Apologetics and Theology Blog 3 Reasons I Still Write About Apologetics Stephen Bedard, February 10, 2021February 10, 2021 Apologetics has been a huge part of my faith ever since I made a personal commitment to Jesus in my mid-20s. I have written a lot on Christian apologetics ever since. While my interests have broadened, especially in the intersection of disabilities, apologetics is still very important to me. I… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog I Will Give Them an Everlasting Name – Review Stephen Bedard, February 6, 2021February 6, 2021 It is common to hear about Muslims converting to Christianity. If you search, you will find all sorts of resources for sharing the gospel with Muslims. But what happens when Muslims convert? That is where I Will Give Them an Everlasting Name by Duane Miller comes in. This short book… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Ravi Zacharias Like King David? Stephen Bedard, January 30, 2021January 30, 2021 Since I have been speaking out about Ravi Zacharias, there has been some pushback. One argument is a comparison of Zacharias and other fallen leaders to biblical figures who have sinned. The idea is that there are biblical figures, people like King David, who committed terrible sins. Despite this, we… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Should We Still Read Books by Ravi Zacharias, Jean Vanier, Etc.? Stephen Bedard, January 23, 2021January 23, 2021 A number of major Christian figures such as Ravi Zacharias, Jean Vanier, Bill Hybels and others have fallen. Some of these were prolific authors that were influential in their area of expertise. Should we still read their books or should we purge our personal libraries? This episode looks at these… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why We Need to Talk About Ravi Zacharias Stephen Bedard, January 16, 2021January 16, 2021 I have received some pushback over some of my posts addressing the allegations against Ravi Zacharias. Some believe that since he is dead, there is no point to talk about it. In this video and podcast episode, I argue for why it is essential that we talk about Ravi Zacharias…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog CSB Apologetics Study Bible – Review Stephen Bedard, January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 Christian apologetics need to be closely tied to the Bible. What could be better than an Apologetics Study Bible? This is actually the second version of the Apologetics Study Bible. The first one was based on the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation and the new one based on the Christian… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Final Lessons From Ravi Zacharias to the Church Stephen Bedard, December 24, 2020December 29, 2020 Over the decades, Ravi Zacharias did much to benefit the Church. He was an ambassador for apologetics worldwide and created a world class apologetics organization. He showed people that you didn’t have to check your brain at the door. As his show said: “Let My People Think.” Sadly, there was… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Can I Believe? – Review Stephen Bedard, November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 For many Christian apologists, the goal is to prove Christianity true beyond a shadow of a doubt. But perhaps there are some more humble expectations. This is the purpose of John Stackhouse’s new book, Can I Believe? For some skeptics, the question is not just if Christianity is true but… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Big Question – Review Stephen Bedard, November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 Everyone knows that science and religion contradict each other. They are enemies. Or are they? Alister McGrath, in his book The Big Question, examines the relationship between Christianity and science. This book is not so much a book of Christian apologetics, although it includes apologetics value. Rather it is an… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Balancing Confidence and Humility in Christian Apologetics Stephen Bedard, October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 There are two approaches to Christian apologetics that I believe are ineffective and at best are unattractive. There are those who are so unsure of themselves that they have very little to offer. There is some kind of God out there but we really can’t say much about him. There… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Changing Our Mind – Review Stephen Bedard, October 21, 2020October 21, 2020 One of the divisive issues facing the church today is how we respond to the LGBTQ community. There are strong feelings on both sides. Is it even possible for someone to change their mind on this? Apparently it is possible. David Gushee is a prominent evangelical ethicist. For some time… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog John Lennon Was Wrong Stephen Bedard, October 9, 2020October 9, 2021 One of the most respected musicians was John Lennon and one of his most beloved songs is Imagine. The world that he calls us to imagine, a world of peace and love is very compelling. But how do we get there? Lennon asks us to imagine a world without any… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Should Ravi Zacharias Be Investigated? Stephen Bedard, September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 For some time, even before he died, there have been some accusations of inappropriate behaviour by Ravi Zacharias. Many of my friends in the apologetics community are avid Ravi Zacharias supporters. I don’t blame them. He seems like he was a nice person and he did a lot of important… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog You Cannot Be a Christian and a … Stephen Bedard, September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 It is fairly often that I will I