Thinking to Believe

I plumb the depths of Isaiah 53 to show how it predicted the various facets of Jesus’ work on the cross: unjust penalty, substitution, representation, and justification. In the process, I address the notion that healing is provided for in the atonement. Then, I deal with the Jewish interpretation that the Servant of Isaiah 53 is the nation of Israel rather than the Messiah. I conclude by arguing t...

My new series on the atonement seeks to understand the meaning of Jesus' death. In this first episode I explore the nature of Jesus' mission, the OT sacrificial system as a means of atonement, and the necessity of the incarnation for God to fully and finally satisfy both His desire for justice and His desire for mercy.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebo...

In this abortion postscript episode, I argue that abortion is an even greater evil than slavery because abortion is a violation of the most fundamental of all rights: the right to life. I also offer a new tactic for helping pro-abortionists think about what it is that gives humans their value and right to life, and offer answers to three additional objections to the prolife POV: (1) Women need abo...

In this final episode in the series, I explain the value of apologetics for believers: It strengthens our faith, gives us the confidence to evangelize, allows us to duplicate our faith in others, and avoids subjectivity. I also respond to common objections against apologetics including: (1) Apologetic arguments don't work; (2) You can't argue someone into the kingdom; (3) People care abo...

I address three "anti-apologetics" passages in Scripture, demonstrating how none of them are opposed to the apologetic enterprise: (1) Jn 20:29; (2) 1 Cor 2:1-5; (3) Col 2:8. Then I begin talking about the value of apologetics, specifically for unbelievers. I argue that value of apologetics for non-believers is that it removes intellectual barriers to faith and provides unbelievers with...

In this episode, I demonstrate how the apostles, Jesus, and God Himself all used apologetics in an attempt to show that apologetics is a thoroughly Biblical enterprise.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thinkingtobelieve

In part one of my series on the need for apologetics, I define what apologetics is and why it is so desperately needed in our day. Some object that apologetics is opposed to faith, so I explain the true nature of Biblical faith and show how apologetics is related to faith. Finally, I begin to lay out the Biblical basis for apologetics, citing a number of Scriptures that command Christians to engag...

Should doctrine ever divide the church? Is it wrong to call someone out for their false theology, or does doing so threaten the unity of the church? Should we just pray for such people instead? I tackle these questions from a Biblical and practical perspective on this week's Thinking to Believe podcast episode. Give it a listen.   Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com...

In this "1 & Done" episode, I make the case for apologetics. I define what apologetics is, the Biblical basis for apologetics, and  the value it brings to both believers and unbelievers alike. I also discuss the relationship between faith and evidence and answer a couple of common objections.  This episode will be followed by a 4-part, in-depth series on the same topic.  Web: Thinkin...

In this second and final installment on the case for theology, I argue that theology preserves the Christian experience over time, is the basis for missions, plays the primary role in mental conversion, increases our faith, produces spiritual stability, and determines the depth of our relationship with God.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/think...

Why study theology? Why does it matter? Isn't theology just for preachers and smart guys? Isn't theology divisive and difficult? I argue that while theology can be difficult and divisive, it's unavoidable. All of us are theologians. The question is simply whether we will be a good or bad theologian. In this two-part series, I'm going to show why theology matters and how it bene...

Objections addressed in this episode: Are prolifers who are also pro-capital punishment being hypocritical? Is abortion justified in cases where the mother's life is in danger? If aborted babies go to heaven, shouldn't prolifers support abortion? Prolifers only care about the unborn, and do nothing to help the born. Outlawing abortion won't stop abortion. We should focus on eliminat...

Is abortion justified in cases of rape and incest? Are embryos just a clump of cells? If Mother Nature is responsible for killing 40% of embryos, why think abortion is wrong? If an embryo is considered a person, then we should consider every cell in our body a person. Is abortion justified in cases of deformities and severe disease?  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Fa...

I tackle five objections to the pro-life POV, including (1) the right to choose and bodily autonomy objection, (2) the "abortion is a woman's issue" objection, (3) the "forced into back alley abortions" objection, (4) the "poor women can't afford children" objection, and (5) the "what are we going to do with all these unwanted children" objection....

I provide some helpful tips for ministering to women who are contemplating an abortion, as well as those who have already had an abortion. I also kick off our objections and responses segment, noting six problems with the "nobody knows when life begins" objection.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr:...

Does “the Pill” have both a contraceptive and abortifacient function? I explore the evidence for and against the “hostile endometrium” theory.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thinkingtobelieve

There are a number of moral concerns with IVF that Christians should be aware of. In some cases, doctors recommend aborting one or more babies if too many babies implanted in the uterus. There are also concerns with freezing unused embroys. As for contraception, some forms of contraception are clearly acceptable while others are questionable. In this episode, I explore whether or not IUDs and emer...

It's one thing to know the truth about abortion, but another thing to present our case to others. We need more than knowledge. We need tactics. I discuss seven tactics for dialoguing with pro-abortion advocates and making the case for life.  I also discuss the use of graphic imagery in making our case. I argue that the use of images of both fetal development and aborted babies is an important...

I continued my critique of personhood theory/functionalism, offering three more reasons to reject this philosophy of human value: (1) It involves circular reasoning; (2) It cannot be consistently applied; (3) It cannot ground equal rights and equal value.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Tr...

I explore personhood theory, which holds that there is a distinction between being human and being a person - and only personhood has moral value. I provided three reasons to reject this theory: (1) The Law of Identity; (2) It is subjective and arbitrary; (3) It values the exemplification of certain functions rather than the being who has the capacity for such functions.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.co...

Having determined what the unborn is, we turn to the question of value. Do the unborn have moral value? What gives humans value? Is value objective and intrinsic, or subjective and intrinsic. Theists argue for the former, whereas non-theists the latter. Theists believe value is inherent to being human, whereas non-theists argue that it is based on humans' ability to exhibit certain functions....

In philosophy, the Law of Identity holds that something is what it is. It's identity remains the same over time despite changing properties. I show how this argues for the humanity of the unborn. I also explore the liability of defining humans in terms of their properties rather than their kind, and correct a misunderstanding of human development that sees humans as being constructed rather t...

I continued quoting various medical experts that human beings come into existence at fertilization, followed by exploring the reasons the scientific community makes this claim. The Law of Biogenesis as well as genetics make it clear that the unborn are human beings.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinkin...

Abortion is emotionally complex, but morally simple. The abortion debate can be simplified if we break it down into four distinct questions, the most important of which concerns the identify of the unborn. What is it? Since the act of abortion is targeted toward the living entity growing in the woman's womb, the morality of abortion depends on what that living entity is.  I offer a syllogisti...

While the morality of abortion does not depend on religious presuppositions, as Christians, the Biblical perspective on abortion should be determinative. While the Bible does not directly address the issue of abortion, it does so indirectly in that it prohibits the murder of human beings, and considers the unborn to be human beings. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Fac...