In the recently published book 'What would Jesus say?', a minister speculates on what Jesus might say to some modern-day celebrities. What, for instance, would Jesus say if he walked into one of Madonna's concerts? He believes Jesus would treat her as he did the adulterous woman of John 4 and challenge those who…
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There is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, nor childish, nor cowardly. It walks with strong step and erect frame; it is…
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The fact that God is the Creator of all things is the indispensable foundation upon which all other beliefs of Christianity are based. One of the ways we know God is through what we see around us: God is he who made the universe. That is his status. On this affirmation hangs everything we…
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With the death of Dr Jacob Preus, one of the great champions of the Christian faith has been taken from this world. Dr Preus received international recognition in the 1970s when he was the president of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, a denomination of 3,000,000 members. Jack Preus led and won the battle to…
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A treasured piece of Scripture (Acts 20:17-38) provides us with a vivid portrait of history's greatest Christian, both as a man and also as a missionary and pastor. With a few deft strokes on the canvas, in the centre of which stands Christ for whom the apostle Paul lived and died (Philippians 1:21), the…
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Both Isaiah and Paul refer to the gospel as a 'report'. Isaiah says in chapter 53 and verse 1: 'Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?' Paul follows in Romans 10:16: 'But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed…
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Nothing is isolated. If we look at isolated events and try to judge the goodness of God's providence by them, we will always fail to see it. Providence uses all things together, like gears and wheels in a great piece of machinery. Be sure you mark that word 'work'. Paul does not say all…
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The Spanish Inquisition In 1478 the Catholic monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, bolstered political and religious unity within their 'Christian' country by establishing the Holy Office, or Spanish Inquisition. In the first instance this was directed against Jews and Muslims, but as the Reformation took hold of Europe, it was used against Protestants. One…
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You probably know that, historically, Reformed and Puritan preaching was 'experimental' preaching. But do you understand what is meant by the term experimental or experiental?The term comes from the Latin word experimentum, derived from a verb which means to ‘try, test, prove, or put to the test’. The same verb can also mean ‘to…
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Massive cultural shifts within Western society have resulted in what might be called the deconstruction of 'evangelicalism'. This time-honoured and once comprehensible term for New Testament Christianity has been forced to bear new and often contradictory meanings, as we began to see last month.Then I considered 'traditional evangelicalism' and 'pragmatic evangelicalism'. This month I…
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Christian faith stands or falls on history. Without the great events of revelation and salvation it loses substance. Its confessions contain vital historical references such as the facts that Christ was 'crucified under Pontius Pilate' and rose 'on the third day'.Theological liberalism, as exemplified by the 19th century Tübingen school, understood this perfectly, and…
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A man and a brother William Wilberforce was born on 24 August 1759 to Robert and Elizabeth Wilberforce. His family were wealthy merchants and he was able to attend Hull Grammar School starting in 1767. There he received a good education and, having remarkable elocution, was often made to stand on a table and read…
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