Black-ish, God, and the Problems of Christian Parenting
My wife and I are fans of the ABC comedy Black-ish, a show about an African American family exploring stereotypes and cultural issues in a humorous way. I groaned when I learned the theme of a recent episode, simply titled “God,” which involves the family’s teenaged daughter expressing her doubts at the existence of God. … Continue reading Black-ish, God, and the Problems of Christian Parenting
Introducing the Conscious Community: Part 2
In my last article, I laid out a context for what appears to be a growing problem in the black community. I discussed the lingering identity issue that seems to grip so many people of African descent and then illustrated how it poses a barrier to the spreading of the gospel as well as a … Continue reading Introducing the Conscious Community: Part 2
Introducing the Conscious Community: Part 1
We are all searching and seeking identity. For many it is mistakenly found in material objects, a sports team, money, or in human relationships. For African American folks, the identity crisis is coming in a virulent form that attacks their faith in Jesus Christ and their eternal lives. I have asked my colleague, Adam Coleman, to address this particular … Continue reading Introducing the Conscious Community: Part 1
Some Reasons to Keep Assertions And Their Implications/Entailments Distinct
Some of the great features of philosophy include its emphasis on clarity of concepts, careful delineation of premises, and logical rigor. Unfortunately, these qualities which serve to secure the high quality of discussion on the academic level are often lost on the popular level. The untoward result of this loss is that the quality of … Continue reading Some Reasons to Keep Assertions And Their Implications/Entailments Distinct
A Pastor’s Toolkit: How Beliefs Are Formed
When I was in Bible college, I remember sitting in my homiletics class learning how to structure a sermon, how to study for a sermon, what to say, how to say it, watching my hand gestures and facial expressions, and creating the “big idea.” We learned a lot, but I remember one question that never … Continue reading A Pastor’s Toolkit: How Beliefs Are Formed
Answering the Watchtower
Most people in America have encountered the Jehovah’s Witnesses at least once. They are famous for their door-to-door proselytizing in which they come across as disciples spreading the good news of Christianity. While the Jehovah’s Witnesses call themselves a Christian denomination, their key doctrines do not agree with the orthodox views of Christianity. Over the course … Continue reading Answering the Watchtower
Love Thy Neighbor & Pack Thy Heat
Question Hey Tim, should a Christian conceal carry? Aren’t Christians supposed to love criminals — not kill them? – Darrell Tim’s Response Thank you for your question, Darrell! Although I do not have a concealed carry permit myself, I have grappled with similar questions for most of my life. This is the case because I … Continue reading Love Thy Neighbor & Pack Thy Heat
How to Argue Against Abortion
Did you know that one of the four horsemen of “new atheism” was pro-life and against abortion? That’s right, the late Christopher Hitchens opposed abortion for logical and scientific reasons. I recently shared a video on social media where Hitchens and other academic atheists made the case as to why abortion is murder. It did not take … Continue reading How to Argue Against Abortion
Pro-Choice: The Wrong Side of History, Science, & Logic
The primary goal of FreeThinking Ministries is to equip the church to engage the culture. Thus, we spend a lot of time not only demonstrating the reasons as to why Christian theism is true, but countless hours are also devoted to helping the Body of Christ think correctly on certain issues. One issue that demands … Continue reading Pro-Choice: The Wrong Side of History, Science, & Logic
Free Your Mind
It never ceases to amaze me how many people seem to have a revulsion against the idea that humans possess genuine free will. Even when there is logical and deductive proof that we do possess this genuine freedom, many go to great lengths to reject it. With that said, however, those devoted to determinism do not think they have … Continue reading Free Your Mind
Could Adam Avoid the Apple?
Question: “On molinism, is it possible that Adam could have not sinned? If so, then there is a world where Adam was righteous but God didn’t actuate it. If not, then there is no world in which Adam was never able to not sin, and yet God actuated that world. So, did God knowingly actuate … Continue reading Could Adam Avoid the Apple?
Molinism, Identity, & Worlds
Is Molinism truly compatible with the idea of persons in other possible worlds? Can it really be possible that there is a counterfactual truth about me such that “If I were born in the 18th century, I would have sided with the American colonials against the British”?
Book Review: No God But One: Allah or Jesus? by Nabeel Qureshi
Are Christianity and Islam different paths to the same God? Is Jesus really divine or just another prophet? Which is the true word of God, the Koran or the Bible? In No God But One: Allah or Jesus? (NGBO), Nabeel Qureshi explores many of the most common questions involving Islam and Christianity to show “the … Continue reading Book Review: No God But One: Allah or Jesus? by Nabeel Qureshi
Who’s Your Daddy?
As a pastor, I have noticed many churchgoers today do not seem to have a proper understanding of God’s nature. This often leads to many viewing God like “Darth Vader” instead of a Perfect Being! These incoherent ideas about God lead to a weak faith and Christians not living as Christians ought to. William Lane Craig has a … Continue reading Who’s Your Daddy?
Are Miracles Metaphysically Impossible?
“It’s impossible for God to interact in the physical world. For example, say we have a material object and God wants to move it. Newton made it clear: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, since God is an immaterial being He could never cause anything to happen or occur in the material/physical universe. … Continue reading Are Miracles Metaphysically Impossible?
Mere Molinism: Proving the Two Pillars
Christians both agree and disagree on several theological issues. Despite these differences on certain points, what keeps Christians united is what C.S. Lewis referred to as “Mere Christianity.” Keeping it “mere” means focusing on the one simple statement: “God raised Jesus from the dead.” If this one proposition is true, then Mere Christianity is true as … Continue reading Mere Molinism: Proving the Two Pillars