hear someone on social media say: “You can’t be a Christian and [fill in the blank].” There are a number of things that are inserted: Be gay. Drink alcohol. Vote for a party that has a pro-choice platform. One that hits close… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Ravi Zacharias, Jean Vanier and Holding Our Heroes Accountable Stephen Bedard, September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 I always write these posts with much fear and trembling. Ravi Zacharias is highly respected among my colleagues in the Christian apologetics community. For many evangelicals, he is an example of a Christian leader who finished well. But did he? Even during his life, there had been some accusations of… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With My Inner Atheist – Review Stephen Bedard, September 4, 2020September 8, 2020 A number of years ago, many people were shocked when letters found after her death showed that Mother Teresa struggled with doubt. How could this incredible person of faith have doubt? Apparently she had an inner atheist. The truth is that we all have an inner atheist, although some are… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why I Still Believe – Review Stephen Bedard, August 22, 2020August 22, 2020 There are many books on Christian apologetics and it would be fair to ask if there is anything new to be said. The reality is that there is more to say, as Why I Still Believe clearly shows. I expected this to be a book about Mary Jo Sharp systematically… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog A Study in the Book of Revelation Stephen Bedard, August 21, 2020August 26, 2020 I am doing a study in the book of Revelation on my YouTube channel. I will post new videos here as they are made. If you want some extra study, the book I recommend is Craig Keener’s commentary on Revelation. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Too Good to Be False – Review Stephen Bedard, July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 Christians, including myself, have all sorts of interests and are willing to fight for numerous causes. And yet when it comes down to it, Christians need more of a focus on Jesus. That’s where Tom Gilson’s Too Good to Be False comes in. But do we really need another book… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Do We Mean by “God is in Control”? Stephen Bedard, July 24, 2020July 24, 2020 When something bad happens, there is always the Christian who offers comfort with, “God is in control.” No Christian would want to disagree with that, but what does it mean? There actually is a pretty wide spectrum of interpretation. There are some who take a strong view of God’s control,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Divine Bodies – Review Stephen Bedard, July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 One of the areas that I’m interested in is that of the resurrection. Not just the resurrection of Jesus, but the final resurrection from the dead. Divine Bodies: Resurrecting Perfection in the New New Testament and Early Christianity by Candida Moss is an interesting addition to scholarship on this topic…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Masks, Personal Liberty and Loving Others Stephen Bedard, July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 Many communities, including my own, are requiring congregations to wear masks as we return to our buildings for in-person worship services. But should we wear masks? Is this a threat to our personal freedom. Some Christians are taking this as a place to take a stand.The government shouldn’t be telling… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Should Christians Repent of Sins They Did Not Directly Commit? Stephen Bedard, July 3, 2020July 3, 2020 In our current time of racial tension, some are calling upon white Christians to repent of our racist heritage. But what about white Christians who are not in the least bit racist? Should they repent? I would suggest that many of us have been guilty of racial prejudice at some… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Patriotism and Christian Faith: An Uneasy Tension Stephen Bedard, July 1, 2020July 1, 2020 The relationship between patriotism toward one’s nation and being a follower of Jesus. There are those who almost equate being a good citizen with being a Christian. Others try to separate them as much as possible, telling church members not to run for political office or even to vote. We… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog How Important is Inerrancy to Apologetics? Stephen Bedard, June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 For some people, inerrancy of the Bible is one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Some may think a belief in inerrancy is required for someone to be a Christian. Others may not take it so far but would believe that inerrancy is foundational to Christian apologetics. How… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Apologetics Sermon: Jude 3 Stephen Bedard, June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 How can pastors include apologetics into their pastoral ministry. One way is to preach apologetics-themed sermons. I try to put this into practice. I recently preached a sermon at my church based on Jude 3 called “Being a Contentious Christian.” You can watch it below. This is the first video… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Apologetics of Respect Stephen Bedard, June 19, 2020June 19, 2020 If you ask any apologist what the key verse for apologetics is, they are likely to say 1 Peter 3:15. