“This is the essence of praise: saying to God what God is. Giving praise is sibling to doing theology, the project of saying who God is, and what the Triune God is doing in Jesus Christ.” -Kevin Vanhoozer, Biblical Authority after Babel. … [Read more...] about The Essence of Praise
Theology
Good Theologian or Good Christian
"One is sometimes (not often) glad not to be a great theologian; one might so easily mistake it for being a good Christian." (p. 57) Lewis, C. S. (1986). Reflections on the Psalms. Harcourt Brace &Company. … [Read more...] about Good Theologian or Good Christian
Did Jesus Really Think He Was God?
This is a question many folks ask. And the main pushback comes from the fact that, at first glance, nowhere in the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) does Jesus make the exact statement "I am God." But there is more than one way to claim divinity, and Jesus makes many direct and indirect claims about being divine. One of the best summaries of these claims I have seen comes from Tim Keller (2016):1 There were all his indirect but deliberate claims. Jesus assumed authority to … [Read more...] about Did Jesus Really Think He Was God?
How the Gospel Makes Us Bold and Humble
May this be your meditation today: Without the gospel, our self-image is based on living up to some standards - either our own or someone else's imposed on us. If we live up to those standards, we will be confident but not humble; if we don't live up to them, we will humble but not confident. Only in the gospel can we be both enormously bold and utterly sensitive and humble, for we are simul justus et peccator, both perfect and sinner! (Keller, 2012, p. 50) The Gospel reminds us … [Read more...] about How the Gospel Makes Us Bold and Humble
Why Must We Go to Church
With podcasts and live streaming, have you ever wondered why we must gather together at church every Sunday? Isn't that a little old school? I mean, why not just stay in your jammies, sip coffee, stream one of the best worship bands on the planet via Spotify, download a sermon from a world-renowned teacher, and call it a day? The answer comes, in part, from the definition of the word "church" (Greek, ekklesia). Church is not a building. Church is a people. But in particular, the church is a … [Read more...] about Why Must We Go to Church
The Open Door
In our everyday life, we tend to move forward without much pause. We make decisions and act on those decisions. We decide on a restaurant and eat at that restaurant. We decide on an activity, and we pursue that activity. These choices are simple and straightforward. But occasionally, we encounter bigger decisions that make us nervous. In those moments, we fear a misstep. We fear picking the wrong college or choosing the wrong career or marrying the wrong person. How do we know what to … [Read more...] about The Open Door