[For Part One, click here]Tradition enquiry identifies four tasks of theology: Exegetical Task Canonical Task Convictional Task Pragmatic Task When people discuss theology, ethics, and ministerial practices, they may begin to examine one or more of these tasks in any order.  This is typically what happens in the Church.  However, from a logical, authoritative, and ..read more

‘Tradition Enquiry’ in theological studies locates the research a scholar is conducting within and with respect to theological traditions.  It helps researchers consider the state of an exegetical, theological, ethical, missiological, pastoral, etc. issue in a particular tradition of enquiry and in relation to other traditions.  Too often, theological researchers address a contemporary ..read more

 One of my favourite hymns is, ‘Rejoice! The Lord is King!’ by Charles Wesley.  It is a powerful hymn, rejoicing that Christ Jesus reigns from heaven, that His kingdom cannot fail, that He is victor over all His foes and over all our sins, and that He has victory over death.  The hymn celebrates Jesus’ reign as Lord and what that means.  It celebrates Jesus’ victory over what ..read more

 [Full Article on The Ridley Institute White Papers, link below]Introduction To answer the question, ‘What is the purpose of government?’ provides some answers to the question, ‘What is the purpose of the Church?’  Indeed, in the Old Testament, the people of God were the state, the palace and the temple were interrelated, and the government was a theocracy.  The prophetic notion ..read more

[An Advent Homily]The second Sunday in Advent carries the theme, ‘preparation for the peace of God’.  That peace comes with the birth of Christ our Saviour, and it is always and only through Christ that God’s peace comes. Of course, we associate Christmas with an exciting and happy time—family, gifts, celebration, and services commemorating the birth of Jesus.  The image of Christmas ..read more

The fifth section of the Lausanne Statement is titled ‘Discipleship: The Call to Holiness and Mission’.  It begins with a statement of a problem facing Evangelicals today: the failure to live lives in keeping with a holy pattern of life.  Six paragraphs follow. First, the Christian life is one empowered by the Spirit to live under Christ’s holy and righteous rule (paragraph 71).&nbsp ..read more

 [A short story.]‘Eve!  Wow!  Wonderful to see you after so long!  My badness, look at you!  How the hell did you get back in here?’  The snake slithered up his favourite tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, so that he could be eye to eye with his protégé. ‘I’m surprised myself!’ replied Eve.  ‘It seems that the cherubim is really guarding the path ..read more

The sixth section of the Lausanne Statement in Seoul, Korea addresses a concern for peace in a world of violent conflict.  Just how are Christians to advocate peace in the world?  The statement does not call for peaceful ‘coexistence’.  Instead, the Church’s universalism is stated in terms of ‘God’s saving rule over all peoples’ (6.77).  Thus, peace comes not by opposing ..read more

Introduction  In this article, I intend to argue that the New Testament and Christian understanding of God’s grace is not simply ‘mercy’ for sinners but also ‘healing’ for the morally infirm who are dying and need new life.  The imagery of healing grace is primarily post-New Testament, and later Christian authors like Augustine or John Colet, who will be discussed, depend for it more ..read more

&nbsp;The Economist reports that 76 countries have or will hold elections in 2024—the largest election year in history.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]-->&nbsp; Just what are the duties of a government?&nbsp; After serving in public office and after witnessing the demise of the Roman Republic, Cicero wrote a work on ethics titled ‘On Duties’ (De Officiis).&nbsp; In it, he included a ..read more