Every pastor, student, and Christian should read Grant Macaskill’s Living in Union with Christ. Macaskill lucidly argues for the importance of being in Christ for the Christian life. Any account, he avers, that does not begin with “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me” (Gal 2:20) amounts to a species of legalism because it assumes that “I” (the agent) have accomplished something apart from Christ. [Read more…] about How Important Is Union with Christ for Living the Christian Life? Answer: It Is Everything (review of Macaskill’s “Living in Union with Christ”)
Life
COVID-19 Has Shown Our Wisdom Deficit
I count myself among those who lack knowledge about human biology and epidemiology. I know little about it, and I know only slightly more about statistical analysis of large scale data.
I share this deficiency with many. Yet that has not stopped some from making conclusive judgments about both human viruses and the emerging data surrounding the virus.
Nevertheless, it is not good to cite data without rightly interpreting it *AND* using that data for some good end (informing, helping, etc.). [Read more…] about COVID-19 Has Shown Our Wisdom Deficit
Can We Trust Scientific Experts?
On April 6th of this year, WHO recommended that healthy people not wear masks. On June 5th, they recommended that everyone wear masks if transmission of the coronavirus is widespread. Recently, Anders Tegnel, the chief epidemiologist in Sweden downplayed the importance of masks (although he admits that they can help). On this issue of great import, science seems to say one thing, then another.
So can we trust science? [Read more…] about Can We Trust Scientific Experts?
How Can the Gospel of John Encourage Us Today?
One of my pastors Jamie Strickland recently talked with me about the Gospel of John. We tried to focus on ways that the Gospel could help and encourage us during this current pandemic, although the discussion could really apply to any situation.
If that interests you, then you can watch the embedded Vimeo video here:
Should Christians Be Nice?
Every now and again, I see a Christian make the argument that we do not need to be nice if we are Christians. Jesus turned over tables. Paul told his opponents to mutilate themselves. And therefore, boldness without the need for niceness must lead the way.
In isolation, the argument seems to make sense. But once we start to think about what that means and compare it to the total message of Scripture, we soon realize that the argument falls to pieces. And further, the argument (when acted upon) makes Christians unidentifiable to the world. And in a very real sense, harshness (an opposite of niceness) takes the Lord’s name in vain.
Why do I make such a strong and perhaps-unnice-statement? Am I a living contradiction? Well, I admit that I used strong language to make a rhetorical point, which I hope becomes clear later on. For now, let’s talk about being nice. [Read more…] about Should Christians Be Nice?
My Age And My Mind: Why Hope Springs from Despair
I have been alive for 32 years. Which itself is a weird thing to think about. One year marks the earth’s orbit around the sun during which time is spun for about 365 days. A day spans 24 units of the earth’s spin. All that to say, time has no real existence beyond measuring certain celestial movements.
Why should I define my life and growth on the basis of the movement of planets and stars? Why do they get to tell me I am 32 of something? I am here on earth, existing, and the planet and star (the Sun) I am on and orbit define something essential to who I am.
But do they really? Well, they do because I relate my growth, my change to a set of consistent rotations of the earth, whether it is the earth’s spin or its orbit of the sun. [Read more…] about My Age And My Mind: Why Hope Springs from Despair