Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.
Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.
The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.

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God has told us everything necessary for faith. However he has not told us everything there is to know.
God Meets is the rare cancer book (and as above, I use that term advisedly) that addresses both the judgment God places on human creatures in the Garden (death) and the hard road anyone walks toward that end (100% of us).
In spite of the pain, Sasse exudes a peace from above that is quite literally impossible to explain apart from the assurance he has in Christ.
Faith holds on to the truth of who Jesus is revealed to be, despite our sometimes incongruent experience with God.
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” That word isn't just for Israel; it's also for you.
To know the cure is not to become immune to sorrow.
Illness is not romantic. It is not a test, a metaphor, nor a blessing in disguise.
Why is it truly meet right and salutary that we should at all times and all places give thanks to God.
For the Christian, the iron gate of death was opened by the blood of Christ and the empty tomb.
When we fail, our first impulse is the same as that of our spiritual ancestors: to sprint headlong into the bushes.
Just like Peter, you don’t need to do anything to earn God’s forgiveness for your soul wounds.
This article is the first part of a two-part series. The second part will take a look at when pastors abuse their congregations.