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How George Whitefield reshaped a famous Christmas carol

Although the name George Whitefield is not readily associated with Christian hymnody, he left his own mark on one of the most famous Christmas carols, penned by his friend and contemporary, Charles Wesley. The Wesleys had an enduring friendship and connection with Whitefield, beginning with their Oxford “Holy Club,” followed by separate missionary journeys to…

It’s not about you: leading worship and loving others

You don’t want to be the sort of worship leader who makes yourself the central reference point in every situation. As a worship leader or worship pastor, you must look past yourself and remember that you serve Christ and his church.

Worldview and the importance of first impressions

**Editors Note: Dan DeWitt recently wrote a worldview novella for young readers called The Owlings. You can read and excerpt of the book here. You can also purchase a copy of his book here.  The Jesuits are responsible for the quote, “Give me the child … and I will give you the man.” The idea…

Friendly fire in the church

When Christians default to sinful assaults on other believers, the glory of Christ is dismantled and everyone gets hit.

Erotic liberty v. religious liberty: How the sexual revolution is eclipsing the First Freedom

  In the context of acute and radical moral change, we now face an inevitable conflict of liberties that is excruciating, immense, and eminent. The conflict of liberties means that the new moral regime, with the backing of the courts and the regulatory state, will prioritize erotic liberty over religious liberty. Over the course of…

‘God plus’ or bust; lose the incarnation, lose it all

The doctrine of the Incarnation isn’t a hot topic in the circles I run in. I’ve seen little ink spilled over it. The mission of the church, the place of penal substitution, the role of women in ministry, and the legitimacy of multi-site? Sure. But not the Incarnation and two natures of Jesus. That’s why…

‘A different worldview’: Allison discusses new book on Roman Catholic theology

  EDITOR’S NOTE: In what follows, Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian theology at Southern Seminary, discusses his new book, Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment, with Towers editor S. Craig Sanders. CS: What was your methodology for assessing Roman Catholic theology and how did you engage with it in this book? GA: Most Protestants and…

The frightening side of Advent: Bonhoeffer’s Christmas sermons

  For many Christians like me, Christmas is a time of comfort, of peace, and of abundance.  We’re fortunate if that is the case.  But what if Christmas is intended to be an annual reminder of our need for a Savior to break into our darkness, our “homelessness,” and for us to be convicted of…

Is “Allah” God?

  One of the questions I frequently encounter by Christians in the West is whether or not the Arabic word Allah can be used to refer to the God of the Bible. Many well-meaning Western Christians have sought to disassociate the God of Islam from the God of Christianity. In doing so they’ve focused their efforts on…

Finals week, first things and unfavorable times

  “Seminary is so busy,” we’ve all said. Work, family, school, church and everything else presses for our time. As a student, this never feels more true than finals week. But as soon as finals are over, the narrative goes, then we’ll get things back in order, then we’ll make up for the neglect we’ve…

How to teach your church to fear the Lord

The biblical call to “fear the Lord,” means much more than our term for respect.

Spurgeon: Faithful man, faithful ministry, and the importance of early impressions

  Charles Haddon Spurgeon experienced a constant flow of impressions early in life that settled many issues of personal integrity and faithfulness to one’s calling. He recalled clearly how, when allowed to sit in the studies of his grandfather or father, as they prepared to preach on Sundays, he must not speak or fidget so…

How pornography works: It hijacks the male brain

  We are fast becoming a pornographic society. Over the course of the last decade, explicitly sexual images have crept into advertising, marketing, and virtually every niche of American life. This ambient pornography is now almost everywhere, from the local shopping mall to prime-time television. By some estimations, the production and sale of explicit pornography…

Our paper pregnancy: God, the gospel, and the global cause of Christ

  They call it a “paper pregnancy.” It’s the period of time between the conception and finalization of your adoption. There’s no positive pregnancy test; no hormonal upheaval; no morning sickness; no amazing ultrasounds; no growing belly; no random food cravings; no little feet-kicks coming from the womb; no agonizing labor pains or delivery. Yet…

Living in light of the good Samaritan: Giving value to the devalued

  According to the Coalition for the Homeless, homelessness in New York City (NYC) has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s. As of March 2013, there was an all-time record of 50,700 homeless people living on the streets of NYC. If you walk more than a block in NYC, you will be confronted with…

When should pastors speak about cultural issues?

If Christian morality is universally true, then all persons are accountable to it.

My path to the Ph.D.

  I have come to the end of my Ph.D. studies.  I recently put the finishing touches on my dissertation, completed my last research language class, successfully completed my oral defense, and received my hood two months ago.  Through the entire process, the Lord has shown his kindness to me and to my family in precious, concrete…

The gospel of the suffering apostle

  EDITOR’S NOTE: Below, Mark Seifrid, Mildred and Ernest Hogan Professor of New Testament Interpretation, discusses his new commentary, The Second Letter to the Corinthians, with Towers writer Andrew J.W. Smith. Read also a review of Seifrid’s book here.  AJWS: Second Corinthians tends not to garner the same popular attention among evangelicals as Romans, Ephesians, or even 1…