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Truth and Goodness in Non-Christian Religions

Can we affirm the presence of truth and goodness in non-Christian religions and, if so, on what basis? “There is no reason to maintain that everything taught by non-Christian religions is false or that there is nothing of value in them.”[1]This statement quoted by Keith Johnson was originally written by Harold Netland, it gives the answer to the question, “Can we affirm the presence of truth and goodness in non-Christian religions?” Most non-Christian religions affirm a form of what is called the golden rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Therefore, the answer is yes, we can affirm the presence of truth and goodness in non-Christian religions. The real question is on what basis?  Keith Johnson explains that there is truth and goodness in non-Christian religions on the basis of general revelation, indirect influence of the Scriptures (special revelation), and common grace. Human beings were created in the image of God; therefore, we long for a relationship with God b…
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Book Review: Adoniram Judson

Duesing, Jason G., ed. Adoniram Judson: A Bicentennial Appreciation of The Pioneer American Missionary. Nashville: B & H Academic, 2012. Biographical Sketch of the Editor Jason G. Duesing is the Provost and Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Duesing was previously on faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned his Ph.D. in Historical Theology and Baptist studies in 2008. He also earned a M.Div. at Southeastern Seminary and a B.A. in Speech Communications from Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas. Dr. Duesing has had several publications beginning in 2007.[1] Summary of Contents A book should be read chronologically from beginning to end but when one explains the purpose, beginning at the end is often more advantages; especially when the ending contains the purpose statement.  Dr. Duesing explains that the purpose of this book about Adoniram…
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Eternal Life

In the beginning God created all things You were created in the image of God; Therefore, you are to be perfect as Your heavenly Father is perfect But you are not perfect You have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Sin is lawlessness Sin is everyone deciding for themselves good and evil  Sin is rebellion against God The penalty for sin is death; Spiritual death, the separation of the sinner from God Physical death, the separation of the soul from the body Eternal death, the abandonment of the soul in hell All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Therefore, eternal life is a gift given by the grace of God alone Received through faith alone In the Son of God, Jesus the Christ alone Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit Jesus was born of the virgin Mary Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel and saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand  Repent and believe in the gospel” Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures Jesus was buried in a garden tomb Jesus w…
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I am a Nurse and I am a Missionary

Life on Mission: I am a Missionary from North American Mission Board on Vimeo.

Do you believe that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved? Paul used those words in Romans 10:13 and Peter used them during his sermon on the day of Pentecost, (Acts 2:21) both apostles got this word from the prophet Joel in a prophecy about “The Day of the Lord.” “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the Lord has said, Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:30-32) After quoting Joel 2:32 “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved,” the apostle Paul poses a serious of questions which I also pose to you today. “How then will they call on Him in whom the…
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Book Review: The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Dever, Mark. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. Wheaton: Crossway, 2007 Biographical Sketch of the Author“Mark has served as the senior pastor of CHBC since 1994 and as president of 9 Marks (a ministry to churches and church leaders) since its founding in 1998. He’s married to Connie and they have two adult children, both married, and one grandchild. Mark has authored a number of books, including 9 Marks of a Healthy Church.”1 Summary of Contents The main topic of this book is the gospel and personal evangelism. This is explained by answering seven questions: Why don’t we evangelize? What is the gospel? Who should we evangelize? How should we evangelize? What isn’t evangelism? What should we do after we evangelize? Why should we evangelize? Why don’t we evangelize? The answer is that we justify excuses in our minds. The author says that there are five basic excuses. The first he admits is the most legitimate; “I don’t not know their language.” Language barriers are difficult, but th…
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Missions at Home

A book that I recently enjoyed reading was “Reaching and Teaching by David Sills.” Dr. Sills is Missiology professor at Southern Seminary. Dr. Sills defined an intercultural missionary in this way: “One whom God has called and sent as an ambassador of Christ with the message of reconciliation to make disciples, baptize, and teach to obey all that He has commanded, and who intentionally crosses cultural boundaries to do so.”1 Evangelism and discipleship to prison inmates, urban immigrants, people with different religious backgrounds, and people from sectarian cults are all different cultures than my own. Therefore, I think that evangelizing to these, all though within the boarders of America should be defined as missions. This morning I read and essay by David Wheeler called “Hanging Out with a Purpose.” The purpose is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the essay he gave four practical principles for hanging out with the purpose of sharing the gospel: 1.Be fully present as you walk …
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Repent•Believe•Follow

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Gn.1:1;26-27) You were created in the image of God. Jesus said, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt.5:48) However, you are not perfect. You have sinned. You fall short of God’s glorious standard. When you lie you make God out to be a liar. When you steal you make God out to be a thief. When you are unfaithful; whether it be physical unfaithfulness (adultery), mental unfaithfulness (lust) or unfaithfulness with you heart you make God out to be unfaithful.  What you have earned for marring the image of God is death. However, the Lord God is compa…
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