“I have faith! Help my lack of faith!” (Mark 9:24) Teresa of Calcutta, known affectionately by the world over as Mother Teresa, spent half a century tending to the poor far from her homeland. Yet in letters published only after her death, she speaks of decades filled with “dryness”, “darkness”, even “torture.” “Jesus has a very special love for you”…
The Need For Humility “Seek humility” (Zephaniah 2:3). In the year 1633, the religious scholars of the day were convinced that the sun revolves around the earth. They reached this conclusion from their reading of Scripture, believing it to be obvious, true, and not to be questioned. After all, Scripture says the sun rises and sets (Ecclesiastes 1:5), and must…
One of the most beautiful descriptions of what intellectual Christian faith involves was penned in the year 1077. In the first chapter of his Proslogion, Anselm writes these stirring words: I acknowledge, Lord, and I give thanks that you have created in me this your image, so that I can remember you, think about you and love you. But it…
Healthy Theology is only available if we are willing to grow and to hear things that challenge our thinking, and open our hearts. This means that a lover of God, and student of Scripture, has an open attitude toward learning. The word disciple literally means learner; so when we are called to be disciples, we are actually being asked to…
In Paul’s final letters to young preachers Timothy and Titus, he urges them to “teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1 NIV), because “the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV). When I was growing up, this phrase was actually used as “code:” if a church advertisement said it…
Christian claim #1: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” When Tom Wright was a chaplain at the University of Oxford, he would conduct a welcome service for “freshers,” newly arrived to the iconic city. One by one, each student would file out, greeting the speaker. Every year, a handful of students would say something…
“For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20 ESV) We just can’t seem to let it go. The scene replays itself over and over again in our minds. How could I have been so careless? Why did I allow it to happen? What was I thinking? The questions lead…