Have you ever heard or read a statement that made you wonder how it ever could have been conceived? For example Bill O’Reilly, Fox News guru, said on national television that “the Catholic Church invented marriage” (WorldNetDaily, 2/10/2010). How does anyone that obtuse deserve a national audience? But he is not alone. Consider a few more quotes that are “simply outrageous.”

Some claim that Paul’s request for his cloak was a “trivial” reference, unworthy of the claim of verbal inspiration.

“Terrorist” is a word with which we are quite familiar these days—at least in a political sense. What about “terrorists” in the church? They were present in the early church, and they are today as well. We must learn to identify them if the church is to be kept pure.

Was the church of Christ established on the day of Pentecost? Or was it established at some earlier time in human history?

The life of Abraham abounds with lessons from which the sincere child of God can profit.

The Scriptures speak of the “common” faith and the “common” salvation. Does this term allow for the divergent views and practices in today’s world of “Christendom”? Does it permit various modes of “salvation”?

Jesus once proclaimed, “You refuse to come to me that you may have life” (Jn. 5:40). Why do some people refuse to come to Jesus?

The study of “demons” is a fascinating yet challenging topic in biblical literature. There is much to be learned from a survey of this theme.

The book of Genesis is a narrative dealing with “beginnings,” as the title of the document indicates. One of the beginnings in Genesis is the record of how human beings came to speak different languages.

As war clouds loom on the horizon, many wonder what the “Christian” position should be regarding this conflict. In response to a question, Wayne Jackson discusses some general biblical truths that relate to this matter.

Were those disciples who were immersed by John the Baptizer required to be re-immersed on the day of Pentecost or thereafter? Some sincere Bible students maintain they were, but will the evidence really support that view?

Sometimes well-meaning writers attribute to Christ incorrect attitudes or actions. We must be careful not to do that. Let us look carefully at this important issue.

What does “contending for the faith” mean?

The original languages of the Bible are three: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. If one wishes to be a careful student of the Scriptures, he will want to do some research concerning the biblical languages.

Your attitude toward the Scriptures determines how God’s Word will influence your life.

Scientists recently announced that they have “mapped” the human genome. Some are alleging that this discovery contains positive proof for Darwin’s theory of evolution. Wayne Jackson addresses this issue.

There are many honest people working in the various fields of science, but it also is only fair to point out that there have been, and likely will continue to be, some real charlatans in the scientific community.

In 1 Corinthians 7:15, Paul affirms that if an unbelieving mate abandons his Christian companion the Christian is “not under bondage.” Some allege that this provides an additional cause for divorce — other than fornication (Mt. 5:32; 19:9). But is there real evidence for this position?

The Psalmist affirmed that “the heavens declare the glory of God.” In this week’s Penpoints, Jason Jackson explores some of the wonders of the starry hosts that decorate the night skies.

Persecution of God’s people has always been a reality. Some who contributed toward the founding of this nation fled persecution. Now, the country conceived for the liberty of all is becoming a hotbed of anti-Christian sentiment. What should the Christian do?