Last time, I tried to show that Reformed evangelism is simply biblical evangelism: It emanates from the church, is not necessarily a “pastoronly” job—since the Scriptures identify evangelism as a spiritual gift that’s correlative with but that can also be distinct from the pastor-teacher role—and its power is not in the evangelist, his methods, gimmicks, […]
Evangelism—it’s important. In fact, it’s to be part of the warp and woof of any healthy church. As Reformed Christians, we’re right to ask if there’s a distinctly Reformed way to evangelize. The answer is yes, although that doesn’t make it more complicated or burdensome, but less so. What makes Reformed evangelism uniquely Reformed is […]
Their World, by Abigail Van der Velde. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2017. 268 pages. $10.00 (and various prices online). Lately, it seems impossible for me to escape: whether I open my business LinkedIn page, pick up a newspaper, or stick around long enough to watch a television commercial, there’s now always a celebration of women in […]
“Do not swear,” James tells his readers (Jas. 5:12, English Standard Version). He doesn’t mean here using words that have to do with the most private behavior of human beings—the apostle Paul covers that—but with taking spurious oaths. Today, we may hear someone say, “I swear on my mother’s grave.” That comes short of swearing […]
I last considered how James exhorts his audience to be patient (Jas. 5:7). What he tells them applies to us, particularly when we’re under pressure, as these early Christians were. That’s the time not to panic, grow angry or aggrieved, or worry, but to turn to the Lord, read and meditate on his Word, pray, […]
Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition: A Systematic Introduction By Craig G. Bartholomew. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, $40.00, 365 pages. Reviewed by: Mr. Gerry Wisz For most reading Christians, whether Reformed or not, Abraham Kuyper and his influence are the stuff of bygone days, when it was still possible to gain a public hearing as […]
Recently reading a primer on biblical studies, I’m reminded of the necessity for biblical scholarship, knowledge of original Hebrew, Greek and maybe even Aramaic, the need to read Scripture contextually to appreciate its nuances over and against pulling verses out of context for special occasions, and an appreciation for Old and New Testament continuity. Most […]
James, as we’ve seen, is interested in calling out non-Christian behavior among Christians, not because he’s a moralist but because he wants to show them that what they’re doing and how they’re acting are not in keeping with what and who they are professing. There’s a lot of animosity in the world, especially lately it […]
Little things mean a lot. Have you been taught that by your parents? I hope you have. Little things like an encouraging word, an offering of congratulations, stepping out to help someone without being asked or noticed. If a family practices this, it’s generally a happy family. The same can be said of a neighborhood, […]
Horrifyingly, some fifty-seven million babies were aborted in their mothers’ wombs since the passage of Roe v. Wade forty-four years ago. There’s much that can be said of abortion—the thinking that justifies it, how it has become a stock response among many, and the hardening of society’s collective conscience because of this. A voice for […]