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 [...]

Luther on God’s Hardening of Hearts

Somebody asked [Martin Luther], “Is the hardening of the heart in the Scriptures to be taken literally or figuratively?” [cf. Rom. 9:18] The doctor replied, “Literally, but not actively, because God doesn’t do anything that’s bad. Yet his omnipotence does everything, and as he finds man, so he acts on him. Pharaoh was by nature wicked; [...]

Pray for Our Brother!

Please, take a moment to pray for our brother in Christ, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who just yesterday was sentenced to execution in Iran for converting to Christianity. Fox News reports: Supporters fear Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at [...]

Without God, Ought is Naught

True atheism is nonsense.  If there is such a thing as beautiful, such a thing as good, or even such a thing as bad, then there is a transcendent standard that determines which is which.  An atheist can say that society prefers mothers to murderers, but he cannot say that this is as it should [...]

Superfluous Justice

Another great post from Doug Wilson highlighting the inescapable irrationality of atheism (emphasis mine): We often say, when someone passes away, that they have “gone to their reward.” But given atheism, what is that reward exactly? It is exactly the same for Havel, Hitchens, and Kim Jong Il. All three have now entered into nothingness, [...]

Enervating the Normative Force of Morality

Matthew O’Brien, writing for the Witherspoon Institute: If you are going to make a moral argument, whether in the seminar room or in the public square, people today expect you to avoid invoking God. Atheists and theists alike share this expectation, with atheists eager to show that their moral knowledge and action are uncompromised by [...]

What Is the Mission of the Church?

Trevin Wax recently posted an extremely insightful “critique” (softened through the use of questions) of Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert’s new book, What is the Mission of the Church.  I think all of his comments are spot on and are an important counter-balance to a Gospel-only missional mindset. Here are his most compelling questions: 1. [...]

God’s Care for Orphans Through Haitian Churches

From Together for Adoption: