-
Jesus as the Good Shepherd: An Appeal to Ezekiel 34
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Most Christians are familiar with the picture of Jesus as the good shepherd. Typically, the meaning of the good shepherd comparison focuses on Jesus’ care for Christians. I have heard multiple sermons on what it means for Jesus to be the shepherd. In particular, I remember a sermon where the question was asked, “What is a shepherd?” The proposed points in the sermon went something like: Now I do not dispute that these points are indeed true of a shepherd. Further, I do think there can be an analogy between these points and the love and care of Christ. However, I think we are missing something if we don’t examine this reference to the good shepherd in light of the authorial intent of John himself. The Reaction to the Good Shepherd Claim A…
-
The Time of the Three Concurrent Popes: the Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism
One of the central doctrines in the Catholic Church is that of the papacy—a belief that has shaped Catholic Christianity for centuries. Catholics assert that the pope is the direct successor of Saint Peter, forming a continuous chain of apostolic succession. Although I think it can be argued that the papacy should not even be considered Christian, minimally, we should recognize that the papacy is plagued with the failings of human ambition and political maneuvering. For evangelicals who hold Scripture as the final authority in the life of the church, the dramatic events of the Avignon Papacy offer a clear illustration of the corruption of the papacy. The Catholic Problem: The Papal Claim of Divine Authority Catholics have long maintained that each pope inherits “the totality and supremacy of the power Christ left on earth for the building up of the kingdom of God.” This claim of divine empowerment is used…
-
Three Reasons a Biblical View of Gender is Important
In today’s cultural landscape, LGBT and gender issues have taken center stage in public discourse. Stories from the not-so-distant past have included headlines about gender-neutral bathrooms, transgender athletes, and reports of professionals—such as doctors—facing repercussions for upholding a traditional understanding of gender. Although there has been some reprieve in the cultural moment, the cultural pressures still mandate that we examine how we think about gender and its role in society. While many in the culture dismiss the Bible’s views as antiquated, outdated, or merely a relic of a bygone, patriarchal era, it remains critical to remember that the Bible presents a comprehensive and divinely inspired perspective on the nature and purpose of gender. In other words, the Bible reveals what God thinks about gender. The Secular Influence on the Church From a secular worldview, gender is often seen as a mere social construct—a label with no intrinsic value beyond what…
-
The Work against Transgenderism is Far from Over
There has been a massive shift in cultural approval within the last two years. The Transgender movement no longer has unqualified and uncritical acceptance in mainstream culture. The battle is far from over, but it is encouraging to see recent moves by federal and state governments to protect the rights of women by prohibiting men from dominating women’s sports, etc. However, although there are encouraging cultural signs right now, we need to understand that Transgenderism itself is based in a secular worldview, which is actually based in evolution. Tracing the Connection between Transgenderism and Evolution The Bible teaches that the Creator created the entire universe and everything in it within 6 days (Genesis 1). The Bible also teaches that the Creator has ultimate authority over the universe and governs it as He sees fit. Every creature within creation must ultimately submit to the Creator’s law governing that creation. This is…
-
Does 666 refer to Nero in Revelation 13:18?
