30
Apr
2015
Whatever Happened to Literal Hermeneutics? (Part 1)
/
For decades it was assumed, by both sides of the debate between dispensational and Reformed theology, that the primary distinction between the two models (there were really no other viable evangelical options in the early days) was hermeneutical—dispensationalists held consistently to a “literal” reading of Scripture (and most importantly the OT prophetic portions of Scripture),... Read More
27
Apr
2015
A New Devotional Resource
/
Church Works Media has produced a number of devotional works over the past few years. Each has a special emphasis (e.g., missions, prayer, suffering) that focuses on unpacking biblical texts and helpfully applying them to life. I was asked to participate in the writing of a new edition entitled Gospel Meditations for the Church along with Chris... Read More
24
Apr
2015
Celebration, Affirmation, or Rejection: What Happened to Tolerance?
/
There have been two subtle but significant developments in our society in recent years in our response to people and ideas. The first is a growing inability to distinguish between ideas and the people who espouse them. Rather, debates about the merits of a particular position in public discussion quickly moves to discussions of the... Read More
20
Apr
2015
Three Differences Between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism
/
In the West, most Protestants are at least somewhat familiar with Roman Catholicism. Many of us have Roman Catholic friends, neighbors, and even family members. And many believers have been saved out of Roman Catholicism. Much less familiar to most westerners is the other main branch of non-Protestant Christianity—Eastern Orthodoxy. Many differences exist between Eastern... Read More
15
Apr
2015
A Coalition for the Advancement of Realized Eschatology?
/
This week the Gospel Coalition’s annual meeting features a panel discussion with panelists who reject the Gospel. On the face of things this seems to be out of step with TGC’s founding principles, which exalt commitment to the Gospel as the singularly non-negotiable feature of belonging to the TGC “alliance.” To be a TGC “ally,”... Read More
13
Apr
2015
Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
/
If you notice the header of this blog, you will see a tab marked “Journal,” which if selected will take you to the web page for our seminary journal. Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal began in 1996 and is published annually in the fall of the year. At the web page you will find the table of contents for all the... Read More
9
Apr
2015
Mormons and Transgender
/
It might seem as though traditional Christians are the only people who are being challenged by the sexual revolution occurring in the West. But other religious traditions are being forced to address this shift as well. A recent article highlights the experience of three Mormons who “discover” they are transgender but want to remain in... Read More
6
Apr
2015
What Shall We Do with Moses?
/
A couple of weeks back Bob Jones University made the news by apologizing for statements made a generation ago suggesting that homosexuals should be subjected, like they were during the Mosaic economy, to capital punishment. This mea culpa was a welcome one insofar as the offending statement was insensitive, vindictive, even hateful. But among the... Read More
1
Apr
2015
Two Principles for Responsible Apologetics
/
Someone who is going to be giving a talk soon on apologetics asked me to offer a couple of principles I think would help people to do apologetics responsibly. I thought I’d share my response here. Properly Present Your Opponent’s Position No one enjoys being misrepresented, especially in an argument. Whether you are being accused... Read More
26
Mar
2015
New Issue of Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
/
The Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal has been produced annually by DBTS since 1996. The 2014 edition (vol. 19) was recently published: “‘The Chief Exercise of Faith’: John Calvin and the Practice of Prayer” by John Aloisi “Spirit-Filling in Ephesians 5:18” by William W. Combs A Tale of Two Kingdoms: The Struggle for the Spirituality of the Church and the Genius of... Read More