15Jun 2022 by Post

STEPS AND RESOURCES FOR SOUND BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION

4. Is the NT True?, Apologetics, Bible, Christianity, J. Brian Huffling, New Testament, Textual Criticism, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Uncategorized
By Brian Huffling Many people don’t know how to study the Bible, or even where to begin. The Bible is a long collection of books that contains much about ancient history, difficult concepts, and is very intimidating for people who want to read it but don’t know where to start. This article will describe some of the principles of interpreting the Bible (hermeneutics) that are taught in basic Bible college and seminary classes (but are easy enough for anyone to understand). This is not a 12-step method to anything, it is simply a sound method to examine the biblical text. Well, it is a 3-step method: observation, interpretation, and application. OBSERVATION When we read a passage, we typically want to ask, “What does it mean?” But there is a more basic…
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13Jun 2022 by Post

Why Doesn’t God Need a Creator

Al Serrato, Apologetics, Atheism, Christianity, creator, Kalam, Philosophy of Science, Skeptic, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Al Serrato Christians believe that God is an infinite being who has always existed. But what “evidence” can the theist put forth in support of this claim? This is a common challenge raised by the skeptic. When a person asks for “evidence,” the usual response is to look for things like witness statements, or documents or fingerprints left at a scene. Since no one has “evidence” relating to things outside our universe, or to a being who preceded the Big Bang, it’s a safe bet, they think, that the Christian apologist can’t come up with any “evidence.” Or is it? Teasing out the unspoken premise in the question highlights what is at play: the challenger assumes that it is only through physical or testimonial “evidence” that we can know…
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23May 2022 by Post

Is It Possible To Break Through Apathy?

Al Serrato, Apathy, Apologetics, Apologetics for Parents, Christianity, Culture, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Worldview
By Al Serrato The biggest obstacle to most apologetics efforts is apathy. While there are indeed some ardent atheists, usually the ones who take the time to write a response to posts like these, by and large the response of the average skeptic is to figuratively throw up their hands. They usually don’t take the time to research and consider a specific truth claim that is being made, or to counter some argument with evidence to show that an argument is false or mistaken. Nor do they try to convince you that their worldview is in fact true. Instead, most skeptics I’ve dealt with have developed a comfort level regarding the “unknowability” of ultimate things. They often argue that the fact that people disagree about such things – that a…
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18May 2022 by Post

So You Left the New Age… Now What? Five Helpful Tips

Bible, Christianity, Culture CrossExamined, Jesus, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Melissa Dougherty, New Age, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
 By Melissa Dougherty We each go through unique difficulties whenever we leave the New Age. Whenever I left the New Age, it was incredibly lonely. I felt like nobody understood what I had just gone through. At the time, it felt like no Christian around me understood what the New Age really was, and to be honest, I was somewhat embarrassed that I had fallen into such beliefs, even after going to church for so many years. I didn’t even understand what I believed was New Age. I had to sift through the theological mud. I also did a Pendulum swing where I just wanted to point out what was wrong with everybody’s beliefs, and I went through a brief phase where basically everything was “New Age,” and there was…
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17May 2022 by Post

When Hollywood gets God and virtue right

Apologetics, Christianity, Culture, Frank Turek, Heroes, Hollywood, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, movies, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Frank Turek Imagine if there were a fun way to raise your kid’s interest in God while imparting some of the most important virtues every Christian parent wants their children to learn. There is. You can use an unlikely source that will help you get your point across without you sounding all “preachy.” Pollster George Barna found that young people get their theology more from movies than the pulpit.  So why not use the power of Hollywood to give them good theology where you can? Stories inspire and instruct more vividly than commands, which is one reason why Jesus not only gave commands but also told stories. Yes, I know. Unlike Jesus, Hollywood’s stories often glorify much that is immoral. But Hollywood’s most successful movies often tell inspiring stories…
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16May 2022 by Post

