WITTENBERG, Germany – Five hundred years ago this month, Martin Luther, a German monk and university professor, turned the world upside down as he began to proclaim a gospel of “costly grace.” On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther posted 95 theses for public debate on the Castle Church door in the small university town of Wittenberg, Germany. In his pungent theses, he criticized abuses of church power – especially the pope’s attempt to raise funds for renovating St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by … [Read more...]
Is the Reformation over?
JEFFERSON CITY – Having been warned that all Baptist campus ministries were not equally committed to the authority of Scripture and the necessity of evangelism, I joined Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) as a first year student at the University of Virginia. In Cru, I met students from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds: Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Episcopalians and, yes, Roman Catholics. Having grown up in a strongly Catholic area, I knew that doctrinal dissonance existed … [Read more...]
Rethinking the Reformation’s ‘Five Solas’
JEFFERSON CITY – This year, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. At the center of the Reformation were five solas, the Latin word “sola” meaning “only” or “alone.” While many have heard of these five solas before, there are aspects to each you may never have been taught. Without “Scripture alone” the other solas are in danger of being lost. The Reformers experienced this danger first hand. Rome had elevated tradition so high that it became a second infallible source of … [Read more...]
Unexpected footprints deal blow to evolution
CRETE (WNS) – Researchers just discovered ancient human footprints on the Greek island of Crete that undermine the Darwinian theory of the descent of humans. Per Ahlberg, one of the study authors, admitted in a statement, “This discovery challenges the established narrative of early human evolution head-on and is likely to generate a lot of debate.” The new discovery presents difficulties for evolutionary theory in two ways. First, evolutionary scientists believe human beings … [Read more...]
Apologetics: How to make a universe
This is the second in a two-part series on Stephen Hawking’s contention that science has resolved the need for God. In the previous column, we examined the logical fallacies theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking employs in the Discovery Channel series, “Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design.” Now, let’s turn our attention to how a universe is made. While Scripture tells us that God spoke the world into existence (Gen. 1:3-26; Ps. 33:9; Heb. 11:13), Hawking contends that nothing more than matter, … [Read more...]
Apologetics: Why is the world broken?
Nearly everyone admits the world is broken, at least to some extent. There’s a disconnect between “what is” and “what ought to be.” People pursue happiness, only to die sad and alone. Our stuff wears out, loses its luster, or gets stolen. Buses run late, baristas can’t make a decent latte, and the wrong team wins the Super Bowl. Worse, evil runs rampant. ISIS bombs innocent concert-goers. Governments starve their people, even in resource-rich countries. Twitter wars trash … [Read more...]
A conflicted culture: Calling evil by its name
It is often the arts in which worldviews are communicated in culture. I am reminded of Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs, a horror novel made into a grisly, terrifying movie. An imprisoned serial killer, Hannibal Lector, a monster who bludgeoned and cannibalized his victims, is asked by a young female FBI agent to help catch another killer. “What possible reason could I have for cooperating with you?” Lector asks. “Curiosity,” says Agent Starling. “About what?” Lector … [Read more...]
Evangelical leaders’ affirmation of biblical sexuality necessary
NASHVILLE – The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) released, on Aug. 29, the Nashville Statement, a 14 Article affirmation of biblical sexuality. The statement addressed issues such as the definition of marriage, gender distinctions, various sexual sins, and God’s all-sufficient saving grace. It was initially signed by more than 150 evangelical leaders across denominational lines, and is currently available for both reading and signing on the CBMW’s website. Perhaps the most … [Read more...]
Lebanon Worldview Conference to spotlight family
JEFFERSON CITY – Families seeking to build Christ-centered homes will find a helpful resource in an upcoming conference hosted by two Missouri Baptist churches. The 2nd Annual Unshakeable Truth Worldview Conference will take place on Oct 14-15 and is hosted by Heritage Baptist Church and Hillcrest Baptist Church in Lebanon. The theme of the conference is Family Foundations: Building Christ-Centered Homes in a Self-Centered World. Conference organizers are excited to welcome a stellar … [Read more...]
Have archeologists found Peter’s hometown?
EL-ARAJ, Israel (BP) – Archaeologists believe they may have solved a mystery: the location of Bethsaida, the biblical town that was home to the apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip. In addition to its identification as the hometown of three apostles (John 1:44), Bethsaida is mentioned in Scripture as the site Jesus healed a blind man (Mark 8:22) and fed the 5,000 (Luke 9:10). Southern Baptist archaeologists, who were not involved in the project, said pinpointing Bethsaida may shed light … [Read more...]
Stephen Hawking’s grand design
This is the first in a two-part series on Stephen Hawking’s contention that science has resolved the need for God. Every so often, a renowned scientist captivates a global audience through a combination of brilliance, charisma, and an uncanny ability to communicate complex ideas in simple terms. Carl Sagan comes immediately to mind. So does Neil deGrasse Tyson. And, of course, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, whose dazzling intellect and sense of humor, despite severe physical … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist apologists launch podcast to defend, discuss faith
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network members Adam Cochrun and Dave Van Bebber have launched a bi-weekly podcast called “T.A.G. You’re It!” The podcast features interviews and debates about culture, current events, theology, and cults from a biblical perspective. “We wanted to do something that no other Missouri Baptist apologists were doing,” said Van Bebber. “We wanted to amplify the voice of Missouri Baptists engaged in defending the Christian faith.” Van Bebber and … [Read more...]
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