Monday Morning Apologist: Proof for God’s Existence?
-OBJECTION: I need proof that God exists. Otherwise, I will not believe.
Author: Van Barrett
FAITH. By the grace of God, I am a Christian. I don't mean the superficial, thanking-God-after-winning-an-award-type Christian either. This is real to me. I was a mess of an individual (by God's standards) whose only hope was redemption through Jesus Christ. Currently, I am a faithful member in good standing at a local church.
FAMILY. I'm a husband and father by God's grace. I have the greatest wife on the planet and a daughter whom I adore. This doesn't mean we always get along, but I know I've been given far more than I deserve as it relates to them.
EDUCATION. I have an undergraduate degree in business management and a graduate degree in theological studies. Jesus, theology, evangelism, ministry, and apologetics are passions of mine, so the blog generally centers around those topics. Writing is a way for me to formulate my thoughts as not to drive my family insane since I probably border somewhere between an over-thinker and contemplative.
So, there's a little bit about me, a little background that I hope will provide insight into blog posts. Just another flawed individual seeking to be used by God.
-Van Barrett (pseudonym)
Monday Morning Apologist: Jesus – Just a Moral Teacher?
-OBJECTION: I believe in Jesus but not as divine. He was simply a great moral teacher.
Monday Morning Apologist: Is the Bible Fiction?
-OBJECTION: “The Bible is fiction, myth. You believe in fiction.”
Monday Morning Apologist: Religion? Man-Made?
-OBJECTION: “Religion is a man-made creation meant to control. I don’t believe in organized religion.”
Intro to Monday Morning Apologist (#MMApologist)
A couple years ago, I started sharing the "Monday Morning Apologist" posts to my social media account. After some thought the other day, it seemed wise to add it to my blog (though the blog is private at the time of this entry). An apology (or apologist), in this context, is a defense of something communicated through speech or writing. So, this is not an "apology" in the sense of reflecting...
The Color of Compromise: A Critical Analysis and Review
The Color of Compromise. By Jemar Tisby. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. 215 pp. $21.99. Hardcover. **WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS** Effort has been made to minimize spoilers, but a critical analysis and review requires at least some interaction with the content of the book. America's history, though less than 300 years old, is a rather complex and polarizing subject. There are moments of...
A Prayer For Our Current State
O Lord, Creator of all things, we need You desperately.
You are most excellent in all Your ways.
You knew us before the foundation of the world and saw our paths from a distance.
My God, there is no god but You.
We can do nothing apart from You.
We trust in You. Our community, our region, our nation, and our world needs You.
All the seeds of sinful destruction we planted are coming back to devour...
Biblical or Divisive: Should Christians Call Others “Nominal Christians?”
UPDATE (1/9/17): After speaking with the same friend, I decided it would be best to update this blog. While my thoughts were clear, I think it's worthwhile to have additional biblical support for my position. For transparency, I'll leave all updates in blue font. While having a conversation with a close brother in Christ, we broached the topic of whether or not Christians should call out, or...
Hermeneutics and Guns: A Most Unusual Pairing?
Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, the location of the latest shooting carnage, has become yet another springboard for conversation concerning guns and violence in America. As news outlets feverishly addressed the situation in whichever manner benefited their agenda, I couldn’t help but think about how the Second Amendment consistently comes under attack. Honestly, the revisionism of that amendment...
A Regression of Thought?
I've observed a trend in our culture in which people tend to avoid all disagreeable individuals and ideas. Sadly, we've become so hypersensitive that our ideas aren't challenged. In social media, we "block" or "unfriend" anyone who disagrees with our views in the name of "cleaning up our friend's list." In daily interaction, we tend to avoid deep discussions on anything of real value. While it's...