When we are at our best, Christians display “unity in the essentials, liberty in the non-essentials and charity in all things.” Often attributed to St. Augustine, this motto actually comes from a Lutheran named Rupertus Meldenius, who wrote during the 30 Years’ War (1618-1648), a bloody conflict stoked with religious tensions (http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/essentials-unity-non-essentials-liberty-all-things/). I do not […]
If you’re tracking with this series, this is part three of the question: “How should we read it?” In previous posts I have argued that Genesis should be read as theological history within the context of the Pentateuch. It is not a science text book, but when it speaks about matters of history and science, […]
As a little boy I was fascinated by dinosaurs. I especially liked the T-Rex, muscle bound in haunches and tale and outfitted with a jagged maw. The sharp teeth of these predators cut into my imagination, so much so that I had to ask my mom if they were mentioned in the Bible. With so […]
The book of Genesis has long fascinated people of all ages. As a kid I remember opening the family Bible and staring at the artistic renditions of creation, Adam and Eve (fig leaves appropriately positioned to cover their privates) and the waters of the deluge. Genesis is foundational to the Bible’s big story and the […]
Nearly every culture has a creation story. Most of them are myth-laden fairy tales, but they make good reading. In Greek mythology, there was nothing but chaos in the beginning, until somehow, the earth (Gaia) emerged and gave birth to the Sky. They made a bunch of babies (six male Titans and six female Titans). […]
“Leaving Nazareth, [Jesus] went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan,Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those […]