Applied Theology
In his annual Christmas day address, Pope Benedict XVI urged citizens of the earth to realize (and make the most of) the good soil on the earth. It was clear from his message that the Pontiff intended to promote peace and hope: "In this world, there is a good soil God has prepared," the pope... Continue Reading →
Violently (yet relatively quietly) Christians are dying out in Bible lands. In the place where Paul was converted and in the location of the church that first sent an offering to help needy Christians—in these ancient Bible lands, Christians are dying at an alarming rate. Actually, the more accurate way of saying it is... 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 →
Andy Williams famously sang of December as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” With the smooth, mellifluous tenor that also floated our emotions down “Moon River,” Andy Williams made December special, calling friends and family to unite around the gift-giving spirit ushered in originally by God Himself. Nowadays, Williams has passed on, and God... Continue Reading →
I have been thinking through the section of my upcoming book on Christian persecution, and I am cataloging the different reasons which might explain why Christians in America are not suffering persecution. Here's the deal. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:12, do not be deceived, anyone who attempts to live a godly life in... Continue Reading →
I know Thanksgiving is over, and now it is Christmas. So, I am a little late saying, 'Thank-you." But I will make it up by offering you a present. The present probably won't be ready by Christmas, but you have my word that you will get it. I am in the process of publishing two... 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 am still sad from the November elections because of the damage Obamacare does to human life and to the fabric of our English: Hobby Lobby store in Stow, Ohio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)republic. I have listed below a letter from David Green, the founder of Hobby Lobby concerning why he had to file a lawsuit... 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 →
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 →
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 →
Thank you, Representative Frank Wolf. A long-time advocate for religious freedom, Representative Wolf (R- VA) is now crying out for Christians in America to advocate on behalf of suffering Christians around the world. The slaughter of thousands of Christians in Syria at the hands of Sunni Muslims and the killing of thousands more Coptic Christians... Continue Reading →
Christians are not the only courageous people in the world. Here on my blog and at our ministry to the persecuted church (Project 13:3), we often highlight cases of Christian courage, telling the stories of those unwilling to yield their faith in Christ to the threats of police, parents, and employers. Such stories of... Continue Reading →
The targeted killing of Christians continues in Nigeria. As we have seen before, Boko Haram is well financed and likely well connected. They are continuing to carry out attacks on a routine basis. This past week, they attacked St. Rita Church in Kaduna state by driving an SUV loaded with explosives through a wall of... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 