Yet even if hedonism and religious legalism are both truly dead ends, we are forced to ask once more why people pursue these ends. Why do we relentlessly chase after the pleasures of hedonism to the degree of ignoring our God-given conscience? Why practice the asceticism found within religious legalism so that precious little happiness …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part three
A belief that I hold is that there are two paths to hell. If eternal judgment is your desired destination, rest assured that you have at least two choices to take: the road of the “sinner” or the road of the “religious.” You see, the only method of actually securing the eternal wrath of such …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part two
Back in 2012, I taught through the books of Ecclesiastes and Philippians together, attempting to show how they both present that true joy is only found in Christ. Below is part one of an essay I wrote to explain this connection. I pray that you will find it illuminating and helpful. The nature of joy …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part one
For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4 ESV Solomon was the living embodiment of the American dream. With God-granted wisdom, he was one of the …
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 1 Kings 4:29 ESV On his death bed, David bypassed the traditional succession of kings in …
B. C. Newton 