Foundations of Christian Ethics: New Creation

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Foundations of Christian Ethics

A year ago, I made the case for the importance of theological ethics.  If Christians want to live faithfully, we cannot uncritically absorb the ethical ideas of our surrounding culture.  Nor can we rely on our intuitions and feelings, since these often lead us astray.  Nor can we simply look in the Bible for proof … Read more

Scripture and Tradition: The Case for Protestant Theological Methodology

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Foundations

Theological Method Before beginning an investigation of a particular subject, it is important to establish a clear and consistent method for determining what is true as it relates to that subject.  This is true regarding the subject of theology, just as much as it is with other subjects, such as science and history.  A person … Read more

How the Bible Applies to Us Today

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series Foundations

The Bible is the Church’s primary and ultimate Authority for determining what Christians should believe and how they should live.  But what does that mean?  How can this collection of writings from 2,000 years ago or more tell us how we should think and live today?  How can this one book have things to say … Read more

Is the Bible Inerrant?

This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series Foundations

One of the most prominent contemporary theological debates among Christians who believe Scripture is the Authoritative word of God revolves around the inerrancy of Scripture.  According to the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture, the Bible is completely free of any errors on any topic, including science, history, and so forth (This is to be … Read more

The Authority of Jesus and the Authority of Paul

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Foundations

In recent decades, some Christians have claimed that the Authority of the Jesus of the Gospels is greater than the authority of the apostle Paul.  Since Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, is the ultimate revelation of God, they argue, the example and teaching of Jesus in the Gospels is of higher Authority than the … Read more

The Authority of Scripture

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series Foundations

The Bible is a collection of various writings that make up the Scriptures of Christianity.  But what does it mean to call the Bible “Scripture”?  At the risk of oversimplification, I will distinguish between five basic Christian positions on this issue: Scripture is an expression of the human religious experience of people in the past … Read more

In Defense of Christian Ethics, Part 4

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series In Defense of Christian Ethics

In the first two parts of this series, I responded to some of the common objections made against Christian ethics by modern Western non-Christians.  In the third part, I responded to objections against the Divine Command Theory of ethics made by philosopher Michael Martin in his book, Atheism, Morality, and Meaning.[1]Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, … Read more

In Defense of Christian Ethics, Part 3

This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series In Defense of Christian Ethics

In the first two parts of this series, I responded to some of the common objections made against Christian ethics by modern Western non-Christians.  These next two parts of this series will be more focused, responding to an extended attack on the coherence and reasonableness of Christian ethics made by philosopher Michael Martin in his … Read more

In Defense of Christian Ethics, Part 2

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series In Defense of Christian Ethics

In this second part of this series, I will continue to respond to some objections modern Western non-Christians commonly make against Christian ethics. Wastes Resources The Objection: Christianity causes people to waste resources.  Christians waste time, energy, and money on Christian buildings, Christian religious rituals, Christian writings, Christian theological teaching, and Christian evangelism.  In a … Read more

In Defense of Christian Ethics, Part 1

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series In Defense of Christian Ethics

In this apologetics series, I will respond to some of the common objections made against Christian ethics by modern Western non-Christians.   Distracts from Improving Earthly Life The Objection: Christianity is actually a hindrance to ethical action.  It makes people “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.”  It makes people focus on a “pie … Read more