Was J. R. R. Tolkien the God of Middle-earth? This question arises from a debate about God and evil on social media. The issue centered on Calvinism, God’s sovereignty, free will and the problem of evil, among other considerations. Briefly, Calvinists assert that God knows everything that will happen because He … [Read more...]
About Alf Cengia
The Longing for Aslan
The longing for Aslan is really an echo of a deeper yearning as God’s image bearers that only Christ can fulfill. Like may others, I’m responding to Greta’s Gerwig’s choice to have actress Meryl Streep provide the voice for Aslan, the Christ figure in C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia; specifically, Netflix’s The … [Read more...]
Why do we wrestle in Prayer?
Why do we wrestle in Prayer? There are two aspects to this question: 1) why should we wrestle in prayer, and 2) why is it so difficult? Why should we pray? This is a profound and complex question. Why even pray when God knows everything and He is sovereign? Perhaps the simplest summary to this question can be … [Read more...]
Spurgeon – The Need for Living with an Imminent Mindset
Although he wasn't a pretribulationist, Charles Spurgeon saw the need for living with an imminent mindset. He advised Christians to live as if Christ could come any moment. The following thoughts may appear somewhat disjointed. They were formed from previous responses following attacks on the concept of an imminent … [Read more...]
Praying For Pastors
Some time ago I watched a Q & A session between pastors. One question centered on leaving a particular church over doctrinal error. I thought the advice was very good. Yet I was surprised no one suggested praying for their pastors. I'm sure they thought it was a given. Praying for pastors and churches ought to … [Read more...]
A Zionist Flag is a Red Flag
A Zionist flag is a red flag in the eyes of some people. Apparently Zionist flags do things, such as triggering moral indignation. There’s an account of a seeker, assured that the church she intended visiting was not the kind that displayed “political idolatry more loudly than the gospel.” Then, shocked, she noticed … [Read more...]
A Door into Aslan’s Country
A door into Aslan's Country: In the beginning of C. S. Lewis' book The Silver Chair Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole go through a door in a wall in order to escape bully-students who are out to get them. The door in the wall ends up being a door into Alan's Country. I'm particularly fond of that part of the book. We find … [Read more...]
An Eighth Letter to the Church
What if Jesus Christ wrote an eighth letter to the church? What if the Lord wrote a personal letter to me and you? What would He say to us? I get nervous thinking about it. Every once in a while I read through the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches portion of the Book of Revelation. I'm sure I need to do it more … [Read more...]
What does God say about Israel?
What does God say about Israel? Over the centuries the church had much to say about Spiritual Israel. But what does God say? Has He rejected Jacob-Israel due to rebelliousness? Has He subsequently changed Israel’s identity to a Gentile-dominated Spiritual Israel, as many mainline churches teach? That would be highly … [Read more...]
Spurgeon and Christ’s Imminent Return
Spurgeon and Christ’s Imminent Return – yes, Charles Spurgeon really did believe that Christ could return at any moment. He lived in that mindset and advised others to do likewise. We’ve posted several articles discussing Charles Spurgeon’s views on the value of imminence. Two can be found HERE and HERE. This … [Read more...]
