On “Nature and Grace”

I have done some reading from time to time on the relationship between nature and grace in Christian theology. It seems to function in the background of a number of important topics, including the relationship between faith and reason, religion and science, and Christianity and culture, and so I find myself returning to it every once in a while. My own introduction to these concepts came in seminary, where I took a class on theology and culture. Particularly helpful was reading H. Richard Niebuhr’s book, Christ and Culture (1951), in which he surveys Christian attempts to grapple with the question of how to relate the Christian faith to the resources of human culture. 

Romans 1:16–17

Have you ever read a Bible verse and wondered what it was talking about? I was feeling that way this week when I read Romans 1:16–17. Sometimes the things that confuse us are not such a big deal because we get the big picture. However, if I understand Romans right, these two verses are the thesis statement of the book, so they make a big difference with regard to our interpretation of the whole book. 

Resources for Christian Spirituality

I’ve been thinking about Christian spirituality these days. I have sensed the need to grow deeper in my walk with the Lord in recent years, and this has prompted me to dig into the riches of the Christian tradition to try to understand myself and my relationship with God. Much of the impetus for this thinking stems from a series of trials that my family and I experienced in 2019 and the years following that left me feeling crushed and in need of a deeper experience with God.

I want to share some of the helpful sources I have found in order to help interested readers find some help in exploring this topic. Some of the books I’ve listed below I’ve read myself and evaluate for you. The inclusion of a book below does not constitute an endorsement of the its content; it only indicates it is relevant to the collection and may be helpful for those interested in this topic.

Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) Annual Meeting, 2023

This past week I had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. (See my report on last year’s conference here.) This annual conference is a great time to hear about current research in biblical and theological studies and to catch up with friends and colleagues.

Book Recommendation: The Doctrine of Good Works

I saw this book at the library the other day on the new books shelf. The authors have written this book because they see a need for more careful thinking about the role of good works in the Christian life.

Christian Epistemology for Biblical Studies

To some degree, to be a scholar–to seek to understand and be productive in a particular area of thought–is to confess that one hasn’t arrived. This is the way Socrates was proved to be the wisest of all those in Athens: he knew that that he didn’t have all the answers, whereas all the people he spent his days questioning also didn’t have all the answers, but they thought that they did.

On the other hand, to be active in academic work, especially as a Christian, often requires us to commit to certain beliefs and principles (for example, a doctrinal statement). How do these two things go together: being a person who is seeking to know, and a person committed to a particular faith tradition? Here’s a couple thoughts I have on seeking the truth within a confessional (i.e. Christian) context:

December 10, 1945

My grandfather, Fred Miner, fought in WWII. He passed away in 2003. When I was growing up, I remember hearing about how he was in a plane crash in France at the end of the war. While we were clearing out some old papers, I found this copy of him telling the story.

Knowing God According to the Bible (with a Little Help from J. I. Packer)

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Cor 8:1–3 NIV)

What does it mean to know God? I find myself thinking about this quite a bit these days. What follows is the result of a study I did several years back on the biblical teaching on knowing God. I have included a number of significant quotes from J. I. Packer’s classic work, Knowing God, which remains one of the best topics on the work.

The Role of our Emotions in Christian Experience

These meditations are part of continuing reflection on my part on the experiential side of being a Christian. I am far from having completely worked this part of my life out. I may even come back and expand on it later. But I do want to put my thoughts out there for the benefit of others. 

Satisfied in Christ

I’ve been reflecting lately on our experience of our salvation in Christ. Recently I’ve been meditating on John 6:35, where Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus uses the physical experience of hunger and thirst and its satisfaction with food and drink as a metaphor for what he offers us through faith. Two important questions arise in relation to this metaphor: