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The Kalam Cosmological Argument By Philip Cottraux The Big Bang has been greatly mischaracterized as an atheist explanation for how the universe begin. Unfortunately, in most people’s minds, the phrase is synonymous with natural scientific explanations for the origin of the cosmos, disputing the creation account of the Bible. This is based on both a lack of understanding of the theory’s true history as well as years of secularist indoctrination, especially in public schools. The more I research history, the more I find instances where atheists have either lied about it or seized credit for something they were originally opposed...

The Hiding Place Hail, sovereign love, which first began The scheme to rescue fallen man! Hail, matchless, free, eternal grace, That gave my soul a Hiding Place! Against the God who built the sky I fought with hands uplifted high, Despised the mention of His grace, Too proud to seek a Hiding Place. Enwrapt in thick Egyptian night, And fond of darkness more than light, Madly I ran the sinful race, Secure without a Hiding Place. But thus the eternal counsel ran: "Almighty love, arrest that man!" I felt the arrows of distress, And found I had no hiding place....

What does it mean to be called to ministry? What does the Bible say about men and women in ministry? Who are the examples in the Bible of being called to ministry? What are the practical tools to help you pursue God’s call for your life? Bible Gateway interviewed Kristen Padilla (@kristenpadilla) about her book, Now That I’m Called: A Guide for Women Discerning a Call to Ministry (Zondervan, 2018).What does the Bible say about ministerial calling?Kristen Padilla: Scripture is not a ministerial calling textbook. However, we can extrapolate from Scripture a loose definition of a ministerial calling. Humans were...

The Three Supernovas By Philip Cottraux Atheists used to believe the universe was eternally pre-existing and static. By rejecting the biblical creation account, they couldn’t accept the idea of a universe that had a beginning. Bertrand Russell, Charles Darwin, and at one time even Einstein labored under this philosophy. The idea of the whole universe condensed to a small state whose expansion was triggered by a colossal explosion was first proposed by a Catholic priest, Georges LeMaitres. The idea seemed so preposterous that astronomer Fred Hoyle first coined the phrase “big bang” as a term of ridicule. But two years...

Let us begin with a church history exam question. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, he wrote: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .” ...How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies? ...What he wrote was: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is assurance.” A moment’s reflection explains why. If justification is not by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone —...

The World Gets Worse, But Victory Is Just Ahead By Philip Cottraux August is interesting. As summer draws to a close, the days get shorter and the shadows longer, and one starts to expect cooler temperatures. Technically the temperatures are higher in July, but August feels hotter. The sun seems brighter and the hot air is somehow more searing as it beats down on you. Summer almost seems to throw out everything it has, burning hotter than ever in its dying gasps. The same thing happens every March. After three long months of bitter cold, I can’t wait for spring...

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.( I John 3:11-15)Love...

Recently, PJ Media published a piece purporting to demonstrate that three Biblical passages refer to the crucifixion of the Messiah. The piece erroneously refers to all three of these passages as “prophecies,” and wrenches them out of context in the attempt to make the point. I have been asked to offer a response indicating what these passages really mean.The first, which is not a “prophecy,” is Psalms XXII, 16-18. The salient passage is actually at the end of verse 17, which the author renders as follows: “They have pierced my hands and my feet.” On the basis of this...

This is a delicate question, as it exposes one of the fundamental differences between the Christian outlook and the Jewish one. As far as I understand the Christian concept, it runs something like this: Ever since the expulsion of the first man and woman from Eden, the world has been “fallen” and all subsequent human beings have been born inherently sinful, guilty from the moment of birth as a result of the first man’s disobedience of G-d’s commandment not to eat of the ‘Etz haDa‘ath Tov vaRa -- usually translated “the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” The...

Pelagius (A.D. 360-418) denied Biblical teaching about original sin. He thought people could do good without being born again. Allies and opponents described him as highly educated, fluent in Latin and Greek, and portly. (The theologian Jerome, an ascetic, described Pelagius as “stuffed with Irish porridge.”) In Christian history he’s best-known for his takedown by Jerome and by Augustine, who followed the Bible in arguing that we are helpless sinners from birth and desperately in need of Christ’s grace. Church assemblies -- the 15th Council of Carthage in 411, the First Council of Ephesus in 431, etc. -- condemned Pelagianism,...

