Articles — Advent Christian Voices

Advent, Our Only Hope

Tell me, do you have hope? I like to sift out the fools and the Christians from the rest of the populace in short order.

Devotionals, TheologyThomas LoghryNovember 30, 2021Advent, Christmas, hope, depression, hopeless Comments

Dirt Roads

I've begun to view theology much in the same way. Admiration is a term that comes to mind in describing those who've come before me. The church fathers such as Augustine, the Gregorys, Athanasius, Basil, and Didymus are all crucial thinkers of the Christian thought with whom we should be acquainted. These men helped build roads for the Church to understand God more deeply and fully as they compacted the dirt underneath their tires, forming routes with their faithful exposition of God's Word.

Theology, Unity, Church HistoryErik ReynoldsNovember 23, 2021theological fragmentation, Church History, unity Comment

What To Do When a Jehovah’s Witness Knocks On Your Door

Biblical TheologyDevin NicelyNovember 18, 2021jehovah's witness, jehovah's witnesses, door, what to do Comments

Some thoughts on interpreting the epistles

In "Some thoughts on interpreting the epistles" Jefferson Vann warns Advent Christians about the danger of obsessing over the details in the New Testament epistles.

Jefferson VannJefferson VannNovember 9, 2021 Comment

The Dark Night Of The Soul

Perhaps, this is just who I am, mood, depressive, short-tempered, and exhausted. Is this what the rest of my life is? Fighting back irritability and tears of frustration when all I want to do is to be left alone is a recurring sense that can last hours, days, or weeks. These feelings come and go as months pass with no episodes, but then the dread and existential crisis return as it seeks to overcome me once more.

Erik Reynolds, Spiritual FormationErik ReynoldsNovember 9, 2021Mental Health, Depression, Hope Comment

Do Advent Christians Need Reformation?

I wasn’t planning on publishing a piece for Reformation day, but I read something the other day that really struck a nerve.

Theology, Tom Loghry, Church PracticesThomas LoghryOctober 31, 2021reformation, Stephen Nichols, Martin Luther, Advent ChristianComment

The Law and the Gospel

As you read the New Testament there are times when it seems that the Law is viewed negatively and there are times when it seems to be viewed positively. We can use Paul’s letter to the Romans to make this point. He sees the law as something under which the unbeliever is in bondage. Those who come to faith in Christ are not under law but under grace (Romans 4:14, 7:6). So in some sense the law is something from which we need to be delivered or set free.

Spiritual Formation, Discipleship, Biblical Studies, Lou GoingLouis GoingOctober 30, 2021Comment

We can change, but will we?

Sometimes there are blog articles that really get you thinking. Nathaniel Bickford’s article, “Solutions?” is just that kind of piece. Honestly, I’ve thought along his lines for awhile, but I couldn’t help noticing how it grabbed the attention of so many of you.

One Millerite Virtue

William Miller and his followers look like a pack of fools - an example of what not to do. However, I would contend that assessing the merits of the movement is a bit more complex. To be clear, date-setting is absolutely not commendable. No, what I have in mind far more basic and entirely orthodox. The virtue I have observed is this…

Solutions?

There is a joke that I have heard and, admittedly, said, many times within our denomination: “The primary qualification for any board position is saying yes.” It is certainly in jest, but often stems from the frequent frustration caused by the difficulties of finding candidates for our many board positions.

Dialogue, Nathaniel Bickford, Church PracticesNathaniel BickfordOctober 16, 2021 Comments

why I am not pro-choice

In “why I am not pro-choice” Jefferson Vann explains why his conditionalist faith rejects the pro-choice position on abortion.

Jefferson VannJefferson VannOctober 12, 2021 Comments

On Learning the Biblical Languages

“Can I really understand Scripture without knowing the original biblical languages?”

Catherine RybickiCatherine RybickiOctober 5, 2021Comment

Will I Fail?

I fear failure. Do you? It’s not so bad that I don’t bother trying anything at all - that’s just choosing failure. Nonetheless, I still fear it.

Tom Loghry, Spiritual Formation, DevotionalsThomas LoghrySeptember 30, 2021failure, success, stewards, faithfulnessComment

A Call To Orthodoxy

Imagine if my wife described me as slender, clean-shaven, neatly dressed, short, and quiet. Then you met me and saw that I towered over most people, sported a Dad-bod, wore crocs, and have a beard that hides my chest. You’d think my wife must be talking about her other husband. That’s quite similar to our disagreements regarding the nature of God. Although we maintain denominational fellowship with those who reject the Trinity, we worship a different God because we disagree as to who God is.

On Making Assumptions

Let’s talk about making assumptions, and why that’s bad. Especially concerning the people sitting around you in the church pews.

Pastors, Catherine Rybicki, Church PracticesCatherine RybickiSeptember 23, 2021 Comments

Christians Can’t Agree on Anything!

Recently I’ve had multiple skeptics tell me that one of the main reasons they don’t believe that Christianity is true is that “Christians can’t agree on anything.” And they go on to point out events throughout history such as the reformation and the formation of literally hundreds of denominations. But while all of these events did in fact happen, is it true that Christians can’t agree on anything? I think not!

Biblical TheologyDevin NicelySeptember 16, 2021disagreement, essentials, doctrine, unity, orthodoxy Comments

A Tribute to Dr. Freeman Barton

Freeman Barton came from a New Hampshire farm family. In spite of his quiet and soft spoken manner he was as solid as New Hampshire granite. At the core of his life, of course, was his faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and his unswerving commitment to the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word, the Bible.

Lou GoingLouis GoingSeptember 16, 2021 Comment

Twenty Years

Time for a quick breakfast. I flipped off the television and picked up the Charlotte Observer to scan the headlines. All of a sudden, Renee called me from I-77 telling me to turn on the TV because a plane had run into a building at the World Trade Center. I ran to the set and the first image was fire coming out of the north tower. Whatever hit it seemed to be big, and the anchors were speculating about what had happened. The early speculation was a plane had gone off course and accidentally hit the tower.

Then I saw it live. A passenger jet aiming for the second tower, and “Bam!” Fireballs explode. Siding shatters. Black smoke now pouring out of both towers. This was no accident. Something awful was happening. And we knew that the world had changed in front of our very eyes. I called my mother in New Mexico and told her to turn on the television immediately. Then I realized that I had to get to work because our agenda for the office dramatically changed.

Christian life, Robert MayerRobert MayerSeptember 11, 2021Comment