Dr Paul Allen

Pastors and theologians are often asked many questions about life in heaven. How old will we be? If I died at age 85, will I still appear to be an octogenarian? Will I recognize my family and friends in heaven? Will my dead dog or cat greet me when I enter that realm? These questions arise largely because Scripture does not us give all that much information about the intermediate state — that place where the souls of men and women go between their death and Jesus ’ return. For Christians, the intermediate state is heaven, and we are told life there is better than life in this fallen world ( Phil. 1:21–23). But the apostles give few specific details about this place. The dwelling of our souls in heaven is called the intermediate state because such existence is not the final destiny God has for His people. Christianity does not believe the physical realm is inherently evil; it is only presently suffering God’s curse due to our sin (Gen. 3:17–19). Jesus died not only to reconcile u

Image via Wikipedia Today I want to discuss the issue of alcohol. Christian Perspectives Christian perspectives on alcohol range from “the Bible commends the consumption of alcohol so drink in moderation” to “the Bible strictly forbids alcohol so God commands you to abstain.” Those perspectives exist even within this little Reformed segment of the Christian world . As far as I understand it,  R.C. Sproul believes alcohol is a gift of the Lord ; his dear friend John MacArthur regards the consumption of alcohol as unbiblical; their mutual friend John Piper believes that even if drinking is not a sin, it is very unwise. Three men, three leaders, three perspectives. In the  young , restless and Reformed part of this Christian world, it seems that the majority of people tend to believe that there is nothing inherently wrong with consuming alcohol. There is no disagreement over excess—everyone agrees that drunkeness is sinful. But the younger crowd tends to find freedom of conscience;

Image via Wikipedia The Council of Jerusalem , described in Acts 15, sought to answer such practical questions faced by the early Christians as they wrestled with how to enjoy freedom from the Mosaic administration without becoming stumbling blocks to Jewish people . These were questions to which Paul in particular gave a great deal of thought. He was, after all, one of those appointed by the Jerusalem Council to circulate and explain the letter that summarized the decisions of the apos- tles and elders (Acts 15:22ff; 16:4).  Faced with similar issues in the church at Rome, he provided them with a series of principles that apply equally well to twenty- first-century Christians . His teaching in Romans 14:1–15:13 contains healthy (and very necessary) guidelines for the exercise of Christian liberty .  Here are four of them: Principle 1:  Christian liberty must never be flaunted. “Whatever you be- lieve about these things keep between yourself and God” (Rom. 14:22, NIV). We