This is the final part of a three-part series. to start earlier, you can go to PART ONE or PART TWO. Those of the Abrahamic Faiths have often struggled in their visualization of God. I will not pretend to have expertise of other faiths (including my own). With the Abrahamic Faiths (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) …
Continue reading Reflections on Sci-fi Aliens and the Incarnation (Part 3)
The Great Commision is not so great when it is one-dimensional instead of three-dimensional. Here, let me humbly reprimand us as evangelicals, among whom the very term "Great Commision" caught on like wildfire in the first place. We have essentially equated the Great Commission with the ministry of evangelism, with Matthew 28 earning the distinction …
Continue reading Quote on “Three-Dimensional Great Commission”
From "The Devil's Bible". Image via Wikipedia I had an acquaintance who was invited to visit an “underground church” in China. They went into a tall condominium building. My friend was surprised when they began heading upstairs rather than downstairs. It took him a few seconds to remember that the term “underground church” was an …
Continue reading Difficulties in Christian Figurative Language and Imagery
It has been a hobby of Christians to set a date for the return of Christ. Even non-Christian groups such as "Jehovah's Witness" fall prey to this lure. There is a long history of this. The church of Thessalonica in the New Testament had members who were so sure of the imminent return of Christ …
Continue reading Problems with Mixing Christian Missions and “Time-setting”
Jesus (in Matthew 13) described "hard soil"-- hearts that are unreceptive to God's message. But one can't assume that those hearts that are "hard soil" are all the same. Commonly, those in this category can be looked at as those who are invested in a different faith to the point that they reject a new …
Continue reading Is All “True Faith” Also “Good Faith”? Types of Hard Soil