Why Christian Tradition? Why Absolution and Mercy
By Donavon Riley
01/28/26
10mins

Why Christian Tradition? Why Absolution and Mercy

This is the third in a series meant to let the Christian tradition speak for itself, the way it has carried Christians through long winters, confusion, and joy for centuries.
God’s Way Through the Wilderness
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
01/27/26

God’s Way Through the Wilderness

The Lord himself comes to us to lead us out of the land of sin and death with his strong, nail-pierced hands.
Christ is Our Fulfillment
Caleb Keith
Caleb Keith
01/26/26

Christ is Our Fulfillment

Fulfillment can sound awkward as a title or name, but it is one of the most prominent proclamations concerning Christ found in the New Testament.

All Articles

Paul Dunk
Paul Dunk
12/17/15

Minimizing Our Healing

700 years before the first Noel, the prophet Isaiah prophesied that Christ would bear our grief and deliver us in grace. Scholars often refer to Isaiah 52:13-53:12 as the "fifth gospel" because it describes both that Christ was crucified and why Christ was crucified with incredible detail.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/16/15

Rusting Chariots Found at the Bottom of Baptismal Fonts

He has Israel right where he wants them: a body of water in front of them, their enemies behind them, and God above them, ready to save. Our Lord is always undoing us that he might redo us, killing us that he might enliven us.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/07/15

Shielded by Blood

Behold the seemingly foolish ways of our wise God. He bids us embrace what appears impossible: that blood alone is our defense, that blood alone saves us from destruction, that the blood of a lamb is more than enough.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
12/02/15

Violence and the Church Go Way Back

We are like the spoiled children of kings who spit in the face of paupers on the street. We have been given so much, yet we treasure so little.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/27/15

Six Words to Inscribe onto Your Heart

There has only been one baptism in the history of the world: the baptism of Jesus. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/21/15

When It Comes to Sin, Does Size Matter?

It doesn’t matter how good you seem to be, you’ll always be able to find someone who seems better than you. We’re addicted to comparing, measuring, quantifying, and judging.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
11/16/15

ISIS and Potiphar’s Wife: The Foundational Reason for Christian Persecution

Whether she realized it or not, this Egyptian woman was at war with the Lord of Israel. Her will was pitted against His will. Her desires were battling God’s desires. Joseph was caught in the crossfire.
Paul Dunk
Paul Dunk
11/05/15

Identity and Reinvention

Over the course of her career, Madonna has demonstrated an incredible commitment to reinvention, keeping herself relevant under the critical eye that accompanies the culture of constant change in the world of music and art.
Paul Dunk
Paul Dunk
10/12/15

7 Strikes is Reasonable

You know that person who keeps offending you in some way? They come to you all glossy-eyed and soft-spoken, stammering to get "please forgive me" out because it's the umpteenth time they've done this?
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
09/30/15

The Desires and Intentions of Our Hearts

“God doesn’t care about the intentions of your heart!” I said a little too loudly and emphatically.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/25/15

The Saddest Words Ever Spoken to a Sinner

Jesus said it would have been better for this man not to have been born. Shocking words, sad words. But they are not the saddest words in Scripture.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
09/24/15

Forgive Us Our Good Works

Good people like fist-pounding on the pulpit about the bad things that bad people do in this bad world of ours. It makes them feel better about themselves.
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