Church and nation: A guide to Christian political theology
A compilation of articles that discuss various Biblical and spiritual principles that should govern how Christians think about power, politics, government, winning, and the place of nations in God’s plans.
The tone police: How God wants us to talk and act
Some Christians don't think our tone is a big deal, or that it's too subjective to debate. But the Bible disproves both of those claims; God cares greatly about our tone, and His word has a lot to say about it.
Contentment: The most underrated Biblical virtue
Contentment isn't the most popular topic for some Christians. But it's taught by some of the most beloved Scriptures in the Bible, including where many Christians don't realize it.
How do we beat the devil? Here’s what works every time
Christians have all kinds of ideas about how to resist the devil. But in the Bible we see a simple solution that beats him every time – humility.
Who hated Jesus? More than just the Pharisees
Ever hear people say things like we need to be more like Jesus so that more people will like us, because only the Pharisees hated Him? That’s not what we see in Scripture, including the words of Jesus Himself.
‘The Physics of Heaven’: Bethel’s New Age book
It’s been a year since Living and Powerful published its five-part review of “The Physics of Heaven,” in which authors from Bethel Church urge Christians to relate to God the way New Agers do. Here are links to all five parts, plus some more resources.
The Biblical case for God’s sovereignty over man’s will
Here are hundreds of examples in Scripture of God exercising control or influence of men’s will and/or actions. It’s an overwhelming case for God’s sovereign power over whatever, and whomever, He pleases.
America cannot be ‘the nation whose God is the Lord’
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” is a Bible verse frequently applied to America, but you only need to look at the second half of Psalm 33:12 to see that it can’t be about that.
‘Heal our land’ doesn’t mean America — in this life
2 Chronicles 7:14, with its conditional promise for “My people who are called by My name” to “heal their land,” is often applied to Christians and America. But its context puts that into question, and raises another one: Do we even have a land?
Winning in the Bible: God defines it differently than us
Some Christians use the word "winning" a lot, often in a political or cultural context. But in the Bible, victory often doesn't look like what we think it does.
We don’t grasp how amazing Peter’s story is
Do we really get the magnitude of Peter's denial? Do we grasp how amazing the Lord’s grace and mercy toward him was? This may make you see Peter’s story like you haven't before.
Why partiality may be the most pervasive sin among Christians
Whether it’s related to politics, celebrities or family, many Christians show partiality even though it’s widely condemned in the Bible. See how.
Questioning and doubting: What God can ‘handle’
Is it OK to question and doubt God, as some skeptics and progressives claim? Two consecutive Bible stories show us the difference between a question and doubt, and what God thinks of them.
Christ the Divider: How Jesus breaks the unity of humanity
For many people, including some Christians, unity is the highest virtue, and division is the worst offense. But that’s not what we see in the Bible, especially in the words of Jesus.
How the unforgivable sin helps us understand Hebrews 6
Two questions Christians have wrestled with over the years are, does Hebrews 6 teach we can lose our salvation, and can we commit the unforgivable sin? The answers are related.
The comfort and peace of applying theology to real life
Big words like propitiation and atonement are theological book words that aren’t relevant to the struggles of real life. Ever think that? Here’s how those doctrines make a huge difference in your life.
The absolute, universal, inevitable corruption of power
The axiom "power corrupts" has been fulfilled throughout Scripture and history, even in God’s people. Why, then, do Christians still crave the world's power, when we have an infinitely and eternally superior power working through us?
Christian, you don’t need more faith to be healed
Have you been praying for a healing only to be told you need more faith? Here’s a comprehensive Biblical case proving that’s not true. Jesus doesn’t need anything to heal us.
Be careful when singing Old Testament lyrics
When Christians sing lyrics like “Ask of Me and I will give you the nations” or “Here am I, send me,” we think they’re about evangelism. But we’re actually singing Scriptures that are about God’s wrath.
Nothing on earth makes the Bible come alive
Do you cringe when you hear someone say something makes the Bible “come alive”? Like a film, location or experience? You should. Nothing can make the Bible come alive, because it’s already alive.