No Creed But the Bible?
The so-called fundamentalists of our day join hands with liberals on this point with their well-known slogan: “No creed but the Bible”. Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 33. Tradition is the fruit […]
Grace Motivates and Other Things I Wish I’d Known…
About Leadership Grace is not the opposite of strong leadership, but the heart of it. This is important for leadership in all realms, and especially in ministry. Insecure leaders worry […]
Why You Shouldn’t Call That False Teaching a Heresy
This article originally appeared in Christianity Today (October 2016). A group of bloggers seeking reform in Southern Baptist circles recently decried pastor Rick Warren for teaching that God communicates to believers via dreams. […]
Why Study Heresies, Creeds, and Councils?
Following the apostles, the early church maintained that heresy means directly denying the central orthodox beliefs of the church. Early church creedal statements codified orthodoxy into a widely accepted form. […]
How Jesus Makes Unclean People Clean
Women have significant roles in Luke’s Gospel, despite their low social standing during the time of Jesus’ ministry. This was very countercultural, as women were not even allowed to be […]
The Athanasian Creed
It is sometimes said that you cannot describe the Trinity without committing some sort of heresy. Either you make God out to be three gods, or you make the three […]
Jesus Is a Karma Buzz-Kill
During the Last Supper (Mark 14:12–25) with his disciples, Jesus talks about his impending death and initiates the practice of communion. Jesus says in Mark 14:27–28, “You will all fall […]
Arianism: Its Teaching and Rebuttal
Sudden chaos overtook Alexandria in 318. A riot broke out and people streamed into the street chanting, “There was a time when Christ was not!” Historical Background The slogan expressed […]
Know the Creeds and Councils (video)
In Know the Creeds and Councils, I introduce the church’s most important statements of faith over the centuries and explain why those statements still matter today.
Know the Heretics (video)
There is a lot of talk about heresy these days. The frequency and volume of accusations suggest that some Christians have lost a sense of the gravity of the word. […]