Pastor's Blog

Introduction Immigration has been at the forefront of our nation’s political divide for quite some time. Few issues are as divisive. Passions run high. Discussions frequently generate more heat than light. They often devolve into shouting matches and name-calling. Advocates of one position or another substitute slogans and chants for reasoned discourse. What is a Christian to think? As always, we should seek guidance from Scripture. “But,” someone may ask, “does Scripture even speak to the issue?” Indeed, it does. It addresses the issue both in broad principles as well as in numerous specific commandments. Staking the Positions Let’s begin by staking out the various positions. There are—at least theoretically— three . First, an increasing number of people on the left of the political spectrum (along with some Libertarians) advocate for a policy of “open borders.” This is the position that people should have a free and unrestricted right to enter and exit any country they pl...

People often use the word “faith” in a way that convinces me they don’t have a clear conception of its meaning, but think of it as a vague hope that things will get better on their own, or turn out the way they wish. Thus, the admonition to “have faith” is often little more than an encouragement to think positively. Some people have said that we should “believe in the power of faith” or even “have faith in faith.” They seem to think that if we only believe something strongly enough, it will come to pass. The impression is given that the object and content of faith alike are immaterial. But this is quite a different understanding of faith than what we find in Scripture. A Biblical Definition The closest thing we find in Scripture to a definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The first thing to note here is that even though this verse is written in prose, it contains an insta...

Have you ever noticed that the Scriptures nowhere advance a philosophical argument for the existence of God?  Moses doesn't begin Genesis by saying ( a la  Thomas Aquinas), "The existence of God can be proved in five ways..." No insult to the Angelic Doctor, but there is no such arid stuff in the Bible.  Instead, Genesis opens with the beautifully simple and majestic statement:  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." His existence is simply taken for granted.  This is not difficult to explain.  The Torah was written by Moses in the midst of a remarkable divine intervention in human history:  a self-revelation of God in the exodus of Israel from Egypt and the giving of his law from Sinai, with all the attending miracles. Can you imagine Moses telling Israel, "Now that you have seen him plague the Egyptians and divide the Red Sea and kill Pharaoh and all his hosts, and have been fed by bread from heaven, let me demonstrate hi...

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, he raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people to rebuild the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel (the governor) and Joshua (the high priest). It was a long, arduous task that began with fits and starts, and many wondered if it could ever be completed, and if so, whether it could match the glory of Solomon’s temple that had been destroyed two generations earlier. The meager beginning was none too promising and many disdained it. Enter the prophet Zechariah: Then the word of the L ord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know the L ord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” (Zech. 4:8-10) We are tempted to “despise the day of small things.” But it’s often the small things that prepare us fo...