Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
We are in the middle of campmeeting season and anticipating the general assembly. I’ve attended two camp meetings, and I’ve been reading several post in anticipation of debating the agenda. What do they all have in common? I’ve heard it over and over again. I believe what the Bible says! Really?
Continue reading “Women? It’s About How to Read the Bible”
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
In a previous essay I wrote,
The Bible is the Divine/human Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, communicated through and to humans. Just as Jesus Christ is the incarnate, fully-divine/ fully-human Son of God who was tempted in all ways but remains sinless; likewise, the Bible is the inscripturated fully-divine/fully-human book of God that reveals the righteousness of God and the sinfulness of humanity with infallibility.
Let’s flesh this out a bit.
Continue reading “The Corruption of Inspired Scripture”
This is the first statement of the Church of God Declaration of Faith. Earlier creeds began with a statement about God: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth”. But like many creeds of the early twentieth century, the Declaration of Faith first establishes the Holy Scripture as the foundation of all theological reflection.
Continue reading “We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible”
Centuries before the modern feminist movement, Christian theologians used feminine imagery to talk about God. It’s a mistake to assume that feminine references to God are a capitulation to radical feminism. Even the divinely inspired scriptures use feminine imagery in reference to God.
Continue reading “Sometimes Feminine Imagery is Used to Talk about God”
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
The ancient theologian who first wrote these divinely inspired words made no attempt to explain the presence of God. From this simple sentence we can deduce two things about God. First, God exists outside of time, space and matter. Second, God created time, space, and matter. God is the uncreated Creator.
Continue reading “How Should We Talk About God?”
Believing the in the inspiration and veracity of the inspired Scriptures does not mean that we suppress reason or scientific discovery. All truth is God’s truth. With that said, I’m not a scientist. I have a layman’s understanding of physics and evolutionary theory. I am a student of the Sacred Scriptures.
Continue reading “Reading Genesis 1 as Theology”
What is truth? Is there truth? Or, are there many truths? Postmodernism asserts that there is no single truth that should command the attention of humanity. Instead, humanity consists of various tribes, each with its on tribal story, and each story is an equally valid truth. But then again, maybe not. If one’s tribe has been oppressed, its story is given priority.
Continue reading “Postmodern Stories Need to be Judged by God’s Truth”