Heresy and the Canon
Around 140 AD, a wealthy shipowner named Marcion arrived in Rome. He was originally from Sinope, a city in Asia Minor on the coast of the Black Sea. Although he…
Will the Real Israel Please Stand Up?
Events in Israel continue apace. The Israeli Defense Forces have initiated ground operations in the Gaza Strip in order to destroy Hamas and rescue Israeli hostages. The war has transfixed…
Introductions, Please
In 1968, the Rolling Stones released a new album entitled Beggars Banquet. The lead track was a song called Sympathy for the Devil, composed primarily by lead singer Mick Jagger…
First Things First
Many Christians are familiar with Alpha, a program designed to introduce people to Christianity. The title is quite fitting since alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The…
The Myth of the Pharisees
Anyone with even a passing familiarity of the Bible has heard about the Pharisees. This group is mentioned dozens of times in the New Testament. They were often bitter opponents…
Setting Things Right Again
Last week we saw how Jesus' visit to Jericho brought about an extraordinary result: Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and a man of great wealth, dramatically amended his life. In…
Gentle Jesus, Meek & Mild
There is a widespread sentiment - both in our society & in some quarters of the church -that Christians ought to be "nice" people. And no doubt there is a…
Moral Tectonics
For thousands of years, humanity has suffered the deadly effects of earthquakes and volcanic activity. Famously, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. obliterated the Roman town of Pompeii.…
People From the Earth, For the Earth
Last week we turned page on 2022 and ushered in the new year. The new year can certainly be a time of hope. But it won't be long before folks…
The Nations Shall be Your Inheritance
Last week we began investigating the concept of Christian nationalism. We've looked at two pertinent passages in the book of Daniel which help us understand the Jewish expectation for the…