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog A Farewell to Mars – Review Stephen Bedard, June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 Some time ago I heard an interview with Brian Zahnd and I was quite impressed. He talked about his ministry of a prosperty gospel-style megachurch and his transition to a deeper theological place. It was encouraging to hear. One of the transitions for Zahnd was moving toward Christian nonviolence. As… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is There Such Thing as Race? Stephen Bedard, June 13, 2020June 13, 2020 As I write this, there are many race protests and even riots going on around North America. Everyone has an opinion. Including me. One person on Facebook made this comment: There is very little genetic differences between the races. Therefore there are no races. Therefore there is no such thing… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Online Bible Study: James Stephen Bedard, June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 At my church, we have been doing an online Bible study on the letter of James. I love James as it is so practical. There are many parts of the Bible where there is a considerable leap in context from there to here. James is incredibly relevant to our current… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Christians and Pride Month Stephen Bedard, May 30, 2020May 30, 2020 My teenage daughter approached me the other day because she had come across something called Operation Pridefall. I don’t know much about it other than it is a plan to disrupt Pride Month for the LGBTQ community. I don’t know who is behind it but it looks like it will… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Can a Soldier Love Their Enemy? Stephen Bedard, May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 I am a Christian and a pastor and I am in the military. I have actually read in books that it is impossible to be both a Christian and be in the military. I think I am doing both. I have been having a conversation with someone on Twitter and… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Complicated Legacy of Ravi Zacharias Stephen Bedard, May 19, 2020February 20, 2021 An update on this post. This was written just after his death. At that point, we did not have all the details. Not only was RZ’s abuse more serious, there have been serious problem with RZIM. Search for my more recent posts. I was sad to hear about Ravi Zacharias’s… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Are Miracles Out of Bounds for History? Stephen Bedard, May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 One of the most common claims that I hear from skeptics is that history cannot speak to the existence of miracles. This is especially aimed at the resurrection of Jesus but is used toward miracles in general. I have addressed this in a peer reviewed journal but I want to… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog How Important is the Sinner’s Prayer? Stephen Bedard, May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 I often look at various beliefs and topics through the lens of my various church experiences. While I am a Baptist now, I was raised an Anglican and was later a Pentecostal. This is helpful when looking at the “sinner’s prayer.” In the Anglican church, I never heard of the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog How Were People in the Old Testament Saved? Stephen Bedard, April 29, 2020April 29, 2020 Christians affirm that people today are saved by faith in Jesus. But what about people in the Old Testament? What about Isaiah or Jeremiah? What about the average Israelite? I recently did a Twitter poll on this: To be honest, I was surprised that the votes for Torah obedience and… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Can a Nation Be Christian? Stephen Bedard, April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 I recently had a conversation on Facebook. In response to a national call for prayer, I responded by saying: “Since we are not a Christian country, I can’t imagine why the government would.” The person who made the original statement then asked the important question: “Do you think countries can… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Grasping God’s Word – Review Stephen Bedard, April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 I strongly believe that one of the most important skills for any Christian, whether pastor or layperson, is to be able to correctly interpret the Bible. It is in interpretation that we often stumble. A great resource that I have come across is Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Future of Christian Apologetics Stephen Bedard, April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 Christian apologetics is not something that is going away any time soon. From time to time, you will hear that apologetics has had its day. Despite the major transformation of society by technology and the influence of postmodernism, there will always be a need for apologetics. Just as apologetics of… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Atonement Theory Should We Hold? Stephen Bedard, April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 Christians believe that Jesus’ death was more than just a terrible miscarriage of justice. The death of Jesus is the means by which we receive salvation. But how exactly does that work? What does his death on the cross do? In theological terms, what is the correct atonement theory? There… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is COVID-19 a Sign of the End-Times? Stephen Bedard, April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. It would not be surprising if people saw this as an indication that we are about to experience the end of the world. We get such predictions when everything is fine, so this time of pandemic is ripe for such claims…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Online Bible Study: Philippians Stephen Bedard, March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 I thought I would try something different and offer an online Bible study. The book I decided to go with was