Tag justice

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Human Dignity, Justice and the Death Penalty

Pope Francis’ recent and much-publicized change of the Catholic church’s position on the death penalty presents a challenge in the realm of theological and ethical reasoning. His rationale for denouncing the death penalty, according to the Vatican statement, is that…

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Imagine There’s No Hell

At the Desiring God 1990 Pastor’s Conference, Sinclair Ferguson gave a talk titled, “The Biblical Basis for the Doctrine of Eternal Punishment.” It is, without doubt, one of the most significant treatments of the doctrine of hell that I have…

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Pitying Criminals and Imprisoning Society

In addition to the many rich theological insights one will glean from working through Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics, there are equally profound sociological observations from which we could benefit today. When he came to tackle the question of crime and punishment…

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A Prayer for Survivors and East Lansing

Our East Lansing community is grieving, hurting, and reeling in light of the revelations that emerged these past weeks regarding heinous atrocities committed in our community over the past twenty years. That this would happen anywhere is painful; that is…

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A Just Silence

We’ve all felt the pressure to speak out about things that we know little to nothing about. The increasingly prevalent sentiment is that if Christians-and especially Christian leaders-don’t speak up on the hot button issues of the day, then they…

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The Gentleness and Fierceness of Christ

Isaiah’s first Servant Song (Is.42:1-4) pictures a Servant who is gentle, patient, unthreatening and tender hearted. It is a magnificent portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect Servant of the Lord. It is remarkable that in his recorded public…