How We Got Our Bible: Manuscript Tradition

4. Is the NT True?, Apologetics, Bible, Inerrancy, New Testament, Ryan Leasure, Textual Criticism, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Ryan Leasure  This article is part 6 in a nine-part series on how we got our Bible. Part 1 dealt with inspiration and inerrancy. Part 2  looked at Old Testament development. Part 3 investigate the Old Testament canon and the Apocrypha. Part 4 considered attributes of the New Testament Canon. And Part 5 inquired into the early church’s reception of the New Testament Canon. This post will consider the manuscript tradition and preservation of the New Testament text. No Original Autographs Sadly, none of the original autographs remain. Most likely, they wore out after constant usage and copying. Now, all that we possess are copies of copies of copies—a lot of them actually. Yet these copies differ in lots of different places. But do these differences render our Bible unreliable? Bart Ehrman…
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11May 2022 by Post

Moloch: Bruised but not Defeated

abortion, Apologetics, Bible, Culture, Culture CrossExamined, Free Thinking Ministries, Josh Klein, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Moloch, Old Testament, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Josh Klein For decades our country has been mired by a decision that enshrined the sacrifice of human babies to the god of Moloch (also known as Molech). You might know this practice by its current moniker, abortion, but the practice is essentially the same. Sacrificing our children on the altar of prosperity is a tail as old as human civilization. Instead of molten hands the altar is often a Planned Parenthood operating table. We have chosen, as a nation, to ignore the obvious humanity of the infant in utero and have embraced the lie that sex is a right but having children as a result is anathema.  That is, unless you want the baby. In 1973, possibly the worst decision in the history of the Supreme Court was…
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09May 2022 by Post

I’m Having Doubts. Is that Okay?

Apologetics, Apologetics for Parents, Christianity, Doubt, faith, Jesus, Levi Dade, The Rebelution, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Unbelievers
By Levi Dade Is doubting sinful? If you have ever asked this question, you’re not alone. It’s an important question because doubt is part of the human experience. Therefore, Christians should ponder the question and seek to find out if God condones his people to have doubts. If so, to what extent? What are the boundaries if doubt in itself is not sinful? What should God’s people do with their doubts? Before we get too far, let’s define some terms:[1] Doubt: 1) verb. To be undecided or uncertain. 2) noun. A feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something. Unbelief: noun. The state or quality of not believing; skepticism, especially in matters of religion. Faith (or belief): noun. 1) confidence or trust in a person or thing.…
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20Apr 2022 by Post

Why Am I A “Sinner” And Why Do I Need To Be Forgiven?

Apologetics for Parents, Boby Perry, Christianity, Jesus Christ, morality, Sin, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics, True Horizon
By Bob Perry Here’s a question I got recently: “It has always bothered me that I am a sinful human. None of my good efforts, leading a good life can deter sin. I was born with sin and I have to be forgiven? I don’t get that. Why am I a ‘sinner’ and why do I need to be forgiven?” This is a difficult question to answer, especially when it comes from a genuine, good-hearted person. Nobody wants to think of themselves as a “sinner.” For the most part, all of us try to be kind, nice, and loving. We’re not serial killers, or bank robbers, or child molesters, or even shady politicians. It seems unfair to call someone a sinner — especially when you also seem to be saying…
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18Apr 2022 by Post

Norman L. Geisler: A Student’s Tribute

Atheism, Christianity, J. Brian Huffling, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Norman Geisler, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Brian Huffling  I first heard about Dr. Norman L. Geisler when I was in high school. I bought his When Skeptics Ask. I glossed over it but thought it was beyond me. During my senior year of college, my wife and I decided to move back to my native Charlotte after graduation and study apologetics under Dr. Geisler at Southern Evangelical Seminary. Before making the move, we visited the seminary. While sitting in the registrar’s office, Dr. Geisler walked by, and I was star struck. After the tour, Dr. Doug Potter introduced us to Dr. Geisler. I was so nervous. He asked if we had lunch plans. I got even more nervous. We said no, and he asked if we would have lunch with him. Of course, we said…
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