In the last post I suggested that the Bible contains one consistent and harmonious message whenever it speaks to any subject-even on the subject of war. I am convinced that God speaks on this subject with enough clarity to be understood, and in a manner that is completely consistent with His unchangeable character and nature.

We showed last time that the various opinions Christians hold on this subject are largely a result of different approaches to Scripture. Some people attempt to apply Old Testament commands or narratives in this age and arrive at a position that may support war efforts too aggressively or without discernment. Others attempt to blindly apply New Testament personal ethics to national governmental decisions and arrive at a position that is too passive.

Let’s look at the Scripture together and begin to see more clearly what the consistent, harmonious teaching regarding this issue is.

Click here for the entire post.

Here is a controversial topic that I attempted to think through biblically a couple of years ago when doing a series on the topic. No doubt the subject is one about which godly Christians will disagree. Let me begin by sharing some of the reasons I believe Christians do disagree on the topic. Then in future posts we will try to compile some biblical data in order to arrive at a biblical theology of war.

So, why is there such sharp disagreement among professing Christians on the topic of war? To begin, here is a quote from Andrew Kirk in his book Handling Problems of Peace and War: An Evangelical Debate.

Firstly, biblical Christians disagree among themselves largely because, in deciding on ethical issues, they use the Bible in different ways. Secondly, disagreements are also the result of a variety of views on the Church, the State and Christian involvement in public life.

I would like to briefly address and explain those two issues, and help us see how the Bible would have us think about those subjects. Click here to read the whole article .

I’m moving my way through 1 Corinthians 12-14 considering the subject of “spiritual gifts.” Last week, I went through chapter 13, the famous “love chapter,” but I only touched on the matter of spiritual gifts and their termination. I want to take a couple posts to discuss the cessation of certain spiritual gifts as Paul refers to it in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12. The fact is, God has given the church gifts with an expiration date. The question is, when do these gifts expire? Cessationists say these particular gifts have already ceased. Continuationists say they will expire in eternity. Here’s the passage…

1 Corinthians 13:8-12
(8) Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
(9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
(10) but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
(11) When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
(12) For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Here are four questions I’ll try to answer in this post:

1. How does the Apostle Paul’s comment on the termination of spiritual gifts relate to his larger discussion of spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14?
2. Why does Paul refer to prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (and not other gifts) when he talks about their termination?
3. Why does Paul use different verbs when he talks about the termination of the three gifts?
4. What does Paul mean when he speaks of the gifts of prophecy and knowledge as being “in part?”

Let’s take a look…

Today, I continue with a discussion of love and spiritual gifts. We need to pursue love as a way of life. Love is a lifestyle; a path of action; and course of conduct. We need to pursue it. But, how?

First, we need to recognize the indispensability of love (1 Cor. 13:1-3). We may do “good things,” but without love we are nothing and we profit nothing. At best, we are a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. Yikes!

Second, we need to live out the characteristics of love (1 Cor. 13:4-7). The Apostle Paul lists 15 characteristics of genuine love. We looked at the first seven in my last post: Love is patient; it’s kind; it’s not jealous; it doesn’t brag; it’s not arrogant; it doesn’t act unbecomingly; and it’s not self-seeking.

We’ll pick up with the eighth characteristic of love…click here to read on.