Category Archives: Theology

The Roots of Christian Differences on Moral Issues

Posted on February 4, 2024 by salooper57

A wide variety of stances exists among self-professed Christians regarding the ethical and moral issues of our time, even though most of them Christians would agree that the Bible is an authoritative source for instruction on the virtuous life. How … Continue reading →

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From Caricatures to Hope: The Doctrine of Judgment

Posted on January 27, 2024 by salooper57

Judgment is the missing doctrine of the twenty-first century church. In the 1960s, TV shows and comedy skits would sometimes portray a deranged man with a long beard and a white robe declaring “The End Is Near,” or some other … Continue reading →

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Live Meaningfully in the Present by Learning from the Past

Posted on January 6, 2024 by salooper57

The biblical stories of saints and sinners are endlessly instructive for people wanting to live meaningful lives in the present, but there is a risk that we will miss what they have to teach us. The danger is that we … Continue reading →

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What’s the Big Deal About Christmas?

Posted on December 16, 2023 by salooper57

Americans love Christmas. They plan for it, spend money on it – this year the average consumer is expected to spend over $1500 – and gather with family and friends to celebrate it. But few Americans understand why Christmas is … Continue reading →

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He Has a Certain Way About Him

Posted on November 25, 2023 by salooper57

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible speaks about “the way of the Lord.” The biblical writers frequently urge people to walk in God’s ways. What does it mean that God has a way? The “way of the … Continue reading →

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Life’s Detours: What You Need to Know

Posted on November 18, 2023 by salooper57

A reasoned defense of God’s goodness and love in the face of suffering and evil is known as a theodicy. Examples of theodicy can be found in the works of philosophers like Leibniz, Hick, and Plantinga. I cannot hope to … Continue reading →

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The Only Animal that Asks Why

Posted on November 11, 2023 by salooper57

Some people approach life as if it were an Agatha Christie novel. They want to solve the mystery, explain everything the way Hercule Poirot does in the great “reveal” that happens at the end of each story. I once had … Continue reading →

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The Vacant House: A Horror Story Jesus Told

Posted on November 4, 2023 by salooper57

Jesus once told a story about an “impure spirit” that “comes out of a person” and “goes through arid places seeking rest” but does not find it. The spirit then says to itself, “I will return to the house I … Continue reading →

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How Great Is Our God (Romans 11:33-36)

Posted on October 29, 2023 by salooper57

Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever … Continue reading →

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The Christian Roots of Memento Mori Art

Posted on October 21, 2023 by salooper57

My wife and I are with friends in Germany this week. We stopped in Nuremberg, where we visited St. Siebold’s Church, which dates back to the beginning of the thirteenth century. St. Siebold’s was remodeled in the seventeenth century in … Continue reading →

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