An important part of being human is recognizing and remembering that we are all fallen creatures. The fallen state goes beyond just a person’s finite abilities (seeing the future, making planets, etc.) but ultimately leads to sin that alienates us from God and others. Our hearts, minds, and actions can be used for wrong things. … Continue reading »
*DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE NOT CAUGHT UP ON THE WALKING DEAD DO NOT READ FURTHER* So what does this post apocalyptic show with murderous zombies and now a power hungry ‘governor’ have to do with the pastoral role of preaching the word and leading a community of believers? Much actually if we understand that all … Continue reading »
I recently re-discovered the theological richness and symbolic value that is embedded and embodied in several Christian rituals and symbols. “Symbols, being roomy, allow many different people to put them on, so to speak, in different ways” says Aidan Kavanagh. I use the word “ritual” here to denote the idea that religious people, for the … Continue reading »
My favorite part of this year’s Academy Awards ceremony wasn’t when Jennifer Lawrence tripped over the stairs after her best actress win. It was actually when Hugh Jackman, in a flash, raced to her aid. He was like lighting. After seeing his reflexes, it’s hard for me to believe that Wolverine is just a character … Continue reading »
I’ll be honest, as a child God scared the mess out of me. At times I pictured God with electricity in his fingertips, waiting to zap me the moment I did something wrong. He was the police officer and I was the driver speeding past him in a red sports car. What if I sinned … Continue reading »
This post will be a little more personal compared to the more academic blogs on this site, but I hope it gives a more peripheral view of the gospel’s impact on our world. My wife and I have recently been given an amazing opportunity to teach English in Japan. We are working with an English … Continue reading »
Genesis 47:29 offers one of the best examples of why knowledge of historical and cultural backgrounds helps readers of the Bible avoid (sometimes serious!) misunderstandings. I mean, imagine if you went to buy a car, and instead of asking for your credit information, the salesman asked you to put your hand under his thigh, well … Continue reading »
Whenever I want to sound fancy and old, I put on my monocle and start using “ye” in all of my sentences. Because Ye is the old timey way of saying “the” right? Well, not exactly. The y in Ye is actually a substitute for the Old English letter thorn þ, which makes the “th” … Continue reading »
This sad perception has prompted me to give a response. The power of the Old Testament Law has lost its power to condemn to death, those who live in Jesus Christ. However, the Law has not lost its merit or worth. It is alive and active just as much today as it was before Christ’s … Continue reading »
In contemporary American society, the relationship between religion (in this case, Christian religion) and civil government is one defined by privatization. The noble and well-intended concept of the separation of church and state has devolved into the strict bifurcation of the sacred and the secular, the invisible and the visible, the subjective elements of human … Continue reading »
Odds are you’ve probably heard someone use the term “catfishing” recently. For those of you still wondering how it’s possible for someone to catch fish with a computer, let me provide a working definition. Catfishing: The act of luring someone into an online relationship by fabricating your true identity. This is usually done through social … Continue reading »
Here we are at the conclusion of Theology and the Arts. Whereas these are very summarized versions of much that has been thought greatly on the arts I hope this has caused you to think more deeply about the Arts and their importance. I would suggest for more study readings by Francis Schaeffer, Tim Keller, … Continue reading »
We discover the heart of God in Scripture both through his acts of redemption and judgment. Our attention needs to arise when we hear the iconic, “Woe unto you….” A Woe Oracle was more than a generic “Hey you, listen”; it warned recipients of impending judgment unless repentance ensued. The Woe Oracle takes on particularly … Continue reading »
“If God is male, then the male is God.” This quote by Mary Daly serves as the backdrop for this post. I have recently become fascinated by feminist theological approaches and want to flesh some of my thoughts out here. For the record, it is my firm contention that woman and men are equal and … Continue reading »
