Pope Francis: Belief in God Not Necessary?
On September 11, 2013, Pope Francis wrote a Letter to Those Who Do Not Believe, responding to Eugenio Scalfari, in answer to several questions, including whether or not God forgives and saves those who don’t believe in Him. Francis writes with admirable goals to...
Seth Godin, Star Trek, and the Meaning of Life
Seth Godin recently made the point that as more and more people have equipped themselves with cellphones and digital cameras, UFO’s have stopped visiting. His point is to illustrate that our increasing ability to debunk myth has had a somewhat rationalistic impact....
9 Steps For Bible Exegesis and Exposition Step #2: Understand Background and Context
Once we have established the boundaries of the passage we are studying, and are confident that we have the best reading, we can march ahead in our exegesis. In the second step, we seek to understand the background and context of the passage. First, we need to identify...
“The most effective leadership, management, and efficiency models share traits common with each other, and traits that are ultimately traceable to the pages of the Bible. While these models are often not intentionally rooted in Biblical concepts by those that promote the models, the models illustrate how applying Biblical principles can set a trajectory of success in enterprise and in life. Led By a Lion is designed to introduce some of these leadership, management, and efficiency models, but goes a step further in identifying the Biblical genesis of many of the core traits that fuel the success of these models.”
Paying God Back Is A Bad Idea
He was a man’s man. He was a fighter with a checkered past. He was kicked out of his family’s home by his half-brothers because he was not the son of their mother, and they wanted him to have no part in the family inheritance. He became a thug, associating with other...
What B.B. King Taught Me About Public Speaking
As an aspiring guitarist I would devour every bit of information I could get my hands on, and I listened to anyone who had skill beyond my own. I remember reading about an accomplished guitarist recounting how he had learned to tastefully play blues guitar. He...
9 Steps for Bible Exegesis and Exposition, Step #1: Verify Text and Translation
Once we understand the importance of Bible study, the role of prayer and personal application, and the centrality of interpretive method, we can embark on the exegetical journey. The 9 Steps for Bible exegesis and exposition are: (1) Verify Text and Translation (2)...
“This approach has the advantage of seeking to view all knowledge through the lens of Scripture, and to subject all knowledge to the authority of Scripture. It encourages science and research within the field of psychology. It offers a Biblical balance of description and prescription. Of course, if the Bible is unreliable, then the refractive power of Scripture is distortive rather than corrective, but the epistemological premise of this approach is that God’s word is authoritative and sufficient for our understanding, for our equipping, and for our practice. There are many extra-biblical resources that we can employ, but in seeking out how and when to do that, we mustn’t lose sight of the one reliable constant that God has provided for us – the Bible.” –Chapter 9
Does God Cause Natural Disasters?
Question: Is the doctrine of Original Sin correct and scriptural? If so wouldn't it necessitate Mary being given some form of dispensation or else Jesus would have been born into sin? If the doctrine of Original Sin is not correct, does this mean that God is directly...
What Must We Do To Have Eternal Life?
In the third installment of the Indiana Jones franchise (spoiler alert), the guardian of the "holy grail" warned Jones to “choose wisely, as the real grail brings eternal life, the false grail brings death.” Jones proves his wise choice by not disintegrating into a...
9 Steps for Bible Exegesis and Exposition, Part 1: First Things First
Bible study is not the exclusive possession of pastors or seminary professors. All believers are called to know God – in fact, Jesus explains that knowing God is the very core of eternal life (Jn 17:3). Consequently, if we want to live well, we need to allow His word...
“The Green Tree is an exceptional work…provides a vital tool for every Bible interpreter…Just as the root system is the foundation of a tree and directly impacts the health of a tree, hermeneutic method is at the root of one’s worldview. This illustration demonstrates that the hermeneutic method that an interpreter of the Bible employs will significantly affect the outcome. The tree will either be healthy, or it will not be healthy…The authors provide a unique examination of Revelation, Genesis, and Job that demonstrates that the LGH hermeneutic is derived from within Scripture, something that other hermeneutical methods fail to demonstrate. This is perhaps the most crucial principle demonstrated in The Green Tree, and it effectively demonstrates that the LGH hermeneutic is also the Biblical hermeneutic.” – Andrew Friend (Amazon Review)
Why Social Media Makes Us Unhappy
A recent study from the University of Michigan showed that “Facebook use actually predicts declines in a user’s well-being.” While the study quantifies that Facebook use in young adults “may undermine” well being, the study doesn’t go so far as to attempt to explain...
The Importance of Rational Disinterestedness For Critical Thought and Civil Discourse
Loyalty is a beautiful thing. Loyalty to loved ones, family members, and even noble ideas, for example, is generally perceived as admirable. But loyalty to unworthy ideas is unbecoming, and even destructive. While not all belief systems are particularly concerned...
Already Not Yet, Salvation, and Progressive Dispensationalism
A fantastic discussion is being undertaken in a Facebook group called Scripturally Speaking – Biblical Dispensational Theology. Having been asked to participate, I admit that I have little to add that hasn’t already been published, but as the discussion is worthy, I...
Spiritual Gift Myth #4: I Can’t Help…I Don’t Have That Gift
Romans 12:6-8 describes eight gifts: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and mercy. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 lists nine manifestations of the Spirit: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of...
Top Ten 3:16’s in the Bible, Part 2: The List
While chapter and verse divisions aren’t part of the original text (we discussed last time how the divisions were added), they can be helpful if we don’t depend on them too much. In the last installment we considered the Honorable Mentions of 3:16 verses. This time we...
Desmond Tutu’s Rejection of “Homophobic God” Illustrates a Deeper Theological Problem
Promoting gay rights in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently was outspoken on his prioritization of gay rights issues: “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place…I would not worship a...
Q & A: Am I a radical fundamentalist nutjob?
Q: I noticed you had an article published on a “fundamentalist” website. Are you a fundamentalist? A: Definitions are important, and I can’t answer the question without understanding how you mean the term. For example, one critic of fundamentalism says, “…we realize...
It’s nice to be quoted accurately…
Quoted (accurately) on Government Daily Quotes: "The Government has no authority to dictate what is quality religious education. The Biblical text--that's our authority; that's our standard."
When Father Doesn’t Know Best
Part 1 of an article, originally published in Voice magazine, and republished on SharperIron.org, discussing a Biblical approach to parental discipline The conclusion to an article, originally published in Voice magazine, and republished on SharperIron.org, discussing...
Unregulated Colleges to Unregulated Seminaries Not the Same
Star-Telegram Guest Column, 12/17/2011