Dealing with Dryness

Something that I need to be reminded of regularly: It is not necessary that we should have any unexpected, any extraordinary experiences in meditation [on God's Word].  This can happen, but if it does not, it is not a sign that the meditation period has been useless.  Not only at the beginning, but repeatedly, there [...]

An Encouragement to Study History

Some Evangelicals have a good grasp of the history of evangelical theology.  Unforunately, the majority is sadly deficient in historical knowledge.  Their theology tends to be ahistorical.  They lack a sense of the course of theological history which is their heritage.  They believe what they are taught here-and-now and have no awareness of the there-and-before.  [...]

That Smells Like…

The King James is better than most, translating one particular word here [in Philippians 3:8] as dung.  The word is skubalon, and means in the first place some kind of animal excrement.  And this verse helps show the problem we are in- Paul does teach elsewhere that we are to avoid filthiness in our speech, [...]

Gospel Theater

In the two videos below, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer outlines his creative and insightful theodramatic model for Christian theology.  For more on Vanhoozer’s fascinating thoughts on the nature of theodrama, see The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical Linguistic Approach to Christian Doctrine.

Under the Whirling Sword, Under the Cross

The end of Cain’s history, and so the end of all history, is Christ on the cross, the murdered Son of God.  That is the last desperate assault on the gate of paradise.  And under the whirling sword, under the cross, the human race dies.  But Christ lives.  The trunk of the cross becomes the [...]

When the Building Collapses

Timely words for a generation of Christians that often associates God’s favor and grace exclusively with prosperity, comfort, material blessing, and worldly happiness: Job’s words [in Job 13:15] remind us of God’s sovereignty over all of life, including its pain and suffering. God is not the author of evil, of course, but he is sovereign [...]

Getting the Balance Right

It is highly likely that most Evangelical Christians have, at some time or another, heard this famous quote (often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi): Preach the Gospel at all times.  If necessary, use words. The sentiment behind such statements generally goes something like this: the church too often focuses too much on talking at people [...]

Dispelling Silly Myths About Jesus

With Easter fast approaching and the perfectly-timed publication of Bart Ehrman’s latest book, I thought it might be helpful to call attention to a series of videos related to the historicity of the resurrection produced by Credo House.  New Testament scholar Dr. Mike Licona (author of the recently published, The Resurrection of Jesus: A Historiographical [...]