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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Despite our best efforts to avoid him, King Jesus remains very much unavoidable.
A.I. can’t make the proclamatory move that delivers God’s word in a way that is specifically for me.
Christmas is a season of irony and song that helps us to know the sacred past and the truth of the Gospel of our salvation.
The lesson of Malachi reveals God’s love for his people. When the people ask for proof of God’s love, he reminds them of their election.
A sign was given to Ahaz to point him toward the greater sign given in a manger and that Bethlehem’s Messiah is the sign we look forward to seeing in the sky when Jesus, our Emmanuel, comes again.
We will not become hopeless because the Lord is with us.
God is not calling us to “grow up.” He is calling us to dependence.
When and how did the church start this season of anticipation?
Christ the King’s return will show us what we can only imagine. He will be a king and His a kingdom will be unlike any we have known.
Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.
The Church stands firm on the word of promise that Christ will one day return to change what we know by faith into sight.
The Church stands firm on the word of promise that Christ will one day return to change what we know by faith into sight.