Non-Christians and Christians alike often seem to be confused about the doctrine of the Trinity. It is a foundational and distinctive teaching of Christianity. Most false religions deny the Biblical teaching on the Trinity. So here are two excellent books on the Trinity.
The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White
Delighting In The Trinity by Michael Reeves
Monday, May 29, 2017
Monday, May 15, 2017
Should The Bible Be Taught In Public Schools?
The typical evangelical says without hesitation that yes indeed the Bible should be taught in public schools. But have we really thought this through? Do we really want unbelievers teaching the Bible? If the Bible is taught in public schools will they even get it right? Have we ever considered that a major problem might be government schools in the first place?
If the Bible was taught in public schools they would not get it right. They would not teach it as true, the literal Word of God. They would teach it as mere literature and of course not true. The Bible is literature but it is far more than that. It is the very Word of God: authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.
Why do we think government schools are a good idea in the first place? The government should have no control over what children are taught. Do we really want government run Bible teaching? Better solutions would be private schools and home schools.
The government has no business being involved in education at all. In private schools and home schools individuals and not the government would be in control of what is taught. There the Bible could be taught as truth, the Word of God. The entire school curriculum could be taught from a Christian worldview. This would be a much better alternative than the current mess we have with the public schools.
But is this even financially possible? If Christians used their money more wisely it might be. It might require us to stop living the life of luxury and actually make sacrifices.
We must also point out that instead of looking to the public schools, parents and churches should do a much better job of teaching the Bible to children. After all we are not exactly overrun with Bible scholars.
If the Bible was taught in public schools they would not get it right. They would not teach it as true, the literal Word of God. They would teach it as mere literature and of course not true. The Bible is literature but it is far more than that. It is the very Word of God: authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.
Why do we think government schools are a good idea in the first place? The government should have no control over what children are taught. Do we really want government run Bible teaching? Better solutions would be private schools and home schools.
The government has no business being involved in education at all. In private schools and home schools individuals and not the government would be in control of what is taught. There the Bible could be taught as truth, the Word of God. The entire school curriculum could be taught from a Christian worldview. This would be a much better alternative than the current mess we have with the public schools.
But is this even financially possible? If Christians used their money more wisely it might be. It might require us to stop living the life of luxury and actually make sacrifices.
We must also point out that instead of looking to the public schools, parents and churches should do a much better job of teaching the Bible to children. After all we are not exactly overrun with Bible scholars.
Monday, May 8, 2017
When Atheists Call Christians Hypocrites
The charge of hypocrisy is sometimes leveled
against Christians by atheists. Christians are accused of not living what they say they believe. We must point out that not all professing Christians are true Christians. Also, most Christians have never claimed to be without sin. But it is true that even true Christians do not keep the law of God. This is also kind of the point of Christianity because no one is capable of keeping the law of God (See Romans 3:23). We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Salvation is found in Christ alone.
But we actually have a bigger problem than Christian hypocrisy. The atheist believes hypocrisy is wrong but he has no basis for even believing hypocrisy is wrong. In atheism God is not there so there is no ultimate authority or absolute standard by which to make a judgment. There is no ultimate authority to define right and wrong or good and evil. The atheist simply has no foundation on which to build a system of morality.
When the atheist refers to hypocrisy as wrong he is not living out his atheism consistently. Atheism cannot be lived out consistently, it is impossible to do because it does not fit reality. In order for the atheist to accuse the Christian of hypocrisy he must step out of his atheistic worldview and borrow from the Christian worldview.
So when the atheist charges the Christian with hypocrisy he ends up refuting his own atheism. The atheistic worldview is inconsistent, contradictory, and unlivable. It is self refuting and therefore proven to be a false worldview.
On the other hand the Christian worldview has a basis for calling hypocrisy wrong. It is the law of God. (Exodus 20:16) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (ESV). The Christian worldview is consistent, coherent, non-contradictory, and livable. The Christian worldview is proven to be the true worldview.
against Christians by atheists. Christians are accused of not living what they say they believe. We must point out that not all professing Christians are true Christians. Also, most Christians have never claimed to be without sin. But it is true that even true Christians do not keep the law of God. This is also kind of the point of Christianity because no one is capable of keeping the law of God (See Romans 3:23). We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Salvation is found in Christ alone.
