Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me. In 2005, God blessed our family with our third child, our second daughter, whom we named Bethany. As soon as Bethany was born, we knew there was something different about her. Unlike her two older siblings, who were born…
Christian, what is it that we believe? While Creeds like the Nicene and Apostle’s have been fundamental pieces of Christian liturgy and life, the American Church is highly unattached to these classic statements. From this creedal phobia has arisen the popular “No Creed, but Christ” slogan. Such slogan, of course,…
Revisiting William Cavanaugh’s devastating 2009 The Myth of Religious Violence . The myth of Cavanaugh’s title is a well-known one. According to the myth, religion is a distinct sphere of human life and practice from the rest of human social life, a universal impulse in human beings, and is dogmatic,…
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so…
An octave is a repetition, a repetition with a difference. It’s not the first note played again , but the first note played at a higher pitch. Octaves have always marked new beginnings. Hebrew boys were circumcised on the eighth day. Firstborn sheep were dedicated to Yahweh on the eighth…
We say Jesus’ resurrection is good news. It wasn’t good news for the disciples on the first Easter. More like perplexing, bewildering news. For others, it wasn’t perplexing, and it certainly wasn’t good. It was plain old bad news. Early in Luke’s gospel, Herod is terrified that Jesus might be…
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The sixth of seven speeches about the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11) is about a new Adam, Bezalel, and his helper, Oholiab. Bezalel, son of “My Light” (Uri) of the royal tribe of Judah, is the first man in Scripture to be filled with the Spirit (Exodus 31:3; cf. Genesis 41:38; Exodus…
The storming of the Capitol on January 6 was terrible, doubtless horrifying for those inside, who had no idea how much danger they might be in. Those who trespassed and vandalized offices should be prosecuted. It was a lawless and disgraceful display of mob stupidity. It could have been much,…
I’m tempted to answer Jordan Haddad’s good-naturedly critical response to my article on Alabama football by pointing to Saturday’s scoreboard. Pointing to the score should quiet any doubts – if such exist – about Alabama’s Augustinian appreciation of the ends of football, though that gesture might reinforce Haddad’s worries about…
Exodus 30:34-38 has a fairly neat inclusio at the beginning and end: A. Yahweh said, v. 34 B. Four spices, equal parts, v. 34 C. Incense, v. 35 D. Holy, v. 35 . . . D’. Most holy, v. 36 C’. Incense, v. 37 B’. Not in same measure, v.…
There are different forms of the life of the Spirit. The Spirit gives Bezalel and Oholiab artistic skill to make the furnishings of the tabernacle. The Spirit gives Solomon wisdom to rule and equips the Servant with counsel, might, and a zeal to liberate and to do justice. The Spirit…
Mary, and Mary alone , accompanies Jesus through His entire life. She conceives Jesus when the Spirit overshadows her, and she gives birth in Bethlehem. With Joseph, she escapes to the safe haven of Egypt. She cares for Jesus when they return to Nazareth. Mary is with Jesus through His…
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