Arguably, Isaiah 7:14, prophesying a “virgin” giving birth, is the most contested verse in the Old Testament. Although Matthew unequivocally states that this prophecy was fulfilled by the birth of the Messiah, the Hebrew Scriptures seem to indicate that there was a fulfillment during the life of King Ahaz. Although this might seem like a contradiction, these two perspectives … [Read more...]
“Christians – Children of God? Just Look at How They Act!”
Many militant atheists will say, “Christianity screws up everything,” citing warfare, slavery, the Crusades and intolerance. Christians will generally respond in three different ways: “Christianity is about Christ and not about individual Christians. I am deeply sorry about what people who have called themselves ‘Christian’ have done. However, I’m here to tell you about … [Read more...]
Universalism: Its Appeal and Its Error
Universalism, the notion that we will all go to heaven, is re-entering the church with renewed vigor. Its proponents argue: We are all created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). God is love and would never subject any of His children to eternal punishment. The idea that some are “in” and some are “out” is pharisaic and detestable. Instead, Jesus received all who came to … [Read more...]
Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Gay Rights, and God
Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, is evidently not a moral-relativist or a multi-culturalist. She has stated that “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights,” and she’s so sure about this that she’s imposing this equation on the rest of the world. This means that human rights - moral absolutes – ought to take precedence over the laws and traditions of the … [Read more...]
The Lie: Its Usefulness and its Cost
We resent laws and restrictions. They get in our way. Consequently, many understandably resented the orders to evacuate their homes prior to Sandy’s uninvited visit, and stayed put. However, many had to pay a price for their choice. Many also resent the teachings of Scripture as an unwanted intrusion. We cringe with contempt when we hear about God’s judgment for sin. For … [Read more...]
The Deity of Christ and why this Matters
In the official Watchtower publication, Should You Believe in the Trinity, Jehovah’s Witnesses proclaim that: Jesus had an existence in heaven before coming to the earth…the Bible plainly states that in his pre-human existence, Jesus was a created spirit being, just as the angels were spirit beings created by God. … [Read more...]
De Tocqueville, Morality, and Democracy
Today’s secularism is an aggressive bulldozer. It will not tolerate any competition, pushing aside any opposition to its reign. Arrogantly, it believes that it can retain the benefits of Western civilization, while discarding its foundation – Christianity. Alexis de Tocqueville, French statesman, historian and social philosopher, wrote “Democracy in America” (1835). It has … [Read more...]
Sin, Technology, and the Well-Being of Society
Necessity is the mother of invention but so too is theology. Let me try to explain in a round-about way. At an Ethical Culture Society discussion group, the leader asked us all to give our prognosis regarding the West. While we all saw serious signs of wear-and-tear, most of the respondents were surprisingly confident about the West’s prospects for recovery. My response was the … [Read more...]
Revival: Christianity’s Fall and Rise of England!
The history of Western nations testifies what happens when this influence its Christian voice is silenced. It was silenced in early 18th century England. Indian Scholar Vishal Mangalwadi writes, In 1738, two centuries after the Reformation, Bishop Berkeley declared that religion and morality in Britain had collapsed “to a degree that was never before known in any Christian … [Read more...]
Rejecting a Guilt-Laden Christianity
One pedagogue has been beckoning Christians to take his seminars with this promise: "We want to liberate Christians from the burden of guilt-laden doctrines." This promise is trendy. It caters to the spirit of our doctrine-despising age, especially those doctrines that cause discomfort. Consequently, our youth call themselves “spiritual” and carefully distinguish this from … [Read more...]