Why “Christianity,” “Judaism,” and “Islam” are Misnomers

I was sitting in my office the other day gazing rather absent-mindedly at my library when my eye caught a book I hadn’t looked at in a while: Handbook of Denominations in the United States. I had to get this book in seminary for a church history class. Back then it was 320 pages long and described 225...

There’s No Alternative to the Truth

I’m not one for wearing t-shirts with clever messages. I never wanted wanted a bumper sticker on my car, so why would I want one on my shirt? There is one exception, and it’s a really geeky exception. In fact, I call it my Bible-geek shirt. It says, “presuppositionless exegesis is IMPOSSIBLE.” Part of the...

The Power of Escalating Forgiveness

Practically everyone believes that violence is wrong, it is evil, and it is a huge problem all around the world. We long for peace that is real, that is lasting, and that is more than just an oasis in a desert of violence. We just can’t agree on what to do about it. Nor can we agree with what the Bible says...

“His Name Is John”

When the Bible makes a big deal about a baby’s name, you better pay attention. No, I’m not talking about Jesus, though his name is significant. It means, “Yahweh saves,” and is also the name of the man (Joshua) who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, which is not without its own significance. But for...

Census, Cradles, and the Cross

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of...

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