The Apostles Creed begins: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. Many of us were raised with the notion that Jesus went to hell on Friday after dying on the cross. For a day and a half, he preached in hell before his resurrection on Sunday. The Scriptural support given for this view primarily comes from a few … [Read more...] about Did Jesus Spend Saturday Night in Hell?
Evangelical Colleges Responding to Students with Same-Sex Attraction
Sarah Pulliam Bailey reports on how evangelical colleges are responding to the perception that their institution is not a safe place for those who possess same-sex attraction. For example, Wheaton College created "an official group in February for students to explore questions of gender identity and sexual orientation. The group is intended as a 'safe place for students who have questions about their sexual orientation or gender identity,' where students may self-identify as LGBTQ." But all Wheaton College students sign an agreement promising to refrain from "the use of pornography ... … [Read more...] about Evangelical Colleges Responding to Students with Same-Sex Attraction
Edith Schaeffer (1914-2013)
Edith Schaeffer, widow of renown apologist Francis Schaeffer, went home to be with the Lord today. Alongside her husband, she was instrumental in running the day-to-day operations of the L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland since its founding in 1955. The name "L'Abri" came from the French word for "shelter." L'Abri was a large home that people could come and stay to discuss God and the meaning of life, along with other spiritual questions. One of the Schaeffers' many legacies was helping others see that the Christian worldview was intelligible--it wasn't just a leap in the dark. On the … [Read more...] about Edith Schaeffer (1914-2013)
What Does It Mean for Jesus to Despise Shame?
Hebrews 12:1-2 was the first passage I ever memorized: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." The phrase "despising the shame" has always intrigued me. Today, John Piper unpacks what he thinks it means for Jesus to have "despised the shame." … [Read more...] about What Does It Mean for Jesus to Despise Shame?
We Need New Methods in the Fight for Marriage
A great set of posts by Greg Forster (PhD, Yale University) on what he sees as key disadvantages in employing either natural law arguments or explicitely Christian/biblical defenses of marriage in today's cultural landscape. In short, he sees both as unconvincing to those predisposed to endorse same-sex "marriage." Instead, he offers a new path forward. Excerpt: We must speak the truth about sexuality and romance in the language of sexuality and romance. This can't be a special, private sexual language for Christians that others will need to learn. It must be a language that speaks to people … [Read more...] about We Need New Methods in the Fight for Marriage
Doug Wilson, Race and Slavery
Thabiti Anyabwile has written an excellent summary of Doug Wilson's controversial book Black & Tan: A Collection of Essays and Excursions on Slavery, Culture War, and Scripture in America. In the days to come Anyabwile will interact with Wilson's view, but for now here's a summary of the summary: Wilson rejects racism, but on slavery argues that: 1. The Bible speaks authoritatively about slavery and Christians are duty-bound to obey its teaching (p. 14, 37). 2. The slave trade was an abomination and is clearly rejected in the Bible (1 Tim. 1:10; Exod. 21:16). 3. The slavery … [Read more...] about Doug Wilson, Race and Slavery