Forward Progress » Theology

Archive for the ‘Theology’ Category

When “Abba” Became “My God”

Posted by MK | Filed under Bible Study, Theology

Yahweh. We say it now with some casualness. It’s another name for God, albeit in another language. It’s become a helpful tool for sounding smart or spiritual – like a more official title for deity or something like that. Not so to the Hebrews. This was a holy name. THE holy name. The name that [...]

Does God Hate the Sin But Love the Sinner?

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

There are some of those statements that I’ve grown to accustomed to hearing – and saying – that I simply accept as true. Take this one, for instance: “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” Hmmm… I get the intention behind the statement. It’s meant to be a commentary about the love of God [...]

The Homosexuality Debate

Posted by MK | Filed under Current Events, Theology

Trevin does a great job with a difficult topic in writing this. This is how, according to him, the homosexuality debate should go during an interview with a pastor: Host: You are a Christian pastor, and you say you believe the Bible, which means you are supposed to love all people. Pastor: That’s right. Host: [...]

The Way You Listen Reveals the Way You Believe

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

Belief and action are two sides of the same coin. When James, in chapter 2, talks about how faith without works are dead, it should come as no surprise to us. Faith in anything, in any situation, in any moment, is followed by action. Or you could look at it another way – any action, [...]

What is True Greatness?

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

Well said, Jared Wilson: What is the message of the gospel? That the greatest good (God) offers the greatest action (love) to the greatest need (wrath-owed sinners) by sending the greatest treasure (Jesus) in the greatest invitation (to everyone) into the greatest life (everlasting). How is this not exciting?

Jesus, Pharisees, Mozart, and That Other Guy

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

Oh, how the Pharisees hated Jesus. They despised His teaching. They abhorred His choice of company. They detested His methods. They accused Him of blasphemy, demonic possession, and even treason. All of this animosity toward one man – it seems a bit much to me. After all, they were all Hebrews, and one would think [...]

Is Your Anger Righteous? Really?

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

We like to think so. We like to think we have the same motivation as Jesus who flipped over tables and cursed fig trees. But more times than not, we are angry not for righteous reasons, but because we had a certain plan about how a situation should unfold, and someone or something messed with [...]

Patience is Rooted in Faith

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

“Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry…” I sang that song when I was a kid. It extols patience as a virtue that we should pursue. It is, after all, one of the fruits of the Spirit – and who couldn’t do with a little bit more of any of those? But [...]

What’s Better Than the Answer to “Why”?

Posted by MK | Filed under Books, Theology

Last week, I posted the video trailer for my book, Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, and God. It seems there is a single line in that promotional video that is resonating with folks who have seen it. The statement goes something like this: “During times of great suffering, we think we want to [...]

Searching for Significance in the World’s Largest Paint Ball

Posted by MK | Filed under Theology

This is the “world’s largest ball of paint.” When Michael Carmichael’s son was three years old, he painted a baseball. Intrigued by the vibrant color and smooth coat (and inspired by his own youthful memories of layering paint), Michael and his son continued to add more and more paint, layer by layer, in various colors, [...]

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