God’s Fatherly love in our election

At times when the subject of “election” comes up in discussions, it is the source of conflict, anger, and division. Joel Beeke points us in a different direction in his book, Living for God’s Glory. He highlights, among other things, that election is an expression of God’s personal love for us. Listen to his encouraging [...]

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Do Christians have enemies? Some thoughts on the imprecatory psalms.

Psalm 137:9 challenges us at many levels: “Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!”
This is from a psalm that many have called the “imprecatory psalms,” those psalms that call upon God to actually curse and punish a group of people.  As Christians who believe that we are [...]

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Not What My Hands Have Done

Recently, our church has been doing a song called, “Not What My Hands Have Done.”  The original hymn is by Horatius Bonar, and Aaron Keyes has added a chorus and some additional lyrics.  It wonderfully captures the work of grace in our lives through the cross of Christ.  The chorus combines the dual identity that [...]

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The killing of George Tiller

A year ago I wrote a piece on responding to the sin of abortion within our nation.  In light of the killing of George Tiller, a notorious late-term abortion doctor, it seems worth re-printing today.
“Last week’s sermon on abortion provided a great opportunity to remember this issue and to reflect biblically on how we should [...]

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False Innocence?

At times our church and others like them are criticized for placing too much emphasis on the doctrine of sin.  Here is a response from John Stott to that kind of charge:
Is it then, healthy or unhealthy to insist on the gravity of sin and the necessity of atonement, to hold people responsible for their [...]

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The Glory of our God

This morning’s sermon is a reflection on the glory of God.  Herman Bavinck wonderfully summarized the way that God’s glory motivates all that he does.  Perhaps the Scripture references could be ones to meditate upon in your morning prayers.  Writing almost a century ago in words fresh as the morning coolness, he says:
“Scripture…says that all [...]

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God Doubters

“In contrast to the modern view that religious doubt is something to reject, fear, or merely tolerate, doubt not only can be seen as an inevitable aspect of our humanity but also can be celebrated as a vital part of faith.” (Peter Rollins, “How Not to Speak of God).
“Post evangelicals also want room to express [...]

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Subscribe by Email to Reflections on Upchurch

We just added the possibility of subscribing to Reflections on Upchurch by email.  Check out the widget to the right and follow the links.  Hope it makes the site more useful to you.  Thanks!
-DJB

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Emergent Agnosticism

“To say Scripture is the Word of God is to employ a metaphor. God cannot be thought of as literally speaking words, since they are an entirely human phenomenon that could never prove adequate as a medium for the speech of an infinite God.” (Tomlinson)
“Our words aren’t absolutes. Only God is absolute, and God has [...]

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Pierced for our Transgressions – quotes from the book

One of the great contributions of Pierced for our Transgressions is the way that they see penal substitution as being a central puzzle piece in theology where if it is removed the whole picture is nonsensical. Here is a summary expression of this thought:
“Penal substitution has a foundational place in Christian theology. It [...]

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