stephen-on-bible

This morning, as my children were getting ready to go to school, my wife called me and told me to brush the teeth of Joe, my youngest son. Now this is what my kid does—he applies toothpaste to his brush, puts it in his mouth and just enjoys the taste. He simply keeps it over the tongue and doesn’t properly brush his teeth. His focus is more on relishing the taste of the toothpaste than on cleaning his teeth so as to protect them from germs and bacteria. Well, don’t you think this is how we treat the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity? It seems many of us want to feel His sweet presence, enjoy His good blessings, experience His pleasant comfort in our troubles and do some fascinating things by His power. Although there is nothing wrong to expect such things, I am concerned that in our passion to relish His sweet blessings are we missing the supreme purpose of the Holy Spirit in us? God’s purpose in sending His Spirit is not to lead us into all pleasure, but into all truth (Jn....

Leadership, whether it is considered as a position or responsibility, is truly hazardous. Why? Behind the virtuous screen of the role of leadership, who knows how many vices dance and dine! I was reading my favorite author, Eugene H. Peterson’s Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness , particularly written to shepherds or leaders in view. It is a book which strips off our pretentious and shallow rags, making us naked so as to put on genuine and fine garments. Higher Sins I suppose, everybody admits that leadership is a role encircled with fiery temptations. Talking about the enticements leaders confront, Peterson speaks about “lower sins” which are easily noticeable: If I kill a man, I know that I have done wrong. If I commit adultery, I at least have the good sense not to advertise it. If I steal, I make diligent efforts not to get found out. The so-called “lower sins,” the sins of the flesh as they were once categorized, are obvious, and there is not only...

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) On Wednesday, July 8, 1741, exactly two hundred and seventy years back, at Enfield, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon which later came to be known as one of the most powerful sermons in the history of Christianity. He selected his text from Deuteronomy 32:35, “Their foot shall slide in due time.” And he titled his message “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Before going further, I am afraid our age of sensation may despise Jonathan Edwards and his sermon. Our generation is brimming with such superficial preachers, sugar-coated sermons and make-me-feel-comfortable listeners that many feel nauseated by hard and strong teachings. Our current Christianity is crowded with those who get enamored by messages on love, heaven, blessings, peace and success, but not righteousness, wrath, hell, warnings and curses. Nonetheless, the Holy Bible is a book of truth—not a book of sensation, teaching with balance both love and holiness, heaven and hell, ble...

Who is this most controversial person? Who is this person about whom the world has diverse, conflicting views? I suppose, no issue has been as much studied and as much debated and as much reaped contrasting beliefs as the subject of ‘God’. The question, “Who is God?” is the most important matter on the face of the earth. There are diverse views regarding who God is. Some argue, “There is no God,” i.e. naturalists claim the physical universe is all that exists. Some claim, “knowing yourself is knowing god within you,” i.e. self is god. Others say, “God is everything and everything is god,” i.e. they claim that god exists in idols, animals, and nature. Some propose, “God is a supreme power,” i.e. he is reckoned as an impersonal force. Moreover, there are others who say, “God is someone who is extraordinary,” i.e. anyone who seems to be extraordinary—whether in knowledge, might, or in character trait—is seen as god. To them all who are unusually knowledgeable or mighty or morally good are...