INTRO

I am creating this blog to discuss critical issues of our faith. Apologetics is a vindication, a formal defense of the Faith in speech or writing. Apologetics seeks to defend the faith against internal threats (false theology, unscriptural worldviews, heresy) as well as external threats (false religions, governmental opposition, secularism, materialism.) I've always thought that the threat from within is the most dangerous. That potential is never more frightening than when an external threat becomes internal, when the world and the church become indistinguishable. It happened in ancient Israel. It happens today. A very wise pastor once said that the point of the Old Testament is not that it happened, but that it happens. Scripture is not merely the history of our faith, it is the history of human nature, of our nature.

Throughout Scripture we see that Israel is impenetrable when they humbly follow the Lord. When they compromise, when they adopt the world’s standards as their own, their destruction soon follows. In particular, this blog will focus on some of those areas where the church and the world have failed to have the distinct separation that God requires. We will carefully consider those places where the church, or part of the church, may be crossing the line of being not only “in” the world, but “of” the world. Let us take care to insure that we are not being led away from our “pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

I am thrilled for anyone to participate in these discussions. But I must add that this blog is specifically designed for Christians to examine their beliefs and practices in light of Scripture. Let’s ask some serious questions. What is our worldview? Is it Biblical? And is it consistent with our actions?

I suppose that we could leave this branch of study to the experts. At the very least I hope to consult them. But Paul admonishes Believers in 1 Peter 3:15, “If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” (NLT) This exercise of Christian study has always burned inside my heart. I have a passion to know what I believe and why I believe it. It’s not enough to say, “I think that it’s in the Good Book somewhere.” I am not a theologian or a historian. My formal education contains some of these disciplines; primarily it is in other areas. But I am a life-long student of the Scriptures. I want to provide a solid Biblical framework in which to study the vitally important topics of our day. I am seeking to marry my worldview with my faith. Sometimes I will hit the mark. Sometimes I may miss it. But there is merit in the exercise. I hope to learn, to share and to be challenged by your wisdom.

This blog will be political. It will be controversial. And it will be respectful. You may be challenged. You may even be offended. A very perceptive friend once told me that the Gospel is the most offensive book ever written. I was taken aback by his statement. I cried, “No! It is the most loving book ever written!” But his words stuck with me. And upon much reflection, I realized that he was right. And I was right. We were both right.

The Gospel is the greatest love story ever told. It’s the story of God, the mighty Creator of the universe and all that it contains. This God of infinite wisdom and imagination found at the end of His magnum opus, that He was… lonely. So He created mankind for friendship, for fellowship, for love. But imperfect man could not meet His impossibly high standards. So God lowered Himself. He left His home in the celestial sphere and became as one of His created beings. He became the poorest of men and suffered the cruelest of fates in order to reestablish that relationship. Such a story of love was never told!

But… the story also offends. It offends every part of our flesh. It says we aren’t good enough on our own to please this God who created us. It says that we need the strength of Someone stronger, purer, better. It lays bare our sin, and our shame. But at the very moment of our epiphany, at the instant we finally recognize the depths of our depravity, of our disgrace—His grace swoops in on ethereal plumes and covers us with a Love so great that is mends the very wounds that it unveils. What a Book! How I love it. Offense may come as God’s Word uncovers what we thought was hidden, but then it heals all that it reveals.

So thank you for stopping by. I hope you will stick around. I want to make this an interactive blog (as much as possible). Your response may change my perspective. My thoughts may change yours. At times our collective effort will help us to both arrive closer to His Truth. At times we will have to agree to disagree. But there is always merit in the exercise, in the challenge of deeply held convictions to alter, deepen and solidify the “defense of our Faith.” “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). So, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). I hope to find a community of Believers committed to finding God’s Truth for the salient issues of our day. If what I write about doesn’t help you, then I pray that you find His Truth elsewhere on your journey. God bless.