What You Can Depend On
You can’t depend on the world. You can’t depend on the economy. You certainly can’t depend on politics or politicians. You can’t depend on the favors people owe you (or what you think they owe you). You can’t depend on your next sale or paycheck. You can’t depend on your mom beating cancer. You can’t […]
Lent, the Samaritans, and Colossians
Recently, someone wrote to ask about Lent. “My friend is celebrating Lent. She asked her pastor about it, and he told her, ‘If it makes you feel closer to God, then do it.’” I would have given the opposite advice. It reminds me of the Samaritans. The Samaritans were a mixed-breed people with a mixed-breed […]
Saving Faith Debated in Scotland in 1720
People often ask who believed in Free Grace before us? There are hints here and there through history. One source of Free Grace type beliefs came from the Marrow Controversy in Scotland in the 18th century. William VanDoodewaard wrote his doctoral dissertation about the Marrow Controversy and published it as The Marrow Controversy and Seceder […]
Eating at the King’s Table Forever (2 Samuel 9)
What is grace? Here’s an illustration from the Old Testament, from 2 Samuel 9. Jonathan, son of Saul, was King David’s best friend. After Jonathan died, David wanted to show kindness to someone in Jonathan’s family: “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for […]
J. A. Wood’s Perfect Love on Justification
Doing theology is hard. Interpreting the Bible is hard. It is hard for several reasons, including confirmation bias. We tend to seek out and selectively retain information that confirms what we already believe. Confirmation bias can, therefore, distort your reading of the Bible. It happens to all of us. It is best to be aware […]
How to Apply “Lay Down Your Life” (1 John 3:16-17)
Christians are called to love each other. But what is love? You might know it when you see it. Specifically, John says that our model is Jesus: We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16a). Love is sacrificial. Love acts. It acts for the good of the […]
God Is Rich (Eph 2:4, 7)
Tax refund season is coming up. Are you hoping for a nice return from the government? It makes you feel rich, doesn’t it? What will you spend it on? Did you know that God is rich? And more importantly, He likes to spend! By contrast, the Ephesians were poor. In fact, in a manner of […]
Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It
Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It. By David Zahl. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2019. 211 pp. Hardcover, $26.99. Every page of this book hit a nerve. David Zahl demonstrates how salvation by works has been rebranded and promoted by secular culture. To […]
Grace Is Approachable
By Shawn Lazar I was listening to a podcast by Paul Zahl entitled “A Disease I Do Not Have the Courage to Name.” The title comes from a now out-of-print book entitled My Son Is a Splendid Driver, set during the Great Depression. In it, the protagonist’s mother is given a deadly STD by her […]
An Interview with David Zahl
By Shawn Lazar As a preacher and as a writer, I am always trying to find new and better ways to communicate the gospel of grace to the people who need it most. That brought me into contact with a ministry named Mockingbird (mbird.com). I came across them because they publish books by Paul F. […]