Posted: May 15th, 2012 | Filed under: Christians and culture, Mysterious love | No Comments »
Driving recently by a small country church, I was struck by the message displayed on the church sign: “Marriage is between a man and a woman.” Clearly, church leaders were protesting recent statements made by political leaders in support of gay marriage. While the message is sound teaching within the context of the church, what purpose does it serve when posted for those outside the church to see? Does it invite the spiritually needy to come hear the good news of Christ, or does it turn them away? Read more
Posted: April 15th, 2012 | Filed under: Christians and science, Old Testament, The Bible | No Comments »
According to Matthew’s account of Jesus’ resurrection, when a group of women approached the tomb, “there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.” Since Jesus was already raised, and his resurrected body could pass through solid objects, the stone was rolled away solely for the benefit of his followers: Now they could see for themselves “the folded grave clothes where his body lay.” God does not demand blind faith; he provides us with ways to test the veracity of his claims. Read more
Posted: March 6th, 2012 | Filed under: Christians and science | 1 Comment »
Collagen is the single most abundant protein in our bodies and can be found in tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone, teeth, skin, hair, organs, and blood vessels. The properties of this versatile molecule are surprisingly varied. Bundles of collagen fibers, for example, are stronger than steel and give bone its strength. Since other collagen structures can bend, our joints can move. In the cornea of the eye, collagen’s unique matrix structure makes it transparent so we can see. As pointed out by one renowned technologist, “it’s hard not to attribute divinity to it.” Read more
Posted: February 19th, 2012 | Filed under: Challenging atheists, Christians and science | No Comments »
In an age when prominent atheists seek to undermine the religious foundations of Christendom, a surprising number of former atheists and agnostics have turned to God. Former agnostic Malcolm Muggeridge, for example, discovered Christ in middle age and later wrote Something Beautiful for God
and Jesus Rediscovered
. The atheist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, after his conversion, concluded that his nation’s travails were because “men have forgotten God.” The former atheist Alister McGrath published A Fine-Tuned Universe: The Quest for God in Science and Theology (Gifford Lectures)
and has emerged as a leading critic of today’s populist atheists. Nicky Gumbel, raised in an atheist home, developed the successful Alpha course and is now an Anglican minister. Read more
Posted: February 12th, 2012 | Filed under: The Christian gospel, Uniqueness of Christ | No Comments »
According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus “questioned His disciples, saying to them, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ They told Him, saying, ‘John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.’ And He continued by questioning them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ.’” Mainstream Christian denominations agree on the person of Jesus – that he was “God manifest in the flesh”, “fully human and fully divine, bridging the gap between humanity and God.” Read more
Posted: January 21st, 2012 | Filed under: Challenging atheists | No Comments »
John Lennon, in his album Imagine
, urged his listeners to imagine no heaven and no religion. Only then, he suggested, would all people live life in peace and the world be as one. Lennon’s philosophy promoted the idea, popularly stated, that religion is the cause of all wars. According to rampant atheists, however, the Christian faith is far more than simply the cause of war; it poisons everything. In their view, belief in God is nothing more than an emotional crutch for the weak among us. Is there any justification for such remarks? What do the facts tell us? Read more
Posted: January 1st, 2012 | Filed under: Mysterious love, Personality of God, The Christian gospel | No Comments »
In the second chapter of Genesis, we read that Adam was expressly forbidden from eating the fruit of one particular tree: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In his Edenic state, Adam enjoyed fellowship with God himself – but had no knowledge of good and evil. By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam not only disobeyed God but also became aware of the possibility and existence of evil. His very act of disobedience became itself the source of awareness of disobedience. Read more
Posted: December 29th, 2011 | Filed under: Christians and culture, Christians and politics | No Comments »
When we read in the news about the ayatollahs of Iran, they are often labeled as intolerant, oppressive, and reactionary. When religious leaders of any faith, though, become embroiled in politics or assume power in government, tolerance and understanding are often their first victims. Pope Nicholas V, for example, authorized European nations to condemn Muslims and others to perpetual slavery. The personal excesses of the infamous Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, caused many a death and brought shame to the world of Christendom. Pope Paul IV oppressed the Jews and trampled on their human rights, forcing them to live within the walls of Ghetto. Sadly, religion and politics often don’t mix. Read more
Posted: November 12th, 2011 | Filed under: Christians and culture, Personality of God | No Comments »
Imagine that you are living in war-torn France during the Nazi occupation. You are hiding a Jewish family, providing them with food, shelter, and safe haven from those who seek their destruction. One morning, you answer a knock at the door and find yourself face to face with armed German inquisitors. They ask whether you are protecting a Jewish family. If you lie to them and their quarry is found, you will be executed. How would you answer their question? Read more
Posted: November 6th, 2011 | Filed under: The Christian gospel | No Comments »
While it can be difficult to memorize even short passages of literature, twinned with music words can make a deep impression. Today, for example, I can remember verbatim entire hymns sung during morning assemblies at primary school: It’s comforting to recall these words during times of trial. Some Christian songs, though, can mislead. Take, for example, the following words from A Beautiful Life
: “Help me believe that I am someone worth dying for.” But we are not worth dying for. In the words of the apostle Paul, “God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time.” Read more
