Antisemitism in the Bible? Considering Matthew 27 on Holocaust Remembrance Day
[Note: This article first appeared in a shortened version on The Washington Times’ “Higher Ground” section.] Is the New Testament antisemitic? That is certainly the charge you might hear in recent decades and read online. The charge takes on added urgency given the recent attacks on Israel and consequent war in Gaza. And the charge […]
The All-Seeing, All-Knowing, All-Searching Love of God
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people –robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Luke 18:11-12 I once heard a story about Charles Spurgeon that, apocryphal or not, says something […]
Christianity Is Salt for the Masses
Christianity is the opiate of the masses according to German philosopher Karl Marx. Many of us around the country will hear this phrase uttered during Christmas celebrations by our nephew, on break after his first semester at college. What your fresh revolutionary means is that the powerful use Christianity as a way of keeping the […]
Ehrman vs. Ehrman: Who is the Son of Man?
I’m confused. In a recent interview with Alex O’Connor, formerly known as the “Cosmic Skeptic,” critical New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman made a startling claim about a beloved Bible story where Jesus forgives sins and heals a paralytic man (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26). In this narrative, a paralytic man sought Jesus for physical […]
Arise, Hope
The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness. -Vladimir Nabakov[i] Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home,— Lead thou me on! […]
Science DESTROYED Faith? The Curious Case of Nicolaus Copernicus
Up in the mornin’ Out on the job Work like the devil for my pay But that lucky old sun has nothin’ to do But roll ‘round heaven all day -Bob Dylan, 2015[i] Full Moons rise at sunset & set at sunrise. New moons rise at sunrise & set at sunset, but the lit […]
Not So Fast, Bart Ehrman: Jesus and Peregrinus, twinsies?
Is there anything worse than being unoriginal? Our culture has been cultivating the image of the ultimate free spirit over many decades now: the rugged individuals, taking on the world by themselves. The mavericks. The influencers. Who recalls the famous scene from Good Will Hunting where Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, must defend the […]
Did Curiosity Kill the Christian?
“You’re just burying your head in the sand!” Have you ever been accused of this? When a person of one belief can’t convince a person of a different belief to change his or her mind, the unsuccessful persuader might use this phrase to imply that the fault lies not in their incredible powers of argumentation […]
Jesus Was Born: How Then Shall We Live?
Every year Christmas comes and Christmas goes. When I was a child, it felt like I waited all year for Christmas. And then for a few glorious hours I was opening presents, throwing wrapping paper on the floor, throwing new socks over my shoulder and out of my mind, and throwing food—my favorite was always […]
The Paradox of Christmas | Advent Devotional 3
Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place […]
