christian to examine his or her life, not in the light of speculation but in the light of the Word of God
For too long perhaps we have been like the lepers outside Samaria waiting to see what will happen as our lives move ever nearer towards death. Through their example of rising up and pressing forward, let us remember that this is the life God has given us and let us live for the glory of... Continue Reading
Stop Pretending–Cry Out to God
Times of sadness and fear are part of our faith-walk through this fallen world. And so is crying…crying out to God.
In our Christian world of pretending, the honesty of this man’s anguish should be appreciated by us, not despised. He is struggling. His faith is being tried as never before. He hangs by a thread. He knows how frail and sinful he is. But ultimately, and more importantly, he knows who God is. He knows... Continue Reading
The Fifth Commandment and the Household
All those who trust in Him become children of the living God and are given an eternal inheritance in the heavenly land of promise.
His sacrificial death on the cross atones for all the times you and I have failed to honor our parents and other lawful superiors; meanwhile, His perfect obedience to the Father is credited to us as if it were our own honoring of those over us. As a result of Christ’s obedience, God’s household has... Continue Reading
Southern Baptist Elites May Be Woke, But Southern Baptists Are Not
85-plus percent of Southern Baptists who voted for Trump are not woke and will not want the $30 billion in SBC assets that belong to them deployed for woke causes.
In contrast to Berger’s aphorism, the elites of the Southern Baptist Convention do not rule Southern Baptist churches. But they do run the institutions and enjoy the handsome salaries paid for rank-and-file Baptists. As trusting, instinctual conservatives, it’s not easy to rouse the Southern Baptist masses to activism that targets the SBC. But if history... Continue Reading
What the Bible Teaches About Sadness and Joy
Isaiah tells us the Son of God was someone deeply acquainted with grief. And yet, he came eating and drinking,
As followers of Christ – as the spiritual descendants of his redemptive work upon the cross – we can walk boldly into these interesting times with a joyful heart, a heart that can still find time to laugh even in the ever-increasing sadness that we call East of Eden. Consider Jesus, the founder and perfecter... Continue Reading
The Words You Say and When You Say Them
Make sure the facts on the ground are correct, but let wisdom dictate when you correct those facts.
If someone tells you a story that causes them pain, it is not just wisdom but obligation that commands that we feel their pain. (Romans 12:15) Think of when someone brushed past your pain to get to their point. It is easy to tell when someone doesn’t care about what you have to say, when... Continue Reading
Pray for Other Members
Jesus taught his disciples a pattern of prayer that we now call “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matt. 6:9–13). We can use this pattern to pray for one another.
As Christians, we should pray continuously (1 Thess. 5:17), taking each other’s anxiety to our caring God (1 Pet. 5:7). We should also pray with thanksgiving, bringing one another’s requests to God (Phil. 4:6). The Lord also invites us to pray expectantly for wisdom (James 1:5). We shouldn’t grow weary of faithfully praying these prayers.... Continue Reading
At The PCA General Assembly, The Little Guys Stood Up
PCA ruling elders—commissioners who are not professional clergy and who live in the real world—turned out in force.
To outside observers of the PCA, like myself, the result was encouraging and surprising. What happened, as outlined here and here, was that the Assembly voted to propose several changes to the denomination’s Book of Church Order (the manual of church law) that would prevent anyone who identifies as gay or same-sex-attracted from holding office in the denomination.... Continue Reading
The Culture War Must Go On
The woke are angry, humorless, and—worst of all—vindictive. Surrender is not an option.
Although the culture war would appear to be over, to surrender to the dreariness of woke culture—which tramples on art, is without intellectual authority, allows no humor, and is vindictive toward those who oppose it—is unthinkable. So praise the Lord and pass the ammunition; it’s back to the trenches, for there isn’t any choice. The... Continue Reading
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