Dr Paul Allen

  “The sinfulness of sin” sounds like a vacuous redundancy that adds no information to the subject under discussion. However, the necessity of speaking of the sinfulness of sin has been thrust upon us by a culture and even a church that has diminished the significance of sin itself. Sin is communicated in our day in terms of making mistakes or of making poor choices.  When I take an examination or a spelling test, if I make a mistake, I miss a particular word. It is one thing to make a mistake. It is another to look at my neighbour’s paper and copy his answers in order to make a good grade.  In this case, my mistake has risen to the level of a moral transgression. Though sin may be involved in making mistakes as a result of slothfulness in preparation, nevertheless, the act of cheating takes the exercise to a more serious level.  Calling sin “making poor choices” is true , but it is also a euphemism that can discount the severity of the action. The decision to sin is...

Author: Jonathon Holmes. One problem that biblical counselors will surely face in their counseling and everyday conversations, regardless of gender, is the addiction and enslavement to pornography . It is not uncommon to hear and meet counselees whose first introduction to pornography happened in their pre-adolescent years of 7-12. With a problem so prevalent and pervasive in the church, numerous books and articles have been written on the topic. How can biblical counselors contribute to this conversation? Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC) member and Association of Certified Biblical Counselor’s Executive Director , Heath Lambert recently authored a book entitled, Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace which has ably defined and elucidated a gospel-centered approach to fighting the sin of pornography. Additionally, a helpful list of resources has been gathered on the BCC website to equip biblical counselors on this topic as well. Something I have found persona...

All About Evil (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) ‎Evil (Heb. ra’; Gk. kakos, ponēros, phaulos). Evil has a broader meaning than * sin . The Heb. word comes from a root meaning ‘to spoil’, ‘to break in pieces’: being broken and so made worthless. It is essentially what is unpleasant, disagreeable, offensive. The word binds together the evil deed and its consequences.  In the NT kakos and ponēros mean respectively the quality of evil in its essential character, and its hurtful effects or influence. It is used in both physical and moral senses. While these aspects are different, there is frequently a close relationship between them.  Much physical evil is due to moral evil : suffering and sin are not necessarily connected in individual cases, but human selfishness and sin explain much of the world’s ills. Though all evil must be punished, not all physical ill is a punishment of wrongdoing (Lk. 13:2, 4; Jn. 9:3; cf. Job). Related articles Banality of Evil and Heroism ...

English: Bouguereau's L'Innocence. Both young children and lamb are symbols of innocence. Français : Bouguereau — (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Christians have something to add to the conversation about Newtown We understand what innocence is. We understand what sin is, and what the consequences of it are. We have categories that are sufficient to make sense of a senseless tragedy. After all, the slaughter of innocent children is right there, in the Christmas story. Soldiers with bloody swords were right on the heels of the wise men. The prophecy of the slaughter of children is literally the next verse after the prophecy of the virgin birth (Jer 31:13-14; 15). Some observations are obvious and can be made by Christians and non-Christians alike. If you have a mentally unstable child who is prone to violence, don’t stockpile guns in your house, for example. At least don’t teach him how to use them. You also don’t have to be a Christian to realize that the slaughter of chil...

Image via Wikipedia "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ." ( 1 Peter 5:8 )   Several words are used in Scripture to imply spiritual watchfulness, and each has a slightly different meaning. Only as we compare and combine these words do we get the full force of the Scripture exhortations to watchfulness.   One such word is the Greek word   agrupneo , translated "watch." In   Mark 13:33   we read, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." The word literally means to be sleepless and comes from two Greek words meaning "to chase" and "sleep." It implies a purposeful and active state of awareness.   More commonly used is   gregoreo . It is a stronger word, meaning to arouse oneself and shake off lethargy, implying activity as on the part of one who is fully awake. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith" ( 1 Corinthians 16:13 ), a...

Image via Wikipedia "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ." ( 1 Peter 5:8 )   Several words are used in Scripture to imply spiritual watchfulness, and each has a slightly different meaning. Only as we compare and combine these words do we get the full force of the Scripture exhortations to watchfulness.   One such word is the Greek word   agrupneo , translated "watch." In   Mark 13:33   we read, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." The word literally means to be sleepless and comes from two Greek words meaning "to chase" and "sleep." It implies a purposeful and active state of awareness.   More commonly used is   gregoreo . It is a stronger word, meaning to arouse oneself and shake off lethargy, implying activity as on the part of one who is fully awake. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith" ( 1 Corinthians 16:13 ), a...