Bible, theology, culture, etc.
In 2001, researchers in Great Britain began working with 248 people to build better exercise habits over the course of two weeks. The subjects were divided into three groups. The first group was the control group. They were simply asked to track how often they exercised. The second group was the "motivation" group. They were asked not only to track … Continue reading A Plan for Spiritual Discipline
Does Art still matter today? In the vast tubes of the internet, I stumbled across this incredibly thought-provoking long-form essay, "Enter the Supersensorium: The Neuroscientific Case for Art in the Age of Netflix" by neuroscientist Erik Hoel. It is just over 7,000 words (about a 45-minute read), and wades into some dense neuroscientific jungles (gamma-aminobutyric … Continue reading Entertaining Ourselves to Death: The Supersensorium
Art, beauty, aesthetics--these do not provide much for us in the way of utility and functionality, at least if we are thinking of those terms in their strictest of definitions. And yet, God seems to have filled our world with an abundance of beauty. We are naturally drawn to create art, to order our world … Continue reading What’s the Point of Beauty?
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in December 2021* Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you … Continue reading Christmas Eve: A Weary World Rejoices (Matt 11:28-30)
While in seminary a professor of mine was teaching on the nature of authority and submission as it related to church members and pastors. He opened the discussion by reading passages about children's submission to their parents and then asking if a child was responsible to submit to their parents. Yes, we all agreed. He … Continue reading Headship, Submission, and Abuse (Pt. 1)
In the book of Revelation, aside from worship, the Church has two main functions in the world:- Testify to the truth of the Gospel- Be killed (Usually the first is what leads to the second) We can see this in a number of places (Rev 2:10, 13; 6:11; 11:4-13; 12:11; 13:7, 15). In the instance of … Continue reading Tempted to Despair? Don’t Be a Denethor
When Thomas More wrote his classic political satire, Utopia (1516), he had some fun with the title. The word "Utopia" is a play on words in Greek: topos means "place", and and the prefix eu- in Greek means "good," so an eutopia is a "good place." But, in Greek there is also the prefix ou- … Continue reading When Outopia Becomes Eutopia
What does the Bible tell us government is actually for? Is it exclusively for punishing criminals or waging war? Or is it responsible to provide societal benefits and infrastructure? I have been greatly helped in thinking through these issues by the writings of Jonathan Leeman (PhD, University of Wales), particularly his books How the Nations … Continue reading A Theology of the State
When I was younger, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies were releasing, and I remember someone recommending that I should try to read the books because they were far better. I (much to my later chagrin) responded, "Why read a book when you could just watch a movie?" For shame. For shame. If you know me now, … Continue reading 10 Tips to Become a Better Reader
In my previous article I wrote a summary of what I thought were the strongest arguments for a Christian resisting the vaccine mandate. I have argued elsewhere that aside from issues of conscience and health, if a Christian is under the vaccine mandate they should consent and be vaccinated. Many people helpfully responded that they … Continue reading Are Vaccine Mandates Unconstitutional?
Marc Sims 