Jordan D. Tong

Category: Theology

  • Should Christians Drink? – Avoiding the Extremes of Legalistic Teetotaler and Liberty and Lots of Beer for All

    Should Christians Drink? – Avoiding the Extremes of Legalistic Teetotaler and Liberty and Lots of Beer for All

    Among Christians, few topics are as hotly contested and polarizing as the use of alcohol. Those who abstain (teetotalers) are usually very opposed to its use, and those who partake usually find the teetotalers as legalistic Pharisees. But in my observation of these two groups, each has a tendency to fall into extremes – unhelpful…

  • God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Responsibility – Class Audio

    This past Sunday, I taught a class on the topic of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. While this usually conjures up thoughts about the debate of Calvinism vs. Arminianism, the scope of this class was much larger. We discussed the nature of God’s sovereignty and how it is specifically expressed in the world. We assessed…

  • If You Are A Christian, You Believe In God’s Sovereignty – Here’s Why

    The idea of God’s sovereignty raises many questions for Christians. In fact, one of the central “in-house” debates among Southern Baptist is regarding the extent of God’s sovereignty in the salvation of man. I do not here want to wade into those waters and discuss the merits of both sides; however, I would like to…

  • The Sovereignty of God – What is it? How is it expressed?

    The sovereignty of God is a doctrine central to the Christian faith. The hope of the Christian is primarily rooted in a God who has both the authority and the power to bring about his good and perfect will. C.D. Cole defines sovereignty as “the exercise of God’s supremacy. God is the one supreme and…

  • God’s Jealousy – A Really Good Thing

    Exodus 20:5 “…for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” Many are thrown aback at the thought of God being a jealous God. This conjures up thoughts of the psycho boyfriend who seeks to control every move of his girlfriend’s life. Jealously in our culture is considered a vice – a lustful desire…

  • Is your repentance genuine or counterfeit?

    The responsibility of human beings before God is repentance and faith. This is required for entrance into relationship with God and the subsequent glory to be revealed at the last day. So generally speaking, the Christian life is one characterized by repentance and faith. If these are lacking, one is not a true follower of…

  • A Tragic Suicide Story

    Here are the opening lines of a recent article at CNN. “Funny, happy people do not kill themselves. It doesn’t make sense.” That’s usually what people say. “They were such a bright light … the life of the party.” I know, because I used to say these things about my brother, Evan. Now I know…

  • The Proper Role of Emotions in the Christian Life

    We live in a sensation driven culture. We are fascinated and driven by the experiences of our senses. Moral values and religious principles often take a back seat to what feels good or what I enjoy. Due to Enlightenment thinking, we have relegated non-physical claims, especially religious ones, to the realm of personal opinion. The…

  • Understanding Anxiety Disorder Part 2 – Causes and Cures

    In “Anxiety – Part 1” we discussed the distinction between soul and brain and the biology of anxiety disorder. In this post, we will examine the causes, both physical and spiritual, of anxiety disorder and the treatment options. Causes of Anxiety Although anxiety has physical and neurological aspects to it, it is my conviction that…

  • Understanding Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder – Part 1

    One of the fastest growing forms of medical treatment in the 21st century is psychiatry. Treatment for diagnoses such as ADHD, anxiety disorder, and depression have seen a dramatic increase in recent years. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 26% of the adult population suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder.[1] However, not…