In college one of my majors was broadcasting. As my classmates and I studied the media we learned, from the southern scholar Richard Weaver, that there are certain words or phrases that carry good thoughts or feelings beyond their literal meaning, and certain phrases that carry negative associations in the same way. ((See Joseph A. […]
A.G. Freed on Doubt
June 5, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Not long ago, I spoke to a group of teenagers and youth leaders on the subject of apologetics. I emphasized to them that we should take the evidence that God has given us and cease doubting. One of those in the audience criticized my presentation by saying that it was part of Christian growth to […]
Prayer from the Belly of a Fish
June 2, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Jonah was the hesitant prophet. He had a hard time wanting the Ninevites to be saved. The Ninevites were Assyrians, and Jonah doubtless knew that God’s prophets had foretold that the Assyrians would take Israel captive (see Isaiah 7:17; Hosea 9:3; 10:6,7; 11:5; cf. Nahum 3:1-4). Jonah had no interest in the Ninevites repenting and […]
March Madness: A Fundamental Lesson
March 27, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
I haven’t watched much college basketball this season (I’m more interested in the NBA). When I tuned in for March Madness last week, one aspect of the college game jarred me. Often the shooters do not get set—balanced evenly on their feet—before shooting. They are fading away from the basket, leaning to the left, leaning […]
Whose Law Did the Nazis Violate?
January 6, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Those who argue for the existence of God based on human morality have often cited a particular statement by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. His statement is particularly relevant because it came in the trial of Nazi war criminals at the close of World War II. The Nazi leaders had argued that they were […]
Does God Have Free Will?
November 11, 2013 by · 4 Comments
The Bible portrays God as having personal qualities that are both perfect and inalterable. ((Genesis 18:25; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)) That is, whatever personal qualities God has, He has them fully and He can in no way lose them. This is one way in which God’s infinity separates Him from finite creatures such as ourselves. […]
God’s Morality and Ours
October 31, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
One of the challenges to biblical morality, and one which has spurred much interesting discussion in values, is the so-called “Euthyphro dilemma,” which goes back to the Socratic dialogue called the Euthyphro. ((See Caleb Colley, “Why is Good Good?,” http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3601 (2010).)) The dilemma goes like this: Why is something good? Is it good (1) because […]
It’s Your Choice, and It’s God’s Too
October 28, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Christians often say things such as, “God is in control.” Certainly the Bible teaches that God is in control in the sense that He is capable of causing anything to happen that is logically possible and consistent with His will. ((See Caleb Colley, “The Omnipotence of God,” http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1397&topic=314 (2004).)) Concomitant with God’s control over the […]
A Response to Hume on General Revelation
October 24, 2013 by · 2 Comments
The 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume is noted for his empiricism and general skepticism, especially concerning the supernatural basis of religion. Like many of our friends and neighbors, Hume thinks it is vain to attempt to prove that God exists and that there is a future world of reward and punishment. In a lively reading from […]
Loving the Law
October 17, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
One of the traditionally American personality traits is independence. The desire for freedom from government oppression is good, but we must be careful that the same admirable quality that led to the war for independence in the 18th century does not also lead us to throw off the shackles of servitude to God. For example, […]