This entire series is my 30-paged bachelor thesis I submitted to the theology department at Concordia University-Ann Arbor—a higher Lutheran education university—as part of the requirement to graduate from the Pre-Seminary programme. It has been reformatted to fit this blog. This is the first section of my paper. Go here to read the introduction. The…
2 Corinthians 7:10, For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. As he hears some bad news, Charlie Brown exclaims, “Oh, good grief!” We often think of this as an oxymoron. Grief can’t possibly be good! It’s rather ironic that our culture views grief as a bad…
This is an essay from the upper level Christian Ethics course at Concordia University-Ann Arbor, which has been revised to fit the needs of this blog. On the issue of abortion, the pro-life side argues the child has the “right” to life, whereas the pro-choice side argues the mother has the “right” to choice. Yet…
As a future pastor, this question bugs me. I come across Christians from all different walks of life who somehow get it in their heads that since they’re Christian, church isn’t required. Actually, the opposite is true. Church is required because you’re Christian! If you’re not Christian, obviously church isn’t required. After all, why would an unbeliever…
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and we peaceably gathered with our congregations to remember Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as King of Israel, to celebrate His Kingship today, and worship Him as the Prince of Peace. Yet it wasn’t peaceful for every Christian yesterday. In Egypt, two churches were attacked by suicide bombers for doing what we…
Philippians 2:5-11, Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He…
Psalm 31:14-15a, But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand… Trusting God isn’t always easy, especially when we’re in ill health. When a loved one is suffering from cancer, it is easy to recite this psalm to them, but it’s not as easy for them…
