Educating for the Polis or the Love of God?
Perhaps you have noticed that the educational system in America is a cultural battleground. Radical ideologues are implanting their worldviews into our culture through our various educational institutions. In Pennsylvania, nursing students’ grades are adversely affected if they do not offer preferred pronouns.[1] In New York, a state legislator has produced legislation that would require public schools to provide instruction...
How the Trinity Changes Prayer
Until recently I had apparently been under the unconscious impression that close study of the Trinity was needed only if I encountered some abstract, theological question about it that puzzled me. Otherwise, I was content to affirm the doctrine in faith and go on about the seemingly more relevant aspects of the Christian life. I had been perfectly content with this arrangement until I recently encountered a puzzling question about the...
“Taking a Name”: A Closer Look at the Third Commandment
Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (NKJV). When I was a kid, I always understood the third commandment as a prohibition against speaking the Lord’s name in an exclamatory manner in which I was not intending to talk to Him. I understood it only to involve speech: not saying God’s name in a flippant way. I don’t think this...
Compassion, Fatigue, and the Need for Self-care
Empathy muscles are being used by many different people right now. Serving in ministry can be overwhelming at any time, and that fact is certainly true now. COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone in our world in at least some capacity. If you are caring for people, the challenge now is to maintain resilience in order to keep doing the work of caring with energy and compassion. The danger involved in caring for others is facing burnout...
Specks, Logs, and the Need for Consistency
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Mt. 7:1–3, ESV) I serve as an adjunct instructor in philosophy at a local community college. Of late, I’ve been teaching World Religions, a course that many students take to...
A Schaefferean Vision for Community
Francis Schaeffer (1912–1984) is one of the more influential apologists of the past century. Many have wrestled with, affirmed, and even disagreed with his works charting the decline of Western culture. Further, many, while engaging with his apologetic methodology, have sought to categorize him in relation to other methodological approaches.[1] Yet what may be helpful for many is Schaeffer’s committed focus on man’s participation in...
Recent Comments