The Divine View of Death
How does God, the Creator of human life, view death? Certainly not in the way many humans do. What does the Bible say about the matter?
The Philanthropic Nature of Christianity
The arrival of Christianity provided refreshing encouragement of love-of-fellowman to a time that was marked by the lack of philanthropy.
Why People Quit Church
Why do people say they have decided to quit the church?
Why Does Romans 10:9-10 Not Mention Baptism?
A sincere student wants to know how one can read Romans 10:9-10, which mentions only faith and confession, and then contend that baptism is essential to salvation. Wayne Jackson discusses the “analogy of faith” principle.
The Tongue: One of Man’s Most Dangerous Weapons
The human tongue is a dangerous weapon and exceedingly difficult to control. Let us consider some various forms of speech condemned in Scripture.
What Is a Missionary Society?
What is a missionary society? Some Christians carelessly throw that designation around, labeling perfectly legitimate works with this pejorative expression.
The Christian Courier
For more than forty years Wayne Jackson served as editor of the Christian Courier. In this brief article, he provides a brief history of how this effort was born.
Justified by Faith
Romans 5:1-2 is a beautiful text, so filled with meaning. Unfortunately, it has been terribly misunderstood by many. Study this sacred passage with us.
Paul’s Discourse to the Elders at Ephesus
As Paul concludes his third missionary journey, he pauses at Miletus to meet with the elders of the church in Ephesus. His words are filled with admonition and exhortation, and they contain many wonderful truths needed by today’s church. This month’s Feature deals with the apostle’s address.
Crushing the Serpent’s Head: The Meaning of Genesis 3:15
In Genesis 3:15, God announces that the serpent’s head will be crushed by the seed of woman. What is the meaning of this intriguing prophecy in the book of Genesis?
Killers Killing Killers
Murder is always a despicable act.
Timothy McVeigh’s “Invictus”
Timothy McVeigh is dead. His ashes were secretly deposited into Earth’s bowels, to return to the dust whence they came (Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 12:7). His soul has entered a new domain where there is no place for arrogance, defiance, or “coping” with the environment (Lk. 16:23ff).
The Music-Authority Issue—Again
In response to a recent article in which we argued that instrumental music in Christian worship is without divine authority, a critic replied by suggesting that we practice many things in Christianity that are bereft of authority. One example he cited was the use of Bible translations. In this week’s Penpoints, we refute this baseless quibble.
In What Sense is Humanity in the Image of God?
The Bible speaks of humankind as being in the “image” of God (Gen. 1:26). In what sense is the term, “image,” employed in this text?
Ishmael or Isaac? The Koran or the Bible?
Did Abraham offer Ishmael or Isaac? The Bible and the Koran differ on this issue. Which book is really divine revelation? Does it matter?
If We Never Meet Again
In a farewell to the Ephesian elders, Paul reminded the brethren of his life and ministry among them (Acts 20:18-21). In what Paul believed to be his last opportunity to see them, he recollected former days to encourage their fidelity in the future.
Atheism: The “Church” of Amorality
How do atheists determine what is moral or immoral? While they frequently claim there is a “standard,” closer examination reveals that the name of the game is “make up your own rules.”
President Obama Calls for Debate on Abortion
On May 17, 2009, President Obama called for a sensible debate on abortion during his commencement speech at Notre Dame University. However, when he was asked directly, “At what point does a baby get human rights?” by Rick Warren, the President ducked with the best of them: “that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.”
The Assault upon Mark 16:16
The denominational community has long assaulted Mark 16:16 due to the simplicity of the passage in including baptism as a preliminary condition of salvation. Now, such attacks are coming even from certain “change agents” within the body of Christ. This article highlights one such recent effort.
Who Is a Christian?
The appellation of “Christian” is widely used as a category of people. But who, in fact, is (and who is not) a Christian?