Applied Theology
When a honey bee gets angry, it stings. After the sting, it dies. Literally, the bee gives its life in defense of its anger seeking revenge. Our anger is often like that of the bee. It is volatile and deadly. And, like the bee, we are able to inflict only a temporary pain to the... Continue Reading →
Billy Joel famously confessed in song, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints The sinners are much more fun—only the good die young!” Overlooking his obvious false dichotomy between saints and fun and his full-throttled embrace of sin, we can give Joel credit for seeing something that many sinners and saints equally... Continue Reading →
Brooke Parks at Persecutionblog asks an excellent question: Is Christian Persecution a Social Justice Issue? I believe that it is. At least, I believe that persecution is a justice issue. Parks is correct to note the limits of social justice. Parks points out that the goal of ministry to the persecuted is not to remove... 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 →
My takeaway from the 62nd annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Atlanta, GA, is that N.T. Wright is at once the most winsome, witty, and incorrigible academic I have yet seen. His extraordinary intellect and persuasive abilities cause him to be a formidable foe indeed for any who wish to counter his positions... Continue Reading →
There is an occasion of persecution against Christians prevalent in the news right now in the U. K. The case of Dale McAlpine in Great Britain is getting a lot of press (as it should). The case is clearly one of persecution. Mr. McAlpine was neither abusive nor offensive in his actions. The offense clearly... Continue Reading →
The newest movie by Will Smith, 7 Pounds, not unlike I Am Legend, deals substantively with the human dilemma. Specifically, Smith portrays a man who has unexpectedly come face with face with the frailty of the human condition. Death comes suddenly, and he is unprepared for its arrival. As a result, Smith (not his name... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 