Philippians. If you are interested in the resource I used for this study, go here. In the study, I provide the text from the New English Translation, some brief… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Allure of Gentleness – Review Stephen Bedard, March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 I have read a lot of books on apologetics. It can be difficult to come up with something new. But when I saw that a book on apologetics by Dallas Willard was released, I was instantly interested. Dallas Willard is one of my favourite Christian writers and thinkers. He is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog World Faiths – Review Stephen Bedard, March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 We live in a world where it is essential for us to understand other religions. World religions are no longer across the ocean, they are across the street. I read World Faiths by S.A. Nigosian. I read the second edition and I believe that this book has been replaced by… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Mosaic Authorship and the Documentary Hypothesis Stephen Bedard, March 10, 2020March 10, 2020 Who wrote the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) and how was it put together? There are two broad categories for the answer. Traditionally, and still among many evangelicals, it was believed that Moses wrote the entire Pentateuch. Some were willing to give that Moses didn’t write the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Important Areas For Apologetics Stephen Bedard, March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 The interesting thing about apologetics is that it does not cover just one subject. It is theology and science and history and philosophy and so much more. In order to be effective apologists, we have to find the intersection of our areas of interest and those topics that are relevant… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Reason & Religious Belief – Review Stephen Bedard, February 20, 2020February 20, 2020 If there is a secular counterpart to Christian apologetics, it is the philosophy of religion. In fact many Christian apologists seek out degrees in the philosophy of religion. One of the best books I have read on this subject is Reason & Religious Belief. I have read a number of… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is the Human Soul Intrinsically Immortal? Stephen Bedard, February 15, 2020February 15, 2020 I enjoy running Twitter polls and recently did one that was the closest one yet. It was about whether the immortality of the soul. It began with the affirmative far in the majority and then slowly the gap got smaller and smaller. Eventually it became a virtual tie. I need… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is There a Role For a Theodicy? Stephen Bedard, February 5, 2020February 5, 2020 One of the difficulties of theism is explaining how a good and all-powerful God can allow suffering. The attempt to explain this is called a theodicy. There are many different theodicies and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides a sample here. My purpose here is not to evaluate the different… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Bible, Jesus and Inerrancy Stephen Bedard, February 1, 2020February 1, 2020 I recently did two separate but related Twitter polls that provided some interesting results. They were designed to test a hypothesis I had about inerrancy. My interest was in a comparison between Jesus and the Bible. Most evangelicals see both as being both human and divine. The incarnation of Jesus… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Raging With Compassion – Review Stephen Bedard, January 21, 2020January 21, 2020 One of the areas of apologetics that none of us can avoid concerns the problem of suffering. If not ourselves, we all know someone who will suffer in a way that no easy answers are available. The common response to the problem of suffering by theologians is called theodicy. This… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Should We Support Capital Punishment? Stephen Bedard, January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 I recently did a Twitter poll asking about people’s attitudes toward capital punishment. It was a very close race, at some points 50-50. People tend to have strong attitudes toward capital punishment. People either see it as important for being tough on crime or they see it as completely unacceptable…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Making Sense Out of Suffering – Review Stephen Bedard, January 1, 2020January 1, 2020 For many people, the problem of suffering is one of the greatest difficulties of Christianity. If God is all-powerful and all-loving, how can there be suffering? That is one of the questions that Harold Kushner wrote about in his classic from many years ago, When Bad Things Happen to Good… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Does Apologetics Belong in the Church? Stephen Bedard, December 21, 2019December 21, 2019 The short answer is yes. As a pastor of a local church, I have a firm conviction that Christian apologetics should be closely tied to the church. One of the things that I appreciate about William Lane Craig is that in addition to his work with Reasonable Faith, he also… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Discovering Biblical Equality – Review Stephen Bedard, December 12, 2019 What role can women have in churches? Are women allowed to teach men about the Bible? Are they are able to be in positions of leadership? These questions have often split the church. I will say that at one point I would have identified as a complementarian, that is that… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Should We Hate This Life? Stephen Bedard, December 6, 2019 How should we see this life? Is this life something to be endured or even hated? Is