All in The Christian Graces
Most Christians do death just like unbelievers: avoidance, aversion, escape, pretending as though it's just not that real. But Jesus is Lord of everything, even death. What if we gave our death—now—to God as a gift? How might we go about that? What would that look like? What would the effect of that be like?
Our normal default is to consider guilt a bad thing. In Christ, however, it can be a glorious thing. Why is that? And what should we do about collective guilt? Are we supposed to feel guilty for the past sins of our forebears? Specifically, I consider the nation of Germany and whether it should continue to feel guilty for the Holocaust. What does prolonged guilt do to an entire nation?
Is the peace of Christ merely a religious selling point, something to help people choose Christianity? I tell two of my friends' stories to develop the reality that peace can be in the Christian life. But across the Bible peace is even greater than an inward experience. What is that? Also, what is the most overlooked gift in the universe?
In the West there are two churches and they are growing apart. Significantly, this has to do with their understanding of work. One side embraces Gospel work, the other side embraces Kingdom work. What characterizes these two kinds of work? What are their goals? How might we address the growing bifurcation of these two emphases?
What are some (unintended?) consequences, some collateral damage, of the transgender movement? Given recent SCOTUS rulings is there hope for the future of freedom? Can God call someone to a vocation that supports his Kingdom even if they are not a pastor or a missionary?
How can the Law actually be God's grace? In part 1 of a 2 part interview I ask Kristen Waggoner, Senior Vice President at Alliance Defending Freedom, questions along that line. How is it loving to use the law to defend one's neighbor? Isn't a use of the law always coercive and thus against Jesus' methods? And, shouldn't Christians just live and let live and not try to bring our faith into the legal arena?
The 16th century Reformation was explosive about the topic of works and salvation. So what should we think and believe and embrace about both work and works today? Do they matter? If so, why? If not, why? I also do some Halloween reflecting!
The Christian worldview is a future-directed way of life. Significantly then that involves hope. But what is hope? How is it different from wishing or generally being positive? How is it that hope can function as a guide or strategy for our lives? Is the Christian hope a disembodied existence in heaven? I also deal with the question, what does it mean to be a successful Christian?
I've never met somebody who relished in uncertainty. Ambiguity is hard on us, sometimes it is hard on our faith. In this episode will I celebrate ambiguity? Nope. But I will point out some of the positive dimensions that the space, distance, and freedom which all come from ambiguity make possible in our lives. I also talk about the olfactory wonders of walking my dog, Bindi!
Belief in truth requires belief in the law of Non-Contradiction. Simply put, A≠B, you are not me, we are not God. There are irrevocable distinctions in reality. What kind of truths involving the law of Non-Contradiction does the Bible teach? Along the way I describe our recent trip to Nashville and demolish some errors being embraced by church folk today.
Truth is transformative but demanding stuff. It confronts us, expects us to follow and obey. Is that why our culture constantly denies truth, explains away its existence, pretends it is not real? In this, the first of a new series, I deal with different challenges to objective truth and consider truth from a Christian perspective. With regard to truth how did, and does, God work in my own life?
