Godliness is Manliness

When we open any discussion on theology, there are several things we must consider: church history, catechisms, the writings of historical theologians, etc. However, the one common basis of all theology is the Bible, or at least it should be. But what is the Bible? How was it compiled? Most importantly, why do we believe what is in the Bible? Given these questions, it should come at no surprise that there is a great deal of theology pertaining to the Bible itself. In order to understand and believe any theological concepts, we have to understand and believe the basis from where theology even comes from.  What is the Bible? The first step in affirming our belief in scripture is to understand what the Bible is. Everyone knows that the Bible is the religious text the Christians use to practice their faith. The important question to ask is what is the Bible to Christians?  As stated before, it should be seen as something to guide our thinking in theological terms. Without scriptur...

Introduction To This Series As the first Thursday of the new year, I decided this would be a good week to launch a new series for this year. As I prayed and pondered about what to cover, I found that a lot of people didn't have a firm understanding of the theological framework that shapes the beliefs of the modern church. So I decided to start a one year series looking at common theological concepts so you can understand the foundations of your church's beliefs, but I will also look at theological beliefs of other denominations I don't belong to. This is so that you can have a thorough understanding of all different schools of thought in Christianity and understand where other denominations derive their beliefs and customs.  Some of the topics I intend to cover include sovereignty, reformed theology, Calvinism, Zionism, eschatology and baptism. The intention is to release a new lesson each month.  Disclaimer: I will be at times discussing theological concepts that I don...

Greeting y'all. While I've pondered and prayed about the future of this blog, I think I've come up with some interesting ideas for blog series. These are described below: 1. History Lesson - This is the series I am most excited about as I am not the one writing it. I am happy to announce that we have a new contributor! Austin Sprinkles, a law student at UK with a college degree in history, will be the lead contributor in this series. 2. Theology Thursday - One Thursday a month, I will be discussing a common or misunderstood theology concept. We should seek to understand these concepts as they are the basis for all doctrines. That being said, I will also be exploring some more obscure theological concepts so that we can sympathize with other denominations as well and be able to understand why they worship the way that they do.  3. Highlighted Hymn - We will be highlighting one classic hymn a month, exploring the inspiration and meanings in the songs. There is much that can b...

 “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.” In the midst of an incredibly difficult year, these words seem to hearken back to a better time in our nation’s history. These words were not written in a prosperous time, but rather in the midst of the most difficult crisis America has ever faced: the American Civil War. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln wrote these words establishing the American tradition of Thanksgiving that lasts to this very day. Even compared with this year, 1863 didn’t seem like a year filled with blessings, especially for Abraham Lincoln. The two costliest battles of the Ame...

Today, devotionals are one of the essential tools for a Christian looking to grow in their understanding of scripture. Despite this, I have yet to review one, but that changes today. For my first devotional review, I chose the one that I am currently reading. This book was given to me as a parting gift from RUF this past Spring. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this at the break of dawn every morning and I think that you will too.  Author: Tim Keller (and his wife Kathy) are well known authors to most Christians. His works are constantly being recommended to me by both pastors and readers of this blog. Before I began this devotional, I read countless excerpts from his other works like "The Reason for God" and the "Meaning of Marriage." If you are looking to read any Christian books, Tim Keller is always a good author to start with.  Theme/Message: This devotional is solely about the Psalms, though Keller often pulls passages from other Books to give context and mod...

Take a minute and picture Society's ideal Christian. Regardless of your background, a stable marriage was probably within the first five things that came into your mind. Christianity puts such emphasis on the importance of marriage, and rightfully so. God delights in the union of two people to become one through marriage (Genesis 2:24; Ecclesiastes 4:9). There is an entire book of the Bible (Song of Solomon) dedicated to the wedding night and beauty of love between a man and a woman. Clearly, marriage is portrayed in scripture as a significant event that ought to be honored. However, this importance of marriage often leads to the placement of heavy expectations on the young people of the church. The expectation is often that one should be married in their early 20s so they fit that image of the "typical" Christian and can begin a family in the near future. Unfortunately, this leads to many young people questioning their self-worth when they remain single into their mid-to...

As I was rereading this book to prepare for this review, I was saddened to hear the news of the recent passing of the great author and theologian J.I. Packer. As such, this review feels like a proper way to honor the memory of a man that has delivered the Word to millions worldwide and encouraged countless believers to grow in their faith.  Author: My first introduction to J.I. Packer's work was this book. We were required to read it as members of the student leadership team for my campus ministry, RUF. As I researched his life, I began to realize the massive impact he has had on the global evangelical movement. Despite his membership in the Anglican Church, he sought to strengthen Christians of all denominations.  While I have personally never read any of his works outside of Knowing God, I can say that any book he has written is a good choice. Though I don't think any are as fundamental to the Christian life as Knowing God, I think if you are looking for a book by a reputabl...