We all have them to one extent or another; sometimes they are a constant burden on our conscience, other times they are not but perhaps should be. Maybe it’s our fault, our perhaps theirs. Join us as we have a conversation about Broken Relationships and try and discover what we as Christians should do about… Read more »
Posted by Eric Owens
Written 2008 It was a good idea my dear wife had. She is eager to exercise. I am eager to exercise. We live in rural southwest Virginia, on a rather flat road that follows the contours of the river that flows beside it. So what we have been doing of late is walking together early… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
There is wisdom in the playground adage that every time we point a finger at others we have three more pointing back at ourselves. It’s also true for adults who are given to hurling accusations against those who are just like us. Christian A complains to Christian B about what a horrible gossip Christian C… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
The Westminster Confession, when dealing with how Christians ought to understand the place of the Old Covenant civil law (that is, the laws God gaveIsrael’s government at the founding of the nation), argues that we are bound by the “general equity” of these laws. That is, I believe, that we are called to apply that… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
It is my conviction that too often those of us who think ourselves prophetic are actually cowards. One can easily enough, in the evangelical church, earn a reputation for boldness by railing against the sins of either an unlistening world, or the church down the street. We stand in the streets of Jerusalem pronouncing God’s… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Sonship theology is a set of biblical notions originally propagated by Jack Miller, a former missionary and pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America (former because Jack has gone on to his reward.) The ideas were first spread through a Bible study, then through a Presbyterian missions agency. The central theme, as evidenced in the… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
We are adepts not at fighting our sins but hiding them. We gather each Lord’s Day dressed in our smiles, share our praise reports and our health concerns, pat ourselves on our backs, and return home to our gross and heinous sins. We miss this in part because we are preternaturally positive about ourselves. We… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
The church, after President Obama’s re-election, finds itself in serious trouble. Part of the good news is that at least she is beginning to recognize the trouble she is in. One wonders how many Christians would have been dancing in the aisles had the election turned out differently, and if we would have actually been… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Written April, 2010 One of the many blessings of having eight children is all that you learn about sin. Though my children are sinners, my point isn’t a snickering allusion to that reality, suggesting that all those children mean an awful lot of sin. Instead all those children make for far too many opportunities for… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Written 2008 There is, in evangelical homeschooling circles, a growing divide. On the one side there are those of us who might be called movement homeschoolers. We homeschool because we believe it to be the Biblical choice, not because we merely prefer it. We tend to adopt many of the secondary lifestyle issues related… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners,… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Of course. Even Judas was sorrowful over his sin, according to the Bible. The world is full of people who are disgusted at at least some of their sins, who seek to put particular sins behind them. This kind of sorrow is not how we have peace with God. While repentance is intimately connected to… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
While it is certainly gloriously true that out of God’s love for us He sent His Son to cover our sins, to remove them as far from us as the east is from the west, this is not likely what Peter has in mind here. He is instead, in context, talking about interpersonal relationships among… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
We all have them to one extent or another; sometimes they are a constant burden on our conscience, other times they are not but perhaps should be. Maybe it’s our fault, our perhaps theirs. Join us as we have a conversation about Broken Relationships and try and discover what we as Christians should do about them.
I know it is a scary thought. I know it is outside our comfort zone. And so at best we pray for those who go, those spiritual super-heroes that are better than we are. At worst we get angry at them for making us feel guilty. Going to the mill, however, will not save your… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
It’s too bad that Dickens’ old Scrooge is remembered in terms of “bah, humbug.” I mean, after all he did change, and his latter end was night and day compared to his rough start. I can say the same for myself… In fact, even David prayed that the Lord would not remember the sins of… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Roger Erber
No, and yes. We are called in Scripture, in several different places, to follow the pattern of our Maker in forgiving others. The God of heaven and earth is indeed swift to forgive. But His forgiveness is only given in the context of our repentance. (Though we would be wise to remember that He is… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
“How do I repent? What do I actually do? How do I know when I have repented? If repentance is a gift from God, then what is my role? If I think I have repented but then commit the same sin again, does that mean that I did not in fact repent?” The devil’s… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
“Is it ever acceptable to sever ties with an abusive parent? We struggle with the fifth commandment and dealing with an emotionally abusive parent. We have severed communications with one of my wife’s parents due to inappropriate and corrosive influence on our family. The last year has been very good for my family without the influence… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
“A believing friend recently he told me how a man who had written hymns and chorus songs that she loved had “come out” as a homosexual. I said that he probably was never a true believer as “coming out” is generally done when the lifestyle is acted upon and embraced. She said that it is… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Over the last semester of our Highlands Hall program, and during the previous semester of the Highlands Academy, the classes we offer to area homeschoolers, we read a great deal on church history. In both instances we noted this strange phenomenon. The people of God grow cold in their fervor for the Lord. A group… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
“I just read your response to the “Ask R.C.” question regarding Christians carrying a weapon. I was wondering if you would be able to give me your thoughts on Christ’s words in Matthew 5: 38-48 regarding resisting the one who is evil and turning the other cheek. Who is Christ talking to there? And if… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
“How would you counsel someone who has committed adultery (and subsequently been divorced by his spouse) regarding any future relationship with the person with whom he committed adultery?” Here is a classic case that illustrates the importance of this hermeneutical principle- we are to interpret the historical in light of the didactic and not the… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Of course. Even Judas was sorrowful over his sin, according to the Bible. The world is full of people who are disgusted at at least some of their sins, who seek to put particular sins behind them. This kind of sorrow is not how we have peace with God. While repentance is intimately connected to… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
“If a man in leadership falls into sin, admits it, repents and turns from it, should he ever lead again in the same role?” All men, save Jesus, are sinners. All men, save Jesus, are called to repent and turn from their sins. And only men are called to lead in the church. As… Read more »
Posted by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr.
