A good friend was recently exploring school options for his daughter. He was drawn to a school which “embrace[s] and adopt[s] the essential truths of orthodox Christianity as articulated in the system of doctrine expressed in the creeds of the Protestant Reformation, including the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and the Heidelberg Catechism.” He then asked if this contradicted anything he believed “as a Baptist.” The […]
Is tithing (i.e. giving 10% of one’s income) biblically mandated for the Christian? Do texts like Malachi 3.10 prescribe the tithe as an ongoing requirement of God’s people in all places at all times? Parts 1 and 2 suggest the larger context of Malachi does not enforce a Christian tithe but prepares us for a curse-reversing Savior. Before offering specific principles about Christian giving we should consider the purpose of […]
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9.7). Part 1 suggested Malachi 3.10 is about far more than instituting a Christian tithe. Rather it was part of Malachi’s whole message to an apostate Israel. Many preachers and churches lift Malachi 3.8-12 out of the context, overlay it on the church and impose […]
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows” (Mal 3.10). Malachi 3.10 is often the go-to text to jump start a church’s capital campaign or boost sluggish giving. When in […]
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2.3-4). H.W.J.D.? How would Jesus drive? Obviously, there were no cars in first-century Palestine so the question is anachronistic. But there was no internet, birth control, IEDs or aircraft, either. And the church […]
“Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them” (Lk 11.48). Jesus had lunch with a Pharisee one day (Lk 11.37). Not only did Jesus not wash his hands before the meal, he proceeded to take his host to the cosmic woodshed. Between bites of legumes Jesus exposed the wrank hypocrisy of the Pharisees. A Mosaic lawyer took issue with […]
“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (Lk 8.18). Most of us have seen the 3-D that hides a picture within a picture. To see the embedded image you stand three feet away, close one eye and squint. Some see the hidden picture right away […]
Evangelism is the declaration of good news. “Evangel” was not originally a Christian word but there is certainly no better word to describe what Christians have to declare. A fleet-footed messenger would return from the battle lines to declare the good news of victory. Christians declare the triumph of Jesus over sin, death and hell. Evangelism has become quite an industry. There are resources, tools, tracts, books, pamphlets and bracelets […]
Every Saturday The Commercial Appeal in Memphis publishes a “Faith in Memphis” section with a “Faith in Memphis Panel.” The editor asks local religious leaders to respond to a current issue in the news. That issue is usually about atonement when Yom Kippur rolls around each year. Yom Kippur is the Jewish “day of atonement” and the holiest day of the Jewish year (Lev 23.27-28). Since the holy day began […]
I will never forget a life-altering lesson learned fifteen years ago from my New Testament professor at Southern Seminary (long live Mother Southern). Dr. Mark Seifrid began each class with prayer. But not just any prayer. It was prayer remarkably different from the rote, I-know-exactly-what-this-deacon-is-going-to-pray-before-the-offering sort of prayers. They were far different than the “bless the gift and the giver for the nourishment of our bodies” variety. Dr. Seifrid’s prayers […]