Category Morality

Belief Predicates Behavior

That belief predicates behavior is an axiom of truth I learned early on in my ministry. It was a favorite phrase of my mentor. The concept behind the thought is thoroughly biblical. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Clearly, from a scriptural point of view, what we believe […]

The New Moral Majority

You have probably heard the statement before, “I thought you were a Christian.” This insult was hurled at you after you had blundered big time.  Perhaps it was because you didn’t set a guard over your mouth, or you were somewhere you shouldn’t have been, or you did something you shouldn’t have done. And there […]

First Things First, Haggai 1:2-13

This blog is part of our Bible Study series written for the Christian Index. Haggai was a contemporary of Zechariah.  Both prophesied in Jerusalem shortly after the return of the exiles from Babylon under Zerubbabel (Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14). The first task was the rebuilding of the Temple, but the returned exiles faced much opposition.  Like […]

Getting God’s Mind about Alcohol, Part 3

There are three reasons a pastor, and for that matter any professing Christian, should be a teetotaler: because of the Social Impact, the Scriptural Injunctions, and the Spiritual Influence.  In a previous article we covered the social impact of alcohol. We turn our attention now to the next point. THE SCRIPTURAL INJUNCTIONS AGAINST ALCOHOL One […]

Getting God’s Mind about Alcohol, Part 2

In Part 1 of this series we stated clearly that the best option for a believer in Christ is total abstinence from all that can intoxicate.  We made the point that the wine Jesus drank is not the same as the wine available today.  We stated that it is logical that our Lord’s character would […]

Getting God’s Mind about Alcohol

For most of our history Baptists have opposed the use and sale of beverage alcohol.  Today there are many preachers, from numerous denominational groups, including some Southern Baptists, who are moving in a new, modern direction on the issue. These pastors are not only imbibing but they are encouraging the social and moderate use of alcohol […]

Principles and Pharisees

The choices for President in this year’s election are not cause for rejoicing if you are a Bible believing Christian.  But if we are honest we’d have to admit that in most presidential elections, particularly in recent years, the choices have never been such as to make the decision easy, if the character of the […]

Restoring our Moral Conscience … Why the Ten Commandments are Essential

We are living in a day when the things of God are mostly ignored in society. Sadly the church is just as often guilty of ignoring the things of God. Last year we were all deeply saddened at the tragic and senseless murder of nine church goers at a Wednesday evening prayer service in a […]

Tired Old Arguments in Defense of Sin

It is usually senseless to argue the Bible or Christian truth with the lost. They do not have the Holy Spirit to guide them and have no real or serious interest in the study of the things of God. From a Christian standpoint you can articulate a good argument that will fall on deaf ears. […]