Yes, really — I sit you down in front of a TV connected to a video game console. I boot up a game with a lush 3D digital world. I point straight at the screen and declare: “No one made this digital world. It happened by chance.” You look at me, baffled. Then…

Excerpt from Exodus 21: God’s Emancipation Proclamation — Chapter 4: The Word Causing the Confusion (Ebed) For a book that outlaws slavery, the Bible mentions slaves a lot. Exodus 21 is the beginning of the laws God gives to Israel, His first declaration of freedom. Yet Exodus 21 uses the word “slave” seven times, depending on the translation. …

Excerpt from Exodus 21: God’s Emancipation Declaration Chapter 3: Israel — The Land of the Free God outlawed slavery in Exodus 21:16. But what if someone tried to keep slaves against the law? What if Israel’s neighbors kept slaves and they wanted freedom? God provided for this directly in Deuteronomy 23:15–16. …

Excerpt from Exodus 21: God’s Emancipation Declaration — Chapter 2: God’s One-Sentence Abolition of Slavery The question comes hard and fast from those who challenge the Bible: if God is a loving God, why doesn’t He abolish slavery? It should be easy. Being God, He should be able to write a one-sentence command in the Bible to stop people from enslaving each other. The answer…

Excerpt from Exodus 21: God’s Emancipation Declaration — When someone tells you they’re hurting — listen. A lot has been said about the Bible over the years — some true, some false. Much of it has been good and helpful. Some of it has been painful. As a pastor and author, I’ve had the privilege to listen to…

Exploring the dynamics of history’s most pivotal moment — Exploring “what if?” scenarios deepens our grasp of historical events. Often we know what happened. But what would have happened if key decisions changed? How would the dynamics of the situation alter the outcome? Pontius Pilate held Jesus’ life in his hands. On one hand, he could execute Jesus, releasing…

Letting the text say only what it says — There are times when solving a mystery may hinder our faith. In John 8, Jesus writes in the dust while confronting a mob. The text gives no specifics about what Jesus wrote. …

And perhaps a trace of hope — I’m often wrong. When I’m wrong I don’t want to admit it. I want to dig in, fight back, and defend, even when I know just how wrong I am. But God continues to haunt me with the hope of repentance. I’m not trapped in my mistakes. …

Deconstructing the destroyer of faith — Fear destroys Christians. Fear-driven churches burn far too many Christians every year, driving them away through fear-based methods of control, manipulation, and brainwashing. Fear is an easy tool for power-hungry leaders to wield. Keep the people afraid and they won’t dare budge out of line. These church leaders claim to…