Author: Daniel Tomberlin

BS, MDiv, DMin. Ordained bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN); pastor for 37 years; Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Cleveland TN).
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Loving God Fearfully

Recently, in prayer I again realized that God’s love for me (and you) is far greater than my love can possibly be for God. God loves in perfection. God’s love is a gracious choice towards humanity, not based in need. My love for God is imperfect, based in my weakness and need. Rather than selfless love, my love for God is selfish. I NEED GOD more than I want God. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

A friend recently asked, “How do we fear the same One who loves us unconditionally?” I pondered, “Do I fear God?” I quickly came to the realization that I do indeed fear God; that even after years of devotion and study there remains a mystery, an awesome quality about God that provokes wonder and fear.

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Christian Conscience in a Secular Culture

In a blog several conservative Christians were taken to task for supporting Hobby Lobby’s ongoing battle against provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that violate religious conscience, specifically issues dealing with contraception and abortion. Many Christians will be forced to violate their personal and institutional consciences by being coerced to participate in the ACA. The blogger suggested that these conservative Christians are misguided in their efforts, misusing Scripture, and that “it is impossible to avoid enabling sin.” He then offers several examples of how Christians inadvertently enable sinfulness. If it is true that it is impossible to avoid enabling sin, then it must be assumed that Christians should not attempt to exercise conscience or resist evil.

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What Football Taught Me about the Mission of the Church

Several years ago I was visited by my friend, Nikolay, who is a pastor in Bulgaria. I wanted him to experience life in the American south, which includes Friday night high school football. This was the first time Nikolay had attended an American football game. As the game progressed I noticed that Nikolay seemed to be somewhat unimpressed, even uninterested. I asked, “What do you think of American football?” He replied, “I guess I could enjoy it if I understood what was happening.”

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Doubt, Faith, and the Grace of God

In my research and writing on Pentecostal sacramentality I have come to appreciate the tension between ex opere operate and ex opere operantis. Please bear with me. The classic Catholic understanding of sacraments is that they convey God’s grace ex opere operate, that is, by virtue of the act. The faith of the recipient is not required. As long as the sacrament is properly administered and grace is not resisted, grace is conveyed. The classic Protestant understanding of sacraments is ex opere operantis, that is, by virtue of the work. Grace is conveyed because of the faith of the recipient and/or the celebrant.

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Judged or Redeemed

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil (John 3:16-19).

 “When we go to Christ’s manger something happens… We are judged or redeemed.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Like it or not, judgment is essential to the Christmas message. Christmas is a celebration of the Incarnation of the eternally begotten Son of God. Yes, God sent the Son… that the world might be saved!  That begs the question, “Saved from what, from whom?” John the evangelist answers, “He who does not believe has been judged already.” Why? “…because men loved the darkness… for their deeds were evil” (John 3:18-19).

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Eros, Mammon, and the Light of the World

Christ has called His church to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). “Into all the world” includes culture. Culture is language, music, food, architecture, politics, morality, and religion. In fact, culture is the habitation of the gods. Music, architecture, and politics reflect the gods of any given culture.

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