Revelation 13:18 says that the one who “has understanding” should calculate the “number of the beast.” This number is then further identified as the “number of man,” specifically, 666. Preterists often say that 666 refers to Nero in Revelation 13:18, but is that what John means when he says that the mark of the beast is 666? Symbolism and the Mark of the Beast Not everyone sees 666 as a reference to Nero. Many notable scholars have read the mark of the beast symbolically. Beale, for example, argues in his commentary that the mark of the beast is 666 because six is the number of imperfection. Thus, when six is used three times as the mark of the beast, it emphasizes the completeness of imperfection. Although this view is possible, it is unlikely. John’s command to “calculate” (ψηφισάτω) the number of the beast is a term that was used for…
-
David as a Man after God’s Own Heart (1 Sam 13:14)
The Bible says David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). Most people want to take this phrase as a reference to the moral character of David. As such, David was a man after God’s own heart in that he was committed to God’s ways and demonstrated fidelity to God’s Law. However, this viewpoint has a couple difficulties. On the one hand, David was far from morally pure. He was a murderous adulterer (2 Sam 11). He killed Uriah the Hittite, and committed adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. Can we say David was uniquely a man after God’s own heart when his actions seem to communicate otherwise? To get around this potential problem, some people will say that David never engaged in direct idolatry and that is the explanation for saying David was a man after God’s own heart. However, there are a couple other…
-
Understanding the Heart of Conflict: A Look at James 4:1-3
Relationships are often described as beautiful, fulfilling, and life-giving—but anyone who has spent time with other human beings knows that conflict is bound to happen. The reality is that every relationship consists of two sinners, and where sinners are involved, sin inevitably follows. This truth can be discouraging if we do not properly understand the root cause of our conflicts. Thankfully, Scripture provides clarity on this topic. One of the most relevant passages addressing the source of conflict is James 4:1-3, and in this brief article, we will explore how James’s words shed light on the conflict we often experience in our relationships. 1. Conflict Comes from Within (James 4:1a) James begins his discussion by asking a pointed question: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1). Notice that he pinpoints the origin of conflict…
-
Was Elijah Wrong? Looking at a ‘Failed Prophecy’ in 1 Kings 21 about Jezebel and Ahab
The stories of the Old Testament sometimes contain difficult-to-swallow elements. One such story is the account of King Ahab, his wife Jezebel, and the stolen vineyard belonging to Naboth. This story, found in 1 Kings 21, reveals both the depths of human treachery and the certainty of God’s justice. It also offers a vivid look at how prophecy, geography, and historical context come together to shape our understanding of Scripture and prophecy. Although this is a relatively well-known story, there is a particular prophecy here that merits further consideration. Was Elijah guilty of false prophecy concerning the death of Ahab? The Background of Ahab and Naboth Whenever I’m in Israel, it is always one of the highlights to visit the Jezreel Valley. As long as it is a clear day (and not foggy), the views are breathtaking. It is easy to visualize many of the stories that occurred (and will…
-
Keeping the Church Healthy: How Discipline Fosters True Holiness
Many people love going to church for the music, the fellowship, or the preaching. Ask them about essential elements of a healthy church, and you’ll probably hear about dynamic worship or warm community. What’s rarely mentioned, however, is a weird thing called church discipline—a practice that’s sometimes overlooked but is actually vital for a biblical congregation. Far from being outdated or harsh, church discipline helps preserve a church’s spiritual integrity, encourages repentance, and keeps believers anchored in God’s Word. The Three Marks of a True Church Little known to most people, the 1561 Belgic Confession offers three marks by which the true church is known: (1) preaching the pure gospel, (2) observing the sacraments (i.e., baptism and communion), and (3) practicing church discipline. Throughout church history, church discipline has been an integral component of God-fearing churches. However, a recent survey of pastors revealed that 55% of churches have never formally…
-
Egyptian Wisdom Meets the Bible: Parallels Between Amenemope and Proverbs
It often comes as a surprise to people when they realize that there are striking similarities between the content found in biblical wisdom books and certain ancient texts from surrounding cultures. Although Scripture is unique in its monotheistic worldview, there are some interesting overlaps in the Bible’s wisdom writings with other wisdom sources from polytheistic cultures. As Christians, what are we to make of these similarities? For our purposes, we can illustrate this phenomenon by comparing Proverbs with an Egyptian document called The Instruction of Amenemope, a collection of wisdom sayings that are clearly polytheistic in nature. There is a lot of thematic overlap in both. For example, both teach the concept that wealth is not everything. They also both admonish us to practice integrity and fairness in daily transactions, caution us against the fleeting nature of riches, and emphasize what we could call contentment. Here are some notable examples.…
