It is no secret that the Bible boasts a wealth of fulfilled prophecies, but I would venture a guess that few Christians could name one if asked. My favorite prophecy as of now is the destruction of Tyre (the capital of the Phoenician empire). This prophecy holds a special place in my mind because of its verifiability due to the extra biblical historical and geographic evidence available to us 2300 years after its fulfillment!
Read More“Are these practical ministry courses really necessary?”
This was the question that I asked throughout college and seminary. In college, I was a Biblical Studies major, and I was able to get out of preaching classes since I was not a Pastoral Ministries major. I didn’t have any practical ministry courses in college, but that was a different story in seminary. When I got to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I could not get out of the three required preaching classes, the required “mentored ministry” classes/credits (I had to be actively involved in ministry in some way, with a mentor to supervise me), and the practical ministry courses.
Needless to say, in the beginning I was upset.
Read More“When Jesus wept over the death of Lazarus, what do we learn about the humanity of Jesus?”
I have always been fascinated by the dual divinity and humanity of Christ. I’m intrigued by the fact that Jesus is fully God, and yet fully man at the same time. Two such identities should not be able to coexist in the same body, no? Scripture clearly says otherwise. Jesus was certainly God in human flesh, and the human flesh was not diminished by his divinity. Jesus was indeed fully divine, and fully human. This means that in his divinity, he understood and emanated the things of heaven; but in his humanity, he felt and experienced the things of earth.
Read MoreIt has come to my attention, over the past ten months, just how ruthlessly political anything we might call “news” has become, especially on the national level. And that is where I wish to direct the reader’s attention. This blog is not an invective against your local paper or news station. It is a warning siren against the CNNs, MSNBCs, FOXs, and other widely watched reporting institutions of the Western news media apparatus.
Read MoreSome skeptics have claimed that Jesus was a false apocalyptic prophet based on a couple of statements He made in the gospels. As a younger Christian, these verses troubled me and caused me to wonder the same thing. But a careful reading of the passages in question is sufficient to show why they should not be of concern to believers.
Read MoreJefferson Vann shares the story behind his translation of 1 Corinthians 11:10, and argues that it does not teach that males have authority over females.
Read MoreFor what it’s worth, these thoughts are some things that I’ve been processing. These opinions are my own.
I feel a bit torn. In an earlier post, I described myself as an “evangelical.” I’m not sure how helpful a label that is anymore. Actually, I’m not sure I would call myself a “Christian.” Bear with me a moment; it’s not as provocative as it sounds.
Read MoreTo define Christian character or biblical morality one must acknowledge that (1) there is absolute truth and (2) there is absolute right and wrong. This begs the question, “From where do we receive truth and our concept of right and wrong?” We need look no further than the nature of God who in Himself is good, just, and moral.
Read MoreThe Insurrection of January 6 brought shock to our country like we have not seen since 9/11 when planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Many of us watched in horror as armed militias stormed our American Capitol building shouting death threats at Vice-president Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. I’m convinced that with another few minutes, they…
Read MoreTo begin, I have a confession to make: I enjoy pop music.
Read MoreWhat about our association? I have grown increasingly concerned that we don’t work as closely together as we need to in order to carry out the mission of God. Instead, fault lines run deep and some have grown weary due to a lack of theological and structural integrity. My hope is to draw out those who desire to work more closely together, who see the need for change so that we can become more effective and efficient in taking the Gospel to our neighbors and the nations. Consider this a call to mission and unity that seems to be lacking in our ranks.
Read MoreA great many skeptics have defined “faith” as “a belief that is not based on evidence,” and for some reason, many evangelicals accept this definition. But is this the way “faith” is used in the New Testament when Paul, Peter, or Jesus use it? Is this definition accurate in relation to the way the word was used in other works of ancient Greco-Roman literature? How do writers like Aristotle, Herodotus, Diodorus, and others who wrote in Koine Greek use the same word? Do they use it to mean “belief without evidence”? Or do they mean something entirely different. In this article we will explore these questions and clarify what is really meant by “faith.”
Read MoreWith all that has gone on over the last week or so, what do we do now?
I do not think that there are any of us who have grown up in the United States who have any idea what it is that we are supposed to be doing in the aftermath of riots and murders at the seat of our government. Perhaps people from other times or places might have some frame of reference, but we have none.
Having no clear path forward, I have often found it to be helpful to return to the basics…
The Moral Argument has been one of the most effective arguments for God’s existence, and one that believers can use in a vast array of situations. Of all of the debates I have watched between atheists/agnostics and Christian philosophers, it has been the most difficult for the skeptics to answer. Even in my own dialogues on social media I have only encountered two responses to the Moral Argument: evasion and insult. Either the person I’ve presented this argument to attempts to avoid having to deal with the argument by trying to change the subject, ends the conversation, or proceeds to call me a cultist, bigot, flat-earther, religious zealot, or homophobe or misogynist if discussing abortion or homosexuality.
Read MoreAmong the Advent Christian faithful, there has been a palpable sense that we are in the midst of an identity crisis as a denomination. It begins with the common report that the majority of people who fill our pews do not identify as Advent Christians. Of the few who do embrace that identity, many are progressively joining the ranks of the elderly…
Read MoreIn “the breath of God” Jefferson Vann examines how Moses used the Hebrew word that is most often mistranslated as “spirit” in the Old Testament, and how Matthew uses its Greek equivalent in the New Testament.
Read More“What would my bookcase tell someone else about me and my life?”
Read MoreWe’re back to my favorite apologetics subject: Ancient History! Many New Testament scholars today will differ in their positions on the dates the four gospels were written. This article will not weigh in on that discussion. This article is written to show that the gospel itself dates back to within 6 months of the crucifixion! I hope that peaks your interest. Let’s dive right into the data.
Read MoreThe Advent Christian Church has historically had a very large theological tent. Our ranks have often included the orphans from others churches, whose views were considered unorthodox at best and heretical at worst. One such doctrine has defined our little band of misfits— Conditional Immortality. We have multiple views on what the Scriptures teach on the role of women as elders, synergists and monergists, a wide acceptance of Atonement views. Additionally we lack agreement on what we should agree on to be a part of our group.
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