But we actually have a bigger problem than Christian hypocrisy. The atheist believes hypocrisy is wrong but he has no basis for even believing hypocrisy is wrong. In atheism God is not there so there is no ultimate authority or absolute standard by which to make a judgment. There is no ultimate authority to define right and wrong or good and evil. The atheist simply has no foundation on which to build a system of morality.
When the atheist refers to hypocrisy as wrong he is not living out his atheism consistently. Atheism cannot be lived out consistently, it is impossible to do because it does not fit reality. In order for the atheist to accuse the Christian of hypocrisy he must step out of his atheistic worldview and borrow from the Christian worldview.
So when the atheist charges the Christian with hypocrisy he ends up refuting his own atheism. The atheistic worldview is inconsistent, contradictory, and unlivable. It is self refuting and therefore proven to be a false worldview.
On the other hand the Christian worldview has a basis for calling hypocrisy wrong. It is the law of God. (Exodus 20:16) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (ESV). The Christian worldview is consistent, coherent, non-contradictory, and livable. The Christian worldview is proven to be the true worldview.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Revelation 3:20 (In Context)
(Revelation 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (ESV)
This verse is often interpreted as Jesus knocking at the door of a person's heart trying to come in. But this is actually an example of bad theology being read into the text.
Revelation 3:20 is part of the letter written to the church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Revelation Chapters 2-3 contain letters written to seven churches. Laodicea is the only one that is not commended by Jesus for anything. Jesus rebukes the church telling them they are neither hot or cold but lukewarm. He then tells them he will spit them out of his mouth.
The Laodiceans were not hot or cold, they would not reject Jesus outright or embrace him with zeal. They were complacent and maybe just nominal Christians. Jesus says he will spit them out of his mouth, in other words this kind of "Christianity" makes Jesus sick. The church at Laodicea is told to be zealous and repent.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is pictured as standing outside of the church knocking at the door. If anyone there has true, saving faith he will hear his voice and open the door for his Lord and Master. Then Jesus will come in and have fellowship with him.
The common interpretation of Jesus knocking at the door of someones heart wanting to come in simply does not fit the context. This actually comes from bad theology being read into the text. It has Jesus trying to save people but often failing to do so. It presents Jesus as being unable to bring about the salvation of some people because they will not let him. Think about that, you have humans not letting the Sovereign Lord accomplish something. This is absurd and not Biblical. God's sovereign will cannot be thwarted by humans. He is sovereign even in salvation. Jesus is the Sovereign Lord who accomplishes salvation for his people and never fails. He saves all that the Father gives him (see John 6:37).
This verse is often interpreted as Jesus knocking at the door of a person's heart trying to come in. But this is actually an example of bad theology being read into the text.
Revelation 3:20 is part of the letter written to the church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Revelation Chapters 2-3 contain letters written to seven churches. Laodicea is the only one that is not commended by Jesus for anything. Jesus rebukes the church telling them they are neither hot or cold but lukewarm. He then tells them he will spit them out of his mouth.
The Laodiceans were not hot or cold, they would not reject Jesus outright or embrace him with zeal. They were complacent and maybe just nominal Christians. Jesus says he will spit them out of his mouth, in other words this kind of "Christianity" makes Jesus sick. The church at Laodicea is told to be zealous and repent.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is pictured as standing outside of the church knocking at the door. If anyone there has true, saving faith he will hear his voice and open the door for his Lord and Master. Then Jesus will come in and have fellowship with him.
The common interpretation of Jesus knocking at the door of someones heart wanting to come in simply does not fit the context. This actually comes from bad theology being read into the text. It has Jesus trying to save people but often failing to do so. It presents Jesus as being unable to bring about the salvation of some people because they will not let him. Think about that, you have humans not letting the Sovereign Lord accomplish something. This is absurd and not Biblical. God's sovereign will cannot be thwarted by humans. He is sovereign even in salvation. Jesus is the Sovereign Lord who accomplishes salvation for his people and never fails. He saves all that the Father gives him (see John 6:37).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)