Calvin is more than the system of Calvinism created after his death. If we approach Calvin on the basis of our presuppositional ideas of Calvinism we are guilty of reductionism. In this longer introduction we aim to set the historical precedence for which Calvin wrote his Institutes. Calvin’s age is one marred by persecution and martyrdom at every turn. Our age is one of perilous uncertainties, my hope is one of encouragement. Calvin is by no means infallible or inerrant. Much like us. Let us open this treasure chest to find what wealth we may benefit in our own perilous times.

William Wilberforce is well remembered for his 20+ years fight in parliament to eradicate the slave trade within the British Empire. Less known is his lifelong battle with debilitating pain and sickness, his genuine pursuit to mortify the flesh and the importance of communion with God. This amazing work delves into the inner life and faith of Wilberforce by way of his unpublished spiritual journals. Ed. Michael D. McMullen has given the church a gift with this work. I have personally been blessed to sit under his professorship twice. I’m looking forward to a third course with him at the helm this Fall at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Grab a copy and get reading.

“Our day, not too unlike Andrew Fuller’s day, is full of churches with human made justifications for Gospel passivity. It is only by a commitment to the preeminence of Jesus Christ, by the Word of God, through the power of the Spirit by which the Church will move to overcome this doctrinal error and passivity. May the life of Andrew Fuller serve to motivate a desire to pursue Christ by His Word. For by the Word of God Fuller persisted. And by His grace may we learn from Fuller to endeavor the same.”

“The Mediaeval Christian Church sought to subdue Islam by the sword, Lull sought to win Islam by the love of Christ.”

The born-this-way argument has produced an unethical-argument for many people to affirm gender reassignment surgery for persons distressed by gender dysphoria (GD). They believe they are alleviating GD persons from suffering. While representing their argument with care and compassion, I will conclude gender reassignment surgery as unethical, and argue for a biblical sexual ethic as the better alternative to alleviate distress associated with GD.

Restlessness and discontentment with the person and worth of Christ abound. Barren hearts feast upon bread which does not satisfy. Humankind immerses herself in dark depths in hopes to procure fulfillment. She is destitute. And yet amidst this burgeoning historical moment, Jesus is still King. Jesus is still preeminent over all things. Disillusionment and despair meet their end where Christ and the church glory in mutual satisfaction in one another. The discipline of fasting is often disregarded and/or misunderstood in its spiritual appropriation in aiding this end. Therefore, we will briefly evaluate the theological role of fasting in Scripture, wrestle briefly with our spiritual warfare and fasting, concluding with how Christ coming satisfies the church’s yearning for His’ presence now and anticipates His’ return eagerly.

The following is a usable, working, freely adjustable resource outline for a biblical understanding of the church and disability inclusion.

The following is a usable, working, freely adjustable resource outline for an inclusive theology of disability.

Though methodology vary, repentance, prayer, fasting, loving one another, and all therein lies obedience to Jesus, is not theory. In fact, obedience to God’s Word is literally the most pragmatic thing we can do. Obedience to God is proof of worship.

I have no interest to condemn those committed to Christian social-justice; I served on foreign mission fields for more than thirteen-years, premising the greatest social-injustice of all, people group’s without access to Jesus’ Gospel. What I wish to do is show how works can be the very thing distracting us from intimacy with God.

It is clear from Scripture, God sends judgement as a means to move the human heart toward repentance and awe of Himself in Jesus Christ.

John traded his temporal life for the crown of life given to those who are faithful unto death; those who love the increase of Christ more than the increase of self.

Paul’s roadside encounter had a significant impact on his salvific experience. Ephesians 1:1 reads: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” Paul’s conception of saving faith is founded on an undeserved mercy of the revelation of Christ. He was hellbent on destroying the Church, thereby, Paul’s roadside revelation had no forethought or season of consideration. Like a person struck by unexpected lightening, Saul become Paul. That is to say, in Paul’s case, his free-will was abruptly violated in order that he might be born again into the everlasting hope of Christ.

Acknowledgment of one’s fickle emotions, our subsequent addiction to gratify the flesh amidst pain and perplexity, this is the beginning of maturing one’s affections in a godly manner.

When we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus. 2:13), we are waiting as though a bride is awaiting her wedding day.

The convenient escapism-mentality which is comfortable with a secret rapture of Gentiles, an expense of leaving Israel “left behind” to inherit epochal suffering by persecution and mass-martyrdom, namely, is an outrageous claim not supported by Scripture.

The American Evangelical allusion which imagines an escapism mentality from the Great Tribulation, in many ways is disconnected from the overwhelming suffering of tribulation experienced by the global Church already. Americans are not accustomed to suffering marginalizing injustice, persecution, or martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. The pretribulation rapture theory is a Western pipe-dream.

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus…” There is no pretribulation Rapture in this prophecy.

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.”

Matthew 24 is concise and clear, the Church will be present for the Tribulation. There is nothing in this language which indicates an escape from the tribulation of those days, to which pretribulationist assume. This means, regardless of America’s current socio/political crisis, as it were, no one may assume an immediate rapture may take place.