Applied Theology
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 →
I have been reading recently about the upcoming challenges to Obamacare in the Supreme Court. Liberty University has re-filed a case at the direction of the Supreme Court on the basis of Christian liberty. What exactly can the government compel a religious organization to do? That is the question before the court. Church-state relations typically... 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 →
If what has been said already about Israel is true, then a question arises, “What about the nation of Israel today?” In this final part (of a three-part series), we’ll look at what the Bible says about Israel as an ethnic/national people. The key text for this discussion is Romans 11. The question we are... Continue Reading →
Here is a post from a fine young man who is fighting for joy in the face of death. I thank God for him and for the way the Lord is breaking his heart and healing it at the same time.
This has been a rough year for me, and in the days leading up to Thanksgiving Day, I’ve been contemplating what exactly I am thankful for. As some of you may know, my fiancé passed away February 5, and this whole year I’ve been struggling to find things for which I can be thankful. But over
the course of this past week, and my Bible study yesterday morning, I believe I’ve found what I’m thankful for.
In Ephesians 1 verses 15 through 19, Paul goes through how he prays for the church at Ephesus. I’m not sure why this text struck me in this way; I’ve read it so many times before. But it did strike me differently. Here is the full text (HCSB):
This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for…
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Happy Thanksgiving! We set aside today to remember Him to whom all thanks is due. Thanksgiving was instituted by proclamation of the President of the United States--George Washington--on October 3, 1789. You do not need for me to explain it to you because you can read it for yourself below. As you can see, the... Continue Reading →
Earlier, Acts 13:32-39 was quoted, but not in its entirety. When the complete quote is included, we see that the early church proclaimed more than the fact that Christ is the fulfillment of Israel, He is the realization of the Son of God. As such, Christ is also the fulfillment of the kingdom. So, Acts... Continue Reading →
I honestly dislike controversy. I try to avoid it. But the things which matter most to me are always on collision course with the things that others decide are too “controversial” to speak about in polite company. Marriage, families, protecting babies, and the freedom of religion—all these are important realities which rile abortion supporters and... Continue Reading →
If you own a copy of the Bible in English, you should be thankful for a man named William Tyndale. William Tyndale fought both the government and the established church to give the plowman his own copy of God's Word. Tyndale held the courage of his convictions firm to the end, translating the New Testament... Continue Reading →
What happens when a theologian crosses paths with an economist? It sounds like a bad joke. But the question is pertinent, considering that a new book is on the horizon which combines clear theology with sound economic principles. One of the benefits of attending ETS in Milwaukee was hearing Wayne Grudem defend this thesis: "God... Continue Reading →
On behalf of Project 13:3 and on behalf of the persecuted church around the world, I delivered an address this afternoon at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. This year, the meeting is being held in Milwaukee, WI. The paper I delivered was titled "Bonhoeffer, the Bible, and Christian Persecution: Unraveling the... Continue Reading →
As the founder of a ministry to the persecuted church, I am well aware of the serious degree to which Christians are suffering from North Korea around the globe and back to Malaysia. In Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, Christians are routinely beaten, imprisoned, or killed because their faith in Jesus Christ cannot stay... Continue Reading →
Danger? Suffering? Isn’t that what Jesus said would follow those who follow Him? In the fall of 1895, Alphonso Argento made his way from his native Sicily to London, where he was scheduled to undergo extensive training for China Inland Mission. Argento had been burdened for China four years earlier, when he committed his life... Continue Reading →
For 11 years, Cedar Grove Baptist Church has been working to get Christians together on One Night for the World. Sunday night, November 11, is the one night we have set aside this year to pray for persecuted Christians. We will be praying for Christians in Nigeria. The entire event will be streamed live at... Continue Reading →
As a child, I believed in Santa. As my age rose into the higher single digits, I began to realize that something wasn’t adding up with the Santa Claus story. I don’t remember my age, but it was definitely before age 10, when I realized that Santa had some parental help. Here is how it... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 