13May 2024 by Post

Hope Matters

Annie Brown, Apologetics, Christianity, Gospel, hardship, hope, problem of pain, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Suffering, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Hope in the Promise Throughout Scripture, we acknowledge God as a promise-keeper. What he says will happen will always comes to pass in his perfect timing. Because of this truth about God’s heart, believers are drawn to extravagant hope in all circumstances. Upon sin entering the world in Genesis chapter three, God initiated hope by clothing Adam and Eve immediately following humanity’s downfall. After leading Noah to navigate a worldwide flood, God provided a dove from heaven as hope for a brighter future ahead. In calling Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God promised the hope of a land flowing with milk and honey on the other side of their trivial journey. Through the prophet Isaiah, God foretold the coming of Christ who alone would provide eternal hope.…
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08May 2024 by Post

How To Keep Your Job Without Losing Your Soul: A Survival Guide For Diversity Training

Apologetics, Christianity, critical theory, CRT, Culture and Politics, DEI, Diversity Training, Gospel, John Ferrer, strategy, Theology and Christian Apologetics
You’ve been at your job for almost a year. You enjoy your work. You’re planting roots. Soon you’ll qualify for a pay raise and new benefits. Things are looking up. Except, at today’s business meeting, the boss announced a mandatory diversity training[i] for all employees. He made it sound harmless, perfunctory, just a hoop to jump through. No one asked questions. Everyone just nodded. Since you’re new here, you held your questions. You don’t want to cause a stir. Still, something smells fishy. Maybe you’ve heard stories about DEI, SEL, CRT, or Unconscious Bias training.[ii] Maybe you’ve been through this before, and you know what’s coming. But whatever is bothering you, there’s a decision to make. What will you do about this diversity training? You’ve got options. But before picking…
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24Apr 2024 by Post

Evidence for the Book of Esther

4. Is the NT True?, Apologetics, Archaeology, Bellator Christi, Bible, bible archaeology, Christianity, Darius, Esther, Gospel, Mordecai, Persian Empire, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Tony Williams, truth
My family recently took the opportunity to attend a live theater production of The Book of Esther in Branson, Missouri. The Sight and Sound Theater production was riveting, and I was not prepared for how wonderful the set, the performers, and even the livestock (yes, livestock) brought the story of Esther to life. One of the other reasons I loved the show was that I happened to have recently read a wonderful historical summary of the evidence that exists to give good reasons to believe this is more than a fairy tale. In his book, The Authenticity of the Book of Esther, the late British historian Dr. Bill Cooper brings out the evidence, including extra-Biblical writings, archaeology, and even Nazi executions that bring the story to life in a different…
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22Apr 2024 by Post

Atheists’ Faith in Science is Misplaced

2. Does God Exist?, Al Serrato, Apologetics, Atheism, Christianity, design argument, Gospel, Intelligent Design, science, scientism, teleology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Most atheists I have encountered demonstrate an amazing “faith” in the power of science. They will often accuse believers of wishful thinking – or outright foolishness – when believers conclude that an intelligent being is the only reasonable inference to draw from the evidence of design that surrounds us. They do this because they have come to believe that only through “science” can anything be known, and that science will someday answer all of life’s mysteries. That is what’s called “scientism.” There is no need for a God, they assure themselves, because “science” has not provided for one. Is Science the Only Way to Know? The flaw in this thinking is the assumption that science is the only way one can know something. This is flawed on many levels. Science,…
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17Apr 2024 by Post

The Suffering Christian

Apologetics, Christian Counseling, Christianity, Church, Gospel, Jesus, Prayer, problem of suffering, Psalms, scripture, suffering well, Theology and Christian Apologetics, theology of suffering, Thomas H. Moller
We live in a troubled world, plagued by sin which leads to pain and suffering. This state of the world is nothing new, it has gone on since the fall of man. The entirety of humankind from Adam to us have dealt with a variety of suffering as a result of this fall. However, though we do not live in a more sinful time, for every age has overflowed with sinfulness, we seem to be facing a different struggle. Our society is fighting a battle of the mind, and losing. We Just Can’t Even We live in a world where many cannot seem to bear the slightest sorrow. This makes it all the more difficult to persevere through the most difficult situations anyone of us could face; such as the…
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15Apr 2024 by Post

