EDITOR’S NOTE: This article first appeared online at Midwestern Seminary’s blog, For The Church (ftc.co). I’ve found a resonant image playing in my mind related to my pride. Like a squirming bug trapped in a spider web, entangled at every juncture, so too can we Christians of all backgrounds and proclivities trap ourselves in webs of pride that threaten to kill our spirituality and love for the Lord. What do I mean by this? Simply this: with activities or involvements that revolve … [Read more...]
Identity Crisis? No thank you
I told all five of my kids when they were little that they could grow up to be anyone they wanted. Of course, present day, that sounds like identity theft. So, oops. I’ve always figured I should be safe from that kind of identity theft myself. I’m just not sure anyone would want to be me enough to take that kind of risk. I mean, I enjoy being me and all. But I still have a hard time imagining a whole lot of people fighting over who gets to be the gal with the hair that won’t stay … [Read more...]
Three types of evangelism to avoid
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following essay was first published online at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s blog site, For The Church (ftc.co). This morning I purchased flowers for my wife because our 31st Anniversary is tomorrow. The florist, however, appeared condescending and unhelpful. It was not a great experience. I was reminded about the importance of being loving, genuine, and caring in evangelism. With these attitudes in mind, let me share about some unhelpful approaches to … [Read more...]
Do we idolize fun?
“Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.” Proverbs 14:13 Recently a little boy dropped out of summer school. When asked why he didn’t want to go, he said, “They told us two things. They said that it would be fun and that we wouldn’t have homework. Well, the first day they gave us a journal to take home each day and bring back, and it wasn’t fun at all while we were there.” How often we hear parents, leaders, teachers, and others tell children, “It will … [Read more...]
‘Reversed Thunder’
Living as a child in the plains of Western Oklahoma, I could often watch from a safe distance as a line of storms approached. Especially at night, I could see the flash and hear the crack of recurrent thunderbolts. Even after so many years, as I recall watching those nighttime storms, I’m amazed by such power and immediacy. Within milliseconds, 15 million volts of electricity cut across the sky and reach up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit—that is, five times the sun’s surface … [Read more...]
Someone declared war on religious liberty
Within the last month events set the international stage for significant crushing of religious liberty. One event was reported July 13 in the Wall Street Journal. Vladimir Putin rattled chains against religious liberty with a new anti-terrorism law that goes into effect at the end of the month. The law prohibits the sharing of the gospel anywhere but at government-sanctioned religious sites. The target was primarily the Mormons that spooked some members of the Politburo to overreact to … [Read more...]
Hades and the afterlife
This is the third in a series of articles on biblical terms that describe the afterlife and the unseen world. Hades is a Greek god whose name means “The Unseen.” He is depicted as lord of the underworld, the abode of the dead. So it should come as no surprise that Jesus and the New Testament writers borrow from this familiar term to describe the realm of departed spirits. What’s more, they cut through the mythology to present an accurate picture of the afterlife. The word Hades appears … [Read more...]
The idol of ease
This column was written by Melani Lenow and originally appeared on BiblicalWomen.com. It was finally the weekend after a busy week and an overall busy month. Early on Saturday was a pro-life event and I was debating whether to attend. In my heart, I feel strongly about this cause, but in my flesh I really wanted to sleep late. My flesh won out, and time after time I silenced my alarm. After all, I deserved a little rest, right? As it was nearing the “if I don’t get up now, there is no way … [Read more...]
Taking stairs in an elevator world
This week’s discovery: If you hear sirens and evacuation recordings blaring nonstop in the hallway of your hotel at 6:00 a.m., and if those recordings are telling you not to use the elevator (“I repeat, do NOT use the elevator”), the thing that will make it all the more exciting is remembering that you’re on the 20th floor. TWENT. TEE. ETH. You also probably want to make sure that your calves are fairly jello-ey because why waste that kind of workout on legs that are already in shape? … [Read more...]
Sheol and the afterlife
This is the second in a series of articles about the afterlife and the unseen realm. Is there conscious existence beyond the grave? Where did Old Testament saints go when they died? Do the wicked really suffer forever in hell? Should you believe in ghosts? These are important questions about the afterlife and the unseen world. Most religions deal in some way with these questions and appeal to a variety of authorities to provide answers. This series explores the manner in which God’s … [Read more...]
On life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Second paragraph, Declaration of Independence of the United States In one 48-hour span, the U.S. Supreme Court threw “Life” and “Liberty” under the steamroller of political correctness. Instead of interpreting the law, the Court advanced a political social agenda that grieves … [Read more...]
‘SBC and the 21st Century’
Allen, Jason K., ed. The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal, Recommitment. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2016. 269 pages. $29.99. What does the future look like for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)? The SBC is one of the largest denominations in the world, with over 15 million members and over 40,000 churches in the United States alone, but both membership and baptism numbers have been slowly declining for several years. For Southern Baptists, this decline raises … [Read more...]
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