Counting the Cost of Christian Resistance in an Age of Biblical Illiteracy

Counting the Cost of Christian Resistance in an Age of Biblical Illiteracy

The Bible is a practical book. It deals with the real world. It’s not a book of magic or wishful thinking. It’s a rubber-meets-the-road reality check. This is why Jesus told His disciples to count the cost before embarking on a task: “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? [...]

What the Church Gave Up to be 'Relevant'

What the Church Gave Up to be 'Relevant'

John Webster (1610–1682), writing in 1654, stated, “But if man gave his assent unto, or believed the things of Christ … because they appear probable … to his reason, then would his faith be … upon the rotten basis of human authority.” When the full-orbed biblical worldview is given up for some claim to neutrality and unaided reason, the center collapses and the edifice falls i [...]

What Most Premils Don’t Know About Israel

What Most Premils Don’t Know About Israel

What identifies a premillennialist — classical and dispensational — is that the Jews that survive the Great Tribulation will reign with Jesus from Jerusalem during the thousand years of Revelation 20. This is the definition, and yet, Revelation 20 does not say anything about the Jews reigning on earth with Jesus from Jerusalem in what is described as a millennial paradise. Once again, we have a do [...]

Calvinism, Premill, Postmill, and Israel

Calvinism, Premill, Postmill, and Israel

In 2007, John MacArthur delivered “Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist is a Premillennialist” at the March 2007 Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church. The premise of MacArthur’s talk was based on the everlasting covenant with Israel. MacArthur, who believes in “sovereign election” as it relates to individual salvation, is surprised that many of his sovereign grace colleagues who are amil [...]

The Nagging Persistence of Failed Eschatologies

The Nagging Persistence of Failed Eschatologies

As happens at least once a week, I get involved in a discussion concerning eschatology. What’s happening in Afghanistan and the push for a global reset is bringing out the prophecy pundits. The following comment caught my attention: Do you also blame the Roman empire on the present-day rush towards globalism, a global digital currency, and a global government? how does Nero factor into what [...]

Why ‘Americanism’ Is Failing

Why ‘Americanism’ Is Failing

After 20 years of American involvement in Afghanistan, with trillions of dollars spent on preparing the Afghan people for self-government under a constitutionally formed government, it was all lost in less than a week. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the “lack of resistance” on the part of the Afghan army that America trained for 20 years “extremely disconcerting,” according to CNN. “They ha [...]

Throwing Elephants for Fun and Profit

Throwing Elephants for Fun and Profit

What does it mean to “throw the elephant”? A person responds to an argument by dumping loads of seemingly relevant information on it, calls the dump a “refutation,” and declares himself to be the winner, all the while hoping his opponent won’t notice how faulty much of the information is. The internet has made throwing the elephant a favorite tactic of anti-Christian bigots. It used to be that a r [...]

Mark of the Beast, 666, and Signs of the Times

Mark of the Beast, 666, and Signs of the Times

With COVID-19, mask mandates, compulsory vaccinations, some are speculating that we could be entering the era of the Mark of the Beast and the (always) “rapture of the church.” Revelation 13 is not about vaccinations. For those who claim to interpret the Bible literally, we would be seeing the number 666 everywhere. I’d be willing to wager that there are some prophecy pundits right now who are try [...]

Simone Biles Tumbles Over Abortion 'Logic'

Simone Biles Tumbles Over Abortion 'Logic'

Simone Biles has made her views known on killing unborn babies, what euphemistically is called being “pro-choice.” She asked her Instagram followers to share “unpopular” opinions. Some brave soul responded with the opinion that “abortion is wrong,” and Biles responded. The following is from The Christian Post “I already know this is going to start the biggest argument & may even lose followers [...]

Some of My Favorite Sci-Fi Films

Some of My Favorite Sci-Fi Films

Many science fiction films breed optimism. They lay out what’s possible. Technology is good if used for the right reasons. There is generally a theme of good and evil. Some older sci-fi films dealt with technology gone wrong like in The Fly or Them. Others have a moral bent to them as in The 27th Day based on the novel by John Mantley. Films trying to depict the signs of the times are said to be f [...]

Should We Take the Law into Our Own Hands?

