“But that’s legalism!” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard those words. A Christian friend suggests that it’s unwise to smoke marijuana, and they get blasted with: “But that’s legalism!” A pastor preaches on the importance of generosity, and he receives a terse note with three words on it (or four, if you … Continue reading “But that’s legalism!” What Legalism Is and Isn’t
Category: Theology
After the Apostles Died: Six Guest Blogs and a Podcast about The Apostolic Fathers
Have you ever wondered what happened just after the period of the apostles? This past summer I guest-blogged about the Apostolic Fathers six times for Credo Magazine and recorded a podcast about the same for Think Biblically. Here are the links in case you’d like to listen and read: Podcast at Think Biblically: Learning from … Continue reading After the Apostles Died: Six Guest Blogs and a Podcast about The Apostolic Fathers
What the Bible Teaches About Fasting
Starting last night and continuing into this evening a group of Biola students has gathered together to fast and pray. These precious students wanted to fast and call out to God to do a work of the Holy Spirit on Biola’s campus during the coming year. But they wanted to know what the Bible taught … Continue reading What the Bible Teaches About Fasting
Why Translators Shouldn’t Translate “Walk” as “Live” in Ephesians 4-5
Recent Bible translations have increasingly opted to translate the Greek word peripateo, whenever it is used metaphorically to describe one’s way of life, with the English word “live.” The other option at translators’ disposal is to retain the metaphor and translate it into English as “walk.” The motivation for the decision to translate with the … Continue reading Why Translators Shouldn’t Translate “Walk” as “Live” in Ephesians 4-5
Listening and Instructing in Counseling: How Much of Each?
I’m not writing this post as a counselor, but rather as a student of the Bible. Today I’m less interested in what is effective in counseling, though that is certainly a worthwhile inquiry (even if it should be pursued by someone more qualified than I). Today I want to investigate whether the Bible has anything … Continue reading Listening and Instructing in Counseling: How Much of Each?
What is the meaning of “husband of one wife” (μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα) in 1 Timothy 3:2?
What does Paul intend when he writes that an overseer must be a husband of one wife in 1 Timothy 3:2 (cf. Titus 1:6 and 1 Timothy 3:12)? Here is a quick walk-through this somewhat complicated expression. There are four main historical approaches to interpreting this expression. I think two of them are quite unlikely. … Continue reading What is the meaning of “husband of one wife” (μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα) in 1 Timothy 3:2?
Psychiatric Diagnoses and Psychoactive Medications: A Short Book Review
What do you do when someone in your church tells you that he or she has been diagnosed with _____________ (fill-in-the-blank) psychiatric disorder? How do you respond when you learn that he or she has already begun taking a psychoactive medication to alleviate the problem? How should a regular Christian evaluate psychiatric diagnoses and appraise … Continue reading Psychiatric Diagnoses and Psychoactive Medications: A Short Book Review
When C.S. Lewis Goes Astray: How to Resolve the Tension
Many of us admire C.S. Lewis for his unusual ability to clearly, intelligently, and winsomely explain and defend various Christian doctrines. Think merely of…Mere Christianity. I am happy to be numbered among Lewis’s admirers. Nevertheless, the more I have pondered Lewis, the more I have become convinced that he is sub-biblical in some of his … Continue reading When C.S. Lewis Goes Astray: How to Resolve the Tension
