Applied Theology
In June of 1982, The Clash released (on Cassette) their only song to reach #1, the punk rock classic, “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” The song was neither toward nor about anyone in particular. Its staying power rests on its ability to speak to so many situations in general. It even speaks (in... Continue Reading →
Basically, there are 2 kinds of persecution: Institutional and Incidental. In biblical terms, an institutional example of persecution can be found in the execution of James, the brother of John, in Acts 12. There, Herod used the power of the sword, which is rightly possessed by the government, in a manner that demonstrated how wrongly... Continue Reading →
Upon incurring trauma or injury, the human body unleashes a dizzying array of processes and chemical reactions for the purpose of sustaining life. Endowed with wisdom from God, our bodies are actually much smarter than we who inhabit them. When trauma strikes, our bodies unleash 1,500 chemical processes. In such trauma, our bodies produce Adrenaline... Continue Reading →
Hopefully, you will be attending an International Day of Prayer (IDOP) event for the persecuted church. I have been part of the IDOP movement for 13 years now, and it provides encouragement for me year after year. Specifically, I am always encouraged in two ways. First, I am encouraged by the joy of the persecuted.... Continue Reading →
As noted in the first part of this article, Christ taught His original followers that persecution would continue on account of Him (Mat 5:10-12). We have seen that the presence of Christ provokes persecution now just as it did when Christ walked the streets of Jerusalem (and was eventually nailed to a cross). What we... Continue Reading →
Few evangelicals would argue against the primacy of preaching Christ in Christian ministry. We evangelicals preach Christ. As we preach Christ, we do so with an expectation of benefit to our hearers. Through the preaching of the Word of Christ, the lost are saved. Paul tells us that this is in fact the way sinners... Continue Reading →
Have you ever sacrificed your time and your energy to invest in other people? You spend time with them, sharing with them what you have learned and building them up in God’s Word, only to have them go astray, turning away from what you have taught them. It hurts, doesn’t it? It seems like a... Continue Reading →
I was very encouraged at the recent California Southern Baptist Convention to hear pastors address the reality of Christian persecution in their sermons. Both Kevin Hsu and Mike Nolen mentioned the reality of persecution for Americans who obey Jesus Christ. As I have noted many times before, persecution is a concern for American Christians as much as... Continue Reading →
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 →
Recently, Nina Shea, was interviewed by Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review. Nina is the director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute. She is also co-author of a helpful book detailing the present state of persecution around the world: Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians. In the interview, Nina... Continue Reading →
A great man of God and a real hero for Christians in China, Pastor Samuel Lamb has departed this earth life to be with the Good Shepherd Himself. Pastor Lamb is now absent in the body, but present with the Lord. His life is an example to Christians of how to remain steadfast and faithful... Continue Reading →
One of the most enjoyable aspects of earning a Ph.D. is sitting through courses known as “colloquium.” Basically, a colloquium is a gathering of Ph.D.’s (and Ph.D. wanna-be’s) for the purpose of debating ideas and pushing one another to think more thoroughly on a given subject, whether the subject is a theological perspective on art... Continue Reading →
Several years ago, when I was first contemplating a Ph.D., I did what most judicious students would do. I visited different seminaries and universities and thought through all my options. On one of my visits, I ran across an older, seasoned sage of academic endeavors. Our conversation turned out to be most refreshing. ... Continue Reading →
You might remember the old western show Rawhide. Featuring the stalwart character of trail boss Gil Favor, this classic TV series launched the career of Clint Eastwood, who starred in the series as the upstart cowhand Rowdy Yates. In one episode, “Incident with an Executioner,” the crew is bedeviled by the presence of a black... Continue Reading →
Beyond the hollow bunnies and plastic grass, Easter is a celebration of victorious life in the resurrected Christ. Today is a holy day in the life of the Christian. This Friday which we too casually call “Good” is a day of remembering the atoning work of Christ on behalf of our sinful souls. It is... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 