On Nov. 22, 1963, C. S. Lewis died of kidney failure. The death of one of the great Christian apologists of the 20th century didn’t make many headlines: Those belonged to President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated that very same day in Dallas. If Lewis’s death didn’t impact the news cycle, however, his writings made a nearly incalculable impact on the Church. Use the phrase, “He’s not a tame lion, you know,” and nearly two generations of Christians would get the reference to the … [Read more...]
What have we done to the Christmas story?
Christians love to hear and tell the traditional Christmas story. The birth of Jesus includes Mary and Joseph seeking shelter on a winter night, no room in the inn, a baby born in a stable and angels visiting lowly shepherds nearby. But our modern telling of the account in Luke 2:1-20 embraces critical flaws, according to Kenneth E. Bailey, who spent 40 years teaching the New Testament in the Middle East and who authored Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the … [Read more...]
Professor highlights Spurgeon’s commitment to Bible in new book
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s commitment to live and minister in light of all Scripture provides a model for all Christians, said Baptist historian Tom Nettles, who recently published a biography on the 19th century British Baptist preacher. “Spurgeon’s ministry grew out of a love for the Scripture and a love for doctrine that everyone should share,” said Nettles, professor of church history at Southern Seminary, in an interview about his 700-page book, Living by … [Read more...]
MacArthur leads inaugural Spurgeon Lectures
Tim Sweetman/MBTS KANSAS CITY (BP) – More than 1,200 students, faculty and guests packed Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s chapel to be taught by an internationally-known pastor and teacher during the inaugural Charles H. Spurgeon Lectures on Biblical Preaching. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., and president of Master’s Seminary and College, was the guest lecturer and discussed the topic of expository preaching Oct. 29-30. The Charles H. … [Read more...]
Three iconic deaths on Nov. 22, 1963
Fifty years ago today (Nov. 22) is largely being remembered as the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas. It is interesting to note that two other important lives ended that same day with much less fanfare. Author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis along with gnostic philosopher and author Aldous Huxley both drew their last breaths in this world on this day. Lewis doing so, no doubt trusting in his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and Huxley, per … [Read more...]
Little Bonne Femme affirms inerrancy, cooperation
COLUMBIA – The Little Bonne Femme Association affirmed the inerrancy of Scripture and their cooperation with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) during their annual meeting at Calvary Baptist Church, Columbia, Sept. 15. The decision could strengthen an association in need of renewal, said Larry Lewis, interim pastor at Calvary Baptist, Columbia, and president of the association. “The Little Bonne Femme Association has continued to lose … [Read more...]
Hell Houses and the gospel of ghoul
Timothy George/contributing writer I believe in hell. Not only the hell within, for there are those “private devils that hang like vampires on the soul,” to use the language of Thomas Merton – and not only the metaphorical hell around evident in war, violence, and destructive evil on a global scale – but also the hell to come. This orthodox Christian belief is firmly grounded in the teaching of Jesus, as well as in the inspired writings of the apostles. As Joseph Ratzinger said in a book … [Read more...]
Did Jesus ever claim to be God?
Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses and atheists often argue, “Jesus never claimed to be God.” They assert that Christians have corrupted or misinterpreted the New Testament, or they reject the Bible outright. But for those willing to consider the eyewitness testimony of the New Testament writers, and the convincing evidence that their words are accurately preserved, we may point our unbelieving friends to seven ways that Jesus does, in fact, claim deity. First, Jesus calls Himself God. In … [Read more...]
Pastor’s conference lifts up Christ Jesus
KANSAS CITY – Fullness in life and ministry come only through knowing Christ, two Southern Baptist seminary professors said when asked why ministers should sacrifice a full day for a conference on “seeing and savoring the Son of God.” “We can’t minister if we’re not full of God,” said Thomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament interpretation and associate dean of Scripture and interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. “The greatest good in life … [Read more...]
Explore the Bible Series with Dr. Jim McCullen
Wondering About judgment • John 8:12, 15-18, 23, 42-47 • Nov. 3 Introduction: It is sad to me to ask different people if they know they are going to heaven and hear them say no one knows for sure they are going to heaven. I always quote or show them 1 John 5:13. I tell them God wants them to know and not to go around Wondering about judgment. 1. Wondering About Judgment and Our . . Walk. 8:12 The Old Testament promised the Messiah would be light in a dark place. He is that light … [Read more...]
The Apologist’s Tool Kit now available
Thank you, Missouri Baptists, for enthusiastically supporting the MBC’s new apologetics ministry. Over the last year, I have been privileged to speak or lead workshops in many churches across the state to help Christians “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). Topics have ranged from “How do I know the Bible is true?” to “What do false prophets have in common?” As many of you know, apologetics simply is “a reasonable defense of the Christian faith.” For followers of Jesus there has … [Read more...]
The convenience of blaming God
When our kids were young and complained about being on the wrong side of circumstances, my wife and I urged them to repeat this line: “When things go badly for me, it’s usually my fault.” In other words, we challenged our son and daughter to own their part of a bad experience. If a teacher singled them out from a group of misbehaving students, they were to understand that their behavior was wrong, whether done individually or in a group. If they got into an argument with a friend, they … [Read more...]