Applied Theology
In story after story, pastors are being targeted for persecution. One recent story told of pastors in Asia who were chained to metal poles and beaten so they would renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. I know at least one of the pastors in the story remained faithful. I hope they all did. But the... Continue Reading →
On December 28, 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a life-wrecking edict to stop Russian adoptions. The story below is my attempt to capture the agony and offer some hope. A bag of Sun Chips broke my heart. I saw the half-empty bag with its twisted, crumpled top dangling gingerly over the side of the... Continue Reading →
This Sunday, I will finish a 6 week series on the New Testament concept of the church. When Christ sought to establish the instrument through which He would sustain His redemptive work to its completion, He founded the church, called both His body and His bride. Christ's church must accomplish Christ's purposes and should honor... Continue Reading →
To my post Did God Cause Kids to Die in Connecticut, some objected that it did not go far enough. Some believed that it was necessary to say that God actually caused the school shooting for the purpose of judging Americans for kicking God out of our schools. Yesterday, I demonstrated why that position is... Continue Reading →
Thank you for the responses to the post, Did God Cause the Connecticut Shootings. The responses came mostly through Facebook and other media. Some thought the article didn’t go far enough. Others thought it went too far. So, let’s consider the objections in these two directions. First we will consider the objection which says my... Continue Reading →
A brother in Christ recently asked, “Did God cause the Connecticut school shootings?” I am attempting to answer that question with this blog post because I imagine that question—or something similar to it—is on the minds of a lot of Christians. So, let me begin by clarifying some language. Clearly, God did not cause the... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, twenty kindergarten children were mercilessly murdered by an evil young man. Some have shouted, “Where is God?” in the face of this utterly unspeakable tragedy. A friend of mine posted a quick reply to the cynical inquisition: “Where is God? He was kicked out of schools in America years ago.” There is truth... Continue Reading →
My friend Denny Burk asked an incredibly insightful question: Why don’t we call it the royal fetus? The remark, of course, was in reference to Prince William and his lovely bride Kate Middleton, who are—as we used to say—“with child.” They are expecting. But what are they expecting? Well, they are not expecting... Continue Reading →
A costly mistake by the goalie at the end of their game against El Salvador cost the U.S. men’s soccer team the opportunity to play in the London Olympics. Because the Olympic team is made up of men under the age of 23, most of those on the team will never have an opportunity to... Continue Reading →
I own a coffee roaster and a small coffee roasting business. The secret to roasting great coffee is controlling the flame. The roaster uses real fire to heat a turning and churning stainless steel drum. As the drum turns and churns the coffee beans, the heat from the flames begins to warm the beans; then... Continue Reading →
The Holy Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, operating in complete unity of will and purpose (though 3 distinct, divine persons)--is unique to Christian theology. The Trinity belongs to no other religion, and, thus, no other religion can explain the complexities of the universe. The universe is filled with individual, particular realities which must also... Continue Reading →
I hear a common refrain from those who favor abortion. It usually goes something like, "The Bible is silent on abortion," or "the Bible never condemns abortion." Is this true? Is it true that the Bible does not speak to abortion? On the surface it appears true that the bible does not condemn abortion. There... Continue Reading →
Who hasn't heard the horror stories of coat hangers, toilets, and back-alley butchers? One of the major arguments in favor of passing Roe in 1973 was the promise that women would no longer be butchered or mutilated in the process of ridding their bodies of unwanted babies. Now, after Roe, all abortions would supposedly be... Continue Reading →
I remember the first time I was confronted with a serious pacifist. I was in seminary, and a certain professor—who is a well-known and well-respected scholar—challenged us in class and afterward to re-think the violence of our Christian past and adopt a peaceful future. His argument was compelling. I remember when challenged, he... Continue Reading →
No Scripture is quoted more often than the proverbial, “judge not” passage of Matthew 7:1. Whatever its iteration, this statement appears welcome in every college classroom and any political conversation. It’s probably the only Bible verse with universal appeal. The sayings, “We mustn’t judge” or “I try not to judge others,” are threatening to overtake... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 