A modern reality of Christianity is the presence of denominations. Around the world, churches bear the names of historical figures and movements which shaped the theology and practice of that particular church. In the past number of years, the tide of Christian opinion has been turning against denominationalism. Non-denominational and independent churches are the norm in many cities. As Christians who are to desire unity (1 Peter 3:8), how should we understand and respond to this situation?
First, we need to admit that denominations often create unnecessary divisions between Christians. But all division is not troublesome. Among the early church, …
In the Western world, this question is usually viewed as irrelevant, but across the rest of the world, believers occasionally face situations where this is a crucial issue. Should polygamy be preached against? Should converts be encouraged to give up their polygamous family structures? In light of these sensitive situations, let us carefully approach the Bible concerning polygamy itself and broader marital teachings.
The Genesis creation narrative depicts an ideal world. Following God’s intricate and extensive creative process, the first human, Adam, was left in a state of loneliness (Genesis 2:18). To remedy this predicament, God fashioned the first woman, …
As a system of thought, (Classical) Dispensationalism was formalized within the past two hundred years. Led by the notable theologians Darby and Scofield, the dispensational hermeneutic is a comprehensive system which deeply affects and shapes how one understands the Scriptures.
While the word “dispensation” strictly refers to an era or an age, the word has a richer meaning in dispensational thought. A dispensation is defined as a distinct economy of God. In Classical Dispensationalism, the number of distinguished ages is seven. In recent decades, many dispensationalists have opted for a more “progressive” approach, wherein the number of ages is fewer …
Sadly, some believers sincerely question whether or not viewing pornography is wrong at all. But the Scriptures are blunt (Matthew 5:28; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 John 2:16; Philippians 4:8; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6). God’s standard is purity of heart, for such shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
The only way to find freedom from sexual bondage is by utilizing the resources that God has given us—the Word and the Church. We believe that although one can fall into the trap of pornography without any help, we cannot come out of this unclean practice without help from others. People who minister …
Fasting is only biblically correlated with abstinence from food, but there is no doubt that fasting can be practiced more broadly. The core issue then becomes, “Does a lack of direct biblical reference prohibit us from fasting from other pursuits and activities?” Perhaps we can gain some insight into this by considering the general principle of giving. Throughout Scripture, we find examples of giving money, food, animals, and land. Should this prohibit us from giving other things? Christian lawyers and doctors often give time and free health care to needy families. It’s not uncommon for people to give away cars, …
In 1 Timothy 2:15, Paul mentions that women will be saved through childbearing. Confusion and incredulousness is a common response to this baffling verse. But the meaning of this statement is couched in the story of Adam and Eve (v13-14) and the roles of men and women within the church. Among several different interpretations, the most likely is that the woman is saved from feeling inferior by her role in the home.
Paul has just emphasized that women should not teach men nor exercise authority over them, so naturally the question arises: what contribution can women make within the larger …
For obvious reasons, we must tread carefully here, for we are aware that some struggle with obesity because of genetics, disease, medication, or other factors. (It is also possible that women who have been abused might deliberately put on weight, hoping that this will lessen the overtures of lecherous men.) We address this topic not to give a final word on this sensitive issue but with the hope that you might be encouraged and strengthened. We should be accepting of everyone’s appearance and believe that the present emphasis on beauty as seen on television is a curse, especially for young …
Increasingly, we hear stories of people—especially from Muslims—who have dreams about Jesus which eventually led them to become Christians. We should not doubt such reports, which are numerous, coming from many different countries and told to many different Christian workers and missionaries.
We do not believe that God bypasses either His Word or the good news of the Gospel in the conversion of sinners. However, dreams may lead them to consider and pursue the Good News about Christ. Think of it this way: the star which the wise men from the East saw did not lead them to Bethlehem, but …
Cultural context clouds the issue of a single woman’s role. In the Bible, communal and family solidarity was a stronger social force. Single and married sons would continue to live with their parents’ families, and women would often live with their family until they were married (the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24 is one example). Children of living parents would serve the family in business and familial roles. But these particular patterns were rooted in that culture. Just because a particular behavior is described in Scripture does not necessarily mean that God condones or prefers it. Thus, …
Sin is any action, attitude, or thought which is contrary to the character and command of God (1 John 3:4). As temptation constantly floods our senses, we intentionally and unintentionally are drawn toward it, and often sin. Sin’s influence must not be underestimated, for the Holy Spirit is grieved because of our sin (Ephesians 4:30).
While sin is difficult to categorize, we can think of sin in a threefold sense: sins of commission (sins of what we do), sins of omission (sins of what we don’t do), and sins of disposition (sins of how we do something). Sins of commission …
