Christian Thought
I want to say, right at the start, that I am looking forward to offering this new series on understanding, studying, and applying the Bible to our lives. I’m encouraged because I have seen over my lifetime how the power and truth of the word of God have given people life when it seems like so […]
It’s All About Zeal Read More »
What is a human being worth? That is the opening question in this new book by Mel Lawrenz which explores the meaning of human dignity and its connection with the Christian gospel and mission. Human dignity is a widely-held ideal, but there is much confusion over what it means. Is it simply autonomy—the supposed right
Coming soon… A Time for Dignity Read More »
As current events go, the past week has been quite eventful. Racist murders in South Carolina, coordinated terrorist attacks in three different countries, two escaped convicts on the run, a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on gay marriage. I found myself recalling today the words of a letter written about 100 years after Jesus, a follower of Jesus explaining to someone else the distinctive lifestyle, beliefs, and attitudes of believers. The document is called The Epistle to Diognetus. We don’t know the author or the recipient, but the poignant description of what it means to be a believer in a worldly world is worth pondering during these eventful days. It is a wonderful description of living in the world, but not being of the world. See how you think it may apply today
Living in a Worldly World Read More »
I still cherish my boyhood memories of going fishing with my grandfather. It seems like it was yesterday. One day while I was sorting through the wide variety of tackle I had collected, fidgeting with lures and sinkers and bobbers and the rest in my fancy tackle box, my grandfather looked at me and said:
What Are Some Good Disciplines for Reading Scripture? Read More »
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matt.7:15-16). When I was young in the faith, I had a deep hunger to find the truth of God because I had tasted it, it was deeply satisfying, and I
How Can We Know If Someone is Giving False Teaching? Read More »
Theology is not limited to the work of professors and clergy. Any serious Christian who has invested time in reading and studying Scripture is doing the work of theology, because theology (from the Greek words theos, meaning “God,” and logia, meaning “utterance, speech, reasoning”) is simply seeking ways to understand and speak about God, and all else
How Can We Refine Our Understanding of Biblical Theology? Read More »
It is dangerous to understand the Bible better. It is all too easy for us to feel just a bit of pride about pulling out the meaning of biblical texts, as if we were beginning to master the Scriptures when, of course, exactly the opposite is the whole point. The temptation may come from the
How Should We Apply Scripture to Life? Read More »
Some years back, I did a survey of our church’s congregation with the simple question: “If you could ask God one thing, what would it be?” I was not surprised that the most frequent response had to do with the problem of evil in the world, but I was struck by the next most common
How Can We Hear God’s Voice in Scripture? Read More »
I highly recommend this TED talk by Gary Haugen, President of International Justice Mission. I have interacted with Gary over the years, met with some of their staff in Washington, and always been impressed by the commitment, integrity, and passion of the work they do in the interest of international justice. This talk is based
Gary Haugen on Violence and Poverty Read More »
If we did not realize already that it takes a lifetime to understand the Bible (and that’s a good thing), the point is driven home when we get to the last book in the Bible—Revelation. It starts out simply enough, it is a “revelation (in Greek, apocalypse) from Jesus Christ,” it is a “prophecy,” and it
How Should We Understand the Book of Revelation? Read More »
If someone asked you who your favorite teacher was when you were growing up, chances are someone specific would come to mind. And chances are you still respect that person today not because he or she was a fantastic lecturer, or had a superior knowledge of the subject matter, or had a memorable voice. Our
How Should We Understand the Teachings of Jesus? Read More »
On the night of the Last Supper Jesus gave his disciples an extraordinary body of teaching which we call “The Upper Room Discourse.” One way of summarizing what Jesus was telling them is “you’re going to be okay.”
You’re Going to Be Okay Read More »
I sometimes think that shame, mere awkward, senseless shame, does as much towards preventing good acts and straightforward happiness as any of our vices can do. —C.S. Lewis [From the new release, Overcoming Guilt and Shame by Daniel Green and Mel Lawrenz. Previously, Why Do I Feel Like Hiding?] IT’S NOT JUST YOU We all
Dealing with Guilt and Shame Read More »
There is a remarkable story of faith far removed from where I live in the Midwest of the U.S. where today there are grey skies and snow on the ground. In the valleys, plateaus, and mountains of sunny Ethiopia in the horn of Africa a dramatic movement of God has been afoot which reached dramatic
Remarkable Place, Remarkable People Read More »
If you were to stumble upon a long-lost manuscript that no eyes had seen for generations, and if you were to read its opening lines which offered a “wisdom” like what’s described in the following lines, you might consider it one of the greatest discoveries of your life. Proverbs… for gaining wisdom and instruction; for
What Are We To Take from the Books of Wisdom? Read More »