Blog - Page 122 of 318 - John H Armstrong

The Stewardship Principle in the Epistle to the Hebrews

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:47-05:00March 12th, 2011|Categories: Discipleship, Donors and Funding|

A resource that I have come to increasingly cherish, through regular use, is the NIV Stewardship Study Bible. It sounds rather boring doesn’t it? Who wants a whole study Bible just on stewardship? But if you think about it what could be more important, at least for real Christians, than to get a better grasp on what the Word of God says about our being good stewards? Stewardship is a virtual synonym for discipleship in the New Testament so I submit this study Bible is a genuinely worthwhile tool. The Stewardship Council, formed in Michigan in May of 2005, the Acton Institute, now over twenty years old, and the publisher, Zondervan, all three partnered to create this lovely, unique resource. Donors made it possible for every person who attended the Lausanne gathering in South Africa last October to each get a copy of this Bible.

The Stewardship Council seeks to reclaim the privilege of our role as stewards of our gracious and […]

What About Other Religions?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:47-05:00March 11th, 2011|Categories: Biblical Theology, Christ/Christology, Evangelism, Roman Catholicism, The Future|

The historic response of Christian theology to other religions is far more nuanced and careful than the popular expressions of many evangelicals who continue to pronounce final judgment on anyone and everyone who is not a confirmed and practicing Christian believer. This issue is clearly one that should prompt us to stop throwing bombs on one another while we seek to understand the mind of the whole church in dealing with a complicated and difficult question.

Vatican II dealt with this question rather carefully. In the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, Nostra Aetate, all religions are treated in terms of the ethical dimension of faith and practice. We read the following in Nostra Aetate:

From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of history. . . . This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense. . . […]

Is Jesus the One True God?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:47-05:00March 10th, 2011|Categories: Christ/Christology, Evangelism, Jesus, Religion|

One of the most often quoted verses in the New Testament is John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This text makes specific what was implied in John 13:36 and again in John 14:2. The journey with Jesus takes one to the Father. This is where Jesus was going and those who follow him will go there as well. But how do we reach the Father? The answer is clear. We reach the Father by believing in the Son. This statement is another one of the “I Am” statements in John. (There are seven and this is the sixth!) The point here is clear, at least to me. Not all roads lead to God regardless of what men may think. The claim to exclusivity here is very clear. And Jesus is plainly inviting his hearers to accept or reject him. His self-description plainly invalidates other ways to the Father.

Before you say this view is too restrictive consider the human condition. The fact that there is any way to God’s grace and love is astounding. […]

A Theological Dialogue with N. T. Wright

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:47-05:00March 9th, 2011|Categories: Biblical Theology, Books, Hermeneutics, Justification and the New Perspective|

I wrote here last April about the Wheaton Theology Conference which featured N. T. Wright. Never have I attended an event with so much electricity about biblical theology and serious dialog. It was a moment of my life that I shall always remember. Both devotees and detractors were present in the audience but more importantly I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit uniting us in the oneness that we share in the Christ who justifies the ungodly in Jesus.

Now we blessed to have the newly published book from that event: Jesus, Paul and the People of God: A Theological Dialogue with N. T. Wright (InterVarsity Press, 2011). The book comes at a great low price if you order it before the price soon increases, which it is sure to do after this pre-pub period ends. If you are serious, and I mean really serious, about engaging the profound theological insight and wisdom of this amazing teacher put aside all the books of the conservative/evangelical critics, who […]

The Bible’s Most Frightening Text?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:48-05:00March 8th, 2011|Categories: Biblical Theology, Jesus, Lordship of Christ|

I am amazed at how people often respond to various tests in the Bible. Some in the Old Testament are filled with terrible warnings and clear promises of divine punishment for breaking God’s law and covenant. But for all of these difficult and terrible texts none has ever compared, at least to my mind, with the words of our Lord in Matthew 7:21-23:

Not everyone who says to me, '”Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

The obvious seems quite obvious here. It is one thing to profess Christianity and quite another to possess Christ as one’s Lord. On the final day only one’s personal relationship with Christ will really matter. But that relationship is more than profession in the here and now, it is a life […]

Heaven, Hell and Rob Bell

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:48-05:00March 7th, 2011|Categories: American Evangelicalism, Current Affairs, Reformed Christianity|

The evangelical world was rocked a bit last week by a debate created by Rob Bell's forthcoming book, Love Wins (Harper/Collins, 2011). I read the posts attacking the book, written by Reformed writers who speak with deep certitude about everything they seem to talk about in opinion pieces. Some even went so far as to condemn Bell as a heretic. (Where have I heard this before?)

