While it’s true that non-Christian elements have been widespread in Christianity, as evidenced in everything from Vatican artwork to Easter bunnies, we overshot the runway on the cross. Here, I’ll address the common arguments against the cross symbol and hopefully answer the questions: Are crosses pagan? Does the depiction of a Latin cross dishonor Christianity, Christ, or the commandments of God?
Read MoreWhen we “pray” does the act bear any similarity to the act that Christ, Moses, Paul, and countless others thought of when they spoke about praying? Biblically, prayer was thought to be a verbal act. Praying, like blessing, vowing, praising, and speaking in tongues, required audible speaking. The tradition of spoken prayer was virtually universal throughout the ancient world.
Read MoreWhy do I believe in the infallibility and authority of the Old Testament? After all, the Old Testament is a collection of documents written over a thousand years by dozens of people. So why should a reasonable Christian believe the Old Testament to be an accurate expression of truth and God’s will? The answer is actually simple…
Read MoreAround the world, Evangelical leaders are routinely calling for and (seemingly falsely) prophesying when revivals will occur. But there’s one major problem: They’re not talking about a Biblical revival.
Read MoreInstead of drawing close to our nine friends and excluding everyone else, we should pour out our lives for those who will be reconciled to God — especially when they may not share our beliefs. If we are truly the Body of Christ, we have to be willing to endure pain, discomfort, and disappointments. Self-preservation, whether it be of body, reputation, or ideas, should never be a deciding factor. As the Church, we must lay down our lives.
Read MoreThroughout the Bible, we can see God's purposeful inclusion of women. When we are inclusive of women, we're acting in the character of God. At many of Scripture's most pivotal moments, and at many of the first expressions of our theology, God granted women the honor of being the forerunners and standard-bearers. Moreover, we often see God granting revelation to women first.
Read MoreThere are many third rails in Church traditions. Among the most hotly contested over the last 2,000+ years pertains to what women should (or most often, should not) do within the Church. The feelings run so strong that the functions of women within churches often becomes the single most defining issue in many congregations.
Read MoreDo we really have to go to church? It's becoming increasingly unpopular, but let's re-examine what the Bible says about our obligation toward church involvement and let's address some of the ridiculous arguments made against going to church.
Read MoreEveryone has it wrong. While liberals are rejoicing and conservatives are wailing, they've all misunderstood the issue. The Supreme Court's decision to forbid states from banning gay marriage (effectively legalizing same sex marriage throughout the United States) should not be praised — but not merely for the reasons espoused by the loudest opponents.
Read MoreAt Revive, my topic was "The Marriage Commandments: Theft and Pleasure." During this session, I spoke on one of the many themes within The Marriage Commandments: The necessity for spouses to be selfless in their marriages. Drawing on the first, eighth, and tenth commandments, we explored how elevating the pursuit of one's own pleasure above the interests of one's spouse creates a toxic dynamic within marriage.
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