by Barney | Feb 25, 2017 | Bible
What are the most fundamental rules for interpreting the Bible? Here are some ways it is often formulated: A passage cannot mean now what it didn’t mean then. We must put a text in its cultural-historical context. The goal is to discover what the biblical author...
by Barney | Feb 20, 2016 | Bible, Theology
A high school student recently asked this question: What’s the point of the virgin birth? It doesn’t really add anything to the story. Everything could have happened as it did. There just doesn’t seem to be a point. And wasn’t the point that Jesus came to earth as a...
by Jen Smith | Dec 20, 2015 | Bible, Society
In the hubbub of Christmas, we can find it difficult to live in a way that demonstrates that we think it’s about more than just tinsel and turkey. Here, I offer a few ideas on how we might embody and reclaim the real Christmas spirit in the way we set our expectations...
by Dave Perry | Nov 4, 2015 | Bible
“Dust” gets modest attention on think-sites like Amazon, Google and Wikipedia. Most theological dictionaries never mention it at all. But the Bible assigns dust some significant walk-on moments in the God Drama. I count four (though there may be more). And all four of...
by Dave Perry | Oct 3, 2015 | Bible
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV). “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Act 19:20 ESV). Surprise for a Scientist In the late 1920’s American...
by Barney | Sep 28, 2015 | Bible, Theology
The Bible is the primary authority for all Christians. But this causes a problem when we are asked “why do you trust what the Bible says?” Whatever reason we have must be a higher authority still, because we trust that when it tells us to trust the Bible. Neither can...
