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Seeing the Best
I was working on a blog about cessasionism vs continualism, the debate on the operation and gifts of the Holy Spirit in the church today. I read some perspectives from several people that I passionately disagree with. Here’s what I have come to recognize: Cessationists believe the gifts of the Spirit are not for today…
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What about Sabbath?
I have some dear friends that have become convinced in their hearts that the Sabbath is Saturday, and they believe Saturday observances are a critical and neglected aspect of modern religious practice. Any student of Scripture has likely wondered this very thing. Is Sabbath Saturday or Sunday? Should Christians observe the Sabbath? Is this an…
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Preconceived Ideas
I came across a blog this week by a well-respected pastor who contended that apostles must have been eye-witnesses to Jesus, and so for that reason there are no longer apostles. Another author I read this week shares that same theology. Because he defines apostleship so clearly, he made the claim that Paul was the…
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My Own View
The drawback to the written word is that it can be interpreted many different ways. When my wife, Wendy, texts me, I often read a certain tone into the text. Before you judge me, you do it to. If we’ve been having some sort of argument, I will likely read a bit more attitude into…
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Context Matters
The Bible can say things that the Bible doesn’t teach. Taking a particular verse out of context changes its meaning entirely, and that is as damaging to Christian faith as removing a Scripture entirely. There are many verses that, if plucked out of their literary or historical context, can make it seem like God is…
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The Other Side of the Door
I don’t think many things have influenced my understanding of the nature of God more than becoming a parent for the first time. I distinctly remember one night when my oldest, DJ, was having a complete meltdown at bed time. While the particular circumstances that caused him to be sobbing uncontrollably escape me (there may…