Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
A few years ago, a young man announced to his family, “I’m gay, I’m not broke, so don’t try to fix me.” I replied, “Sir, we’re all broke and we all need to be fixed.” When the Bible tells us of the sexual dysfunction of the heroes of the Faith, there is no effort to normalize, or affirm, their sinfulness. Instead, the sacred text is careful to tell us of the consequences of their disordered behavior.
Continue reading “A Conversation about Sex – Part 3: The Holiness Code”
In the previous blog we discussed the goodness of sex as ordered in a creation not corrupted by sin. However, with the sinfulness of the first humans, the created order was corrupted.
Continue reading “A Conversation about Sex – Part 2: How Original Sin Disordered Sex”
I prepared a series of brief conversations on “A Christian Perspective on Human Sexuality.” These are in production for video presentation in the Church of God Division of Education DOE1 project. I am presenting the manuscripts here. This is part 1 of 9.
The sexual revolution is seeking to redefine humanity in ways in which sexual functions and gender roles are not fixed, but fluid, even changing from day to day. The purpose of this conversation is twofold: first, we must be willing and able to disciple the Christian community; and second, we must engage this conversation outside the Christian community as a public witness.
Continue reading “Let’s Begin a Conversation about Sex”
There are some remarkably profound questions in the Bible. These questions are provocative and the correct answers are essential to the Christian faith. The most significant question in the Bible was asked by Jesus of his disciples:
Who do people say the Son of Man is? (Matthew 16:13).
Continue reading “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
At first glance it would seem that former President Trump and Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock would have little in common, especially when it comes to politics and religion. In fact, it is in the (mis)practice of religion where they share a common perspective. That is, religious faith serves their politics. Both of them have corrupted the gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of their political agendas. And, both of them have many followers who join in the political idolatry.
Continue reading “What Do Donald Trump and Raphael Warnock have in Common?”
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).
Jesus had a singular purpose in life and that was to accomplish the will of Father (John 5:30; 6:38). The will of the Father is “that the world might be saved” through Christ (John 3:17). The death of Christ on the cross was essential to God’s redemptive plan.
For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him… He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Col 1:19–22).
The last words of Jesus on the cross were an acclamation of victory. With his final breath Jesus affirmed that he had accomplished the will of God. But how can death on the cross be victorious? Is there nothing more? Is the redemption work of God really finished? In fact, there is more and it’s the more that makes the cross victorious.
Continue reading “Is it Finished?”