What do you think Christianity is? How do you read the Bible? It is quite easy to think of the Bible as a book of rules — things to DO. Yet, it is far greatest The Story of God, of His coming near to us, and in that way is not primarily about us. The Bible is about GOD. And not just facts, figures and fables — as if God were a science experiment, a idea to be calculated, quantified and categorized. In reality, God has acted in history — in this real world — and as we read Scripture we discover the stories are true, the characters are generally failures, and God is always faithful. That’s...

Who will be the most famous person this year? How about Persons? I say it will be The Triune Creator God. How so? As They work out the unified mission in this world, for our good and to the glory of God the Father, Son and Spirit. More and more people will take notice and be renewed to a saving knowledge in Jesus. It’s not trendy but will become more increasingly the trend as the future becomes the present. This new year presents endless opportunities for good and bringing hope to a dark work. It will be quite an adventure. It’s always good to start new adventures with some essential...

Wonder what Jesus looks like? We don’t know. One day we shall see Him as He is, and become like Him (1 John 3:2). (Doubt He looks like the blue-eyed, blond-haired version sold here in the States as “Jesus junk,” that is, as trinkets.) Yet, we do have some clues as to what He is like. His character shines through brighter than His physical appearance. He’s full of compassion (Matthew 9:36: σπλαγχνίζομαι = moved with compassion), which is much deeper than mere emotion. More broadly, He’s full of grace and truth. He is the living embodiment of Grace, and...

One of the great questions of our age goes like this: “If God is good — and all-powerful — why does He allow evil and suffering?” Just yesterday I say down with a college student and discussed this. For a few years I’ve been able to read and grate first-year seminary students’ attempts to answer that question, in light of Scripture. The theological term for this discussion is theodicy, as in the justice of God. It is asking God to justify Himself for what we see. (Note the irony in the phrase: we should be on trial, not God, for being inconsistent and limited.) The...

There’s a cultural parable that goes something like this: An enlightened king in ancient India invited four men into his court who were blind and set before them an elephant and asked them to say what it was. The first man grabbed the elephant’s tail and said “It is long and flexible – an elephant is like a rope.” The second man took hold of the elephant’s leg and said “No, it is thick and round – an elephant is like a tree.” The third man felt the elephant’s side and said, “No, it is nothing like that at all. It is large and flat – an elephant is like a wall.” The...

The Gospel is powerful, deep and completely life-altering (Romans 1:16-17). “All of our personal & church problems come because we don’t come continually back to the gospel to work it in and live it out.” — Tim Keller, The Centrality of the Gospel (We work out what God has first worked in — Philippians 2:12-13) “Most necessary it is therefore that we should know the gospel well, teach it unto others, & beat it into their heads continually.” — Martin Luther (Let’s beat it into our own heads first — Ephesians 3:14-21; Romans 12:1-2) SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:...

“31,” The Sunrise Project: The video makers write: The challenge was to go out and shoot a whole month of sunrises in a row and put them together in a video. we both heard the talk on September 30th and the next month was already set. Too many times we forget that with passion comes dedication and hard work. what we learned is that it’s often in these small moments of beauty, that we are able to peek into the glory of an amazing God. Song: “Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light)” by the David Crowder*Band Reminiscent of Lamentations 3:19-24 19 Remember my affliction...

(I’m posting a response to a friend as we’ve gone back and forth related to the nature of truth, and claims of exclusivity — can Jesus be the only way? Is there even a ‘way’? Tim’s been patient in awaiting a response. He’s also a tax/debt relief consultant — I’m happy to refer you to Tim if that’s your need; he’s a solid guy, known him for years. Here goes my response …) Tim, Thanks for your patience on this response. Let me consider your two scenarios, then one of your questions. You asked about two types of people: What do you...

“My love of consistency with my own doctrinal views is not great enough to allow me knowingly to alter a single text of Scripture. I have great respect for orthodoxy, but my reverence for inspiration is far greater. I would sooner a hundred times over appear to be inconsistent with myself than be inconsistent with the word of God.” —Charles Spurgeon (more via Randy Alcorn, Spurgeon’s Theology: Embracing Biblical Paradox) SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Consistent & inconsistent", url: "http://www.deTheos.com/2009/10/27/consistent-inconsistent/" });

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m looking forward to the release. This is not an ad hominem attack against atheists (or Christians). It appears to be a gracious look at the collision of two lives: self-described anti-theist Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great) and Pastor Douglas Wilson. They debate the question: “Is Christianity good for the world?” What’s more, documentaries of this type don’t normally have a rock soundtrack. Awesome. New trailer (Oct. ‘09): From collisionmovie.com: In May 2007, leading atheist Christopher Hitchens and Christian apologist...