In recent years we hear of a growing concern about "social justice." What is meant by that phrase, however, varies widely among those who use and promote it. Dr. Voddie Baucham began as a Baptist pastor in Texas and is now serving as Dean of the School of the Divinity at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. This diversity allows him to address the topic of social justice from “within” and from “without.” What is too often missing - even in the calls for "social justice" coming … [Read more...] about Social Justice vs Biblical Justice
Teachings
Gnosticism: Why John Wrote 1 John
The New Testament Church began with a bang. We note in the book of Acts that one day 5,000 people were added to the church. Soon after another 3,000 were added. But over time, Satan’s influence sapped some of that initial “first love” that the Church had when it began. False teachers began to worm their way into the Church. We know this from Christ’s words regarding the Churches in Revelation, particularly the Church in Ephesus. It was significant enough for Christ to … [Read more...] about Gnosticism: Why John Wrote 1 John
Why Western Values are Shifting
A British columnist who writes for The Times of London, recently wrote: “Why is so much of the political, cultural and business establishment meekly going along with the onslaught against normative western values and the repudiation of rationality itself? The answer lies in what’s been happening to the west over the past half century. The current culture wars reflect decades of cultural Marxist chickens coming home to roost. There’s been a revolutionary long march through the institutions aimed … [Read more...] about Why Western Values are Shifting
The Abrahamic Covenant
The next several calendar years are looking more and more like they will continue to be years of upheaval. Nothing certain can be predicted, but there are indications that the world order as we have known it is changing. An important focus is what is happening in the United Kingdom and in America. These two nations are in turmoil and what happens to them will have major ramifications for the world at large. As followers of Christ, we need to always keep the big picture in mind. We should not … [Read more...] about The Abrahamic Covenant
Unity in the Church
What is Church unity and where does it come from? Having been drawn out of the world, as followers of Christ our position regarding unity is decidedly different than the common ideas about unity which surround us. There are two important aspects of unity of which we need to be mindful: our calling and our baptism. The Apostle Paul emphasized these factors when he wrote a letter to the Church in Ephesus. Paul’s message conveys, among other important teachings, the fact that God provides both … [Read more...] about Unity in the Church
God’s Governmental Requirement
Dean William R. Inge is credited with saying, “A good government remains the greatest of human blessings, and no nation has ever enjoyed it.” Just to clarify, the human blessings he refers to are of human origin and therefore flawed. Flawed people devise flawed governments that we, the citizenry, are the beneficiaries thereof. What should be our attitude and posture toward the civil authorities that occupy public office above us? Only about 20% of Americans, according to Pew Research Center, … [Read more...] about God’s Governmental Requirement
The Value of Scripture
Recently we have been trying to provide a balanced view towards the things that are happening in the world and all of the commentary that goes along with that. And the need to be looking into the word of God a great deal more than perhaps we have been doing. The words that proceed from the mouth of God are critically important; they are not abstract. Notice in Deuteronomy 30: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in … [Read more...] about The Value of Scripture