Into the fray came Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today. Galli offers a reasoned, well-written critique of the whole debate, a well as a measured response to Rob Bell’s book. Galli actually read an advance copy and expresses some doubts about Bell’s real views on hell. (This leads me to think the critics should have read the book before they began their attacks. I will withhold judgment until I have read the book, something that just seems obvious to any honest expression of agreement or disagreement!) What Galli makes very clear is that believing in […]

A Panoramic View of Rome That is Stunning

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:48-05:00March 6th, 2011|Categories: Personal, Travel|

A friend who recently discovered that I was going to be in Rome sent me this amazing video. Not only does this video expose the fact that brilliance comes in many forms but this video also gives a stunning visual impression of the ancient city.

An ACT 3 Engagement in Rome

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:48-05:00March 5th, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Acton Institute, Missional-Ecumenism|

Your Church Is Too Small: The Challenge of Ecumenical Witness in Today’s World

In his book Your Church Is Too Small, Dr. John Armstrong presents a vision of the unity possible for Christians across social, cultural, racial, and denominational lines. When Jesus’ followers seek unity through participation in the kingdom of God and the mission of Christ, they demonstrate God’s character to a watching world. Focusing on John 13:34-35, 17:20-23 and 20:31, Armstrong will show how Jesus’ clear command to his disciples led to his prayer that we be “one” in his kingdom. This one allows for Christians to be diverse while clearly requiring service of God in unity. In this talk Armstrong will discuss the idea of “missional-ecumenism,” particularly within the context of Pope Benedict’s initiatives regarding evangelization and ecumenism.

Guest Speaker & Biographical Info:

Dr. John Armstrong

Dr. John Armstrong is a former pastor and church-planter of more than twenty years. He is the author/editor of eleven books and hundreds of magazine, journal, and web-based articles. Dr. Armstrong serves as an […]

Abortion, Social Justice and Young Christians

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:48-05:00March 4th, 2011|Categories: Abortion|

I applaud the rise of social justice Christianity, at least up to a certain point. Some of this movement is a politically left response to the political right. This always causes me to pause and look for the holes in the argument, of which I see a number. When the point becomes the politics of left or right then I have my serious doubts about its value or real effectiveness. We are charged, very clearly, to love justice and mercy. We are also called to live out the faith in the public square. This means we cannot be silent about concerns that are on God’s mind. I believe these include life and freedom at the top of the list.

In my recent work in the Read the Bible in 90 Days program I have been in the prophets of the Old Testament the last week or more. Their message is strong and deeply convicting. My friend Anthony Bradley raises some really good questions about the pro-life issue […]

The Supreme Court Got It Right

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:48-05:00March 3rd, 2011|Categories: America and Americanism, Culture, Current Affairs, Politics|

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the First Amendment protects the right of members of Westboro Baptist Church (Topeka, Kansas) to stage attention-getting, anti-gay protests outside military funerals.

The court voted 8-1 in favor of Westboro’s right to publicly protest at military funerals. The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq who sued church members after they picketed his son's funeral last year.

This contentious issue is painful and clearly creates immense emotional harm to grieving families. I saw the video documentary on Westboro Baptist Church last year. Their militant pastor is a nut case to put it mildly. I loathe who they are and what they do. I wish they would just go away, I really do. But wishing for this and legally ending their right to protest publicly underscores a powerful legal line that the Supreme Court rightly refused to wipe out in their ruling.

This final ruling comes nearly five months […]