In the first article of this series, I argued that modern American Evangelicalism has misunderstood the teaching of the Reformers that we are saved by faith, not works, and with it the Biblical text that we are not under law but grace.
Although there were many streams of Protestant thought during the sixteenth century, nearly all of them agreed on three key ideas summarized by three Latin phrases: sola fide, we are saved by faith alone;
Lately, I can’t stop thinking about Jesus asleep in the boat. The storm is surging; the vessel is filling with water; the disciples are scurrying.
This is a historic scene,
W.H. Auden says, “All the judgments, aesthetic or moral, that we pass, however objective we try to make them, are in part a rationalization and in part a corrective discipline of our subjective wishes.” It is therefore incumbent on critics,
Speaking metaphorically, the apostle Paul describes our ministry efforts in terms of planting and watering seed (I Corinthians 3:6-9). In the recent past, we’ve focused a great deal of those efforts on the presentation of our planting and watering to the exclusion of depth.
A Cryptic Thought
According to Peter Kreeft, God in his mercy struck Blaise Pascal down at a young age before he could turn his “pensees” into a dry academic tome.
The “With-ness” of God in the Midst of Pain
It overtakes my entire body. The discomfort typically begins with my neck and quickly creeps up the back of my head.
Nietzsche With the Voice of an Angel
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s seminal essay, “Self Reliance,” remains the great paean to American individualism. As with all the man’s writings, it’s equal parts quotable and intoxicating,
Casual Atheism
Christian men and women ought to be highly skeptical of the word practical as it’s often used in everyday conversations. When we scrutinize its usage, we discover that it frequently serves as a kind of shorthand for one of the most basic but profound forms of idolatry—namely,
An Overlooked Hero
We all have our superheroes that shape us, whether real or imaginary. Even as adults, we look to figures holding larger-than-life personas, generally on the sports field,
A Note of Hesitancy
As of this writing, the events unfolding in the auditorium of Asbury’s chapel are getting more and more difficult to explain away. What began as a routine chapel service on Wednesday,
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that was practiced by Jesus and early Christians and that today is practiced in many places around the world today where the Gospel is growing most rapidly.
Dr. Kenneth Boa and Reflections Vice President, Stuart McAllister, have launched a new podcast that explores the riches of the Christian life from the standpoint of two seasoned veterans of the faith.
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
Why We Think Hope is Unrealistic
Ironically, we often mistake hope for hopelessness. Look no further than the early stages of the pandemic in 2020. Driving through the spooky stillness of the first lockdown,
“Doubt everything, find your own light.” These are the last words of the Buddha. It sounds like good advice, but then the human heart invariably presses on to doubt itself!
The Gift of Faith vs. the Grace of Faith
Perhaps the best feature about the little condo I’m renting is a big skylight in the center of the vaulted ceiling.
Hope in the Face of Darkness
Back in 2012, a friend of mine who was a pastor in Hartford, Connecticut, asked me to preach at his church. I was preparing to go on a five-week mission trip to Asia,
From Handbook to Scripture
READING: Proverbs 6
Proverbs 6 is a little collection of practical counsel in various areas of life. It warns us against financial commitments that can ensnare us down the road and of the folly of risking more money than we can afford to lose.
Discouraged? Tempted? Sick? Prayers for strength actually based on the Bible give hope. Pray these prayers for strength for a friend or yourself.
Ken Boa’s printed monthly newsletter, encouraging believers to develop a clear mind and a warm heart