all that matters the life to come? I have been reading John Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion. In book three, chapter nine, Calvins says this: For we must hold, that our mind never… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Argument From Evil Stephen Bedard, November 30, 2019 For many people, the problem of evil is one of the most powerful arguments against theism. The existence of evil seems to be evidence against an all-good and all-powerful God. But what if there is another way to look at evil? I recently read the book Night by Elie Wiesel. … Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog A Frustrating Atheist Objection Stephen Bedard, November 19, 2019 I heard it again. That some objection by atheists that always drives me crazy. Have they even thought through this? The objection goes like this: Christians disagree about creation. Christians disagree about non-violence. Christians disagree about issues concerning LGBTQ+. Christians disagree about the environment. Christians disagree about many things. Therefore… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog When Christians Disagree Stephen Bedard, October 23, 2019October 23, 2020 We should expect Christians to disagree on a wide range of things. We are human and that means we can be mistaken and we can prefer our own way. Disagreements among Christians is NOT evidence for the falsity of Christianity. Scientists disagree on all sorts of things. Just take a… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why I Am a Canadian Baptist Stephen Bedard, October 12, 2019October 12, 2023 A Canadian Baptist not just a Baptist who is Canadian, but someone who belongs to a family of Baptists called Canadian Baptists. I belong specifically to a group called the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. (Note: Since first writing this post, I have joined the sister denomination Canadian Baptists… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Non-Christians Hear When Evangelicals Disagree With Climate Change Stephen Bedard, October 5, 2019 Climate change is something that is very much on people’s minds. Some of the biggest names are speaking out on a potential global crisis. Meanwhile, many of my evangelical friends not only mock the idea, they mock the people who warn about the danger of climate change. Some who oppose… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Do You Need a PhD to be a Theologian? Stephen Bedard, October 2, 2019 Perhaps you feel the draw to theology. You want to be a theologian but you don’t have a PhD and don’t anticipate getting one. Is your desire beyond your grasp? I can anticipate some people saying that every Christian is a theologian or should be. There may be some truth… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Bothers Me Most About Young Earth Creationists Stephen Bedard, September 26, 2019 As you may know, there are a number of Christian interpretations of the origins of the universe, earth and life. I was once a young earth creationist but am now convinced of the old age of the earth and universe. I get frustrated with many (but not all) young earth… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What If You Struggle With Parts of the Bible? Stephen Bedard, September 20, 2019 I love the Bible and have spent much of the last two decades studying it both inside and outside of school. I teach it and I preach it. But there are parts, especially in the Old Testament, that make me uncomfortable. It would be nice if it was all as… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Are Microchips the Mark of the Beast? Stephen Bedard, September 10, 2019 For decades I have heard people claim that a time is coming when the government will insert microchips in our hands and this will be the mark of the beast. What is the mark of the beast? It is based on this passage from the Bible. It also forced all… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why is History Important For Christian Apologists? Stephen Bedard, September 6, 2019 Many of the Christian apologists that I talk to focus much of their thought on philosophy. Some of them almost equate philosophy and apologetics. I would like to suggest that Christian apologists need to focus more on history. Why? Here are a few reasons. Some attacks on Christianity are based… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Skeptical Argument That Bugs Me The Most Stephen Bedard, August 31, 2019 I don’t know how many times I have heard a skeptic say to me, “How can you trust the Bible when it has been translated so many times. What they are claiming is that the Bible was written in Hebrew, translated to Greek, which was translated to Latin, which was… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Not to Do and What to Do When Someone Doubts Stephen Bedard, August 29, 2019August 30, 2019 We have been hearing a lot about people struggling with doubt and even walking away from the faith. I remember as a youth pastor having one of the youth, who had seemed strong in his faith, come out as an “apatheist.” It was tough. How we react when someone comes… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Swearing a Sin? Stephen Bedard, August 21, 2019 Are Christians allowed to swear? Is swearing a sin? I have been thinking about this for some time. I remember picking up Bono on Bono : Conversations With Michka Assayas at a Christian bookstore. In it, Bono is very explicit about his Christian faith, including his belief that Jesus is God…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Should You Do If You Begin to Doubt? Stephen Bedard, August 16, 2019 There have been a number of recent stories about high profile Christians either announcing they have left the faith or that their faith is shaky. However, there are plenty of people that we have never heard of going through doubt all the time. What should