I have been impressed by the thoughtful and respectful dialogue here on EVANGEL over the issue of the authority and reliability of the Scriptures. The inerrancy issue has been of particular concern in this conversation, and rightly so. Ironically, inerrant is not nearly as strong a word as . . . . Continue Reading »
In a previous post, I posted remarks about the catholicity of the Lutheran Church. It still is receiving a response. I thought it might be good to go on record here on this “Evangel” blog what the first evangelicals had to say about the claims of the Roman Catholic Church, when they . . . . Continue Reading »
This is an essential catholic and evangelical truth: the Word of God does not speak of something the way, for example, I may speak of something I know or have an opinion about. Scripture is God speaking. When Scripture speaks, we hear the voice of God.For most of Protestantism Scripture has become a . . . . Continue Reading »
Here is a graphic that, Rev. James Douthwaite, at St. Athanasius Lutheran Church in Vienna, Virginia, uses to explain how we should always factor in the Cross when we consider our relationship to God and His relationship to us. (A parishioner made this visual image.)So, in God’s relationship . . . . Continue Reading »
Now that we have had a post on the improvement in Dominos’ pizza, I thought I might spice things up a bit here as well. A tad provocative, to be sure, sure to cause some angst in both Roman Catholics and Reformed/Protestant Evangelicals all around, but nonetheless interesting to . . . . Continue Reading »
How many times have you bumped into the expression, “Preach the Gospel, if necessary, use words.” I detest that expression. I think I understand why some people like it, they want to emphasize the need to not only be hearers, but doers of the Word. OK, I get that, but the vast majority . . . . Continue Reading »
The topic of torture and Christian ethics is now a heated discussion topic here. I’d like to ask a (perhaps naive) question about torture. Where is the harm located? What ethical principles are being violated by torture?Sixteen years ago, I contracted appendicitis and was in the hospital three . . . . Continue Reading »
I was struck by this powerful remark:The ways of destroying the church are many and colorful. Raw factionalism will do it. Rank heresy will do it. Taking your eyes off the cross and letting other, more peripheral matters dominate the agenda will do it-admittedly more slowly than frank heresy, but . . . . Continue Reading »
I can’t think of a more foolish attitude I harbor at times than when I look back on previous generations and assume they were ignorant, unenlightened, unaware and totally outside of what I’m thinking and experiencing today. I was reminded of something the British writer G.K. Chesterton . . . . Continue Reading »
Thanks to Dr. Gene Edward Veith for this post. Like many ancient Israelites before the exile, more and more Christians think they can add pagan beliefs to Christianity. Here are some findings from The Pew Forum:Mixing religions: Many Americans have beliefs or experiences that conflict with basic . . . . Continue Reading »