Defense of the Faith – Page 11 – A Thimble-full of Theology for Daily Living

Struggle for the Church – Colossians 2:1-5

Nothing brings me greater joy than to see the church I love recovering from a period of disorder and even a failure of love. No one that I know of wrote an epistle to this church to help it get back on

Firstborn of All Creation – Colossians 1:15-20

In my several conversations with Jehovah’s Witnesses (see here for an example, but be warned, it’s long) it is inevitable that they get to their focus on Jesus not being God, but God’s

Holding to the Truth – Colossians 1:3-8

Christians are rightly concerned about true doctrine. A friend recently told me that another friend had declared his opposition to some biblical truths. If someone has compromised the gospel, or if a church

Being an Apostolic Church – Colossians 1:1,2

Why do we have churches that describe themselves as apostolic, or church of Christ, or with unusual names like Beaver Lick, I Am That I Am, Flippin Church of God, Boring United Methodist, Half Way Baptist,

A Lengthy Correspondence with a Jehovah’s Witness

The following letters are a series of correspondences in 1990 between me and a woman named Christie. These sprang out of a request of her aunt’s that I read some literature Christie sent her and respond

Tests to Determine God’s Truth – 1 Kings 18:20-46

Should we set up tests with unbelievers to demonstrate the truth of our belief in God and Jesus Christ? Elijah set up just such a test to show whether Baal or Yahweh was the true God. Of course, if, like

The True Standard – 2 Peter 3:14-18

Jesus chose twelve of his disciples to be apostles, that is, ones especially trained and equipped to be his authoritative representatives. They would be the touchstones of the truth. Jesus knew his message

Tickle Me: 2 Peter 2:10b-16

Are your ears ticklish? I don’t think mine are. If you want to torture me it’s my underarms that are most ticklish. Some people crumble when you squeeze their knees. Others have ticklish necks

Test and Fate of False Teachers: 2 Peter 2:1-3

As much as I may disagree that one can lose one’s salvation, I would not label that a heresy. Heresy always subverts the heart of the faith, the gospel itself, and the character of the God who is

A Standard to Judge By: 2 Peter 1:12-21

Knowing false doctrine from true requires having a standard by which to judge. Immediately following Jesus’ ascension the apostles were that standard. Of course, they would not always be with us,

Discerning False Doctrine: 2 Peter 1:3-11

How do you discern false doctrine? Well, first of all you have to be looking for it, and that may feel like a very dour approach to life. But the gospel is so important and the susceptibility of humans

So Frustrating: Ecclesiastes 4

Eve was a Yugoslavian Jew whose once prosperous family lost all during the Nazi persecution of Jews. Her family all had to separate and hide in various ways but eventually she and her sister were caught

Straightening a Paper Clip: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Have you ever tried straightening a paper clip? Try as you may, you cannot get it perfectly straight. I suppose you could resort to heating it until the metal becomes malleable and use some rolling

The Need for Judgment: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 5:1-5)

Have you seen any paintings of the Last Judgment? I’m looking at a site where you can buy wall paintings for…your home? Most of the artists’ representations show naked people in distress (is

Judgment in the House of God: Daily thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 1:9–11)

Sometimes one of the reasons the world is put off by our talking about judgment from God is that we make ourselves out to be superior to them as those exempt from this judgment when in fact we participate

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