Bible Q&A: Matthew the man
Once we accept the early church tradition that Matthew is responsible for the Gospel that bears his name, the questions remain: “who was he?” and “what do we know about him?” In Matthew 9:9-13, the Gospel of Matthew introduces us to a Jewish man who contracted with the Roman government to collect taxes from his own people on behalf of Rome. This man was not the kind of tax collector who went door-to-door collecting taxes; rather, he...
Bible Q&A: What are some ways to think about the Trinity?
The idea of the three-in-oneness of God has proved to be extremely difficult to understand. It is, to be sure, an exercise well worth the effort. Ultimately, the question of the Trinity is part of an even more significant question: Do you know whom you worship? The basic fabric out of which a doctrine of God can be woven can be reduced to the following seven statements. The first three confess the name of the Triune God: (1) The...
A biblical reminder during this election cycle
Imagine a situation in which a very prominent and influential person lies and deceives repeatedly to gain an advantage over a rival. Imagine also that this rival seems impulsive and very unstable, threatening retaliation for not being treated fairly. Does this sound familiar? Do you recognize this sad and discouraging story? If you were to open the Bible and read Genesis 27, you would see this very situation played out between two...
Eight reasons I believe in denominationalism
Chuck Lawless is the Dean and vice-president of Graduate Studies and Ministry Centers at Southeaster Seminary I’m a Southern Baptist. We’re hardly a perfect denomination, but I’m honored to be part of our team. I realize that my generation in general tends to be more denominationally loyal than younger generations, but I don’t think my age is a primary reason I’m part of a denomination. Instead, here’s why: 1. I know I’m not alone as...
First Person: Racism and the church
By David Hooks, Pastor, OKC, Bryant Ave., Member, BGCO Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee A wave of TV reports showing African-American young men dying in confrontations and arrests by law enforcement officers has raised the issue of racism to the forefront of our consciousness once again. Regardless of where we stand on each individual incident, we can agree that there have been too many, and too often. Now comes the Academy...
First person: Pursuing holiness
Let me ask you a question. What do you pursue every day in your life? The Scripture tells us in Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” I might ask, “What is the desire of your heart? What does it mean to be holy? Separation from sin. I Pet. 1:14, the word “holy” (hagios) means to be righteous, pure, sinless and godly, to perfect and complete and filled in every possible sense, to...
