Perhaps another way to clearly note the differences between the Reformation view and the Roman Catholic view of justification is to pay attention to Aristotelian categories of causation. The rediscovery of Aristotle was important to the development of the Western Christian tradition.[1] In terms of justification, Catholic theology differentiates between at least four causes of…
I sat down in the hallway, exhausted. I had finally put all four children down for a nap after a very difficult morning. One child was screaming and crying in protest, throwing things at me from his bed. I released a deep sigh, trying to shut out the screaming, and opened my Bible. I sat…
Recently, I was captivated with To the Golden Shore, a biography of Adoniram Judson, one of the first American missionaries. His story is rife with suffering and yet his life is still having an impact centuries later. Adoniram had already experienced the death of his first wife and three children by the time he penned…
I do not believe that the hardships we face in this world are random. Instead, I believe in (and assume in this post) a meticulously sovereign God. Everything in this universe falls under the guidance and control of divine providence. No roll of dice is outside of God’s design (Prov 16:33); no sparrow falls to…
“What a waste of talent.” I sank in my chair. I tried thinking of a compelling response as my professor continued to express his disappointment when he learned I would be going into the ministry rather than pursuing a career in social psychology. He could not fathom why I would ever waste my talent and…
By Dave Zuleger, Lead Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church (south campus) Grumbling is Natural Grumbling happens naturally for most of us. The circumstances of our lives collide with our expectations, hopes, and dreams and in our hearts, we begin our fist-shaking. I’m often tempted to excuse my grumbling heart by saying things like, “It’s just…
*This post is written by Dave Zuleger. I’d encourage you to stop and read Psalm 139 and take in the vastness of the sovereign knowledge of the God of the universe. Verses 1-6 affirm that the LORD knows what we do, where we are, what we think, and what we will say before it even…
When you genuinely strive toward faithfulness in your leadership, friendships, counseling situations, or evangelistic opportunities, you can’t shake the discouragement when those to whom you minister meet you with blank stares or hard hearts. While working toward faithfulness, every Christian will come to a point where they feel they are failing. Disappointment often follows when…
Good paintings tell stories. Think of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. It tells the story of Jesus and his disciples sitting down for the final meal before the crucifixion. Jesus would drink the Passover cup before being sacrificed as the Passover lamb. The good news of Jesus is more than a story. But it’s not…
Recently my family and I used an Applebee’s gift card someone had given us for Pastor Appreciation Month. As we sat down, I started to think about my Sunday sermon and the title. The title contained the word renovation. This word makes me think about those people who go into older or established houses and…
Theology Along the Way 