The Most Popular Posts of 2022
I’ve published a lot of content in 2022 – here are some of the most popular pieces, as well as some personal favorites. If you want more, take a look at the lists from 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Biblical Studies
The Christian Duty of Self-Denial – Jesus taught that his followers must ‘take up the cross’ in order to follow him. What does that mean? Self-denial is a Christian discipline that applies to all of life – not just directly avoiding sin.
That You May Have Life: Addressing the Spiritual Reasons behind Unbelief – God’s Word gives detailed analysis of why it is that individuals do not believe. This article cuts through the superficial reasons and addresses the spiritual reality behind any individual’s lack of faith.
The Duty of Sonship – What does Jesus mean when he says to ‘be sons of your Father who is in heaven’? As this article points out, the Sermon on the Mount teaches what it means for God to be our Father – and how we must respond to that.
Evangelism and Missions
Stop Telling People They Aren’t Perfect – We’ve been preaching this line long enough. Instead, we need a fully-developed doctrine of sin, according to the Bible’s own teaching.
The Prosperity Gospel: Syncretism and African Traditional Religion – The real reason why the prosperity ‘gospel’ is so popular in Africa is because it is syncretistic. It builds on the worldview of African Traditional Religion, presenting a distorted version of Christianity in a way that makes sense to animists.
The Radical Inclusivity of Jesus’ Grace – Jesus is willing to accept anyone. It’s important not to forget how radical this message is: for those who feel too dirty or ashamed to seek God, and for those who are so used to this message that they’ve gradually forgotten it’s world-changing potential.
History and Current Events
Martin Luther: A Reformation of Marriage and Family (guest post) – Luther’s reformation entailed far more than just a re-examination of justification. Drawing on the history and theology of Luther, Stephan Albin has done a wonderful job of showing the effects of the reformation on family and marriage.
A Summary of the Second Punic War – This war was the ancient equivalent of the Second World War, wide-ranging in its theaters and consisting of many dramatic stories. Here’s a quick introduction.
Lessons from Stonewall Jackson – Thomas Jackson was a deeply spiritual man whose life can teach us many lessons. Here are a few observations of ways that we can learn from his example – lessons that have challenged me in my own life.
Miscellaneous
12 Modern Questions for Spiritual Self-Examination – Based on a list of 12 questions from the eighteenth century, this updated list is a helpful way to examine spiritual growth and spend a few minutes in contemplation at the end of each day.
Why We Feel Disconnected from History – In an age of historical amnesia, it’s often hard to remember that we are connected to the past. Everything about the world – including ourselves – has a history. Why do we feel so uniquely disconnected? This is my attempt to answer the question.
The Process of Crucifixion – Although a graphic and unpleasant read, it’s important to understand crucifixion if we are going to understand what it means that Jesus humbled himself to the point of ‘death on a cross.’
