Bible & Theology
A biblical worldview is one where we believe the Bible is inspired, infallible, and true, and where we allow it to be the foundation of everything we say and do. It means we take the Bible and its admonitions seriously, and we interpret the world and our relationship to it through a biblical lens.
According to Focus on the Family, a recent Barna Research poll revealed that only 4% of Americans and 9% of “born-again” Christians have a biblical worldview.
In order to live out our relationship with Christ faithfully, we must have a biblical worldview, so these blog posts are dedicated to getting you acquainted with God’s view of things as revealed through the Bible.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
TOPIC: Bible
PODCAST SERIES: The Book of Hebrews
For over 1400 years, the people of Israel had followed the ceremonial law that God had given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Well, off and on, anyway. The ritual of animal sacrifice for the atonement of sins came to an abrupt end in 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed, but even before that time, many converted Jews who had come to faith in Christ struggled with the meaning of it all. Sure, Jesus was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," but did that mean the temple worship was no longer valid or necessary? What...
In a Fake-Obsessed Culture, Is There Anything Left That’s Real?
Christmas is just a few days away. Like many Americans, my husband and I dutifully decorated our fake Christmas tree at the beginning of Advent to make our home feel more festive for the holidays. We live in Florida, so we generally try to fit in at least one event during the season featuring fake snow so we can imagine a "White Christmas." One year, we even made a fake fireplace out of styrofoam and hung our fake stockings on it. We know these things are fake, but we rather enjoy them, and they suit our purposes. I never...
PODCAST SERIES: Finishing Well
Colossians 1:22-24 (NIV)
"But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel."
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
None of us knows how long we have on this earth. But one thing is for sure – we want to finish well. We recognize that...
10 Lies We Believe – Recognizing Deception and Discerning Truth in a Post-Modern World
I think I'm on safe ground when I say that most of us as Christians are truth-tellers. We try very hard not to lie. We want our "yes" to mean "yes" and our "no" to mean "no." Integrity is important to us. That's not always the case in our culture today or in other cultures, where lying is often considered a necessity. Even so, no one likes to be lied to. No one wants to be led to believe something that is not true.
In our post-modern world, "truth" has been reduced to what is "true for you," so that there is...
TOPIC: Theology
PODCAST SERIES: The Book of Hebrews
For over 1400 years, the people of Israel had followed the ceremonial law that God had given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Well, off and on, anyway. The ritual of animal sacrifice for the atonement of sins came to an abrupt end in 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed, but even before that time, many converted Jews who had come to faith in Christ struggled with the meaning of it all. Sure, Jesus was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," but did that mean the temple worship was no longer valid or necessary? What...
Is There a Cure for Sinning? – And Does It Even Matter?
The answer to these questions depends on your theological perspective, but I would suspect the average person in the pew would say, "No!" to both questions. Here's why.
Some preachers tend to take Bible verses out of context to prove a point and to reinforce the fallacy that Christianity is a powerless lifestyle, at least when it comes to overcoming sin. So, they'll quote Romans 7:14-23, Romans 3:23, and others, claiming a constant struggle with sin is the normal Christian experience. And few congregants would dare argue with their pastors! To be honest, many welcome this interpretation because it alleviates any responsibility...
TOPIC: Church HIstory
Lessons from Church History: AD 1350-1500 – The Effects of the Renaissance on Christianity
By far the movement which most intrigues me during this period is the Renaissance and its effect on Christianity. It was the Renaissance that marked the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern world. It sparked interest in art and classical literature, in exploring and explaining the world that God had made through science, in understanding human anatomy. Portraits and sculptures were the artistic results of a renewed emphasis on man. The humanism of the Renaissance was actually of two kinds: South of the Alps was classical humanism, most apparent in the writings of Petrarch and Boccacio; North...
Lessons from Church History: AD 950-1350 – The Causes and Consequences of the Crusades
The most disturbing aspect of the period of Christian history from 950-1350 is the initiation of the crusades by the church. In all subsequent history, the crusades have been a source of embarrassment to all who call themselves Christians. In light of the Gospel, it is hard to comprehend how the church could reconcile warfare with the standard of love set forth in Scripture. Indeed, in the early centuries of the church, Christianity and service in the military were incompatible. In a period of heightened moral and intellectual awareness, it is strikingly odd that the church would descend to...
Lessons from Church History: AD 500-900 – Why the Muslim Invasions Were Successful in the East
The one development in the Dark Ages that intrigues me more than all others is the startling success of the Islamic invasions beginning in the 7th century. Islam, founded by Mohammed following his flight to Medina in 622, was the first new religion to confront Christianity since its inception. Though it was a mixture of Christianity, Judaism, and Arabic religions, it claimed to be superior to them, since Mohammed’s was the final revelation. For all practical purposes at the time, Islam won out over Christianity. Even in strongholds like Palestine and Egypt, where Christianity had flourished, Muslim invaders converted...
Lessons from Church History: The First 500 Years –The Intertwining of Church and State
The one event in the first 500 years that affected the church more than any other was the friendship with the state that resulted from the conversion of Constantine in 312 and the Edict of Milan in 313. Prior to this time, Constantine had been as steeped in paganism as any other Emperor had been. But as he began to invade Italy, he realized that all the followers of the old gods had ended in failure. Omens were such that the coming battle against his rival was especially to be feared, so, recognizing that “the invader needed divine protection,...
