New Horizons

April, 2012: The Resurrection

Contents Responses to the Resurrection by Everett A. Henes Short-Term Missions, Long-Term Good by Jamie Dean Why Can’t Christians Agree? by James W. Scott Wrapped in Grace

The entire issue is available in the following formats: PDF  ePub  and  Mobi 

Responses to the Resurrection

by Everett A. Henes

There are plenty of issues within the church over which we can disagree. The doctrine of the Resurrection, however, is not one of those issues. The historicity of the resurrection of Jesus is essential to Christianity.

Addressing this question, J. Gresham Machen writes, “The great weapon with which the disciples of Jesus set out to conquer the world was not a mere comprehension of eternal principles; it was an historical message, an account of something that had recently happened, it was the message, ‘He is risen’ ” (Christianity and Liberalism, pp. 28–29). Read more

Short-Term Missions, Long-Term Good

by Jamie Dean

Since elder David Nakhla began his work as the OPC’s first short-term missions and disaster response coordinator in September 2010, he has helped the OPC respond to a devastating tsunami in Japan, unprecedented flooding in upstate New York, and ongoing needs in foreign fields like Haiti and Uruguay.

The OPC has been working to expand its reach in short-term missions. In this interview, David offers some thoughts on the value of short-term trips and how OP churches and members can become more involved with the joyful task of making disciples of Christ at home and abroad. Read more

Why Can’t Christians Agree?

by James W. Scott

According to Presbyterians, infant baptism is taught in the Bible. But according to Baptists, the Bible teaches that only professing believers should be baptized—and they must be immersed, besides. Why can’t we agree on what the Bible teaches about baptism? Why doesn’t the Bible tell us simply and unmistakably who should be baptized—and how? We could ask such questions about many matters.

Sociologist Christian Smith has the answer. We can’t agree, he tells us, because the biblical writers don’t agree. To take another example, some passages really are Calvinistic, and others really are Arminian, but evangelicals can’t see that because they assume the Bible has a consistent position. Hence, they twist the other side’s passages to suit their own preferred view. Furthermore, they try to extract “biblical teachings” on all sorts of subjects that the Bible doesn’t really address. Read more

Wrapped in Grace

To: JuneMcrea@ustel.com
From: bevwhyler@connect.com

Dear June, Read more