we do if we experience… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Apologetics With Authenticity Stephen Bedard, August 7, 2019 Each generation is different and we need to be prepared to communicate with them on their terms. One of the values that have been identified is authenticity. This doesn’t mean that there is no longer a place for apologetics, it just means we have to do it with authenticity. Which… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 4 Things That the Jehovah’s Witnesses Get Wrong About Jesus Stephen Bedard, July 31, 2019 I have been interested in the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a long time. They have a lot of unique beliefs. But as I argue in my book, The Watchtower and the Word, we should focus our discussions on the most important doctrines. It doesn’t get anymore important than Jesus. Not surprisingly,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Generous Spaciousness – Review Stephen Bedard, July 24, 2019 I believe that the most radical change I have seen in the past decade has been around attitudes toward homosexuality, both in society and the church. It was not long ago that being gay was a taboo subject and now it is seen in the same category as ethnic diversity…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Miracles – Review Stephen Bedard, July 12, 2019 One of the books that I had been looking forward to reading was Miracles by Craig Keener. My hesitance was that it was a two volume hardback and thought it would take a long time to get through. I was wrong. Much of the book is footnotes and bibliography, and… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Thoughts on Reading Barth’s Church Dogmatics Stephen Bedard, July 10, 2019 I did it. I finally did it. I read the entire Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth. What’s the big deal? This is no simple systematic theology. It is the size of an encyclopedia set. And I read it as a part of my devotions, mostly reading two pages at a… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Why Bother? Stephen Bedard, July 4, 2019July 3, 2019 I have been doing a series on Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses. But it is a fair question to ask why I would bother. Growing up, my dad would make us pretend that we weren’t home when we saw Jehovah’s Witnesses on our street. Why would I voluntarily let them in… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, June 26, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts that you might find interesting. Origins of a Dictum – David Klinghoffer An Itsy Bitsy Spider Inspires Cosmic Musings – Ian McKerracher What is the Relationship Between Science and Christian Theology? – James Bishop Was the Deity of Christ a Legendary Development? – Ryan Leasure Max Planck:… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Six Stephen Bedard, June 25, 2019 I had another conversation with some Jehovah’s Witnesses, once again concerning the kingdom of God. I do consider the kingdom of God to be an essential topic (unlike attitudes toward birthdays or the shape of the cross). We had agreed to disagree about whether the kingdom began to appear during… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jordan Peterson and the Jesus Myth Stephen Bedard, June 21, 2019April 28, 2020 I read Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules For Life. It is written as a self-help book, and it is fine within those limits. But some of his religious interpretation are a stretch. One is this statement for Rule 7: “the god Horus⏤often regarded as a precursor of Christ.” (p, 181) Often… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, June 19, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts you might find interesting. So The Next Generation Will Know Review – Mark Goodnight A Response to Ben Bavar on Act and Potency, Part 1 – Harrison Jennings The Council of Nicea and the New Testament – Nick Peters The Five Worst Arguments (or Claims)… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Five Stephen Bedard, June 17, 2019 I once more had a conversation with a Jehovah’s Witness (and a new partner) focused largely (but not completely) on the kingdom of God. After numerous conversations on the kingdom of God, it is clear that we just don’t agree. I believe the kingdom has always been in heaven, began… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, June 12, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts I came across this week. What Every Apologist Needs to Know About 1 Peter 3:15 – Mikel Del Rosario Assessing Aquinas – Isaac Pain Concepts Create Idols – Nate Sala A Simple Detective Skill to Help You Determine If God Exists – J. Warner Wallace… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Canada Arresting Christian Pastors and Banning Public Preaching? Stephen Bedard, June 10, 2019 My newsfeed has included a lot of posts about the recent arrest of David Lynn, a Christian evangelist. He had been preaching on the streets of a largely gay neighbourhood in Toronto during Pride Month. One article responding to this was titled, Yes, Canada Is Actually Arresting Christian Pastors And Banning… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog D-Day and the Kingdom of God Stephen Bedard, June 6, 2019 As I write this, it is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy. I have great interest in this as a student of military history. But this is not my Second World War blog, so why am I talking about this here? I actually find a helpful image… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Ontario Considering Legislation Criminalizing Public Displays of Faith? Stephen Bedard, May 31, 2019 I recently came across an article titled Ontario Considers Legislation Criminalizing Public Displays of Faith for Christians by “Activist Mommy.” As a resident of Ontario and as a Christian pastor, this got my