Biblical Articles

Many members of the church may never have heard of The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, but it has enjoyed great success as a hardcover book--so much so that (so far as we know) it is not even available in paperback yet. Most libraries will have two or more...

Probably by now everyone is tired of hearing about the homosexual media event of the season, otherwise known as Ellen's "Coming Out," which occurred about one-and-one-half weeks ago. Some, of course, yawned and wondered why anyone would care, but the answer became...

When Terry Hightower directed the Shenandoah lectures, he produced some of the most outstanding, informative books available anywhere. It did not seem likely that very many brethren could continue such a rich tradition, but Don Walker admirably takes up where Terry...

Job was afflicted more severely than most of us will ever suffer. First of all, he lost all of his wealth. Although we understand that these are not the true or permanent riches in life, few (if any) can remain unmoved at their loss. Some have taken their lives when...

Although the song with the above title was popular a number of years ago, it is still played on various radio stations. The subject, of course, concerns those who have been in love but are now alone after a failed romance, looking for "some kind of peace of mind."...

The following paragraphs appeared recently in the New York Times: Wal-Mart is the single largest seller of pop music in the country, accounting last year for sales of an estimated 52,000,000 of the 615,000,000 compact discs sold in the United States. Its refusal to...

For quite a while now the American Family Association Journal has been warning about the Walt Disney Company under the leadership of its president, Michael Eisner. According to the brochure on the bulletin board from Florida's American Family Association: Gay Day...

It all started with a column by William Raspberry, the syndicated columnist. His article, entitled "Why are So Many People Afraid of Same-Sex Marriage?", appeared in the obviously pro-homosexual newspaper, The Dallas Morning News, on January 29th of this year. Some...

It's not so much spoken; it's more of an attitude that people convey. It's evidenced in the way the eyes dart away when you mention that you are a Christian; it's the way the face wrinkles when the Bible is mentioned; it's seen in the shrug of the shoulders when...

The question in the title of this article has been asked by numerous people during the history of the world; it could have been asked by several people in the Bible. The person who actually voiced this sentiment, however, was Gideon. When the Angel of the Lord told...

Previously we detailed how a popular author was inappropriately assigning unworthy motives to Biblical personalities--even to angels--in his attempts to paraphrase various events. As a writer of parables, Max Lucado is unparallel (not unparalleled). That is to say,...

Most people have probably met the person who could never seem to be satisfied no matter what. Everybody else may be perfectly content, but this one individual finds something to complain about. The prototype of all such people is Satan himself. Satan and the angels he...

The above title is from chapter eleven of Robert Bork's most recent book, Slouching Toward Gomorrah (which we plan to review next week). Although he does not refer specifically to Riane Eisler's book, he does offer a few choice comments about the "goddess" ideology....

So many are the misrepresentations of the Bible and Christianity in Riane Eisler's book, The Chalice and the Blade, that it would take a volume of equal length to refute each item she mentions. Before focusing attention on chapter nine, a brief review of the remainder...

In order to undermine the effectiveness of the Bible, many purported "Biblical scholars" have relegated much of God's holy word (especially Genesis 1-11) to "myth" status. Instead of being written by Moses as it claims, these "scholars" claim that the Bible has...

Many books have been published in recent years looking at life from a feminist perspective. Generally, we do not read or discuss books of this sort, but for the next three weeks we want to reply to a thesis set forth by Riane Eisler in her 1987 book, The Chalice and...

Jerry Moffitt has put together an invaluable reference book entitled Denominational Doctrines. Its 653 pages are full of useful information for one's own study or to draw upon in discussions with others. But this review will begin in an unlikely place--the back cover,...

In Proverbs 8, as well as in many other passages of the book, wisdom is extolled. Consider the brief sampling below, in which wisdom is personified and speaks. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my...

Twenty-four long years ago the Supreme Court enacted abortion rights legislation. They called it reaching a decision, but how can you "interpret" something our constitution never dealt with? The answer is that you find a clause that contains the word privacy, and,...

Max Lucado is an inventive guy. Too inventive. Sometimes his musings reflect an ignorance of the Scriptures, and sometimes he ventures into the realm of blasphemy. The quotation about Sarai and Abraham above (See "Max Lucado Marked") shows his ignorance of the Bible....

It is a fact that many churches of Christ use books written by Max Lucado in their Bible study classes. Let me share with you why this greatly concerns me and why it should greatly concern you as well. In the introduction to Mr. Lucado's book When God Whispers Your...

A few weeks ago in the early morning hours, between unconsciousness and dawn, I had a vision. Of Max Lucado. He was meditating diligently over what to write in his next denominationally-endorsed, best-selling book. The first problem was finding a catchy title. Readers...

William D. Watkins must have spent months or years compiling the material in his book, The New Absolutes, published just a few months ago. Most of the chapters average between 50 and 100 endnotes. Although some things may be alluded to, most of the time the reader...

Usually around the holidays newspapers and magazines carry articles about a common affliction suffered by many during this time of year--depression. Many experience this emotional state because they are lonely. Perhaps they have lost a lifelong mate, or their children...

When we think about the apostle Paul, the characteristic of humility may not be the first thing that comes to mind. True, he wrote one of the greatest passages in the New Testament on the subject, which begins with, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ...

Time recently published an article entitled "Kids and Pot" by Lance Morrow (December 9, 1996). The article itself contains some useful information for today's parents, such as the following. Use of pot by young people rose 105% from 1992 to 1994, and gained 37%...

Nobody likes a doom-and-gloom prophet; so as cheerfully as I can do so, I'm predicting the downfall of America. It may not be this week; it may not be this century (big deal, with only four years left in it); it may not even be this generation (though it deserves it)....

The following letter by L. E. Roseman of Grand Prairie appeared in The Dallas Morning News on November 9, 1996 (30A). Please let me speak for those of us who have had abortions-and never ever had regrets! Yes, I've had two such experiences. The reasons are my own. No...

It is often reported that 94% (or so) of the American people believe in God. At first glance such a fact might be considered encouraging-until the realization dawns that so many people have their own definitions and concepts of God. Many who claim to believe in God...

A few weeks ago, when I finished the book reviewed in last week's bulletin, I knew some other people would be interested in its contents. One of those was Bronwen McClish. Within a few days she had revealed to me some interesting and valuable information. I asked her...