The Visible Word
Jason Helopoulos Christward Collective I was visiting a church once and heard an exchange between a pastor and one of his congregants that has stayed with me ever since. A woman asked the pastor before the service, “Is the video…
Category Reformation21
Pornography: Why Internet Accountability Software Doesn’t Work
I recently heard one man say, “If you don’t have accountability software on every internet-accessible device, you’re a fool.” His comment was in the context of how pornography, particularly one’s usage of it, is ravaging the church. Men and women,…
Origen and Scripture
Peter W. Martens, Origen and Scripture: The Contours of the Exegetical Life. Oxford Early Christian Studies (Oxford: OUP, 2012) xii +280. $117.00 hb. $34.00 pb The reception of Origen is nothing if not tumultuous. Unquestionably one of the greatest minds…
Book recommendation: After They Are Yours: The Grace and Grit of Adoption
I am so pleased to recommend this new book by Brian Borgman, my co-author in Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective. Whether you have adopted already or are just thinking about it, Brian’s book, published by Cruciform Press, is…
Toplady on the Unerring Word
There is great debate in parts of the Evangelical world at present over biblical authority, and especially over biblical inerrancy. This was, of course, a matter of controversy several decades ago in the so-called “Battle for the Bible.” One might…
The Transfiguration & Golgotha Compared
The key to understanding the transfiguration lies in understanding its parallel: the crucifixion. There are few, more beautiful, contrasts found anywhere in God’s word than the contrasts between the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9) and the events surrounding the crucifixion (Matt. 27:33-54).…
The Seven Deadly Sins in a Digital Age: An Introduction
Although the advent of new technology has probably posed new challenges for almost every generation, no one can deny that the pace of change has increased exponentially in recent decades, inflicting ever more severe growing pains on Christians seeking to…
Book Puffs: Pros and Cons
After reading a rather punchy and critical review by Thomas McCall, “a Wesleyan-Arminian Christian (and thus only “Reformed” in a fairly broad sense),” I thought it might be a good time to discuss briefly the topic of book puffs/commendations, and also…
Church Planting 101: A Mistake to Avoid
Some people are hesitant to participate in a church plant because of the amount of work it takes. Sometimes you have to arrive earlier to church than you normally would, in an established church, to ensure things are in order.…
Is Systematic Theology Any Use?
Of any use to whom? Ideally, of course, to the whole world. But imagine yourself walking into a Systematic Theology classroom. Look at the students, and ponder their futures. A few will become academic theologians. Some more will be missionaries.…