There are words in modern Christian vernacular that have assumed a contrary or incomplete meaning compared to that of the original authors and hearers of the New Testament. One of those words is “charis”, a Greek word usually translated as “grace” in English Bibles. It's used often in church names (I grew up attending a… Read More »
Eschatology (and more specifically, first century Jewish apocalyptic eschatology) is increasingly rejected among Westerners because of how seemingly irrelevant it is to the 'gospel' that is popularly proclaimed: "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". With that 'gospel' message and a portrait of God whose highest purpose is to make someone… Read More »
Humans love stories, especially thrilling stories. This God-given love for stories is something we discover early on in our childhood. Stories engage our mind, move our emotions, and capture our heart. Whether fiction or non-fiction, stories teach us lessons and help us make sense of the world. Our God has chosen to reveal Himself through… Read More »
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” (1 Timothy 4:13 ESV) I believe the heart behind Paul's charge to Timothy was to strengthen his hearers' conviction of the veracity of the Law and the Prophets and to show them who Jesus of Nazareth was in light of… Read More »
Are you saved? Evangelical Christians are united in the belief that salvation is essential. However, various streams in the church have deviated in articulating what we have been saved from and when that salvation would be evident. Some say we are saved from sin, others say we are saved from sickness, poverty, and lack, and… Read More »
Pentecost Sunday marks the day when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on some of His followers after His ascension back into the heavens. The church celebrates Pentecost 10 days after the ascension and 50 days after Easter. Some call this day "the birthday of the church" because over 3,000 souls in Jerusalem put their… Read More »
In the past several years, few verses in scripture have been as beautifully disruptive to my heart as 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 ESV) Peter opens… Read More »
Apple recently announced their new flagship phone, the iPhone 5. Yes, it's faster, thinner, brighter, and cooler than its predecessors. Every bit of it is meticulously designed to increase productivity, give you more "surf time", and make your friends jealous because your phone has a bigger, clearer screen and can do so many other things… Read More »
The church and the state have become increasingly entangled since Constantine's rise to power in Europe in the early 4th century. Theologians call this time the Constantinian shift where Christianity was adopted as the state religion of the Roman Empire. As Christianity was legalized, persecution virtually stopped. The church began to acquire power, wealth, and… Read More »