Posts by Joel Arnold
Discipline: What If Scripture Isn’t Politically Correct?
There lurks within every human heart an intractable rebel, bent on refusing the rightful lordship of Jesus Christ. There is, of course, no answer to this defect other than the grace of God. The gospel changes the terms of the battle; the Spirit strengthens us; Scripture directs us in the fight. But even for believers…
Read MoreWorship with the Heavenly Angels
Whatever else we would say about Luke’s story of the angels and the shepherds, it’s very memorable. But less clear is the point. Why did it happen? What does it mean? I’m going to argue that there’s something huge going on here. I’m going to argue that this event was a teaser — a short…
Read MoreWho were the Magi?
One day, out of nowhere, well-dressed men wearing expensive suits and dark sunglasses get out of Mercedes limos in a massive motorcade. They walk up to you asking, “where is he? Show us where he is.” This, recast in 2017 garb is the story of the Magi. We think we know what it’s all about.…
Read MoreI Can… Except I Can’t
I know few better ways to understand myself than being a father. Because kids are, after all, just little humans with all of the wonderful capacities, funny quirks, and deep brokenness that makes people what we are. “I can’t!” One of my children recently showed a pattern of facing hard tasks, reaching the frustrating part…
Read MoreIs There A Pattern to the Bible’s Miracles?
Even a brief read through the Bible reveals many miracles. It’s easy to walk away with the impression that the storyline of Scripture is just one miracle after another. And to be sure, miracles happen a lot—around 265 specific passages (though a number of these record the same miracles several times such as in the…
Read MoreBe a Truth-Lover
I understand that passions are at an extreme high right now. I also understand that the political conversation space is over-saturated and at this point, simply exhausting. I also understand that my voice has little to offer the conversation and even if it did, very few people are still forming opinions. So I’m going to…
Read More2020—What a Beautiful Time to Be Alive
For the sake of those living on the North Pole or the International Space Station and who had their internet disconnected for the last 9 months, let me catch you up some current events: 2020 has been a bit of a rough patch. For the rest of us, I suspect, we need no such updates.…
Read MoreDoes God destroy people for only one sin?
In his blisteringly skeptical book, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins gives his view of the God of the Old Testament: “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal,…
Read MoreShould We Legislate Morality?
For years I have been perplexed when it comes to religious liberty. Should gay marriage be illegal? Definitely. What about adultery? Not so sure. No question in my mind that heroin should be illegal. But should we outlaw alcohol too? One over-worn stock phrase is that “you can’t legislate morality.” And in fact, history demonstrates…
Read MoreThe Hero of the Story is Always God
Everybody loves a good story, and Scripture has some of the best. Try to read through the story of Esther without laughing at the ironies. Try to read through the account of the man born blind (John 9) without crying. Or even better, trying reading out loud through a story with dialogue like Daniel 2,…
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