INTRODUCTION: THE BOOK OF ESTHER As the only book in the Bible that does not mention the divine name,[1] Esther’s place in Scripture has been questioned and scrutinized.[2] However, the careful reader will quickly discover that although the name of God is absent, the hand of God is evident in the preservation of His people.... Continue Reading →
Who tempted the man and woman to disobey God by eating of the forbidden tree? Although popular Christian authors often take for granted the identity of Eden’s serpent, some scholars believe that the serpent is either Satan[1] himself or at least a representation of Satan.[2] This view suggests that the modern reader should assume the... Continue Reading →
The Vedic Sacrifice of Praja͂pati: A Sacrificial Prototype or Ancient Prophecy? At the core of both Hindu cosmology and theology is the belief that only sacrifice can preserve the universe. The forefathers of Hinduism, the Aryans, viewed the universe as created, sustained, and existing in a constant state of sacrifice.[1] These beliefs are recorded in the... Continue Reading →
The aim of this article is to provide a synopsis of the historical development, role, and influence of the hadith on Islamic theology.[1] This analysis provides a foundation for understanding how the hadith has influenced the Islamic doctrine of jihad. This purpose will be achieved through an examination of the development of the hadith, as... Continue Reading →
If you were called upon to testify as a fact witness in a court of law, would you be careless about what you say? Would you be willing to exaggerate or, worse, fabricate your testimony? I hope not! Not only are you required to give an oath that you will tell the truth, but you... Continue Reading →
People love to argue! If you were trapped in the bubble of either legal or theological education, you would be convinced that people LOVE to debate about anything and everything. I never realized how much and how long people will quarrel over the most minute details, irrelevant laws, or obscure doctrines. Arguing over minutia may... Continue Reading →
As a mentor to younger pastors, I've had the privilege of watching many of them accept their first pastorate. Some have spent a significant amount of time on the front end acquiring as much information and advice as possible to be successful in their first year. Others have jumped directly into the "deep end of... Continue Reading →
I'll spare you a trip through the pseudo-mystical phase wherein the preacher "gets alone" with God and through "divine revelation" receives his next sermon! It is frustrating to hear pastors say, "God gave me this message," or "God laid this message on my heart." Typically, that means (loosely translated), "I am just winging it" and/or... Continue Reading →
Somewhere between the “churched” and “unchurched” classifications is a neglected and overlooked group.[1] In some communities, the largest group of people that the church will engage with the gospel is made up of persons who, in the past, attended, joined, or were active in churches. Yet, for some reason, they are no longer connected to... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on Research for Sermons At this point in ministry, I have preached approximately 2,500+ sermons. This number doesn't include Sunday School lessons, Mid-week Bible studies, and college lectures. Moreover, I have lost count of the times I've preached at other churches as a guest speaker. In short, I've had a lot of opportunities to... Continue Reading →
If I could turn back time (an old 80s song just popped into my head), I would have a lot to tell the younger me. Although there are some clear advantages to being a young man, those strengths cannot compare to the wisdom that one acquires throughout life. One of the downsides to being young... Continue Reading →
What is Poimenology? On the one hand, it is a word that I made up by adding the Koine Greek word for pastor (ποιμήν or ποιμένα, lit. shepherd) to the scientific phrase "ology," which means "the study of" a field or discipline. Conversely, I believe that as a field of study pastoral ministry has been erroneously... Continue Reading →
What would I tell the young man who surrendered to the preaching ministry almost twenty years ago? I would insist, in addition to studying the Scriptures (i.e. theology, scriptural interpretation), that he becomes a student of (1) how people learn and (2) how to communicate effectively to them. Sadly, many pastors have ignored non-theological disciplines,... Continue Reading →
How is it possible for a full-time pastor earn a law degree? The short answer: grace and grit! It is hard to explain the challenges and difficulties that I faced while trying to complete one of the most difficult graduate degrees in higher education while pastoring full-time. In some respects, it is no different than... Continue Reading →
Preface: This article was originally written as an upper-level writing requirement for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at Belmont University College of Law. On December 23, 1991, a fire destroyed the Corsicana, Texas, home Mr. Cameron Todd Willingham shared with his wife and three daughters.[i] Willingham, who was (allegedly) asleep when the fire started, survived.... Continue Reading →
This is part two of a three-part series: Read part one, "Interpretation of Genesis 3" Satan in the Old TestamentThe Old Testament contains three direct references to Satan, each presents him as the supernatural enemy of both God and humanity (Job 1-2; 1 Chr 21:1; Zech 3:1-2).[1] The following synopsis of these three passages will... Continue Reading →
This is part three of a three-part series. Read part one "Interpretation of Genesis 3" Read part two "Satan in the Old Testament." Satan in the New Testament The theological understanding of the person and work of Satan is expanded during the intertestamental period. This development is reflected in the numerous pseudographs and apocryphas written... Continue Reading →
How many sermons open with a speed reading of the Bible? The pastor stands before the congregation not fully prepared, still trying to collect his thoughts and hoping to create a last-minute opening, and begins painfully reading the sacred text. His dry and monotone voice coupled with both his (obvious) disinterest in the text and... Continue Reading →
To honor their departed heroes, disciples of charismatic and influential religious leaders sometimes exaggerate their lives, sayings, and/or contributions.[1] The legacy of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is no exception. The Indian sage's life is an excellent example of how a man’s disciples will embellish his life and message far beyond what he did or taught.... Continue Reading →
Why read another Christian blog? Frankly, I find it strange that you are even reading this one. I trust that you are bored or maybe you were you drawn here by the name. If so, it may help if I begin to define what I mean. If you are not convinced, stick around for future... Continue Reading →
Preface: This article was originally written as an upper-level writing requirement for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at Belmont University College of Law. The purpose of this article is to answer the question, “Were Enhanced Interrogation Techniques Legal?” To answer this question, this article will, first, consider the use of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs) in... Continue Reading →
In the history of Christian missions to the Muslim world only one man has been recognized with the honorary title, “the Apostle to Islam”.[1] Samuel Marinus Zwemer (1867-1952), a man whose name was synonymous with missions in Arabia, has seemingly been forgotten in the twenty-first century. According to Warren Larson, former director of the Samuel Zwemer... Continue Reading →