Christians and the Government

As I mentioned last time, my recent article on the various translations of the Bible led to some follow-up questions. This one, though, has less to do with translating Scripture and more to do with Christian political philosophy. A translation issue just happens to be the impetus of it.

The Proper Use of Paraphrases

The article I posted a few weeks ago regarding the different English translations of the Bible generated a few follow-up questions. I feel they are worth exploring in their own entries, so for today, I’ll be discussing the issue of paraphrases. To add to it, I will also give an explanation of the two camps of translation style.

A Deeper Hope

One of the things I’ve emphasized here at Quest Forums has been the necessity of understanding the context of biblical passages. It can be very easy to take a verse or phrase and put it to use for our own purposes rather than grasping the meaning that is actually intended. That is a quick path to bad theology. If we read something into a quote, ignore the rest of its text, and then allow our opinions to ossify, then error will be inevitable and it can be costly.

Naming Names: Demonic Identification and Spiritual Warfare

It’s nothing new, but there is a troubling trend in certain corners of Christianity that I feel is worth calling attention to. Many people have a fixation on the demonic and the idea that every negative aspect of life is the result of various spirits being present to impose curses. They teach that it is possible to learn the names of these demons and their curses, and that once you know them you can invoke God’s power specifically against them in order to exorcise them out of your life.

A Sign of Trouble

Earlier this year, I did a post inspired by a church marquee that I passed while driving. I was critical of it, not because it was entirely wrong, but because the message was a bit careless. I’ll say now what I said then, it is difficult to make a polished theological point in such a small space. Churches do have a responsibility to try, though. It is a dangerous game to play fast and loose with the truths of God.

Signs of Sincerity in American Christianity

While finishing up the study of Mark over the last few weeks, I started to think about an issue with which many Christians occasionally “struggle.” I put “struggle” in scare quotes because we often look at this particular issue as a 1st-World Problem. That is, something relatively harmless that many other people would love to consider one of the worst things in their life. Still, it has a tendency to cause doubt and it is at least worth discussing.

Who Is Our King?: American Christians and Donald Trump

I know this is likely to anger some people, and I am not exactly striking while the iron is hot, so I will try to keep it brief. But I just want to ask a couple of questions. Back on August 21, Donald Trump tweeted a quote from radio host Wayne Allyn Root. Root, speaking of Trump, had said, “The Jewish people in Israel love him like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God.”

Dealing with Depression

Someone asked a little while ago whether I had written anything for people struggling with depression, or whether I could do so now. While thinking about it, I realized this was a question that would inevitably have me come up short. Depression, while experienced by so many people, is an intensely personal issue. I do not think it is possible to speak of it generally enough to be helpful to people going through it. It requires individual intervention. And of course, I cannot use one of these articles to spell out answers to a particular person.

Iron Sharpens Iron Ep. 2: Is Genesis Reliable?

I'm pleased to present the second video in my series with DJ Allan of Homegrown Ministries. This time around, we discuss what the Bible has to say about the creation of the universe and the history of the world, whether it is true, and why it matters. Thanks for checking it out!