Now, let us begin by answering the question which our sermon topic raises: Can a Christian be a communist? I answer that question with an emphatic “no.” These two philosophies are diametrically opposed. The basic philosophy of Christianity is unalterably opposed to the basic philosophy of communism, and all of the dialectics of the logician cannot make them lie down together. They are contrary philosophies. Now, there are at least three reasons why I feel obligated as a Christian minister to talk to you about communism. The first reason grows out of the fact that communism is having widespread influence...

A Promise of Vindication Jesus did not leave the apostles without comfort. He said: "Therefore do not fear them" (v. 26a). But then he added, "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known" (v.26b), and that seems to be another worrisome thought. There is a story about a prankster who lived in a small town. He sent identical letters to twenty prominent businessmen and leaders in the community. The letters simply said, "All is known. Flee at once." All twenty of those men left town by the next day. The point...

A story by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski and Nathan McDermott published on Thursday features a video showing former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore suggesting the September 11, 2001 terror attacks may have taken place because the country had distanced itself from God. Moore, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, made the remarks at the Open Door Baptist Church in Enterprise, AL in February. He read from Isaiah 30:12-13 and made the connection.

3 Lines in the Sand from Stephen Nichols Aug 04, 2017 Category: Articles At the turn of the twentieth century, the sciences supposedly knew better than the Bible. Now, the social sciences supposedly know better than the Bible. And we are seeing this new world-view presented artfully and entertainingly through a barrage of media and in the halls of the academy. A casual watcher and listener will be exposed to countless gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, acts, and ideas—and all without ever leaving mainstream media outlets. These are the times we live in (see TheStateofTheology.com).These challenges have a cumulative effect. They...

Over and across the entire denominational spectrum of the church, theistic evolutionists, progressive creationists, gap theorists, and Teilhardians argue that Genesis 1 is not an essential Christian doctrine. This stance however, misrepresents what's at stake – the inerrancy, authority, and clarity of Scripture. Even many Reformed theologians who have enshrined sola Scriptura in their doctrine statements have allowed their seminaries and churches to be infiltrated by compromised views of Genesis 1

We are living inside a Universe that’s so complex that if we can grasp what’s happening for a moment, we’ll fall down on our knees and cry in surrender to its marvelous beauty! Science just barely starts to scratch the surface to the nature of reality and still, its discoveries are more shocking than we were able to imagine. It proves of quantum entanglement, unified field of consciousness, free energy, superhuman abilities, singularity, parallel universes and alternate realities. All of this is so mind boggling that you would never think a kid can understand. But maybe we need a kid,...

Peek behind the curtain of some "progressive" or "hip" evangelical churches, past the savvy technology and secular music, and you will find more than just a contemporary worship service. You'll find faith leaders encouraging young evangelicals to trade in their Christian convictions for a gospel filled with compromise. They're slowly attempting to give evangelicalism an "update"—and the change is not for the good. It's painful for me to admit, but we can no longer rest carefree in our evangelical identity—because it is changing. No doubt you have seen the headlines declaring that evangelicalism is doomed because evangelical kids are leaving...

What Does Jesus Mean by Calling Us Evil? Msgr. Charles Pope • March 9, 2017 • In the Gospel for today’s Mass (Thursday of the First Week of Lent) Jesus says,If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him? (Mt 7:11)A similar verse occurs in the Gospel of Luke: If you then, though you are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit...

The book The Shack has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and has been translated into numerous languages, so it’s not a surprise that Hollywood has decided to cash in on its popularity with a blockbuster movie. While the book is marketed as a “Christian novel” and the movie is marketed to Christians, it simply isn’t based on Biblical Christianity. In fact, it’s full of heresy. The number of Christians who are singing its praises is evidence of the lack of discernment prevalent in American Evangelicalism. What’s even more concerning is that many Christian pastors and teachers are endorsing the...

You have heard it said that there was a big bang in the beginning, but I tell you it is the end that begins with a bang. Specifically speaking, the end of this age will commence at the sound of a trumpet blast and a great shout, a command from one who gathers his troops for battle. At this time there will be war under the banner of "peace." The kingdom of God will be at hand, and there will be the merging of realms, the unveiling of a false king and, ultimately, the return of Israel's true King and rightful Heir...