by Able Baker | Jan 17, 2018 | God's Sovereignty
A moment to explain to our readers why I’m writing this article. For a little over a year I have been preaching through Revelation. One of the people who has been following along with the sermons asked a great question about Revelation 17:8. Here is the passage…...
by Able Baker | Jan 16, 2018 | God's Sovereignty
I was recently sent a text with the following question. “In (Revelation) Chapter 17 verse 8 what does it mean ‘Whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world’?” Great question! This is a super thorny passage because of the...
by Able Baker | Dec 5, 2017 | Theological Studies
I have not written in a long time. Yesterday I fell into an interesting comment session on Facebook about the intricacies of God’s providence with some folks that I though might make it interesting. A friend placed a meme entitled “Onus, give credit where credit is...
by Luke Geraty | Sep 1, 2017 | Sacramentalism, Systematic Theology, Theological Studies
If a sacrament is a means of grace, or to improve upon an Augustinian idea, a visible sign of both invisible and visible grace, how might the church be sacramental? This is a question I have long been wrestling with and the suggestion I made in my dissertation was...
by Robby McAlpine | Aug 7, 2017 | Apologetics, Christology, Gospel, Sin, Soteriology, The Kingdom of God, Theodicy, Theological Studies, Worship
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst...
by Luke Geraty | Jun 28, 2017 | Baptism, Charismatic Theology, Ecclesiology, Eucharist, Pneumatology, Sacramentalism, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
Below is a copy of the paper I presented at the 2017 Society of Vineyard Scholars’ annual gathering (PDF can be found here). I essentially argue that sacramentality is essential for Vineyard theology and praxis, especially the regular celebration of Communion....
by Robby McAlpine | May 9, 2017 | Christology, Soteriology, Theological Studies
It’s always been a head-scratcher for me — this obsession that some people seem to have with pitting various viewpoints on the Atonement against each other, as if they are mutually exclusively (and therefore bitter enemies). I’ve always seen them more as the differing...
by Able Baker | Feb 27, 2017 | God's Sovereignty
Have you have been following the situation in Oroville California regarding their nearly 8 story (770’) dam? Just in case you have been in a coma California has had some amazing amounts of rainfall. This rain fall has caused the operators of the dam in Oroville to use...
by Robby McAlpine | Feb 8, 2017 | Charismatic Theology, Christology, Church History, Ecclesiology, Epistemology, Gospel, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16) Some people don’t like doctrinal statements, viewing them as a tool of oppression and exclusion. They would...
by Luke Geraty | Jan 7, 2017 | Ecclesiology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Systematic Theology, The Kingdom of God, Theological Studies
One of my favorite worship albums is Jeremy Riddle’s “The Now and Not Yet.” This “now and not yet” theology was made somewhat “famous” amongst Evangelicals by the scholarly work of George Eldon Ladd, especially in his The...
by Able Baker | Sep 12, 2016 | Ecclesiology
Remember when ketchup was declared a vegetable? In the early 80’s Congress cut $1 billion dollars of funding for child nutrition. The USDA had 90 days to reorganize their standards under this funding cut. With a massive funding change the USDA needed to get creative....
by Michael Sterns | May 30, 2016 | Theological Studies
“If anyone should not find himself astonished and filled with wonder when he becomes involved in one way or another with theology, he would be well advised to consider once more, from a certain remoteness and without prejudice, what is involved in this...
by Able Baker | May 10, 2016 | Creation
In response to my recent article Faith Through The Lens of Natural Theology I received a great question from a friend on facebook. Able…“are there nuances of panentheism that you might apply or hold personally? Obviously, the universe isn’t God, yet we can...
by Able Baker | May 9, 2016 | Creation
A General Introduction I find the definition of theology as “The Study of God” to be too obtuse to be useful. I define theology in a more acute form (yet careful to avoid being myopic) as follows, Theology is the talk, conversation and discussion of the people of God...
by Able Baker | May 3, 2016 | Soteriology
Scripture is pretty clear that the ideal example of being a just man or good man is one who is generally not thought of as being a shallow and opportunistic kind of fellow (1 John 2:16). And in light of Scriptures stern warnings It seems like a bad idea to point to...
by Able Baker | Apr 30, 2016 | Gospel
Where there is a distinct language, lingo or even jargon there is a distinct culture every time. Often times communication on every level fails to a greater or lesser extent because this rule is neglected. Every time I hear an Independant Fundamental Baptist,...
by Able Baker | Apr 29, 2016 | Soteriology
A Plan? If you do a Google search of “What is the gospel?” you will find that almost all Christian denominations (especially evangelicals) that center their faith on the Bible, conversion, the cross and the resurrection explain the gospel in this way. First, admit...
by Able Baker | Apr 18, 2016 | Ecclesiology
There is a growing population of folks that say they are “Done With Church”. These people are being called “Dones”. I have friends that would identify as “Done With Church”. People might be quick to pass this movement off as a phase but it is actually more like...
by Able Baker | Apr 13, 2016 | Theological Studies
It really is a new, modern, and entirely progressive idea to consider the Christian label “conservative” as a word having anything to do with the practical, moral, or political distillations of a person’s theology. There has been a ton of ink spilled on the...
by Robby McAlpine | Mar 31, 2016 | Charismatic Theology, Ecclesiology, Theological Studies, Worship
The morning began much like any other: the smell of fresh-brewed coffee, the sun peeking over the mountains to the east, the calm reflective time before the day began in earnest. Was he awake, or had he dozed off again? Which is another way of asking:...
