Today’s message is Christmas-related, particularly about the providence of God in the birth of Jesus. Let’s start with that word: providence. It kind of sounds like the word provide, doesn’t it? And that’s not accidental. In essence, both words share the same idea of looking ahead and preparing for future needs. We often hear that … Continue reading The Providence of God in the Birth of Jesus
Few passages unsettle readers more than David’s census and the resulting plague recorded in 1 Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24. The account forces us to grapple with difficult truths: human sin, divine punishment, God’s sovereignty, Satan’s involvement, and the mystery of suffering. At first glance, the situation seems unfair—even harsh. Why would God punish … Continue reading Why So Harsh, God? The Census, the Plague, and the Problem of Evil
Welcome back to the second installment of our series - “Putting our Heads Together”. In the previous article, I discussed how many of our theological controversies stem from apparent contradictions in the bible, not unlike those that we jointly tackle when seeking solid answers for skeptics and seekers. I argued that we need to cultivate … Continue reading Putting Our Heads Together: Learning Theology Together the Way we Learn Apologetics Together (Part 2)
The other day, I answered a question about the apparent contradiction between Moses’s claim that Abraham did not know “Yahweh” (Ex 6:3) and earlier passages that claim Abraham did call on the name of “Yahweh” (Gen 12:8, 13:4). The truth is, the Bible does have some of these “surface level” contradictions that consume inquiring minds. … Continue reading Putting Our Heads Together: Learning Theology Together the Way we Learn Apologetics Together (Part 1)
So many debates between evangelical theological camps revolve around Theodicy, or the theological attempts to vindicate our omnipotent, omnibenevolent God from the problem of evil. Within this debate, the emphasis is often on the relationship of God’s predetermination and foreknowledge to evil. I am going to challenge that emphasis! Are Determinism and Foreknowledge Really the … Continue reading Glass Houses Throwing Stones: The Counterproductive Theodicy Debate Between Theology Camps
In these divisive times, Middle Ground Theology exists to humbly interact with historically debated theological issues, with a goal of appreciating common ground, brainstorming creative Biblical rapprochements, or simply demonstrating gracious disagreement. Our interaction is intentionally "quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:19). Our mantra is "In Essentials Unity, In … Continue reading The Mission of Middle Ground Theology
It was the year 1806. Five Williams College students, inspired by the Second Great Awakening, gathered for prayer. While they were meeting, a thunderstorm broke out, causing them to seek shelter under a haystack. It was there, through the fervent prayers of five youth, that the first official U.S. foreign missions organization was formed, an organization which … Continue reading Are We a Haystack?
The Middle Ground 