Should We Take the Law into Our Own Hands?

Some Christians are asking when is it right to fight against the existing civil power structure. Consider the following: The new George Washington University poll conducted by YouGov between June 4 and June 23 [2021] asked 1,753 registered voters if a time will come when “patriotic Americans have to take the law into their own hands.” The poll found that 47% of Republicans agreed that there would [...]

The Bible’s Answer to Critical Race Theory

The Bible’s Answer to Critical Race Theory

My wife and I watched a video of a white police officer who stopped a black man for driving “under the speed limit” that took place in February 2020. Ace Perry had the good sense to turn on his camera phone to record the injustice. You must watch this: The officer is an idiot and should be fired. Driving five miles per hour under the speed limit? There is no such traffic violation. [...]

Charles Colson, Reconstructionism, and Biblical Law

Charles Colson, Reconstructionism, and Biblical Law

For years, prominent Christians have been critical of applying Old Testament law to the New Testament era even though Jesus (Mark 7:1–9) and the Apostle did (Rom. 13:8–10; 1 Cor 5:1–2; 9:9; 1 Tim. 1:6–10; 5:18). It’s not always clear how the OT law might apply in the New Testament, but there is no justification to say that NT writers don’t often apply it (2 Tim. 3:16–17). Charles Colson, who serve [...]

Political Tyranny and the Story of Henry Box Brown

Political Tyranny and the Story of Henry Box Brown

I’ve been working on the topic of Civil Disobedience for a talk I’m giving at a conference in LaGrange, Georgia, on October 1. There are too many Christians who believe they can win a shooting war with the United States government. Pres. Biden was right. To take on our government, we would need “F-15s and maybe some nuclear weapons.” This was a terrible thing to say. It gives the impression that P [...]

Congresswomen Want Muslim American Heritage Month

Congresswomen Want Muslim American Heritage Month

“As we continue to see an uptick in anti-Muslim hate, it is important we recognize the resiliency and accomplishments of Muslim Americans with a formal resolution,” Rep. Ilhan Omar claimed. Reps. Omar and Rashida Tlaib, and other leftists want to designate July as Muslim American Heritage Month. President Obama claimed that “Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding.” [...]

"Nothing You Say Will Convince Me"

"Nothing You Say Will Convince Me"

In my previous article (“A Seismic Shift in Eschatology Has Begun”), the letter writer begs the question by assuming dispensationalism is true, biblically foundational, and has a long and respected historical pedigree. He doesn’t argue for these positions; he simply states them as fundamental, self-evident truths. His arguments, such as they are, are similar to those used by evolutionists, global [...]

A Seismic Shift in Eschatology Has Begun

A Seismic Shift in Eschatology Has Begun

Similar to the way there is a fundamental shift taking place in the realm of theology by a reconsideration of Calvinism,[1] a seismic shift is taking place in eschatology. Eschatology is the study of the “last things.” The more popular terminology is “Bible prophecy.” There are numerous schools of thought on the subject. The most popular version—dispensational premillennialism—teaches that certain [...]

The 'Noble Lie' of Modern Ethics

The 'Noble Lie' of Modern Ethics

If with God all things are possible, then without Him all things are permissible. Few materialistic sophisticates want to believe that there is no justice and everything is permissible. They don’t want to believe in moral anarchy so they create a “moral fiction.” Loyal D. Rue, a professor of religion and philosophy at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, is honest enough to admit, given his materialis [...]

The Stillbirth of Eschatology and Its Dangers

The Stillbirth of Eschatology and Its Dangers

Why is it that so much technological advancement developed in the Christian West? Consider a few examples: The first working telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell. The cumbersome device had no delivery system, wires, phones, or switching system. Who would you call? And yet today, we carry phones in our pockets and purses that are smaller than a deck of cards, need no wires or ope [...]

Fight, Laugh, Feast Conference

Fight, Laugh, Feast Conference

The second Fight, Laugh, Feast Conference will be held September 9–11 at the Farm Bureau Exposition Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, east of Nashville. Gary DeMar will be discussing the topic of “The Eschatology of Sex.“Also, American Vision will be having a large display of books — new and out of print — for sale. Sex is inherently political. What you do in the privacy of the bedroom nev [...]