Jojo Agot

Spiralling Out of Control

Genesis 34

Jacob’s family is spiralling out of control. Judah, the direct ancestor of the priests and Levites, is here seen in a killing spree. This is family dysfunction at its worst. A father with a weak resolve got pushed around by his sons who were blinded by their anger, a daughter with questionable night life, a bunch of unreasonable men whose revenge was far greater than the crime committed against them. At the last scene, Jacob was seen worrying more about their nighbors than the grave offense his sons did against God.

This hardly looks like a family from which the Messiah would be born. The story ended without a single reference to God. Continue reading Spiralling Out of Control

Suggestions to Young Theologians

From Andy Naselli’s blog:

John Frame’s 30 Suggestions for Theological Students and Young Theologians.

1. Consider that you might not really be called to theological work. James 3:1 tells us that not many of us should become teachers and that teachers will be judged more strictly. To whom much (biblical knowledge) is given, of them shall much be required.

2. Value your relationship with Christ, your family, and the church above your career ambitions. You will influence more people by your life than by your theology. And deficiencies in your life will negate the influence of your ideas, even if those ideas are true. Continue reading Suggestions to Young Theologians

The Virgin Birth

Donald Mcleod on the virgin birth:

The virgin birth is posted on guard at the door of the mystery of Christmas; and none of us must think of hurrying past it. It stands on the threshold of the New Testament, blatantly supernatural, defying our rationalism, informing us that all that follows belongs to the same order as itself and that if we find it offensive there is no point in proceeding further.

But what is the significance of the virgin birth? David Mathis offers four reasons:

One, it highlights the supernatural life of Jesus on earth. He was born supernaturally, he also came back from the dead supernaturally. Continue reading The Virgin Birth

Why We Don’t Call Him Papa Jesus

Because nowhere in the Bible can you find anyone calling Him that.

I think people call him ‘Papa Jesus’ because they are trying to describe a relationship that feels warm and relatable. I understand the point. Still, the Bible doesn’t call him Papa Jesus and the reason is theological. Jesus is the Son, not the Father. Calling him Papa is not consistent with what the Bible teaches about the Trinity.

Didn’t Jesus Really Know?

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36).”

Here’s a very controversial verse about the extent of Christ’s knowledge regarding the end of the world. Didn’t Jesus really know? How come?

The question is deeper than that, actually. If Christ didn’t know, doesn’t that mean that He is less than God? How can He be God and not know? Isn’t God supposed to be all-knowing?

You see, this verse, along with Mark 13:32, has been used by many people in the past to prove that Jesus isn’t God. Continue reading Didn’t Jesus Really Know?

The Mayans Got It All Wrong!

The Mayans got it all wrong, everyone knows that now. And let me just say for the record that I didn’t believe any of it. Not one bit.

But there is something more troubling about this “end of the world” brouhaha than it’s being incorrect– and that’s our total mockery of the whole idea of eschatology. In the past few days, my Facebook news feed has been filled with slapstick and mocking posts about the apocalypse. Most of them were correct but the attitude behind the posts were less than charitable.

In the Bible, when the end of the world is mentioned, it is almost always within the context of how we should live holy lives in anticipation of the coming of Christ, not in the dismissive and cocky attitude of being on the right side of the fence. Continue reading The Mayans Got It All Wrong!