attention. I would assume, based on the title alone, that the Ontario Legislature was considering criminalizing public displays… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, May 29, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts for you to take a look at. Who Created God? – Chad Gross Thinking practically about the gospel with an illustration from a war movie – Wintery Knight Book Review: So The Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World by Sean… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Four Stephen Bedard, May 27, 2019 It has been quite a few weeks, but I finally had another opportunity to visit with a pair of Jehovah’s witnesses again. Once again, our conversation revolved around the nature of the kingdom of God. It is clear that we have a fundamentally different understanding of the kingdom. For example,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, May 22, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts I came across this week. Coming to Terms with the Problem of Evil – Randal Rauser A Look at William Lane Craig’s Comment: “The Ultimate Apologetic is Your Life” – Eric Chabot Is Science Our Only Source of Knowledge? – Jonathan Morrow Is Jesus’ Death… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, May 15, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts I came across this week. Let Your Kids Ask ANY Question They Have – Travis Dickinson Is religious experience just brain activity? – Sharon Dirckx Competitive Endogenous RNA Hypothesis Supports the Case for Creation – Fazale Rana Some thoughts on New Zealand’s loss of faith… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Atheists and the Jesus Myth Stephen Bedard, May 14, 2019 A recent Twitter poll by philosopher Stephen Law asked atheists about their belief in the existence of God. The results were interesting. Atheists only: do you believe Jesus was real, that Jesus is a myth, or are unsure either way? — Stephen Law (@stephenlaw60) May 13, 2019 Only 30% could… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What I Wish Pro-Choice People Understood Stephen Bedard, May 9, 2019 Today I heard the criticisms of a pro-choice politician against a pro-life politician. The one politician had spoken at a pro-life rally and the other accused of him of being “anti-women and anti-choice.” The goal of this post is not to debate whether abortion is right or wrong (although I… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, May 8, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts for you to check out. Progress in Defining “Being Alive” – Wesley J. Smith Convince Me There’s A God: The New Testament Part 8 – Mark McGee Friedrich Max Müller – The Father of the Scientific Study of Religion – James Bishop How Can God… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Different Kinds of Atheists Stephen Bedard, May 3, 2019 You meet a person who identifies as an atheist. But what does that mean? Obviously it means they don’t believe in God. But it is actually much more complicated than that. How do I know? Because I am a former atheist and I often meet atheists that are so different… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, May 1, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts for you to check out. Do Christian Parents Have to be Perfect? – Michael Kruger Biblical Archaeology with Dr. Ted Wright – Misty Callahan How Can We Instill a Faith that Endures? – J. Warner Wallace Book Review: So the Next Generation Will Know by… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Restless Faith – Review Stephen Bedard, April 29, 2019 I continue to hold onto the label ‘evangelical’ even though I know there is a lot of baggage that is accompanied with that. I consider myself to be a moderate, which can be lonely. I’m too conservative for my liberal friends and too liberal for my conservative friends. It is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog A Theology of the New Testament – Review Stephen Bedard, April 26, 2019 I recently read George Eldon Ladd’s A Theology of the New Testament. This book has been on my shelf for quite a while but I was looking forward to reading it. I was not disappointed. There were many things I liked about it the biggest thing was that it is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, April 24, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts that I came across this week. Book Review: So The Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World by Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace – Alisa Childers Book Review: “Modern Technology and the Human Future: A Christian Appraisal” by Craig M…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Where Was Jesus Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Stephen Bedard, April 20, 2019 Christians focus on the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday: the death and resurrection of Jesus. But where was Jesus between those two events? The easy answer is the grave. However, when people ask this question, they are thinking more of his spirit/soul than his physical body. His body… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Did God Abandon Jesus on the Cross? Stephen Bedard, April 18, 2019 One of the most powerful moments in the passion narrative is when Jesus on the cross calls out to his Father. Matthew records it this way: About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Matthew 27:46)… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Midweek Apologetics Roundup Stephen Bedard, April 17, 2019 Here are some apologetics-related posts for you to check out. Hail Scientism! (But only when it’s convenient…) – Steve Schramm Apologetics and the Indoctrinated American Atheist – Randal Rauser A Hypothetical Discussion Between a Skeptic and a Christian about the Minimal Facts Argument – Eric Chabot Why Knowledge Matters for… Continue Reading