Show Us A Sign: The Cross And The Death Of Blind Faith

1 Corinthians 15, Apologetics, Christianity, Easter, Gospel, gospels, historicity, Jesus, Prophecy, Quest Questions Apologetics, Resurrection, Shane Geisler, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Each Easter season, approximately 400,000 churches across the U.S. gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus: one story portraying the faith of over two billion people globally. But have we grown ignorant of a driving factor behind the eternally preordained plan? Might we have entirely missed what Jesus cited as making His public execution necessary? The cross has come to manifest the forgiveness of sins, and rightfully so. Notwithstanding, in the time preceding His trial, Jesus made it exceedingly clear the plan was multifaceted . . . and He had skeptics in mind. [1] Just One Problem Modern recollections of resurrection Sunday tend to focus solely upon substitutionary atonement. Christians gather to reflect on this distinctive of their faith. The New Testament tells us Jesus, “though he was in the…
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10Apr 2024 by Post

Critical Thinking: The Secret Weapon of Confident Christians

Apologetics, Christianity, critical thinking, Discernment, Gospel, Jason Jimenez, Stand Strong Ministries, Theology and Christian Apologetics, wisdom, www.standstrongministries.org
As Christians, developing critical thinking skills and maintaining an informed understanding of our faith is crucial. The world is full of misinformation and uncertainty, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. It is not enough for Christians to blindly adhere to whatever traditions or practices they have inherited from the past. They should critically evaluate and discern the relevance and validity of these traditions in their present context. With so many different worldviews competing for our attention, staying engaged and equipped with our beliefs is essential. Without the intellectual stamina to navigate these opposing views, we risk becoming uninformed and ill-prepared to face the challenges of contemporary society. The Age of Competing Ideas In a recent interview with John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center, I asked him why…
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03Apr 2024 by Post

Truth Matters

1. Does Truth Exist?, Annie Brown, Apologetics, Biblical Inerrancy, Christianity, Gospel, relativism, Religious Pluralism, SES, Southern Evangelical Seminary, truth
The world defines truth as relative and subjective: “You have your truth, I have my truth.” It is customizable to one’s preferences and lifestyle. Definitive or absolute truth is considered offensive to the culture at large. This confusion over truth is further fueled by social media. Liking, sharing, retweeting, and posting happen with the click of a button. To promote and defend “your truth,” all you have to do is open an app on your phone. Though some may suggest that our culture is more unified based on the controversial matters of our day, I would argue that we are walking in greater disunity than ever before. Can’t We All Just Coexist? The Coexist bumper stickers often seen on the back of vehicles advertise that all religions are equal with…
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01Apr 2024 by Post

Why Do You Call Yourself a Christian?

Apologetics, Christianity, christology, Gospel, identity in Christ, salvation, Theology and Christian Apologetics, What does it mean to be a Chrstian?, Who is Jesus?
Have you ever heard the tale of the elderly woman who wanted to restore an old painting and… well, didn’t? Meet Potato Jesus. The woman’s intentions were noble. I certainly respect her heart. But that doesn’t change the fact that she is not an artist and did not restore Martinez’s work. Just because she intended to do something and thought she was able, that didn’t turn her into an artist. Desire and good intentions aren’t enough. [1] Nowadays, anyone can set up a page and identify as whatever they want. But taking a name for ourselves doesn’t make us that thing. We still have to be it or become it.   Two Ways to Identify We can identify ourselves in two ways: “I’m x, and by that, I mean this,” and…
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27Mar 2024 by Post

Dismantling Doubt

4. Is the NT True?, Apologetics, Christianity, Deanna Huff, Doubt, Evidence, faith, Gospel, John the Baptist, Matthew 11, miracles
Is God really there for me? God, do you see? Do you hear my prayer? Experiences such as job loss, broken relationships, mental illness, or any unyielding pain can stir up questions of doubt. Doubt is standing at your door desiring to chip away at your faith. During these seasons of sorrow and pain, many days can be filled with questions like: Why are you silent? Why didn’t you save them? Why won’t you show them they are wrong? Will you resolve the situation? When you feel as if there is no answer, doubt festers. Is what I believe true? Lest someone think that non-religious persons are different, C.S. Lewis’s personal comment is very instructive. “Now that I am a Christian, I do have moods in which the whole thing…
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